Learning To Program In Microsoft Visual Studio: From A Chromebook &Chrome OS User

While there is the Neutron Drive IDE Web App for Programming in Chrome OS, anyone who wants to learn how to Program in any or all the Languages that come as part of Visual Studio, it's probably best to learn how to Program using Visual Studio since it's the Industry Standard IDE for Programming.

But Visual Studio is expensive!!!! I hear you cry, well that may be true for the Professional & Ultimate Editions of Visual Studio which have been part of the Visual Studio line since 2005. visual Studio Express 2013 is composed of 3 different Editions (Visual Studio Express Web for Developing Web Applications, Visual Studio Express Windows for Developing Windows 8+ Modern UI Apps & Visual Studio Express Windows Desktop for Developing Traditional Windows Programs that run on all versions of Windows) There is also an Express Edition of  the server-side Version Control Team Foundation Server that also runs on Client Machines thanks to Windows built-in Web Server IIS. These Express Editions including Team Foundation Server are free to Download & use on as many Windows Desktops or Laptops as you like, Visual Studio 2013 only runs on Windows 8/8.1 so if you're running Windows 7 then you will need Visual Studio 2012. Visual Studio Express takes all the complexity out of Visual Studio Professional or Ultimate.

USB 3.0 2.5" HDD/SSD Enclosure Review

 

My USB 3.0 HDD enclosure came to-day so here is my promised review.

The enclosure is mad of a piece of gloss black plastic while the frame that holds the SATA to USB 3.0 interface along with the HDD is made from matt black plastic. The whole enclosure fits together with plastic clips that snap the enclosure cover to the HDD holder, making for a rather neat looking screw free finish.

When copying the same .mp4 HD video file as I used in my Samsung SD Card review to the internal SSD of my Chromebook it was maybe a little slower than from SD Card to internal SSD and copying back to the HDD was considerably slower than from internal SSD to SD Card.

The bottle neck in writing to the HDD is more than likely due to the fact that I'm using a HDD that came in my Windows Laptop that I've had since 2010 until I upgraded the HDD in the Laptop to a 1TB HDD. I'll probably upgrade the USB HDD for an SSD at some point in the future so as not to lose any data.

The enclosure is so much thinner than my old one that it fits into the front pocket of my Laptop bag without looking too bulky.

Roland

Other External Hardware That Works in Chrome OS

 

I was going through some of the external hardware that I've got lying around in my Windows Laptop bag to see what is compatible with Chrome OS and what isn't compatible with Chrome OS.

Generic USB 2.0 webcam

 

I originally got this Webcam as an experiment using face tracking software for gaming which has sat in my Laptop bag ever since. So I decided to try it in my Chromebook, it works flawlessly in Hangouts call and is so much clearer than the built-in one and the 6 LED's get rid of any artifacts created by low light. Unfortunately the Chrome OS Camera app doesn't support the use of external Webcams, but the LED's will help get rid of low light artifacts.

I don't really use the built-in Webcam that much, so I won't be using my external Webcam all that much, but it might come in handy if I attempt to do some Unboxing videos on YouTube.

Generic Wireless USB Mouse

I originally got this mouse because I'm not a fan of the tiny portable wired Mouse that came with the Laptop bag. For the small amount that I paid for it on eBay it's an excellent Mouse. It works perfectly with Chrome OS, but yet again it'll not get much use as I really like the gesture control of the multi-touch trackpad.

If I could get hold of an Apple cheaply on eBay I'd give it a go with my Chromebook as I'd like to re-setup a little office space in the Livingroom to get a comfortable work area than having my desk pretty much being my knee and the spare seat on the sofa.

Conclusion

Chrome OS is really good at supporting external hardware no matter how cheap or generic it is.

Planned Projects

I'm hoping to get a replacement HDD Caddy for my 2.5" external HDD, as I've had my current one since about 2009/10 and it's seen better days. I'm also considering upgrading the 16GB internal SSD by adding a 32GB SD card, whether I keep the SD card in the SD slot permanently or keep inserting it every time I take it out to use it I've not decided.

I'm hoping to do these over the weekend or in the week as I've got to order them on eBay and await delivery. I'll not be doing any Articles on the's upgrades but I might do a review of the SD Card and the HDD Caddy.

Roland

SharePoint in Microsoft Office 2010

Following on from my review of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010. It looks like you now need to have Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate to create SharePoint sites for your Intranet, this will create a huge expense for your Business, especially if you have got a small Business that has been using Microsoft Small Business Server, SharePoint Services and Office in your Business as you now might have to buy the full Visual Studio Ultimate to do what you could do with Office 2010.

I'll let you know when I've had a play with VS Ultimate 2010 as I'lll do a review of VS Ultimate 2010.

Roland