This is a very lightweight distro that only comes with the kernel and terminal, giving you full control over your operating system and giving you the freedom to install only the components you’re going to need. 10 Best Arch-Based Linux Distros for Users of All Skill Levels. How to switch from Windows 7 to Chrome OS CloudReady. Right off the bat, this is an improvement over what’s included with Chrome OS by default and since this is Linux we’re talking about, the number of additional apps you can grab from various repositories is almost endless. Though the first stable version is not out yet, you can still download the second beta version of Gallium OS and try it out. * You will receive the latest news and updates on everything that's Linux related! Unless of course you switch it with Linux, which is famous for being the most secure operating system out there. This operating system differs from others on this list as it is not based on a Linux distribution but rather Chromium OS, the development version of Chrome OS. But hopefully we’ll get to hear more about Phoenix Linux in the near future because it shows a lot of promise from what we’ve seen so far. Lubuntu. Turns out, I was wrong on both accounts. Just open the Chrome OS app switcher by pressing the Search/Launcher key and then type "Terminal". First off, the distro is based on Xubuntu, a very fast and lightweight Ubuntu derivative that comes bundled with a decent amount of useful apps. Papyros is another Linux distribution that is inspired by the looks of Chrome OS. While there are several differences between a Chromebook and a MacBook or Windows laptop, the unique operating system is by far the most distinguishing feature. Solus provides a multitude of experiences that enable you to get the most out of your hardware. Admittedly, you can’t benefit from the security features included with Chrome OS if you replace with a different operating system. One of the main advantages of using a Chromium-based OS instead of other Linux distros is the installation process. Feels immediately familiar if you’re a Windows user. We also cover the latest Linux news, games, software, hardware and much more. Unlike regular Linux distros for laptops, Gallium was designed specifically for Chrome OS devices. There is no system hard disk required to run this light OS. NayuOS is a project that wants to give users an authentic Chrome OS experience but without any of its drawbacks. At this stage most of the work is done and all that’s left is … Top 7 Linux Media Server Distros for Creating an Entertainment Hub with Plex, Fascinating Linux Facts and Statistics You Need to Know About, Linux might not be the preferred operating system of most regular users, but it’s definitely the go-to choice for the majority of developers and programmers. You can cycle between the Chrome OS and Linux desktops with Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Back and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Forward on your keyboard—no rebooting required. This distribution aims to outperform Chrome OS on the same hardware platform. Recently, there was copyright issue with Google and Chromixium was forced to change its name to Cub Linux. Chrubuntuwas the first Linux distribution to serve the need of a true Linux OS for Chromebooks. As the name suggest, it is based on Ubuntu but tweaked to run on Chromebooks. So what makes it so special? Chromebooks are based on Google’s web-oriented Chrome OS. The distro is also very good at improving the battery life of your Chromebook and supports fixes for issues and bugs that only affect Chrome OS devices. Feren OS was last updated just a couple of months ago, however, so it looks like the developer is currently focused on that project for now. A lot of other operating systems don’t include a feature like that but most of the distros on this list do offer it, along with many other features that Chrome OS doesn’t have. When the firmware download and installation are completed, reboot your Chromebook. But since Chromium OS itself is a Linux distro created by Google, we figured it would fit on this list just fine. Gallium OS is based on Xubuntu and thus it should be easier to use for even the beginners. Microsoft brought the Linux subsystem on Windows 10 and now Google has introduced Linux on Chromebooks with full-fledged Terminal and Container support. The user interface is just as intuitive as that of its predecessor, with most of the apps and settings you’re going to need being conveniently located in the bottom bar. While Chrome OS itself is based on the Linux kernel, it is not really the same experience as full desktop Linux. -If you're using XFCE, you should disable the screensaver, which can cause graphics issues in Chrome OS.-The Downloads folder in Chrome OS is the same as the Downloads folder on the Linux desktop, so if you download or create a file in one environment, you can put it in the Downloads folder to make it available in the other as well. Another important feature worth pointing out is the integrated Chrome OS mouse driver support. Install Chrome OS on PC with Play Store Support. Lubuntu is heavily reliant on Ubuntu stable for updates but doesn’t have quite the same level of support since this is a community-managed distribution. That means, in theory, you can run Office 365 on pretty much any operating system out there. 