02/04/2014
A Chromebook is a new category of laptop-style device that runs Google's Chrome Operating System known as ChromeOS. The ChromeOS is based upon Linux and therefore you will find some things are a bit different if you are used to using a PC or Mac laptop.
The most noticeable difference the first time you use a new Chromebook is the keyboard layout. This article will explore some of my first impressions and discoveries of using the new Acer C720P Touchscreen Chromebook.
One of the first things I noticed when I received my new Chromebook was that the keyboard layout is different than the traditional laptop-style keyboards I am accustomed to using. Click on the picture below to see a larger version.
Thankfully, the Chromebook keyboard still uses the standard QWERTY-style typing layout that touch typist have become accustomed to over the years. However, some special purpose keys have either been completely removed (Windows Key for PC, Command Key for Mac, the Fn Key, and Function Keys are gone), or have been repurposed for something else (Caps Lock key is now the Search key).
When I opened the Chromebook for the first time, the thing I noticed right away was that the top row of keys on the keyboard did not have any function keys at all. Function keys are typically labeled F1, F2, F3, … thru F12 and occupy the top row of traditional laptop-style keyboards. On the Acer Chromebook they have been completely removed and replaced by a simpler set of dedicated buttons.
Each key of the top row of the Acer C720P Chromebook has only one labeled purpose (there are other key combinations for additional functionality). For an explanation of what each single key on the top row does click on the graphic below:
OLDSCHOOL LAPTOP KEYBOARDS
On most traditional laptop keyboards you may have noticed that the top row of keys typically have two options for each function key. Pressing the function key by itself will do one thing, but holding down the Fn key and pressing a Function Key at the same time will serve a different secondary purpose.
The dedicated function keys have been on both Windows and Mac laptop keyboards for decades. F1 is typically reserved for getting Help in a program, pressing F5 will refresh a browser session, pressing F11 will take you to a full-screen when using a browser, pressing F11 again will revert back to the original view, pressing Alt-F4 is a quick way to CLOSE any open application on a Windows computer, F5 will take you to Find and Replace in MS Word or start a slideshow in PowerPoint, etc…
I have provided a link to a more comprehensive explanation of what each traditional (F1 – F12) function key is used for if you are interested in learning more about traditional keyboards: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000306.htm
Using Function keys greatly increase the efficiency of using a keyboard and for those that have taken the time to learn what each function key does it is worth the effort. With a different layout on Chromebooks it will take some adjustments since the F1 – F12 keys we have relied upon have been removed completely. If however, you are a new computer user or you never really took the time to learn about all the specialized function key shortcuts you probably won’t miss them on a Chromebook. This removal is another example of the “keeping it simple” philosophy of Chromebooks. You will have to “unlearn” some (but not all) of your favorite Mac/PC keyboard shortcuts and make some adjustments when using a Chromebook.
NEWSCHOOL CHROMEBOOK KEYBOARDS
Since the new Chromebooks feature a different keyboard layout you will need to learn some new ways of doing common tasks.
Note: Keyboard shortcuts often use a combination of two or three keys pressed together. When you see a key combination like Ctrl + C (copy) you press the Ctrl key first and then while keeping it held down press the second key, in this case the C, so they are both depressed at the same time, then let go of both keys.
Here are a few of the “good to know” Chromebook keyboard shortcuts I regularly use:
PRINT SCREEN ON A CHROMEBOOK
Even with the simplicity of the top row of single-purpose keys it is not obvious how to do some common tasks such as taking a screenshot on a Chromebook. The answer lies in that top row of keys and uses the “Switch Window” key located in the middle of the top row in combination with the Ctrl key.
If you hold down the Ctrl + Shift + “Switch Window” keys all at the same time you are given a small cross symbol as a cursor that you can use to select only the region of the screen you want to take a screenshot of. This is where a touchscreen is very handy, on a touchscreen Chromebook I can simply touch and drag my finger to select the area of the screen for the screenshot I want. If you do not have a touchscreen you will need to use the trackpad and click and drag the area of the screen you want to select.
ZOOM
Another feature that I routinely use is zooming in and out. My eyes are not as good as they used to be. Zooming in and out is also good for demonstrations where you want students to clearly see a particular area of the screen. You can use the “standard” Ctrl + (plus) and Ctrl – (minus) key combination to zoom in and zoom out just as with other browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox.
