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Pixelbook and 'Nami' Chromebooks the First To Get Linux GPU Acceleration in Project Crostini (aboutchromebooks.com)

Posted by msmash on from the up-next dept.

Kevin C. Tofel, writing for About Chromebooks: I've been following the bug report that tracks progress on adding GPU acceleration for the Linux container in Chrome OS and there's good news today. The first two Chrome OS boards should now, or very soon, be able to try GPU hardware acceleration with the new startup parameter found last month. The bug report says the -enable-gpu argument was added to the Eve and Nami boards.

There's only one Eve and that's the Pixelbook. Nami is used on a number of newer devices, including: Dell Inspiron 14, Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630, Acer Chromebook 13, Acer Chromebook Spin 13, and HP X360 Chromebook 14.

23 comments

  1. 2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by SurenEnfiajyan · · Score: 1

    I won't wonder if Chrome OS becomes a decent alternative to Windows one day.

    1. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Bobrick · · Score: 0

      One day, yes. When it can run Windows programs.

    2. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by BlackOverflow · · Score: 2

      It easily could. We have a Chromebook and a Chromebit, and both are perfectly fine for doing most common tasks (email, youtube, etc.). They can run Libreoffice, and therefore could replace windows for most business employees, which would kill M$.

    3. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by bogaboga · · Score: 1

      I won't wonder if Chrome OS becomes a decent alternative to Windows one day.

      But with Google's track record on execution, I doubt you'll see anything consequential on the desktop.

      Look, they have screwed up so much in recent years, if Google's messaging regime on Android is anything to go by.

      I would be proud to award Google a D- (D minus) for this. Never mind the so called "top talent" at Google.

    4. Re: 2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think most people would give them a barely passing grade. It has always been googled problem when they hear mediocre feedback they then try to find someone who will give them slightly better feedback and it does not matter. If you have a customer who gives them something higher than a D- but will not use their products that customer may as well not exist. If they have a customer who has demonstrated a commitment to use googles software or services or whatever and the same customer is the customer giving them the worst feedback they are still stuck with the customer. Spouting nonsense about how someone complimented the google apps on the street and then disappears and bought nothing simply isnt going to cut it.

    5. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It will if you can run Firefox on it.

    6. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've had terrible luck, because you are many times stuck running Linux ontop of ChromeOS. So you'll always have nag screens, Google tracking you, and 4 years from the Chromebooks release date security updates end leaving you with a chunk of e-waste.

    7. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Depends on what you want to do...
      Most Windows computer users just run a web browser and email and word processing... maybe a spreadsheet now and then for "advanced" users. These functions can easily be replaced with a Chromebook at lower cost and better security. This includes most business users and most home users.

      If you need games, you'd better stick with Windows.

      If you need video processing and graphics, Mac is probably better

      If you're a programmer, you're probably running Linux and a lot of what you do could be done on a Chromebook with Crostini. (If you're locked into some Microsoft development environment... well, then you're locked in... that was their plan and you fell for it.)

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    8. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought an old Dell E6520 a year ago that was a corporate cast off, for maybe $30 and its been just great. Get a small older SSD, install Fedora. Its great, nice cpu, 8GB of memory, and I could try to use the NVidia GPU with a different setup like Ubuntu if I wanted to. I do not understand why someone would buy a Chromebook and then want to run Linux. There are much better and cheaper options.

    9. Re:2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      About Microsoft Development Environments, there's not much lock-in anymore. Their most advanced dev environment is now Windows/Mac There are compatible tools for Linux. And, it' is a pretty good dev. environment.. Their most popular one is Windows/Mac/Linux.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    10. Re: 2019 The year of Linux on chromebooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What are these cheaper options that are new?

  2. The "Linux" system isn't even available on popular by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The "Linux" system isn't even available on popular Chromebooks like Skylake machines (ASUS C302 arguably one of the best older Chromebooks ever made)!!!

    ChromeOS is Linux, there is no reason the "Linux" container system is machine dependent, it makes no sense. I run Arch Linux on the same Chromebook and I can do anything even full blown virtual machines. Why can't ChromeOS do it?

    How about work on that first instead of machines for rich people?

  3. Google needs to stop messing around by xack · · Score: 1

    Give us real Linux without hacks or developer modes. Google can make desktop Linux mainstream, it's just too scared that free (in libre and gratis) software will make their ad tech ruined.

    1. Re: Google needs to stop messing around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They learned from their mistake when they designed Android. When competitors were able to strip Google's ads and telemetry from the OS, they realized that they need to lock it all down to prevent it from being used by rival companies.

      Google is never going to support libre software. They would never risk having their work used in ways they can't profit from.

    2. Re:Google needs to stop messing around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google can make desktop Linux mainstream, it's just too scared that free (in libre and gratis) software will make their ad tech removable.

      FTFY.

      The reason they don't let you have linux without hacks or dev modes is because Google wants enough control over the device to monetize you and your data with it.

      The fact that we've been given GPU access at all is the result of a bunch of stockholm syndrome patients begging their captors: "Please Mr. Google. Please give us GPU support. We'll be good. We promise."

      Most of the Windows models are just rebadged versions of the Chromebooks and vice versa. So you have no real excuse. If you want real linux without the hacks and dev modes, buy a real laptop.

    3. Re: Google needs to stop messing around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ChromeOS devices can be unlocked, you can install something else.
      It is mostly open source, just like Android is.
      They even have Coreboot which is more open than most PCs.
      They are free to close the AOSP source, yet keep it open. For ChromeOS they even chose Gentoo, which they can't close.
      And they _support_ a Debian environment now.
      They are a top contributor to the kernel, they also work on upstreaming much of their Android work.

      If they regret opening stuff and intend to never support libre software/competitors, they are doing a terrible job.

  4. On the Pixelbook... by johnwfran · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... could they also make the goddamned Bluetooth reliable? It's been a year, and bluetooth regularly shits the bed.

    1. Re:On the Pixelbook... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes - that would be good. Bluetooth craps out every other day for me...other than that, I love the device...

  5. Pretty amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On my Acer Chromebook I was in the settings menu last week and there was an entry for "Enable Linux". What-the-hay. I clicked "enable" and bingo --- Linux. No disk images, no usb boot drives, not special kernels. Just click "enable Linux". Bingo. Slick as a willy.

  6. Not many average folks need it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Chrome OS has what? Like half a percent of overall OS market share. Even Linux desktop has over 2% and Mac OS 7% or so. Last I used a Chromebook it was dreadfully under powered even to run too many Chrome tabs. I mean you got past a half dozen and things slowed badly. Yet there supposed to run a Linux app, or Android apps too?? What exactly is Google creating in such a Frankenstein OS that is just a cobbled together mess!