1. In your browser, go to chrome://components. The first alpha version should be coming in new few weeks for the early birds to try and test it. Remove Chrome OS and install Linux (possibly) Install Linux inside Chrome OS and switch between Chrome OS and Linux using keyboard shortcuts, thanks to crouton. The operating system is a particularly good choice for users who are looking for an experience that’s similar to the one you get on Windows. Best Chromebook for 2021: Acer, HP, Asus, Lenovo and more compared. At present, Papyros is in early stages of development. Check that your virtual machine is up-to-date. Void Linux is known to be more stable than a lot of other distros despite the fact that it features a rolling release schedule. Of late, software giants are incorporating Linux into their standard operating system in one way or the other. Ubuntu doesn’t come with pre-installed Pip, but here…, “All the best people in life seem to like Linux.” - Steve Wozniak. That was considered a bold move at the time but it turned out to be the right choice given that many other distros ended up making the switch shortly after. Openbox is the centerpiece of the operating system but you can expect a few other applications to come pre-installed. While not necessarily created with Chromebooks in mind, this all-purpose distribution can easily handle any sort of device. The OS doesn’t support all Chromebook models just yet and has a few other limitations. If you download an update, you might need to restart your Chromebook. Just as their name suggests, one of their biggest selling points is the Chrome OS, which comes pre-installed on every device. It will run on any system with the Edge, Safari, Chrome or Firefox browser. It is light, easy to use and also not too resource-hungry like Windows or Mac. Thanks to microcenter for support this build. Chromixium OS is based on Ubuntu and has been admired by many Linux users for its looks. These days you can find Windows laptops that have good battery life as well but those are usually more expensive than a Chromebook. The package manager is equally unique, as are many of the software packages you can find in its repository. Arch Linux is currently ranked at number 1 on DistroWatch and has been for quite some time. But while Feren attempts to replicate Windows and Mac, Phoenix focuses entirely on being the Linux equivalent of Chrome OS. Gnome and Plasma are two other popular desktops, however, these are primarily designed for modern hardware. Arch has a massive community of users that are always ready to help and there’s also a comprehensive guide on the official website that will teach you everything you need to know about getting started. ... and Linux devices. Plug the USB flash drive to the PC on which you want to install Chrome OS. Here are some of the best apps to use on your new Chromebook across the web, Android, and Linux. If you get any Chromebook made in 2017 or later you’ll be able to run Android apps on your device with no hassles. Debian VS Ubuntu – Which One Should You Pick? The reason is that Chromebooks use a custom bootloader that will not boot anything but a signed Chrome OS kernel. Fedora Review: Is It the Linux Distro for You? That’s why it makes perfect sense to install a Linux distro on your Chromebook as it only enhances the portable computer’s already impressive capabilities. If you’re experiencing issues with Linux or Linux apps, try the following steps: Restart your Chromebook. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Here you will find everything ranging from objective reviews about the best distros available to tutorials that will teach you how to make good use of various helpful commands. If you want some added functionality, like a unified clipboard between Chrome OS and Linux, you can also install the Crouton Clipboard extension, but it isn’t necessary. Chromebooks are laptops and two-in-ones running on Google's Chrome operating system. As the name suggests this is an ultra-portable Linux distribution that you can carry with a 2GB USD drive or DVD. If you need any, that is, because Solus comes bundled with quite a few of them from the get-go. At least not in their base form. Linux plays an essential part in powering our modern world and can be surprisingly accessible if you know which distros to start with. If you want the most genuine Solus experience, Budgie is the way to go. Intrigued? Good battery life is essential for portable computers and you can expect your Chromebook to last for quite a while before it runs out of juice. Not with anything but Linux. But don’t worry about having to test a whole bunch of distributions until you find the perfect one because we already did that for you. The package manager is probably one of Void’s most appealing features thanks to its ability to build packages from source using a system known as XBPS. 11 Best Linux Distros for 2020 1. Install Windows. Designed for Everyone. The distro comes with the LXDE desktop environment by default and a handpicked selection of light applications to ensure minimum impact on your system. Here we go with the list of Linux distributions for Chromebook lovers: Chrubuntu was the first Linux distribution to serve the need of a true Linux OS for Chromebooks. Linux does come with a couple of drawbacks that you don’t have to worry about with Chrome OS, however, the pros far outweigh the cons in our opinion. With Arch Linux the sky is the limit. It is a package management utility that allows you to install and manage Python software packages easily. The project is technically still alive but there haven’t been any new updates since then. From … Currently, He is pursuing Masters in Computer Applications and munches books by the dozen in his spare time. This increases its looks many fold. The distro is a pioneer in a couple of other areas as well. The biggest reason for that is the built-in Arc theme, which gives the LXDE desktop a much needed facelift. While the Linux project on Chrome OS is still in beta, the results are quite promising. With that in mind, in this article we’re going to share with what we believe to be the best Linux distros for Chromebook in 2020. He is a graduate in Computer Applications and loves to review Linux distros, open-source software and write how-to articles. As the name suggest, it is based on Ubuntu but tweaked to run on Chromebooks. Now on startup, if you press Ctrl + L, you will get the BIOS screen instead of Chrome OS. They give you a way to install Chrome OS to a flash drive and then boot your system from that flash drive. In this video i will show you how to install Windows 10 on chromebook replacing the Chrome OS. That makes it not just one of the best Linux distros for Chromebook but also ones of the best distros for beginners. Do you own