Rick Thomas wrote:
I was googling for an inexpensive laptop for a friend and came across the chromebook C710 from Acer:http://www.staples.com/Acer-C710-2847-116-Chromebook/product_125265 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215914 • Intel Celeron 847 1.1GHz • 2GB Memory (expandable to 4GB) 320GB HDD (5400RPM) • 11.6" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit LCD • Wi-fi 802.11a/b/g/n • Google Chome OS Price $200. Can't beat the price!Does anybody have any experience with this device? Can I put Debian on it? How about other flavors of Linux? Failing that, what do you think of Chrome-OS? Can it run Libre Office?Thanks!
I have a different model Chromebook with an Atom processor and a SSD. It should run Debian just fine; I have Debian on an older netbook, but good luck installing it! (My info is about a year old and from memory) Chromebook BIOS is locked-down pretty tight. You will have to find a "signed" installation distro and install it on the chromebook in "Developer Mode."
Chrome OS runs on a Linux kernel, but the terminal has *very* few commands, and you cannot get to the update manager or install any Linux software. You can install free "apps" from the Google store.
It would be maddening as a primary computer, but I actually like it as a web appliance, except there is no native printing support. (They *really* should support CUPS) To print, you have to have a Windows or Mac running as a network print server, or a few newer printers have a built in Chrome-compatible print server.
HTH :-) Bob