Converting a Chromebook to run Linux - any snags?

fwor

BFBW said:

I think you need to do a bit of research beforehand. You might not be too keen on Bricking a new device

<youtube links>

Well yes - the reason for this question is that I'm doing a bit of research beforehand

Thanks for the links - I don't think it's worth the risk on a brand new machine (it's a Christmas present for someone so I can't get a crappy old Chromebook and modify that). The chances of bricking it seem quite low but it will be a battle if it goes wrong. I think I'll just buy a Windows laptop and throw away the Windows parts.

prowla

You can get any number of 14" (or less) laptops which will happily run Linux Mint.

Dell and Lenovo are common brands.

I'd suggest a minimum of 16GB RAM and not too old a model.

One issue with smaller screens is screen resolution; I wouldn't buy one with less than "Full HD" resolution (aka. 1080p, or 1920x1080).

Storage size is also something to consider; anything less than a 500GB disk will have you having to think about free space all the time.

BFBW

prowla said:

You can get any number of 14" (or less) laptops which will happily run Linux Mint.

Dell and Lenovo are common brands.

I'd suggest a minimum of 16GB RAM and not too old a model.

One issue with smaller screens is screen resolution; I wouldn't buy one with less than "Full HD" resolution (aka. 1080p, or 1920x1080).

Storage size is also something to consider; anything less than a 500GB disk will have you having to think about free space all the time.

Seems another who missed the point. OP wants to consider a Chromebook, as they are cheaper new than Windows laptops. He want to buy new, as a gift.

BFBW

Here is something new and as cheap as a Chromebook: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356474925626 £192.02 Last one.

Probably gone by the time you read this message. Christmas is coming up.

fwor

BFBW said:

Probably gone by the time you read this message. Christmas is coming up.

Correct! "This item is out of stock". Was good value, but at 15.6" it would have been too big. There is literally a specific space (in a camper van) where it can't fit if any bigger - that's why I need nothing larger than a 14" laptop.

No matter - I will wait and see what Cyber Monday - or whatever it's now called - offers. Mostly the offers are poor these days, but time will tell on that one.

BFBW

fwor said:

BFBW said:

Probably gone by the time you read this message. Christmas is coming up.

Correct! "This item is out of stock". Was good value, but at 15.6" it would have been too big. There is literally a specific space (in a camper van) where it can't fit if any bigger - that's why I need nothing larger than a 14" laptop.

No matter - I will wait and see what Cyber Monday - or whatever it's now called - offers. Mostly the offers are poor these days, but time will tell on that one.

Aaah yes, forgot about the size requirement. I knew when I posted it that it would be snapped up quickly. It was sitting there for two days beforehand.

BFBW

Currys has cheap Windows laptops from £130 https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/laptops/laptops/windows-laptops
Obviously not of a high quality.

MyRealNameToo

ChromeOS is ultimately a Linux distribution and so yes a Chromebook can run Linux because thats what's on it when you buy it. If it can run Linux Mint is a more specific question and not as simple to answer. Chromebooks tend to be cheap for a good reason, and it's not because they are avoiding the cost of Windows. 

Personally would look at a slightly older model thats now discounted than an ultra budget new model. For undemanding use you'll probably not tell the difference in performance but likely to be a better built machine etc. 

fwor

MyRealNameToo said:

ChromeOS is ultimately a Linux distribution and so yes a Chromebook can run Linux because thats what's on it when you buy it.

I guess we're heading into semantics now, but the generally accepted view of Linux (as I understand it) is that it is a fully open OS - and ChromeOS is not. It has a proprietary licence. It's not, by that standard, a Linux distribution but rather a derivative of Linux. 

One way in which it is not "open" is that it has a bootloader that (as I understand it) does not accommodate other operating systems. That is the main point that makes it difficult to turn one into a proper Linux-based device - and it's the main reason why I've come to the conclusion that converting a Chromebook is not the way I want to go!

GDB2222

I have never used a Chromebook, but I thought that they were pretty low powered machines because all they do is open a browser, and all the hard work is done in the cloud. 

Then I went back to the OP, which specified two different browsers, with lots of tabs, Google Earth and spreadsheets all running together. Forgetting about the technical details, is a Chromebook's hardware likely to be remotely near powerful enough for all that? 

Just asking out of curiosity.