SEARCH REPLACES CAPS LOCK KEY
If having the Caps Lock key replaced by the Search key bothers you here is a trick. The Search key can temporarily be changed back into the standard Caps Lock Key by pressing and holding the Alt key and the Search key at the same time. To change back to the Search key mode press and hold the Alt key and Search key again to revert back to the original behavior.
OLDIES BUT GOODIES
The key combinations I probably use most often on a PC still work for ChromeOS and for Google Apps. Keeping some things “standard” is a good thing. Can you imagine if each operating system developer or each laptop manufacturer made their own unique keyboards?
Ctrl + A will Select ALL.
Ctrl + C will copy the selection.
Ctrl + V will Paste the selection.
Ctrl + Z is undo.
Ctrl + Y is redo.
GOOD TO KNOW BROWSER KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR CHROMEBOOKS – WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
It does take a bit of work committing some of the keyboard shortcuts to memory, but you will be rewarded many times over with increased productivity and ease of use once you get the basics down. Here are a few of my favorites:
JUMP TO THE OMNIBOX LOCATION: Ctrl + L
Since a Chromebook basically uses the Chrome Browser most of the time learning how to quickly jump to the Omnibox is helpful. The Omnibox is the Google name for the area where you type in a web address, it can also be used as a search box and thus the name “Omnibox”, it does both.
Pressing CTRL + L at the same time will jump to the area of the browser where you type in web addresses – this area is known as the Onmibox in Google Chrome and can also be used to Search. If you are on a webpage and want to go to a different web address or look up a search you can simply press Ctrl and L and begin typing the web address or terms you want to search for. This also works for Internet Explorer and Firefox.
SWITCHING BROWSER TABS QUICKLY: Ctrl + Tab
Because you will be spending the majority of your time in the Chrome browser knowing about the Ctrl and Tab key combination is helpful to quickly switch browser tabs. You will probably have several browser tabs open at any given time and by pressing Ctrl and Tab repeatedly you can quickly cycle through all the open browser tabs. If you want to reverse the direction press Ctrl + Shift + Tab to go the other way.
Note: Having too many tabs open will negatively impact a Chromebooks performance. My Chromebook only has 2GB of RAM memory so I am aware that I need to occasionally close tabs I am not using. I generally have up to a dozen tabs open at any one time and I will begin to close tabs above this number. By the way, using Ctrl + Tab also works to switch tabs for Internet Explorer and Firefox.
Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8
If you need to quickly jump to a specific tab you can use the key combination Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8. Tabs are numbered from left to right so pressing Ctrl + 3 will take you to the third tab from the left. Ctrl + 1 will take you to the first tab, etc… This only works for the first 8 tabs open, another reason to occasionally close browser tabs to keep things organized. Ctrl + 9 is reserved to jump to the last tab opened, if you have 12 tabs open Ctrl + 9 will jump to the twelfth tab.
OPEN A NEW TAB: Ctrl + T
Ctrl + T will open a new browser Tab in the Chrome browser. This also works for Internet Explorer and Firefox.
LIFESAVER! REOPEN A TAB YOU JUST CLOSED BY MISTAKE:
Ctrl + Shift + T
Ctrl + Shift + T will “re”-open a tab you accidentally closed by mistake in the Chrome browser. This has saved me more than once since Chrome does not ask “are you sure you really want to close this tab?” It is definitely worth remembering Ctrl + Shift + T when using the Chrome browser.
MIRROR THE SCREEN
As a teacher you may want to connect your Chromebook to “mirror” the Chromebook display to a large screen HDTV or Projector. The Acer C720P Chromebook has a HDMI out port to connect to an external display. Connect an HDMI cable from the Chromebook to a HDTV or HDMI-capable projector.
To mirror the screen press Ctrl + Full Screen key to "mirror" your display to a big screen HDTV/Projector.
Note: If your projector uses the older VGA-style connector you will need to get an HDMI to VGA converter so be aware of this requirement.
Believe it or not there is still much more to share about using a Chromebook keyboard.
In my next post I will take a deeper dive into the Chromebook keyboard and unmask some complexity that is hidden beneath the simple Chromebook keyboard layout.
Stay tuned for more.
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.
Twitter: @tomgrissom
