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Google Just Made It Easier To Run Linux On Your Chromebook

Posted by timothy on from the danger-in-keeping-that-little-fulcrum-in-place dept.

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!"

8 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. But is that what people are actually doing? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I thought they were wiping the Chromebook's internal drive, then reinstalling with their preferred Linux variant.

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    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:But is that what people are actually doing? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I thought they were wiping the Chromebook's internal drive, then reinstalling with their preferred Linux variant.

      I don't know about most, but I keep the ChromeOS also. I use the Chromebook as my take out to breakfast and go on vacation computer. It's a breeze to use in a restaraunt on wifi, and if I need anything more serious, I boot into Linux. It's also nice to keep my stuff separate from my home computers, except for the gmail account I use that syncs on all my computers.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    2. Re:But is that what people are actually doing? by aunchaki · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I replaced my nine-year-old ThinkPad a few months ago (it's slowly running the latest Ubuntu). I went round and round for about a year and finally decided to get a used Chromebook Pixel. It's awesome! I thought I'd play around with crouton for a while, but eventually wipe the whole thing and install Linux on it.

      I haven't done that. I do run crouton and can flip between ChromeOS and Ubuntu 14 in a keystroke. The thing is, ChromeOS is a really nice broswing experience and 75% of what I do is browser based. I could spend all day in Ubuntu, but it's just too nice using ChromeOS.

      I'm really happy with my Chromebook.

  2. I'm sold! by ThorGod · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I've not bought one yet (who has the finances?) but this would be great...and I could consolidate my porn browsing to just it. That ought to keep the rest of my stuff safe...

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    PS: I don't reply to ACs.
  3. Gee by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I've been running Linux dual boot on my Chromebook since last summer. I'm surprised that anyone thought it was so difficult to install and use. I think it took me all of 15 minutes to download and do the necessary alterations.

    It's fun actually

    "you'll be able to easily boot a full Linux system from a USB drive and use it without any additional hassle!"

    As opposed ot the insufferable hassle of hitting control+L and booting direct? If that's too much trouble, plugging a USB stick is too.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    1. Re:Gee by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 3, Interesting

      True, but you can run the USB stick on multiple computers, keeping your work environment and files all in one place wherever you go. With 64 gig USB 3.0 flash keys going for $25, and 128 gig USB 3.0 going for $40, why not?

      Well, a thumb drive is a lot easier to lose than a whole laptop for one thing. I've found quite a few over the last several years. Also, I have to guess that the thumb drive is going to be slower than the SSD in the Chromebook. Because that's the biggest thing going for them. They move. Chrome boots in something like 7 seconds, depending on how fat you can type your password, and Linux about the same.

      Regardless, I don't think its necessarily a bad idea, just that the presumed inconvenience of doing a dual bootsetup, then install of a distro is way overplayed.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  4. we dual boot to an sdhc, except don't by raymorris · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I set my wife's up to boot Linux from a high-performance SD card. Her previous computer ran Linux, so I figured I'd make the Chromebook run what she's familiar with.

    It turns out, everything she does on the computer she does through a web browser, so she's never had any reason to boot to Linux. ChromeOS suits her use case perfectly. I find that surprising, but ChromeOS is apparently very good at what it's designed for - email, general web browsing, YouTube, Facebook, Netflix, etc.

  5. Pedantic busybody with busybox by dbIII · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think they mean "GNU/Linux,"

    Not necessarily. Some distros, especially for lean systems, have nothing from GNU. There is more than one libc and busybox is not a GNU project.