Page 50 - digitalliteracy

2.2 Other Portable Devices That Can Enhance Your Educational Experience

To read your course textbooks on a simple eReader, you will need to download specific files
(e.g., mobi or epub) from Constellation that your eReader can open. Other types of tablets will
be able to access Constellation. The use of eReaders and e-reading platforms such as Constel-
lation may also reduce textbook costs, and eReaders are considered to be more environmen-
tally friendly because they do not require paper (Go, 2009).

Netbooks

Netbooks may look like laptop computers, but they are thin, small, lightweight computing
devices that are designed primarily for consuming content. They are sometimes referred to
as mini laptops or subnotebooks because they are smaller and more lightweight than laptops
and have less computing power. These devices have attached keyboards but less hardware
than desktops or laptops. Netbook is the general name for these small machines, and as their
name implies, they are designed primarily for connecting to the Internet and for sending and
receiving e-mail. Netbooks may be less expensive computers for personal use, but they are
generally not suitable alternatives to a laptop or a tablet for creating documents for school
and work. Most of these devices utilize a touch screen rather than a mouse for typing lengthy
academic documents and do not have all the features you need for school or for the work-
place. They do have some excellent features, however, for personal use.

One type of netbook, Google’s Chromebook, has an operating system that is optimized to pro-
vide users with an excellent web experience. Chromebooks also have built-in security features
that eliminate the need to buy and maintain antivirus software. The devices boot up quickly
and allow access to apps, games, photos, music, and movies without having to worry about
storing files, because they reside in the cloud. We will discuss cloud storage later in this module.

Smartphones

One of the most significant new comput-
ing devices in the past few decades is
the smartphone. Fast connection speeds,
a wide range of storage options, and an
ever-increasing number of download-
able software applications make these
devices popular and user-friendly. Users
can personalize the start screen by plac-
ing any applications, photos, games,
songs, websites, or documents they want
there. Check out A Closer Look: Aug- LDProd/iStock/Thinkstock
mented Reality to understand the idea of Smartphones give you the ability to log in to class,
augmented reality and how smartphones send e-mail, or read text messages. They can be
offer a variety of features and applica- a great asset to your academic and professional
tions to maximize the user’s experience. career.

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