Russia is beginning the process of transitioning from Windows to Linux. Most likely as a way to avoid sanctions and to no longer be under the control of a US multinational corporation.

  • Arsen6331 ☭
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    2 years ago

    The chromebook I have probably wouldn’t qualify as ultra portable. It’s a 15 inch 2 in 1 laptop that is quite heavy and doesn’t have much power. Also, getting them to run Linux isn’t the easiest task.

    You have to enter developer mode, remove the firmware WP (sometimes a screw, sometimes you have to disconnect the entire battery), flash an alternative firmware, compile a custom kernel with a custom config, find and download Google’s ChromeOS recovery image, mount it, find their audio server, touchscreen drivers, etc., copy them to the right place on the system, properly configure CRAS (Google’s audio server) to interface with PulseAudio, create a newer ALSA topology file for the sound card (the one included in the recovery image uses an old format), and then reboot and hope it works. Depending on the kernel config, systemd might just hang and never even start working. Also, if the TPM isn’t properly utilized by the kernel, your chromebook will brick itself the second you try to suspend it. I pieced this all together from code and documentation from various different places. Also, after all of this, you’ll likely be stuck on an old kernel (usually 4.4) missing a lot of features.

    I don’t recommend using a chromebook unless it’s your only device as it was for me when I did this.

    • @holdengreen
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      32 years ago

      what about the old x86 chromebooks that can run Windows and ChromeOS?

      • Arsen6331 ☭
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        2 years ago

        Yeah, my chromebook is x86. It’s using an apollolake pentium. The older your chromebook, the better the support. Braswell chromebooks are basically perfect in terms of mainline support, for example. It usually takes years to get chromebooks to a usable state on an unmodified install because Google doesn’t want to contribute anything and there aren’t many people working on them.

        If you want a relatively cheap Linux laptop, I’d look at the Pinebook Pro, which is designed to run Linux, so it will be a much better experience.

        • @holdengreen
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          12 years ago

          you need some chunky battery for 22nm. also those things aren’t seemingly vulkan compatible.