Chrome OS Flex – implications for Linux?

[Member punranger]

I was just watching “Explaining Computers” YT-channel, where today’s topic was “Chrome OS Flex: Google’s New PC OS”. You can now with a few simple steps install Chrome OS on any computer with a 64-bit processor and 4 gigs of ram. No direct competitor for antiX, but I was curious as to what kind of effect this would have on the usage of something like Ubuntu-type distros.

I’m assuming most members here balk at the idea of an OS that is directly tied in with a Google account. But the general public favors convenience over control, so I’m wondering: Could this new version of Chrome OS present a threat to mainstream Linux distros, or will it cater to the audience that cant or wont continue updating Windows? Or will something else happen altogether?

Here’s the video I watched by the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFAg1FkGgMM

antiX linux: The best way to revive an old computer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTaUAP6sSg

[Member olsztyn]

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punranger wrote:

I’m wondering: Could this new version of Chrome OS present a threat to mainstream Linux distros, or will it cater to the audience that cant or wont continue updating Windows? Or will something else happen altogether?

Interesting question and IMHO only future will tell what impact it will have on Linux landscape, if any at all… My quick take would be to consider the following factors, on which I may be wrong too:

– Some users will likely try it and perhaps use on more permanent basis, but I do not expect this to shake up Linux landscape unless Google puts lots of effort (and money) into publicity and marketing so as to attract interest. Google has deep pockets though and can impact the future of this OS, if such is their strategy.
– It appears to me it is not very efficient, considering on i5 and 4Gb it is sluggish in the video. Such specs are a typical Lenovo Thinkpad T410, on which even Windows 10 seems faster. This seems to cut off any older, less powerful machines as well. So the potential user base would likely be those reasonable specs machines, which are not eligible for Windows 11 by Microsoft’s decree. Even if they could run Windows 11 just fine, if Microsoft allowed to install it. On the other hand most users will probably continue running Windows 10 on such machines until major apps will no longer run, forcing users to upgrade. In such case though, if such major apps like MS office stops running on Windows 10 (distant future) those users are more likely to buy Windows 11 machine than convert to either Linux or Chrome OS Flex, if it still exists…
– Although Linux user base is quite fragmented into multitude of distros according to individual preferences, it seems all Linux users are rather unified in one aspect – their sense of freedom and dislike any control on them, which both Google or Microsoft like to have. So locking themselves into Google’s ecosystem based on Google account is a significant problem in itself.
These are just a few points to take into account…

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by olsztyn.

Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters

[Member clementishutin]

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Linux has more flexibility. Try a different distribution if you don’t like Ubuntu with the Gnome desktop. Try Linux Mint if you want something straightforward. Flex is something I enjoy, but I wouldn’t use it to replace a Linux distribution. It is beneficial for those who don’t want Windows or to learn Linux.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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Chromebook models already exceed Linux models by a wide margin. Keep in mind that they all use a Linux kernel!

In that context Linux, with mobile, desktop and server implementations has more systems running a Linux kernel than anyone else.

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Brian Masinick

[Forum Admin rokytnji]

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I ran chromiumos on my single core atom netbooks.

https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/

1st thing that threw me off was shutdown
Shutdown like a phone. Gotta use the power button. Like a hard reset.

Internal partition scheme was a nightmare.

I don’t sweat my online security in this day and age. If they really want me. I am screwed.

Just test driving to see how it ran was all. antiX ran quicker and easier.
It was not hard to install though.

Sometimes I drive a crooked road to get my mind straight.
Not all who Wander are Lost.
I'm not outa place. I'm from outer space.

Linux Registered User # 475019
How to Search for AntiX solutions to your problems

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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I’m gonna check out this Chrome OS Flex and see how it goes; I do have an Acer Chromebook 715 to go along with my Linux systems.
I use the Linux systems more often than anything else, but the Chromebook comes in handy on occasion, particularly when traveling; just change the Wifi network I’m connected to and resume. So the Chromebook is handy for that. Being a retired geek though, Linux is still my preferred every day distribution of choice, mostly either Arch or Debian-based distros.

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Brian Masinick

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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I actually tried this yesterday on one of my systems and got through over half of the procedure before one of the steps to actually create and install the image would not enable me to create or install the image.

While others may have success, I am not going to pursue it further because I have both Chromebook and Linux systems and several devices for testing, more than I frequently use now except when we have antiX images to test.

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Brian Masinick

[Member olsztyn]

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Brian Masinick wrote:

While others may have success, I am not going to pursue it further because I have both Chromebook and Linux systems and several devices for testing

Thanks Brian for sharing your experience.
I have never been interested in Chromebooks but just of curiosity I installed Chrome OS Flex on one of my Thinkpads, X61, Core2Duo, 3Gb memory, from about 2008.
Having played with it for a couple days:
– Installation screens – very poor graphic quality. Hardly able to figure out, such as WiFi list. Had to guess sometimes. In dire need of improvement.
– After completed installation graphic quality is surprisingly good.
– As expected, google login is needed to log in. I do not see any option for a local account. Google trying to force on users their own ecosystem.
– It looks like they make frequent system updates and today’s update significantly improved interface and added functions.
– Apps typical as expected from Google ecosystem, so Google docs, etc…
– Operation surprisingly snappy on such rather old machine with 3Gb. t appears they pre-load parts of Chrome and other from Google software infrastructure. Quite different user experience comparing to the video from the initial post in this thread.
– After today’s major update it seems much more useful to typical non-Linux user than yesterday’s version.
– Network printer HP Color Laser Jet 4550 installed with no problem. Printing works.
– It sees SMB2 network shares with no problem. Attaching network shares is easy. Does not seem to detect SMB1 shares by default.

The above are just a few results of my testing. In general it does not seem like a system for me but I can see some typical non-technical users might find it just right for them. Linux users who enjoy Linux intricacies and tend to be technical in internals and specific for them choice of software – I do not think so…

Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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Thank you for successfully installing Chrome Flex OS and sharing the experience with us along with the details. My system had a key link disabled; I am thankful for your success!

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Brian Masinick

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