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34 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2020 Computer & Technology Class In my opinion this is the best time of year, when prices on electronics are lower than usual, to consider either upgrading your current computer, laptop, mobile phone, and/or the purchase "new" technology for your personal use. You may have seen many commercials on television promoting the Chromebook. You might ask, "What is a Chromebook, and why is it different from a laptop?" Well, at our December meeting, resident Dennis Gunnerson, who recently converted from a PC, presented and discussed what he found. While he admitted that his computer skills are at the lower end of the spectrum, he said that the price and the ease of using a Chromebook made it a smart choice for him. He believes that many Four Seasons residents, especially if they are not totally computer savvy, would benefit from its performance and utility. One plus is that the Chromebook is inherently resistant to viruses and malware, providing extra peace-of-mind when on the Internet. Dennis and Sandy Gunnerson took their new Chromebook on their trip to Spain and Portugal and found that not only did the device start and connect to the Internet quickly, but its battery lasted 12 hours. Lastly, even though the Chromebook is less expensive than other devices, its efficiency is not diminished when using the Internet for shopping, banking, email, social media, or web surfing. Another plus is that there are hundreds of free applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, and Slides (a PowerPoint® equivalent) available at no additional cost. Our class meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am in the RCN. Please visit us and share your questions, concerns, and experiences with us; and/or contact Larry Workman at workman. larry@gmail.com if there is a certain subject you would like to have covered in one of our classes. ~ Larry Workman We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in the RCN room #3. Newcomers are always welcome, even if you haven't read the book. The selection for January is The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. Here is a brief description of the book from Amazon.com: "Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically-ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working. Just when things seem their worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the ill-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money — a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past. The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman's journey to save her son and another woman's chance at redemption. It demonstrates that even in a dump in Cambodia — perhaps especially in a dump in Cambodia — everyone deserves a second chance." Please join us when we discuss this book on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 9:30 am. Sue Balt will be leading the discussion. For those of you who like to read ahead, our book for February is scheduled to be The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. For more information, please contact Micki Rosen at michelesrosen@gmail.com. ~ Micki Rosen Book Club