How Different Are They Really?

Linux is in a lot of stuff, but did you know it’s in ChromeOS too? Well, sort of. There’s a strong connection between ChromeOS and Linux, but they aren’t the same thing.

So, if you’ve wondered why ChromeOS feels a little Linuxy, here’s why.

Linux and ChromeOS Are Siblings

At the heart of both Linux and ChromeOS is the Linux kernel. An operating system’s “kernel” is the core of an operating system that dictates how it interacts with the computer’s hardware at a fundamental level. The bit you see and interact with, as well as all the built-in applications and utilities that come with an OS are extras that go on top of the kernel.

So, while ChromeOS is literally Linux at its core, it’s a special tightly-controlled and highly-specialized implementation of Linux. ChromeOS is about as related to Linux as any of the various devices like game consoles or TVs that have software based on Linux. Heck, you can even add Android to the extended Linux family.

These days, ChromeOS can run Linux software, but to make that possible quite a lot had to be added to the operating system. It’s Linux under the hood, but just because a sports car and a pickup truck share the same engine doesn’t make them the same vehicle.

Related

What Is the Linux Kernel, and Why Does It Matter?

What’s at the center of it all?

Linux Is Open, ChromeOS Is Locked Down

One of the most obvious differences between the two is control. With traditional Linux distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch, you get root access, full customization, and the ability to modify nearly anything. Want to change your desktop environment? Swap out the package manager? Compile your own kernel? Go for it.

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (CB516-1H)

A Chromebook Plus with a 16-inch display, a keyboard with a numpad, and an Intel Core i3 processor.

While ChromeOS is built on an open-source software core, only Google has the keys to the experience. This is a crucial selling point of the product, because strict control and security is why Chromebooks are useful in organizations. Yes, there are workarounds (like enabling Developer Mode), but out of the box, ChromeOS is more like an appliance than a tinkerer’s sandbox.

However, I’ve daily-driven Chromebooks before, and for a lot of people there’s really nothing that they typically do on their Linux (or Windows, or macOS) computers that they can’t do on ChromeOS. You might not have access to all the same software, but generally you can do the same work. For those who do most of our work in the confines of a browser, there’s virtually nothing lost.

Related

The Best Chromebooks of 2024

Enjoy affordability, speed, performance, security, and long battery life with the best Chromebooks out there.

ChromeOS and Linux Apps Overlap (a Little)

ChromeOS famously added support for Linux apps through its built-in Crostini VM, allowing users to run full desktop Linux software inside a virtualized container. This means that there’s basically an additional instance of Linux running inside ChromeOS and the Linux app runs on that. This sounds like it would be a performance issues, but thanks to modern virtualization technology, I personally can’t tell the difference.

Either way, this means you can run apps like GIMP or LibreOffice on many Chromebooks—something that was once impossible. If you have a Chromebook Plus, you can even install Steam and play a surprising number of proper PC games thanks to the Proton compatibility layer. With all this virtualization and compatibility stuff going on, I was genuinely shocked that most games (within the hardware’s reach) just work exactly as they do on a Windows or Linux system.

That said, on weaker Chromebooks, even if they support Crostini, performance can be an issue, and it’s hardly the full-fat Linux experience.

Related

Using Steam on a ChromeBook Is Shockingly Good, Actually

Chromebooks can game now?!

ChromeOS Makes It Hard to Mess Things Up

Even if you’ve never used Linux a day in your life, you’ve probably heard that it’s a little too easy to absolutely wreck your computer while doing seemingly simple stuff on the open-source OS of choice. Now, as someone who tried to compile Red Hat Linux as a teenager in the early 2000s, that was definitely true back then and it still can be, but modern desktop Linux distros largely never require that you go near the really lethal stuff. So you don’t have to worry about wiping your hard drive, and every hard drive connected to your computer, by having the wrong punctuation mark in a command.

Whether Linux’s reputation for punishment might not be deserved these days, ChromeOS is pretty much impossible to break unless you know exactly what you’re doing, which is the opposite situation from Linux. This means you are very limited in what you can do, but Google has carefully expanded the flexibility of ChromeOS over the years, without giving users enough rope to hang themselves with.

Related

5 Reasons Now Is the Right Time to Buy a Linux Laptop

Let’s pump up those numbers.

Linux Will Run on Anything, ChromeOS Won’t

I basically alluded to this before, but Linux will run on just about any device with a CPU. You also don’t need anyone’s permission to install Linux on a device of your choice, and the only thing stopping you is your technical ability.

ChromeOS will only run on approved Chromebook or Chromebox hardware. There is, of course, ChromeOS Flex, but that means giving up on Android apps and the Play Store.

Related

I Installed ChromeOS Flex on My Ancient MacBook. Here’s How It Went

Turning my MacBook into a Chromebook.

Linux Is the Full Package, ChromeOS Isn’t

Which brings me to the biggest limitation of CromeOS—software applications. We’ve come a long way from the early days when a Chromebook was literally a paperweight without an internet connection, but there are still strict limits on what software you can and cannot run.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon with Linux

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon with Linux takes everything that is great about the iconic ThinkPad line, adds powerful hardware, and lets you choose between Fedora or Ubuntu pre-installed.

Linux is a full operating system. Run whatever software you want, build or break whatever you want. You are in control. Perhaps sometimes too in control! ChromeOS devices are like TVs or microwaves. They’re built to do a specific set of jobs, and are excellent at those jobs, but don’t have the infinite adaptability of Windows, macOS, or Linux proper.

Related

These 5 Distros Show How Customizable Linux Really Is

Linux lets you bend it to your will.