From Chromebook to Linux

True confessions time. I’ve been using ChromeOS to run Webdancers, my business building and managing WordPress websites, since 2015. At that time, Windows 10 had just been released, which “encouraged” a connection to Microsoft.com for many of its functions. I was already well entrenched in the Google ecosystem and didn’t feel the need to add another mega corporation to my workflow. After making sure that all of my critical tasks could be done using online services, I made the switch and haven’t looked back.

I still think that ChromeOS and Chromebooks are ideal computers for many people. They are simple and secure by design, and are kept up to date with almost no effort from their users. Over time, they have added the capability to run Android and, for the adventurous, Linux applications.

Google concerns

But all is not rainbows and unicorns in the Googleverse. The Department of Justice wants to break them up, Search (their biggest revenue driver) is under threat from AI, and they continue to suck up vast quantities of information about their users. On the last point, I still think that the value Google provides is worth the anonymity that we give up. But I might not always feel that way and I thought that this was a good time to divest myself of one small piece of my reliance on Google. Plus, I like to tinker with technology and that 13.5” Chromebook screen was getting a little hard on my old eyes.

Enter the MiniPC

I used to build my own computers. Start with a tower case and add motherboard, RAM, graphic card and hard drives, then spend a couple of weeks making it all work. Hardcore gamers, who need massive amounts of computing horsepower, still take this approach. However, a new trend has emerged in business computing over the last few years: the MiniPC. These single board computers were introduced by Intel in 2012 as their Next Unit of Computing (NUC) concept. In the early days, they were low power/low performance devices but are now available with a wide range of CPUs, memory and storage. There is no longer any reason to have a tower computer sitting under your desk sucking up electricity and dust.

I know from my Chromebook experience that my performance needs are fairly modest, provided that the operating system is efficient (i.e. not Windows). ChromeOS is built on the Linux kernel and can operate quite happily on low power systems. Given my love of small but efficient things, I reasoned that a MiniPC with at least the power of my Chromebook and running a full Linux OS, would meet my needs.

Because I’m cautious (and cheap), I wanted to prove that this concept would work, while buying as little as possible. To do this, all I needed was the computer itself, as I already had an external monitor, keyboard, mouse and a 1TB USB hard drive. Luckily, this was happening during the Black Friday sales, so my initial outlay was an affordable $135. Once I had satisfied myself that going in this direction would work, I ended up with the following new hardware:

• GMKTec G5 MiniPC – $135
• KTC H27T13 27” 1440p Monitor – $110
• Logitech Brio 101 1080p Webcam – $28
• Power strip – $11
• USB A hub – $8
• USB audio adaptor – $8

Total: $300 (told you I was cheap)

Moving to Linux

As you may know, Linux is a free, open source operating system available in hundreds (thousands?) of different versions, known as distributions. These distributions are built for various use cases and can differ in their software management system, default desktop environment, target user base (e.g., beginners, power users), and focus on specific tasks (server, desktop, embedded systems). I wanted a general purpose desktop system from a well established team, with long term support and an active user base. I settled on Linux Mint, as it is well known as a system that “just works”.

Having spent so long in the ChromeOS environment, I also have some unique requirements. For now, I want to continue using my Google applications for email, documents, calendar, video chats, and especially my files on Google Drive. Most of these things operate entirely in the browser, so there’s no real change there – but files are different. I need to be able to pull a file from Drive, load it into a program running locally and then save it back to Drive, ideally without the intermediate step of saving it to the local file system. This is more difficult than it should be.

Google, in their infinite wisdom, has never produced an official Drive client for Linux. There are various tools for adding this capability to Linux file managers but they all have shortcomings. For example, I thought I could use a system called Online Accounts, which is built into Mint. It worked fine until I tried to upload an image file directly from Drive to a WordPress Media Library. For some reason, it turns the filename into a hash of characters that WordPress of course doesn’t recognize. In the end, I had to pay for a 3rd party tool called ExpanDrive, which makes things work as expected. This was my only software cost.

I also use a number of online applications that run in their own windows, known as Progressive Web Apps. ChromeOS handles these seamlessly, adding them to the applications menu with a single click. In Linux, they are first added to the Chrome browser, after which a shortcut can be added to the menu. Once installed, they work just fine but figuring all that out took some time.

It would be impossible to transition from ChromeOS, a browser-based system, to a locally based system like Linux (or Windows or MacOS, for that matter), without things working somewhat differently. I was pleased however, that there was a way to continue running every application that I needed, in this new environment. Hardware support is stellar and Linux Mint recognized every peripheral that I plugged in, no questions asked.

Should you switch?

If you are a typical Chromebook user, probably not. The great value of ChromeOS is how little is required of the user to keep it running effectively and securely. Linux, on the other hand, forces you to know at least the basics of how computers operate. You will do a lot more problem solving and tracking down answers, at least during the initial setup stage.

If you are atypical (like me) or a Windows user (I’ve never owned a Mac, so I can’t speak to that), Linux is definitely worthy of consideration. Here are some of the main reasons I chose to switch:

• Performance: Linux runs efficiently on low power hardware. You can get a tiny MiniPC like I did, or breathe new life into an old laptop or desktop. There are distributions for that.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Linux is primarily open source, meaning it’s free to download and use. There are no licensing fees or annual subscriptions.
• Security: Linux is known for its robust security. It’s less prone to malware attacks and viruses, due to its design and community-driven development.
• Customization: With Linux, you have complete control over your operating system. You can tailor it to your exact preferences, from the desktop environment to installed software.
• Stability: Linux is known for its stability and reliability. It can often run for months without needing a reboot, even for software updates.
• Community Support: A large and active community of Linux users is always ready to help. You can find answers to your questions, troubleshoot issues, and learn new things through forums, tutorials, and online communities.
• Learning Opportunity: Switching to Linux can be a great way to learn new skills and expand your technical knowledge. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how computers work and how to manage your operating system.

Next steps

Really, the best way to learn Linux is to use it. Install it on an old laptop or use a live USB drive to boot up a fully functional Linux system without modifying the computer it’s running on. All you need is a 4GB USB drive.

If you want to try the system I’m using, download Linux Mint and follow the installation instructions.

Have fun!