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Comment by superobserver | Hacker News Reader

Why not by a Chromebook Pixel (2015)? Seriously.

I think if Google decided to sell the Chromebook Pixel (2015) with Linux instead of ChromeOS, OP, I, and a horde of other developers would all buy it.

In reality, it doesn't seem very easy to install Linux on the 2015 Pixel or any other Chromebook without either remembering to press Ctrl+D on each boot or by going through a significant set of hoops.

I've never used a Chromebook, but why can't you just wipe the harddrive with something like gparted and then install a Linux OS as you normally would?

You can and many people (including myself) have successfully done that already - https://github.com/raphael/linux-samus

I think the question of the parent was if you could install Linux as you can with a normal PC (just by plugging an installation CD or USB drive), and the answer would be: "no you can't, unless you go through some hoops".

It's like installing Mac OSX on a PC, or Linux on a Mac: you can, but not easily and not in a way that is supported by the manufacturer.

You just have to scroll down in the link to see that there are several limitations that you wouldn't have with an OS that is supported natively.

Well, he mentioned developers and I'd like to think for the majority of developers those few extra steps wouldn't present a major challenge. Also the hardware is 100% supported when using a linux kernel optimized for pixel - https://github.com/raphael/linux-samus.

I use a Chromebook Pixel as my daily driver, and after wrestling with issues (e.g. no sound) I just went back to Chrome OS. You can see that others are having similar problems with that kernel: https://github.com/raphael/linux-samus/issues

To install Linux on a Mac you literally follow the same instructions as you would for a windows (EFI) machine.

I want the Pixel for its USB C charging capabilities. the biggest reason I don't get one is because while I have no regrets with wiping windows, I have FOMO about wiping ChromeOS.

if the SSD weren't only 64GB... I could put Debian and chrome OS on it.

Have a look at https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton

It lets me run ChromeOS most of the time, and then fire up an Ubuntu session when needed.

I regret mine. Keyboard is missing so many keys, speakers are garbage, getting Debian to support the hardware was nontrivial and stuff continues to break. So few ports. And if it's plugged in when the battery gets to full charge, it will often emit a high-pitched whine until I unplug it, meaning I can't leave it sitting plugged-in with full battery (perhaps a defective unit? but who knows if that's due to running Linux instead of ChromeOS?).

I'm shopping around for a new laptop to replace it, that will be more linux-hacker friendly (more keyboard keys, touchpad with real buttons, etc.)

Agreed. My personal laptop is a Pixel with Crouton to run Linux for development.

I second that. I've got a 2015 Pixel LS and running vanilla Ubuntu (wiped out ChromeOS) with kernel 4.4 and it's a beast. Best laptop setup I've ever had.

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