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Comment by andrewmutz | Hacker News Reader

By default, there is only web browsers and no Linux. Which is nice because by default there can be no malware and it's a good OS for non technical users.

But with one click it installs and makes available Linux. It appears to the user as a debain variant. You can install anything and when you run apps they seamlessly work with the window manager. I've used VScode for software development and it works great. Steam is even available for games, but I haven't tried it.

Window manager is the right balance of powerful and simple. Great at manipulating web browser windows (has virtual desktops if you want them), but works fine interacting with Linux apps as well.

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Is it Google in name only or does it send telemetry of my every click to the mother ship? Would be interested in trying it as a VSCode remote development + minimal Linux utilities platform.

I don't know what sort of telemetry exists. It is easy to try out. From my memory you can use the install USB just as a normal boot drive without installing. So you can go try it out and see if you like it before you install it

What's also great is you can install apps through Flatpak and Chrome OS Flex will recognize it and you can pin it to your shelf. There's a fork of VSCode called VSCodium through Flatpak, which doesn't send telemetry to Microsoft. I've also installed Steam, Discord, Libreoffice in Flatpak without any issues.

What makes you think websites can't give you malware for your Chromebook?

That's like the number one way to get it.

What are you referring to? Chrome extensions?

I'm referring to the fact that it's connected to the internet.

The same way all browsers prevent malware? Sandboxing and regular patches to patch holes in the sandbox?

The Chrome team is very responsive to vulnerabilities in my experience, they roll out security patches extremely quickly and chrome autoupdates you to the latest version soon after.

Yes, the same way. That's literally the point I'm making. OPs original comment, "By default, there is only web browsers and no Linux. Which is nice because by default there can be no malware and it's a good OS for non technical users."

As if ChromeOS isn't going to get malware the same way all OSes do.

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