a Chromebook as well? Blackdown is your go-to place for quality Linux-related content. While other operating systems can also get the job done pretty well, Linux is a more specialized OS that was…, If you are a fan of using Python programming language, you can make your life easier by using Python Pip. For home users, Cloudready is completely free. This makes it a great OS to install on your old PCs and Macs which lags and drains the battery. Dual-boot Linux with Chrome OS. My best bet would be to try and install a light Linux distro, like Puppy, Lubuntu or the like. At the terminal prompt, type sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 dev_boot_legacy=1. Press Ctrl + Alt + F2 at the Chrome OS login screen. Although these days Budgie is used by Ubuntu, Arch, Manjaro, and several others distros, the desktop environment was originally created for Solus OS. Mind you, speed shouldn’t be too much of an issue anyway because Gallium OS has better performance than most other Linux distros for Chromebook. Last but not least you have Solus Budgie, which provides the most unique experience and arguably the most features right out of the box. If you’re looking for something different, on the other hand, Solus can easily provide that as well since it offers four different desktop environments to choose from. Next, restart your PC and press the boot key … Linux Tails Review: Stay Safe and Anonymous Online, Ubuntu OS Review – What to Expect When Switching from Windows or macOS. The developers behind Void created the distro from the ground up using the monolithic Linux kernel. Puppy Linux. The first Alpha version of Phoenix was released shortly after the operating system was announced while the second one came in March of 2018. This open source project has been the top choice of Linux users opting for a proper desktop Linux and replace Chrome OS. Your Chromebook will boot into live session mode. That’s mainly because Gallium’s kernel was stripped of unnecessary modules but also because of a couple of special features, such as the ability to use Zram for swap, which is faster than swapping to disk. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our, Four Linux Distributions For Chromebook Lovers, Setup Swift as Glance backend on RDO Liberty (CentOS 7.2), Five practical guides for managing Linux terminal and commands, Registration Opens for Entry Level Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate Exam, Linux Foundation Discounts Instructor-Led Courses, CNCF Releases Free Training Course Covering Basics of Service Mesh with Linkerd, Linux and open source jobs are in high demand. The thought of working with terminal commands may seem intimidating if you’re used to the simplicity offered by Chrome OS, however, it’s not as difficult as you may think. Phoenix Linux is a continuation of that project that popped up a couple of years ago. Another thing that allows Void to stand out from the crowd is the proprietary init system known as “runit”, which replaces systemd. Chrome OS is fairly unique in that it offers more than one “ecosystem” of apps. There are several ways you can do it. Most famously, Void Linux was the first distro to ditch OpenSSL in favor of LibreSSL. Most people who are thinking about buying a portable computer usually get either a MacBook or a Windows-powered laptop, but Chromebooks are a good third option to consider as well. Instead, I am going to list four Linux distributions which are either meant for Chromebooks or they imitate the looks of Chrome OS. Gallium OS is an upcoming Linux distributions that is being specifically developed for Chromebooks. Chromebooks have been generated quite some buzz in the last couple of years. Best distro for beginners: Linux Mint. We placed Phoenix Linux at the bottom of our list because it is still heavy under development, and thus quite unstable. Chrome OS is undoubtedly the fastest Operating System for desktop computers. When you install GalliumOS and reboot the computer, it will boot into Linux automatically with no trace of the ChromeOS. You might need to do a bit of tinkering in order to achieve the perfect look, but the effort is well worth it since you can get Lubuntu to look almost identical to other operating systems you may already be used to, including Windows. Copyright © 2021 The Linux Foundation®. If you’ve been looking into Linux distros for Chromebook in the past you might be familiar with one called Cub Linux. If you are installing Chrome OS on the same PC then keep it plugged in. But since you’re looking into the best Linux distros for Chromebook, we going to assume that you’re not a novice when it comes to operating systems. Thanks to this driver, Gallium OS feels identical to Chrome OS in terms of navigation. Windows vs. MacOS vs. Chrome OS vs. Ubuntu Linux: Which Operating System Reigns Supreme? And when it comes to portable computers, Chromebooks are hands down some of the most affordable devices in that category. Every tweak enables us to deliver a cohesive computing experience. And because it counts as open-source software, you can also write your own applications using Python if you’re a coder. One of the best known facts about Linux is that the operating system was designed with performance and portability in mind. Write Protect Screw. The aptly named Lubuntu is one of the best lightweight Linux distros for Chromebook that still looks and feels like a traditional desktop experience. The good news is that you can uninstall Chrome OS and replace it with Linux. NayuOS isn’t the most stable option out there at this stage but we think it’s still worth keeping an eye on it regardless because the developers have very ambitious plans for its future. There are a dozen or so desktop environments that are officially supported along with several more than were created by the community, so you’re definitely spoiled for choice here. Although discontinued less than a year after its initial release, Cub Linux quickly gathered a cult following thanks to its strikingly similarity to Chrome OS, both in terms of appearance and functionality.