So, most people DO, in fact, only use Google as a search engine. Some might actually use it as an internet mail provider service as well. However, Google has gone to great lengths to make your experience with them more enjoyable and your life just a bit easier by providing applications (apps) that you can use, most of them FREE of charge. This is an entirely new approach to technology and computing. Many computer users are stuck using their personal computers and storing their information on the computer or on a flash drive they carry. Either option is easy, but risky in the sense that that information is lost if the flash drive breaks, gets lost or stolen or the computer dies. Google uses "Cloud" technology (much like the Apple products) and asks for you to store your information in the "Cloud". (Think of the cloud as just that, a huge cloud floating in Internet space with your name on it. No one else can access your cloud unless you allow them to, but it's always following you wherever you go for instant access once you "hook up" to the Internet and the Cloud). As wireless internet and mobile devices have become more prevalent, so has the need for cloud-based apps and storage.

Until now, Microsoft Word has dominated the computer world with it's own version of office software that provides the necessary tools to write, use spreadsheets, databases, make bulletins and slideshows. Now, Google has stepped into the playing field with it's office software that it provides for FREE. Google Docs and Google Drive offer word computing, spreadsheet, bulletin, and slideshow capabilities. While they are not always as fancy and feature filled as Microsoft, they are free and they are constantly revising. More importantly, it provides instant accessibility to share your projects with others and the ability to work on them all at the same time.

The All Things Google Page has links to help with Google Drive, Google Docs and help make things easier for you. The guides are written assuming that you are very limited in your computer experience (I know, most of you aren't limited, but there are those who are...). If you have any questions....come see Ms. Core, the BookDragon.

Google Drive for Beginners

Picture your computer desktop. On that desktop are all kinds of "icons" (little pictures of items you use, like MS Word, Outlook, games you play, etc). Drive is sort of the same thing. When you open Google Chrome and log in to your Chrome account, you should see the image below:

Spend some time playing around with your drive, set it up to have the items you prefer at the top. Peruse and view the icons you are not familiar with, you may be surprised by what you will find.

You can either go on to the page on how to use Google Mail or the page on how to use Google Docs.