Google Just Made It Easier To Run Linux On Your Chromebook

TechCurmudgeon writes A story in PCWorld's "World beyond Windows" column outlines coming improvements in Chrome OS that will enable easily running Linux directly from a USB stick: "Have you ever installed a full desktop Linux system on your Chromebook? It isn't all [that] hard, but it is a bit more complex than it should be. New features in the latest version of Chrome OS will make dipping into an alternative operating system easier. For example, you'll be able to easily boot a full Linux system from a USB drive and use it without any additional hassle!"

Comments

Pedantic, but...

[by (1706743)]

I think they mean "GNU/Linux," as Chrome OS runs the Linux kernel.

Re:Pedantic, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

Re:Chromebook Shmomebook

[ogdenk]

It's pretty easy. First, take it out of the box. You lift the LCD into a proper viewing angle and push the power button. There you go. Unix.

Re:Chromebook Shmomebook

[tlambert]

Wake me up when they post a useful article on how to run Unix on my Macbook Pro.

Mac OS X *is* UNIX. It's certified. Wake me up when Linux passes conformance testing.

PS: We even put UUCP on the damn thing to pass the tests; it's definitely UNIX, so feel free to spin up your own NetNews node on your MacBook Air.

Re:Again, why?

[quenda]

If you have a Chromebook, Google has already made ChromeOS support anything that the Chromebook will have to do.

Oh, no they have not.

A macbook can install 3rd party apps out of the box. It is not locked down.
But if you want Skype, Minecraft, or Steam for example, on a Chromebook, you need to unlock it (developer mode, unsupported) and install a full Linux environment first.

But yes, no need to replace ChromeOS, just supplement it.

Re:I'm sold!

[Anonymous Coward]

For porn, get yourself an Android tablet. The user experience of the Chromebook is not optimized to keep and navigate your porn locally. So unless, you want to re-download the same porn videos again and again, consider using an Android tablet instead.

The app support for porn on Android is awesome (personally, I prefer Opera the best for that, especially for the animated gif previews, plus an app for hiding the porn, plus a video app for looping the small parts of the videos I prefer). Also, consider a 7 inch or 8 inch Android tablet. A 10+ inch tablet gets really heavy if you're holding it with just one hand while in bed (even two hands gets tiresome). And even if you have a stand for your 10+ inch tablet, the stand won't really be that useful unless you can pivot it 360 degrees.

Not to mention, you should probably consolidate your porn with your games, your music, and/or your manga collection, and Android has really the best free (free as in beer) support for any of those.