There are a few ways to run normal Linux distros on ChromeOS through chroot/containers.
If you want to replace ChromeOS and boot directly into a normal Linux distro, Chromebooks don't use a normal boot process so you have to flash a custom BIOS. It's possible but annoying enough that I wouldn't really recommend buying a Chromebook if this is your intended use case.
Thanks. It's hard to find something equivalent that's not a Chromebook. Something with a good build quality that will last (metal and fanless) but that isn't overly powerful and expensive. I have a UX305F and it's been fantastic. I've used it for years traveling, running Ubuntu and getting some work done (yeah, compiler times are a bit slow.. but generally it's not a big deal) but it's ancient and the ports are getting finnicky and I worry it'll die any day now
`One thing I have not understand is why have some company not release a Chromebook with Qualcomm CPU, it seams to be better fit than Windows for ARM and no need to worry about x86 compatibility.
Qualcomm won't support their SoC's for long enough to qualify as approved for Chrome OS by Google. Google's current OS support window is 6.5 years from the release of each individual platform. So (for instance) when the Gemini Lake hardware platform with optimized software stack is released to their manufacturing partners Google begins it's support countdown. This gives companies such as Acer, HP, Asus, ect half a year to bring initial products to market as Google tries to provide 6 years of auto-update support from initial platform sale date also.
The way Google has this setup really sucks though. Time to market is really delayed because of Google's requirement that each new platform be built from the ground up on both hardware and software stacks. Gemini Lake was released by Intel as a hardware platform in Q4 '17 but as of Q2 '19 there is yet to be a Chome OS device released running it. Chrome OS hardware generally lags Windows hardware by 12 to 18 months.
I'm curious exactly what that means that Qualcomm won't support their SOCs but Intel supposedly does. Can you provide examples of where this "difference" in support actually makes a difference and results in something positive?
A premium segment Chromebook seems at odds with the original intent of offering a cost effective computing solution based mainly on WAN-based storage and processing. I'm not saying there isn't a market for it, but I question the value added by upping the price when this is basically a modern thin client or dumb terminal.
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geokon - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
Is there any chance of running something like Ubuntu on this?kgersen - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
it can already run Linux apps.ChromeOS in 2011 = Chrome
ChromeOS in 2019 = Chrome + Android apps + Linux apps (both console & wayland/x11 apps)
niva - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
The question is, can you wipe Chrome off the machine completely and run your choice of linux on it? Not through Crouton or some other gimmicky trick.quiksilvr - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxsckwmRhfwnotashill - Sunday, April 21, 2019 - link
There are a few ways to run normal Linux distros on ChromeOS through chroot/containers.If you want to replace ChromeOS and boot directly into a normal Linux distro, Chromebooks don't use a normal boot process so you have to flash a custom BIOS. It's possible but annoying enough that I wouldn't really recommend buying a Chromebook if this is your intended use case.
geokon - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
Thanks. It's hard to find something equivalent that's not a Chromebook. Something with a good build quality that will last (metal and fanless) but that isn't overly powerful and expensive. I have a UX305F and it's been fantastic. I've used it for years traveling, running Ubuntu and getting some work done (yeah, compiler times are a bit slow.. but generally it's not a big deal) but it's ancient and the ports are getting finnicky and I worry it'll die any day nowniva - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
Thanks for answering the actual question.I'd be interested in a Chromebook type device, if it didn't have such severe limitations.
HStewart - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
`One thing I have not understand is why have some company not release a Chromebook with Qualcomm CPU, it seams to be better fit than Windows for ARM and no need to worry about x86 compatibility.KateH - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
i don't know about Qualcomm specifically but there are definitely Chromebooks with ARM processorsSquarePeg - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
Qualcomm won't support their SoC's for long enough to qualify as approved for Chrome OS by Google. Google's current OS support window is 6.5 years from the release of each individual platform. So (for instance) when the Gemini Lake hardware platform with optimized software stack is released to their manufacturing partners Google begins it's support countdown. This gives companies such as Acer, HP, Asus, ect half a year to bring initial products to market as Google tries to provide 6 years of auto-update support from initial platform sale date also.The way Google has this setup really sucks though. Time to market is really delayed because of Google's requirement that each new platform be built from the ground up on both hardware and software stacks. Gemini Lake was released by Intel as a hardware platform in Q4 '17 but as of Q2 '19 there is yet to be a Chome OS device released running it. Chrome OS hardware generally lags Windows hardware by 12 to 18 months.
HStewart - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
"Qualcomm won't support their SoC's for long enough to qualify as approved for Chrome OS by Google"To me this is bad indication on Qualcomm and also bad indication for Windows for ARM if Microsoft allow this hardware out there.
Just if Chrome was on ARM device, it would provide difference than Windows because it does not have to worry about x86 compatibility.
Personally I never care about Chromebooks, I would rather get Samsung Tab S series instead for that type of device.
niva - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
I'm curious exactly what that means that Qualcomm won't support their SOCs but Intel supposedly does. Can you provide examples of where this "difference" in support actually makes a difference and results in something positive?Kevinmogee - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
The article says 4 or 16GB RAM, but the specs say 4 or 8GB. Which is correct?PeachNCream - Monday, April 22, 2019 - link
A premium segment Chromebook seems at odds with the original intent of offering a cost effective computing solution based mainly on WAN-based storage and processing. I'm not saying there isn't a market for it, but I question the value added by upping the price when this is basically a modern thin client or dumb terminal.