Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Linux Apps Are Not Coming To Many Still-Supported Chromebooks (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the you-have-been-served dept.

While we know that Linux app support is coming to a range of Chromebooks from Lenovo, Acer, Dell and others, a post on the Chromium Gerrit reveals that devices running Linux 3.14 or older will miss out. BetaNews: Chrome OS is able to run Linux apps through the use of containers which help to keep the rest of the operating system safe from harm. As container support requires features that are only found in more recent versions of the Linux kernel, it means that many Chromebooks -- whose kernels are usually not updated -- will not be able to run Linux apps.

Here's the full list of Chromebooks that won't be getting the Linux love: AOpen Chromebase Mini (Feb 2017; tiger, veyron_pinky), AOpen Chromebox Mini (Feb 2017; fievel, veyron_pinky), ASUS Chromebook C201 (May 2015; speedy, veyron_pinky), Acer C670 Chromebook 11 (Feb 2015; paine, auron), Acer Chromebase 24 (Apr 2016; buddy, auron), Acer Chromebook 15 (Apr 2015; yuna, auron), Acer Chromebox CXI2 (May 2015; rikku, jecht), Asus Chromebit CS10 (Nov 2015; mickey, veyron_pinky), Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA (Jul 2015; minnie, veyron_pinky), Asus Chromebox CN62 (Aug 2015; guado, jecht), Dell Chromebook 13 7310 (Aug 2015; lulu, auron), Google Chromebook Pixel (Mar 2015; samus), Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebook (May 2015; tidus, jecht), Toshiba Chromebookk 2 (Sep 2015; gandof, auron).

3 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. If you actually do want Linux on a Chromebook by fibonacci8 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Current version of GalliumOS supports most Chromebooks. It's an Ubuntu 16.04 base with adjustments for specific chromebook models (media key customization, other hardware configurations, etc. Doesn't seem to support ARM chipsets or Intel Pineview boards.
    Systems that are supported by GalliumOS
    and the newer version based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS is in the works
    version 3.0 alpha

    --
    Inheritance is the sincerest form of nepotism.
  2. Chromebook firmware is partly Tivoized by tepples · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "unofficial" kernel? Does not that imply, there is also an "official" kernel? What is that

    The official kernel for a device is the one that stock firmware loads without having to be put into developer mode.

    and just how "open source" is that very concept?

    It's the phenomenon that Free Software Foundation has referred to as Tivoization: the user has the legal right to modify a computer program, but the hardware it's shipped on has technical measures to block use of a modified version. A Chromebook's stock firmware is partially Tivoized in the sense that though the blocking can be disabled, disabling it puts the user at risk of accidental data loss every time the machine starts.

  3. GalliumOS by friedman101 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    FYI - there is a linux distribution called GalliumOS which is tailored to support Chromebook hardware. I've been running it for years on my Chromebooks. If you want linux apps, why not just install linux?