By way of Twitter, we’ve learned that the Google Play Movies & TV Chrome browser extension has been updated to allow Chromebooks to cache rented or purchased video content for offline viewing. And, given my travels, this may breathe new life into my largely abandoned $250 Samsung Chromebook. It’s been interesting to observe the platform evolve additional local capabilities, given Google’s original positioning as a web-based OS. And, starting at a mere $200, Chromebooks do offer a compelling experience that rivals tablets – especially for those who require and/or are more comfortable with an integrated keyboard.
If you’re up for tinkering, check out Crouton.
https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton
It basically installs Ubuntu linux inside ChromeOS in a chrooted container. You can seamlessly switch between real linux and ChromeOS by hitting a button, no reboot required. This is completely full-featured linux.
Works really well, although you’re much better off with a haswell celeron-based chromebook like the Acer C720 than the Samsung ARM one. With an intel chromebook you can install Steam and stream high-end games to the decidedly low-end laptop, which is mondo cool.
Yeah, Brad Linder of Liliputting has been encouraging me to try that for like a year now. :)
You should! It’s fun to do from a technolust angle, and makes the chromebook much more useful.