Chromebook

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by theducks

I am typing this on a Optiplex 9020 (i7 not W11 ready) and it is my main Calibre Library.
My intake is on a Optiplex 780 (someting is off, as it is as DMA is not functioning), But it will boot Mint.
I also have a really ancient (c 2003) L675. The newest is a Brother Color MFC

Mint is more like W7 I frequently use (from live CD) GPARTED to move around drive partitions

Buying old laptops and micro computers (and Wyse Thin Clients) from Shop Goodwill and updating them is kind of a hobby for me. (Or was. I've finally convinced myself to quit buying the dang things.) On the Dell Latitudes and Optiplex Micros, the Windows license is built into the BIOS, so I can install Windows when I get (got) them and you can (currently) install Windows 11 on an Optiplex 9020. Whether Microsoft will permit that in the future, or offer updates for those who do this, I don't know. Just use Rufus and check the no TPM check. You can also bypass creating an online Microsoft account using Rufus.

I haven't done it yet, but I'm going to see if I can set up FreeDOS on the 8 GB built-in drive (eMMC, so it's slower storage) on a Wyse 5070 Thin Client and then install Linux Mint Xfce on the 64 GB SSD, so it will be a dual-boot with Linux/DOS. Currently I'm dual booting Bunsen Labs Linux on the 8 GB drive (built on Debian). But even though Bunsen Labs Linux is small, it's still cramped on 8 GB eMMC RAM.

Linux Mint Xfce runs well on the Wyse 5060 and 5070 Thin Clients, more so if you limit YouTube videos to 720p instead of HD. Still impressive little Linux machines and very low power.

Sorry about rambling.

If you're interested in a Wyse 5070, it's easier to buy one with enough RAM, 8GB eMMC storage and 64GB SSD preinstalled. They have an SSD port, but it doesn't use standard sized SSDs. They take a standard Dell (7.4mm tip) power supply (65 watts or above), so finding power supplies is not a problem.

Like this one for $42.50 shipped...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18707860468...tedSearch=true

This would make a good, Linux Mint Desktop computer. Very low power, no fan. They even have a USB-C port with Display Port built in — plus two standard display ports. (You also might want to look for one with built-in WiFi. These linked ones don't have it, just Ethernet.)

(And I keep rambling.)

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by The Old Man

So, if I go with the Chromebook and find I don’t like it I could, perhaps, install Linux? I like that thought. And if things go south I’m only out $300.

The Linux that can be enabled on top of ChromeOS is crippled (for storage access and Wayland not X) and awkward (console to install / configure, and one icon to access all icons). Icon creation often fails on installs.

The alternate is to install a native Linux rather than ChromeOS, but not always possible.

See
https://docs.mrchromebox.tech/docs/getting-started.html

and
https://docs.chrultrabook.com/docs/f...d-devices.html

It's possible on some models to full install only Linux without disabling Google's mad "Write Protection", though then you have to type Ctrl-L at boot. I did that first to test. Then I disconnected battery and soldered link to disable Writeprotect. Sometimes you then need to re-install after running the script to replace ChromeOS BIOS, but my Linux Mint just worked. About 15 to 20s to boot and start logging in.

Disable suspend on closing screen because if you shutdown and close screen it suspends and runs battery flat.

Getting longer battery run time and x2 speed on native Linux Mint than Crostini Linux running on ChromeOS.

[Quoth]

See also
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/...f_10_campaign/

[The Old Man]

Thanks.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Linux that can be enabled on top of ChromeOS is crippled (for storage access and Wayland not X) and awkward (console to install / configure, and one icon to access all icons). Icon creation often fails on installs.

Yeah, I ran into that. I figured out (or, rather, I found what others had figured out) that the icons had to be copied to a non-home directory (but I still have to do it by hand). I use /usr/share/icons. For *.desktop files I use the /usr/share/applications directory (again, not in the home directory). I'm guessing this is an issue specific to the Chrome OS's implementation of Debian. At any rate, I have my Linux icons showing now.

That said, if you're only going to put a couple Linux applications in Linux under Chrome OS, it should work okay. Personally I would buy a regular (newer, used) laptop and install Linux Mint instead.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by The Old Man

Thanks.

Sorry for the overload.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Yeah, I ran into that. I figured out (or, rather, I found what others had figured out) that the icons had to be copied to a non-home directory (but I still have to do it by hand). I use /usr/share/icons. For *.desktop files I use the /usr/share/applications directory (again, not in the home directory). I'm guessing this is an issue specific to the Chrome OS's implementation of Debian. At any rate, I have my Linux icons showing now.

That said, if you're only going to put a couple Linux applications in Linux under Chrome OS, it should work okay. Personally I would buy a regular (newer, used) laptop and install Linux Mint instead.

