A couple of months back, the Android version of Mojang’s wildly popular Minecraft blocked from being used on Chromebooks. At that time, it wasn’t clear as to why the sandbox video game was no longer compatible with Chrome OS. However, the reason became very clear with Microsoft’s recent announcement of Minecraft: Education Edition. This version, […]
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Welcome to Command Line. This is our ongoing series dedicated to the Crostini Project and Linux apps on Chrome OS. We're exploring what's new and what you can do with this exciting new feature.
MX Linux: Installing the #1 Linux distro on a Chromebook [VIDEO]
We’ve been doing a lot of tinkering around Chrome Unboxed as of late. With a recent update to the Linux container on Chrome OS, a number of Chromebooks can now leverage QEMU/KVM to run secondary operating systems via a virtual machine. All of this can be done locally on your Chromebooks internal storage and it’s […]
Continue ReadingManjaro Monday: Installing this Arch Linux branch on your Chromebook
I’ve spent quite a few hours over the past week or so experimenting with different operating systems that can be installed inside a virtual machine on select Chrome OS devices. What began with an unlikely installation of Windows 10 led me down a path of testing out various Linux distributions in an attempt to familiarize […]
Continue Reading5 must-have terminal commands for Linux on your Chromebook
We’ve spent a lot of time over the past week exploring what is possible on Chrome OS. Thanks to some updates to the Linux container, we’ve installed Windows 10 and a variety of Linux flavors. I love tinkering with Chrome OS to see how far I can push the maturing ecosystem but today, we’re going […]
Continue ReadingReader’s Choice: Here’s Pop!_OS running on a Chromebook
We now have a closer look at how Parallels will bring Windows to Chrome OS in the coming months but for the general consumer, it simply won’t be an option. In the latest release from Parallels, the company clearly states that this collaboration with Google is meant solely for Chrome Enterprise customers. The means you’ll […]
Continue ReadingForget Windows, I just installed Elementary OS on my Chromebook and it’s awesome
In my path to Chrome OS enlightenment, I’ve explored many method with which users can run non-native applications and even alternative operating systems. My most recent endeavor involved installing a full-blown version of Windows 10 inside the Linux container on Chrome OS. While I have absolutely no use for such a monstrosity, the path that […]
Continue ReadingWell, I went and installed Windows 10 on my Chromebook
Parallels will soon bring a full-fledged Windows desktop to Chrome OS for enterprise customers but it appears that won’t be only way to skin the proverbial cat. Nesting a virtual machine inside inside another VM on Chrome OS technically isn’t supposed to be possible in the current Stable build of Chrome OS. However, it looks […]
Continue ReadingHow to add the Sid “unstable” repository and get the latest Linux apps on your Chromebook
I’ve gone down a rabbit hole over the past few days in an attempt to install the latest version of Audacity on my Chromebook, taking one step closer to disconnecting completely from other OS ecosystems. We are Chrome OS purists for the most part, but we do still rely on a Macbook for video editing […]
Continue ReadingSay hello to the Linux Terminal 2.0 for Chrome OS
Back in March, prior to the Chrome OS release calendar getting out of whack, the Linux terminal for Chrome OS was undergoing a major facelift that looked to be slated for the release of version 82. Since I generally live in the Canary channel, I was unaware that the update had not taken place. Instead, […]
Continue ReadingHow to get the latest version of Inkscape on your Chromebook
If you were to Google “best vector editors” or “best Adobe Illustrator alternatives,” I’d wager a cup of coffee that nearly every list you find will include Inkscape. The open-source, 100% free illustration and editing program has been the go-to for thousands upon thousands of professional and casual users around the world. Back in May, […]
Continue ReadingHyper-threading disabled for VMs (Linux) on Chrome OS
Remember, more than two years ago, when Intel’s CPUs were exposed to a critical security flaw that practically turned the PC industry on its head? No? No worries. You aren’t alone. Still, the severity of the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities was real and the potential harm they carried was of legitimate concern. Thankfully, most Chrome […]
Continue ReadingHow-To: Installing Google Earth Pro for desktop on your Chromebook
Google Earth is a great tool for a wide variety of use cases. Whether you’re a teacher taking your students on virtual tours around the world or you simply want to explore the earth from the comfort of your living room, Google Earth’s web and mobile platforms offer powerful features such as Street View, knowledge […]
Continue ReadingI installed PlayOnLinux on my Chromebook so you don’t have to
As we dive deeper into the capabilities of Linux on Chrome OS, I would be remiss if I didn’t spend some time experimenting with WINE. What is WINE you ask? Well, by the project’s own definition, Wine (originally an acronym for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”) is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications […]
Continue ReadingYes, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet will run Linux apps
We’ve had the Lenovo Chromebook Duet here in the office for a few days now. There will be a review forthcoming but an email from a reader prompted me to go ahead and share out the answer to a very crucial question that could be the tablet’s hinge pin for some buyers. Linux Applications. Some […]
Continue ReadingHow-to: Installing Calibre E-book manager on a Chromebook
Chrome OS tablets are still finding their place in the consumer market but the pending release of the Duet Chromebook from Lenovo could open the floodgates for the form-factor. With the smaller, tablet-first devices coming, many users may want to use their Chromebook tablets as their primary reader. I’m more into old fashioned analog reading […]
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