How to install Ubuntu on a Chromebook

How to install Ubuntu on a Chromebook In today’s open source roundup: Use Crouton to run Ubuntu on your Chromebook. Plus: The Register reviews Linux Mint 17.1, and part two of how to run Linux on Android devices

How to run Ubuntu on your Chromebook

Chromebooks are red-hot right now in terms of sales, with numerous examples popping up on Amazon’s list of bestselling laptop computers. Many people have discovered that Chromebooks work very well for their computing needs. But a time may come when you need more than just Chrome OS, and for that Ubuntu might be just what the doctor ordered.

Swapnil Bhartiya at Linux.com shows you how to install Ubuntu on your Chromebook:

There are many ways to install a Linux-based OS on your Chromebook. For this tutorial I have chosen Crouton (aka Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment), which is a set of scripts that bundle up into an easy-to-use, Chromium OS-centric chroot generator. The scripts are hosted on GitHub and currently support only Ubuntu and Debian. It offers various desktop environments including Xfce, Unity, and KDE.

Some of the advantages of Crouton are that unlike other methods, you don’t have to reboot your machine to switch operating systems; you can switch between them using keyboard shortcuts as if you are switching between two apps. I tested it on a Samsung Chromebook.

More at Linux.com

Linux.com

Back in March, Dan Graziano at CNet also took a stab at getting Ubuntu to run on a Chromebook:

Any Chromebook is capable of installing Ubuntu, however I recommend using a model that is equipped with an Intel processor. Chromebooks that include an ARM processor will not be compatible with a majority of Linux programs. You will have a more enjoyable experience if you use a newer model with better internal hardware.

It will also help to use some sort of external storage such as a flash drive or an SD card for more space to install any additional programs.

More at CNet

Chrome Unboxed has a YouTube video that walks you through an Ubuntu install on a Chromebook:

More at Chrome Unboxed at YouTube

The Register reviews Linux Mint 17.1

Linux Mint 17.1 has been in the news a lot lately, with a release candidate available for users to check out. Now The Register weighs in with an early review, and it likes what it sees.

Scott Gilbertson at The Register reviews Linux Mint 17.1:

Having tested the latest releases of most major Linux distros in the past two months – Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Elementary and Mint, I can say confidently that Mint 17.1 with Cinnamon 2.4 is hands down the best of the bunch. With a desktop that’s fast, elegant and user friendly, a stable base and the extensive package system Ubuntu is famous for, Mint is the best of several worlds.

More at The Register

Part two of how to run Linux on your Android device

In one of last week’s roundups, I included a link to the first part of an article on how to run Linux on Android devices. Now part two of that article is available.

Gavin Thomas at Linux User & Developer on how to run Linux on Android:

If you want to make full use of Linux on your Android device, the best solutions require rooting it and unlocking its bootloader (see ‘Rooting questions’ section below). Whichever way you do it, this a major step as it will void your warranty and also runs a risk of ‘soft-bricking’ the device – although it can be made to work again if that happens. Another drawback is that unlocking the bootloader will factory-reset your phone and erase all its apps and data, so ensure that you make a backup beforehand.

Once you’ve rooted your phone and unlocked the bootloader, you are able to install and run a compatible Linux distro within a chroot environment on the device. The easiest way to do this is by using one of the installer apps available in the Play Store. We tested out Complete Linux Installer and Linux Deploy.

More at Linux User & Developer

What’s your take on all this? Tell me in the comments below.