Simple offline text editor for your Chromebook

Do you need a simple offline text editor for your chromebook? I didn't even realize I already had one installed when I needed one on vacation. It is called Scratchpad.

You can save offline and it will sync to your Google Docs when you get back online. Very handy.

Very simple interface and works as expected.

How Can I Manage My Music Business Online

As I use my Google Notebook computer, I continue to think of really cool potential uses.
Most recently, I found some great online music student management systems. 


The first tool is specifically for music teachers, called Music Teachers Helper. It simplifies everything a music teacher would need to do. It is obviously built by a music teacher (it really is), because it is so easy to use. You can enter your students, list lessons, track attendance, send reminders, create invoices, collect payments online. You can event track student progress and send them notes and reminders. Not only that, but with one click you can create a website, made specifically for music teachers. This is awesome. You should check out Music Teachers Helper. 

You can try it for free and just play with it for a few minutes.

I also checked out Studio Helper. This is geared for a music store owner, dance studio owner, arts center manager or even a karate studio owner. It is a really amazing yet simple system.
This system allows the owner or manager to create teacher profiles (including times they can teach), enter students, allow teachers to manage their own students. Add events to a main calendar, schedule multiple rooms, create invoices, and way more.
What most impresses was the ease of use. I tested out the system for about five minutes and found everything I needed.

It has everything I listed for the Music Teachers Helper, and many, many more features for small business owners. You can allow teacher log-ins, student log-ins, track student performance, and track all payments.
This system is really a dream for owners or operators of music, dance, or arts studios. 
What I found most useful was that mass email feature. You can create templates, track emails, and send out to all students, all teachers, or both. You can also send emails only to certain segments, like just guitar students.
This email feature alone is worth its weight in gold. Communicating directly with your students will keep them at your studio and help them to truly feel valued.

Check out Studio Helper (for free) and tell us what you think in the comments.

Volcano Tour with a Google Chrome Notebook

My wife chatted with me and my kids today from a volcano in Hawaii. What was awesome is that it was a video chat and she gave us a quick walking tour, carrying around the Cr-48 and showing us some of the sites. She did this all through the Verizon 3G connection.
What a surreal experience to experience a virtual tour from Hawaii and your wife is the tour guide.
I asked my wife to take a picture of her Cr-48 with a volcano or some other awe-inspiring scenery behind it and she said she would.
When I get the picture, I'll post about where her Cr-48 has been.
Of course, mine was just at home in the living room.

Google Chrome OS Notebook Trackpad Fixed

Slashgear reports updates to Google Chrome OS.
OK. It sure does seem like the trackpad on my Cr-48 is fixed. I knew it didn't work very well and complained about it, but I forgot just how bad it was.
It is much better now and I can type without losing my spot, accidentally highlighting text, etc.
Thanks, Google, for making my free notebook even better!

OK, What I Really Like About the Chrome Notebook

Open your Cr-48 Chrome Notebook and it is one, in just a few seconds. I love that. I can check my email in a matter of seconds.

What actually takes a few more seconds is for the computer to reconnect to my wireless connection. I wish this was even faster... and hopefully it will get faster.

This makes the computer perfect for checking email, calendar, loading up my Google Reader feeds.  

I give Google and A in this area of boot speed and waking up speed.

Update: Writing a Research Paper with the Google Chrome OS Notebook

I couldn't do it. I knew that Google Docs would not handle the formatting I needed for the paper (I use it everyday for most everything else, but need Word or OpenOffice for more power).
I also tried Zoho Writer because I know it is far more powerful than Google Docs, but again, it was too cumbersome.
Another reason I went local (usually I refer to this when speaking of food, but hey, it seems to fit here, too) was that an initial writing of my paper existed in an OpenOffice document. It was far easier to add to it there than mess around with some online document service.
Let me know, have you written any seriously formatted papers using only an online tool?

How Can I View Multiple Tabs or Pages at Once with Chrome OS

I ran across another crazy thing about the Cr-48: I cannot drag out, resize, or otherwise arrange browser tabs except within the same window. This realization killed me when I was going to write some pages of my research paper. I simply wanted to put my notes on one side of the page and my new page on the other and type away. But no, I couldn't do it.

After a few minutes of research I found  a way to do it. Thank you "Frame Two Pages"!

This simple app is available in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/eldgpcphflnopbjadiaonofideekgdgm

Edit: After further testing, Frame Two Pages only works with some pages. It did not work as well as I could have hoped.

Google, please allow us some easy way to view multiple tabs at once, resize tabs, and otherwise be allowed some flexibility in viewing space.