It's Linux based, yes, although it's based around the Chrome web browser. Most of what you do on it is based online. It's also fairly locked down by design, so don't expect to install Linux applications directly on the Chromebook without turning developer mode on and using something like crouton (look it up on github). I've never heard of someone installing Windows on a Chromebook (although, I don't doubt it'd be possible). I've only put Linux on my own. It's not as straightforward as you might hope, but it works. Ultimately, if your son can't do what he needs to using Linux, a Chromebook probably isn't the best idea. Personally, I have a Pixel and I'm in love with it. (I had to turn developer mode on and modify the startup scripts to allow for the native resolution of 2560x1700, but that's my only gripe) -Andrew On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 11:22 AM, Mike Miller <mbmiller+l at gmail.com> wrote: > I guess Chromebooks come running Chrome OS, which is "Linux based," but > what are your opinions? Do they have a good package system? Is it somehow > related to Android? > > My son needs a laptop, but I think he might occasionally need a Windows > program and it wouldn't run on this, right? > > Also, a lot of the Chromebooks have minimal HDD, so it would be hard to > install multiple OSs. > > Mike > ______________________________**_________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/**mailman/listinfo/tclug-list<http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://mailman.mn-linux.org/pipermail/tclug-list/attachments/20130822/c9cdfef4/attachment.html>