My column in this week’s Middleboro Gazette is about the Google Chromebook that Santa Claus brought to my son Zach this <insert holiday of choice here>.

I love this thing.

Now you should be asking yourself: “Why the heck would I want that when I can buy a cheap laptop for a little more?” To which I will answer: DO NOT buy a Chromebook if you need any of the programs I mentioned. However, if you want a device that is simple, small, light, well made, good value, lightening fast, secure, has fantastic battery life, and is optimized for using the Internet — the Chromebook is a great device. Santa Claus was good enough to bring one to my youngest son Zach for Christmas and I have to admit that I am very jealous. In fact, I’m writing this column on it right now with Google Docs. The machine goes from off to login in about eight seconds and from login to fully on the Internet in another six seconds. When you open the cover, the thing POPS to life almost instantaneously. I haven’t had a problem viewing any web site — Facebook, YouTube, Hulu, Gmail, and the dozen news sites I routinely read all work just fine as does Amazon and the on-line shopping sites I use.