Chrome OS - Working With Text
Since I started writing posts on the Cr-48, I have been using nothing but Google Docs. Performance of Google Docs on the Cr-48 notebook is less than stellar, conjuring up memories of the severe input lag on old computers running Office 98. In all honesty, a major reason (not the only one) for my posts slowing down is because Google Docs, but now I’m moving beyond Google Docs for my text editing needs.
I have no idea why I forgot about Simplenote. Maybe its because I forgot to make a bookmark, or maybe it’s because I’m just so used to Evernote. I do want to get something out of the way right now: I’m not using Simplenote and Evernote for the same things. Evernote is my online cookbook where I store all my tagged recipes for easy browsing and use. Simplenote is for my writing. Simplenote, being a webapp, fits perfectly with the Chrome OS philosophy. Even on the underpowered Cr-48, Simplenote’s performance is buttery smooth, a welcome change from the lagfest that is Google Docs. I prefer to do my writing in simple text anyway, so Simplenote is a great addition to my Chrome OS experience.
While Simplenote does have a “webapp” in the store, it’s nothing more than a bookmark. I just don’t understand why there are so many webapps in the store that are nothing more than bookmarks. If you’re already using Google’s sync between browsers, chances are you are also syncing your bookmarks. Maybe I’m just out of the ordinary with my use of a bookmarks toolbar containing just favicons, but I simply cannot find a purpose for 98% of the “webapps” in the Google Web Store. A curated directory of webapps complete with reviews and links to alternatives would better serve users of Chrome OS and users of the web in general.