Even then, it needs particular image format and minimal entries or ignored. Google use custom daemons such as garçon and sommelier.

Caja Admin plug-in and other programs that need a password/sudo will fail due Google's secuity model.

Crostini (Debian 12 Linux) has a buggy version of Wayland with X emulation. Some programs won't work, though Libra Office, Gimp, synaptic package manager and Calibre mostly work (no USB MS but there is MTP).

I've used Linux for over 25 years and I gave up. It's intended purely for people developing and testing Android applications using mostly Linux console tools.

It's badly documented. I managed to create an additional container for a separate install of Linux, but you get Crostini by default. Not enough RAM, storage or CPU for the overhead of the VMs and Containers.

Wiped and reinstalled as a Linux netbook (11" screen) it's almost perfect (3.5mm jack doesn't work) except I can't make the media keys be F1 to F10 by default, you need AltGr <media key>. ChromeBook has a stupidly too minimal keyboard. I had to remap 8 keys as AltGr overloads. Caps lock is actually Win-L (Super-L is Linux default) so is now Compose as well as Capslock (external keyboard).
I only paid €150 and got 3 year warrenty S/H from locally CEX. My desktop is a Dell 7030 lunch box with a decent 512G SSD and 4T SATA HDD, actually €130 from CEX.
My Linux server is a desktop PC a local office was junking.

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Recall, in itself, is enough reason to jettison Windows (in my opinion).

I am not fond of the changes to the UI in Windows 11, but Recall isn't a big deal as it only runs on a Copilot+ system and is opt-in. There are many better reasons to be mad about Windows 11.

My solution to most of them is to use Windows 11 Education, which removes pretty much all the ads and telemetry, and doesn't do the "auto-install whatever app MS is pushing this month" thing.

[The Old Man]

Just saw this a moment ago:
https://search.app/8misgZFrVLME43im6

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Even then, it needs particular image format and minimal entries or ignored. Google use custom daemons such as garçon and sommelier.

Caja Admin plug-in and other programs that need a password/sudo will fail due Google's secuity model.

Crostini (Debian 12 Linux) has a buggy version of Wayland with X emulation. Some programs won't work, though Libra Office, Gimp, synaptic package manager and Calibre mostly work (no USB MS but there is MTP).

I've used Linux for over 25 years and I gave up. It's intended purely for people developing and testing Android applications using mostly Linux console tools.

It's badly documented. I managed to create an additional container for a separate install of Linux, but you get Crostini by default. Not enough RAM, storage or CPU for the overhead of the VMs and Containers.

I guess my needs are simpler than yours, I've had decent luck running several applications that I use in Linux — like Trelby, JOE Editor, Fade In, DOSBox-X, Simplenote, Calibre, EMacs (with the Fountain-Mode plugin), Firefox and a few others. I just use the Chrome File Manager, so I haven't tried Caja. I don't know if I'm using Wayland or X11 in Crostini, but whichever it is, it seem to work fine.

Originally Posted by Quoth

Wiped and reinstalled as a Linux netbook (11" screen) it's almost perfect (3.5mm jack doesn't work) except I can't make the media keys be F1 to F10 by default, you need AltGr <media key>. ChromeBook has a stupidly too minimal keyboard. I had to remap 8 keys as AltGr overloads. Caps lock is actually Win-L (Super-L is Linux default) so is now Compose as well as Capslock (external keyboard).
I only paid €150 and got 3 year warrenty S/H from locally CEX. My desktop is a Dell 7030 lunch box with a decent 512G SSD and 4T SATA HDD, actually €130 from CEX.
My Linux server is a desktop PC a local office was junking.

I've looked at the possibility of installing Linux on a Chromebook, but there always seems to be "gotcha's" so, so far, I haven't done it (or even tried). I may do it at some point however. I know if I could get Linux working right on the Chromebook instead of Chrome OS I would be much happier with the little machine.

My old Dell Chromebook 3189 basically has one purpose, for writing, and it seems to work well for that.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

I am not fond of the changes to the UI in Windows 11, but Recall isn't a big deal as it only runs on a Copilot+ system and is opt-in. There are many better reasons to be mad about Windows 11.

It's a big deal to me, and I personally suspect that at some point Recall won't be optional. I didn't realize, however, that it only runs with Copilot, so that's good news (since I would immediately uninstall Copilot anyhow).

Originally Posted by nabsltd

My solution to most of them is to use Windows 11 Education, which removes pretty much all the ads and telemetry, and doesn't do the "auto-install whatever app MS is pushing this month" thing.

I'm not deep enough into Windows to know much about these options, but this is good to know should I ever have to use Windows. Probably won't be happening (for me anyhow, some of the family members might be interested).