New section for Crostini/Chromebook?

[Quoth]

What about a new section for Crostini/Chromebook?

Even a 2023 Chromebook is supported till 2031.
With the Crostini Linux enabled (a click) it has a slim version of Debian 12 in a container.

Amazingly for Google, Crostini is out of Beta.

It's neither an Android Tablet, nor a straight Linux laptop. The cheaper ChromeBooks are like the old Netbooks (no touch), but work better.

As little as £160 (discounted) for Intel models, which are cheaper because not as good as ARM.

Intel models can easily run WINE32 & WINE64 on Crostini. Some Windows VB6 using OCX and other 32bit Windows programs don't run on 64bit Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11.

Linux
Calibre from Kovid's site works with regular install, once missing libraries are added from the built in Distro (best to sudo apt install synaptic first to avoid guessing on the apt names, even though Wayland is used.
Firefox ESR & Chromium.
Libre Office, The GIMP, Audacity, Audacious, Grsync, KATE, Caja, Pluma, Okular etc.
MTP Android Phones and Tablets work better in Crostini Linux with Calibre than on regular native Linux.

Android & Playstore
Much works via Playstore. Sometimes a ChromeOS version. Some native ARM may not be available on Intel Chromebook and vice versa. Pocketbook, Vivaldi browser, Viber and others. Direct apk install supported.

Chrome OS
Chrome Browser: Extensions to backup firmware, add Compose Key etc work
Obviously the Google apps that are ChromeOS and work both offline and on "Cloud": Docs, Sheet, Canvas etc, but for offline Linux programs are better. It gets updates.

A single slim 11.5" laptop style Intel Samsung Chromebook gives about 6 hours (not 11 claimed) and multiple Android apps, ChromeOS, Linux and a few Windows programs all at same time with copy/paste.

I'd recommend a Getting Started "sticky" but the Android aspect is no harder than any Android and more flexible. The Linux is a bit weird to get initial stuff setup and then not much harder (more Console needed).

What else can you write in LO Writer, make an ebook in Calibre (not tried Sigil), load it into an Android app on the same screen and test? Then easier copy to to MTP phone.

USB Mass storage ereaders need to be mounted in Google FileManager and then Shared to Linux, then accessed as a folder/directory on disk. A Sony NetMD USB does work direct to Chromium on Linux using https://web.minidisc.wiki/ It's using the built in Chromium USB driver.

Network shares can be mounted with Google's File manger for ChromeOS and Android, but the Crostini Linux can mount and remember them directly. I've not tested the Calibre Content server, but the ChromeOS settings have Linux port forwarding. There is also ChromeOS multiple monitor support (like Linux/Windows) and even the cheap Chromebooks can do HDMI via USB-C port (and charge on it at the same time in some cases) with a dumb adaptor or a USB-C monitor. Multiple desktops too.

[PeterT]

The approach used in the past is there has to be evidence that a new forunm is needed before it is created. This nornally means a large volume of posts on a given topic.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by PeterT

The approach used in the past is there has to be evidence that a new forunm is needed before it is created. This nornally means a large volume of posts on a given topic.

That's reasonable, but perhaps due to the strange diverse nature of the ChromeBook with Crostini Linux (and optionally WINE on Intel, though there is an Intel Emulator for WINE for ARM) this might be a case where the new section would attract the posts. It's curious that the ChromeBook is now supposed to be outselling tablets and laptops in USA and elsewhere has higher growth or not as much falling sales.

I had a Windows 10 Tablet with Keyboard for a while and it was curiously frustrating compared to Win10 on laptop or Android on a Tablet. It really was only useful as poor laptop.

The Chromebooks / ChromeOS started off totally rubbish, but current version running on Gentoo Linux with Debian 12 in a container isn't bad. Odd that the Android apps on it seem poorer than Linux & WINE programs. I looked at ChromeOS Flex for an old Laptop, but it's pointless compared to native Linux or a real current ChromeBook because there is no Playstore.

It's also odd that the unified settings page is better organised than any version of Android I've had. I expect the ARM version is better for Android apps and run time, though the 6 hrs on my Intel is achieved by having almost half the internal area as battery!

[Quoth]

I withdraw my suggestion.

If you have a an x88-64 AMD-Intel, not ARM and it's supported by MrChromebox and Chrultrabook Docs then better to install Native Linux Mint 22.1 and Mate Desktop. Then everything works better and faster. Installing as good or better Android in a container on Linux can have Playstore and ARM emulation via Anbox.

ChromeOS Android on x86-64 is poor and Crostini Liinux is crippled and in a container. Stupidly not viable to use the real Linux that ChromeOS runs on. ChromeOS is using Chrome browser to do the windows/desktop.

You don't need to initially disable Write Protect (WP) to install a dual boot native Linux (ctrl L at developer screen after doing scripts in Developer mode), and you can wipe ChromeOS entirely after using the ChromeBrowser Extension to back it up. Then if that works you can disable WP and install alternate BIOS to only have Linux boot.

Faster boot. Crostini is slow to start and also sometimes the network service doesn't start. ChromeOS is much better than a few years ago, but still pointless if you don't want Google Docs, Sheets & Canvas with Gmail and Chrome Browser. Android and Linux support is still poor.

I don't need suspend now, which on Intel will run battery flat as shutdown is near instant and boot to desktop inc log-in about 20 seconds. Longer battery life (8 vs 6 hours using Linux).

ChromeOS is controlled and updated at whim of Google. In T&C. The ChromeOS updates don't update Crostini Linux. The backup system for ChromeOS, Android and Crostini Linux is rubbish.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Quoth

What about a new section for Crostini/Chromebook?...

Originally Posted by Quoth

I withdraw my suggestion.
...

I guess the honeymoon is over.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by John F

I guess the honeymoon is over.

You might call it a Divorce.

I also have Velcro where the Chrome logo is on the lid as I added a 7 port USB 3.x hub. Only one USB port is available if the "netbbook" is on a charger.

The hub has an optional PSU input that can also charge two ports when "laptop" is off. DVD player works fine on it, as does DVB-T stick, 1T backup HDD, isolated USB to TTL serial for Victron solar controllers, USB Parallel, regular USB serial, USB radio programmer, Kindle, Kobo, Sony NetMD minidisc and my favorite MS product (a USB mouse).

keys mapped
Search/Dot key in Caps position is SuperL (=WinL) mapped to Compose
ctrl-alt /? = snapshot window
shift-ctrl-alt /? = snapshot desktop (i.e. Prt Scn)


AltGr modifers
Ten media keys are F1 to F10
Backspace = Del
Four arrows are: Home, PageUp, End, PageDown
Other keys as per normal Linux keymaps.

CapsLock on an external keyboard is Compose.

The 512 G byte microSD is mounted in a directory in my home and has Calibre Library and all my user files.

Apart from the SD card as main user storage, weird keyboard and not working 3.5mm jack socket, it's just like Linux on an small laptop. External keyboard (USB or BT) and 16″ portable QHD via USB-C works (original USB-C charger to 2nd port on external screen charges the laptop).

€160 with warranty from CEX, though some sellers on Amazon UK have the model at £160 + shipping. WiFi runs up to 250 Mbps here (550 Mbps fibre) and 550 Mbps at friend's house (different router and 1 Gbps fibre).