Anyone who runs Chromebooks knows that they have a roughly 5-year lifespan of patches before Google stops patching them. Google has released an OS called Google Chrome Flex that's meant for running ChromeOS on intel machines - but it runs on EOL Chromebooks, too.ããI had an old Chromebook lying around that I'd flashed the BIOS to SeaBios, an open BIOS replacement that allows booting other OSes. That's the only tricky prerequisite to Chrome OS Flex.ããOnce it loaded up, it looked and felt like a Chromebook. Everything works.ãããMy Chromebook is a Lenovo Thinkpad X131e. an interesting little machine. It's a little on the portly side compared to an ultrabook (it's hostname is CHONK) with a nice keyboard, small trackpad and 11", 1366x768 screen. Intel Celeron 1.6 or thereabouts dual core CPU, 8 GB of RAM (upgraded from 4). It came with a 16gb MMC and no SATA drive, so I put in an SSD.ããI've seen them selling for $30. It's a decent little Windows, Linux or ChromeOS Flex system with a little tweaking.ããããWhen I put Windows on it, Lenovo had Expresscache drivers for it. Expresscache uses the 16GB MMC as a big disk cache, works pretty nicely.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.ã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: poindexter FORTRAN to All on Fri Mar 03 2023 10:47 pmãããOne interesting bit about Chrome OS Flex - I don't know if this is part of Chrome OS as well...ããThere's a linux environment option. It loads a VM with a full debian-looking environment, the ability to add apps through apt, and a nice menu supporting SSH options for remote hosts, including SSH port redirection.ããYou set up a virtual disk for the environment, and it sets up a passthrough from the Chrome filesystem to /mnt/chromeos inside the environment. ããVery cool.ããIt's all running well on an X131e, the best $30 I've ever spent. :)ããThere are a ton of EOL chromebooks being sold for pennies on the dollar; if they're supported by SeaBIOS, then Chrome OS Flex is an interesting option.ããNext up, my mom has an EOL Toshiba Chromebook - it's the 13" ultrabook one with Beats audio, 1080p screen. That would make a killer traveling system if it works out.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.ã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: poindexter FORTRAN to All on Sat Mar 04 2023 10:08 amãã > Re: Chrome OS Flexã > By: poindexter FORTRAN to All on Fri Mar 03 2023 10:47 pmã > ã > ã > One interesting bit about Chrome OS Flex - I don't know if this is part of Cã > ã > There's a linux environment option. It loads a VM with a full debian-lookingã > ã > You set up a virtual disk for the environment, and it sets up a passthrough ã > ã > Very cool.ã > ã > It's all running well on an X131e, the best $30 I've ever spent. :)ã > ã > There are a ton of EOL chromebooks being sold for pennies on the dollar; if ã > ã > Next up, my mom has an EOL Toshiba Chromebook - it's the 13" ultrabook one wããI've noticed on ebay there are several Chrome desktops/ small form factorãdesktops for sale. If I was in the market for another small board computer liãke the Raspberry Pi and didn't need the gpio header, for the price they'dãmake a good replacement.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ The Cave BBS - Since 1992 - cavebbs.homeip.netã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: Moondog to poindexter FORTRAN on Sun Mar 05 2023 08:26 amãã Mo> I've noticed on ebay there are several Chrome desktops/ small form factorã Mo> desktops for sale. If I was in the market for another small board computerã Mo> li ke the Raspberry Pi and didn't need the gpio header, for the priceã Mo> they'd make a good replacement.ããI've got a SFF desktop running as a server - it's got a decent i5 processor, takes 32 GB of RAM, and takes both an M.2 slot and 1 SATA drive (2 if you don't mind zip-tying a drive into the DVD slot...)ããFor about the price of a Pi, I got a much more capable system for what I need. It uses more power and doesn't have the same iot possibilities of a Pi, but it make the basis for a decent homelab.ããThe Chrome desktops/laptops get marked down to ten cents on the dollar as soon as they go EOL from Google. If they're supported by SeaBios, with a little work with a screwdriver and a BIOS flash, you could get a decent low-end system for almost nothing. Run Windows or Linux on them, or continue them with Chrome OS using Chrome OS Flex.ããI'm loving the idea of a Linux VM running in Chrome OS for coffee shop work - you get the battery life of a Chromebook with the flexibility of a Linux shell.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.ã

Hello poindexter FORTRAN!ãã pF> The Chrome desktops/laptops get marked down to ten centsã pF> on the dollar as soon as they go EOL from Google. Ifã pF> they're supported by SeaBios, with a little work with aã pF> screwdriver and a BIOS flash, you could get a decent low-ã pF> end system for almost nothing. Run Windows or Linux onã pF> them, or continue them with Chrome OS using Chrome OSã pF> Flex.ããI don't see cheap Chromebooks on ebay at all. Most are close ãto $100 + $27 shipping.ãã--- OpenXP 5.0.57ã * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)ã þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTPã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: Ogg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Mar 06 2023 08:44 amãã > Hello poindexter FORTRAN!ã >ã > pF> The Chrome desktops/laptops get marked down to ten centsã > pF> on the dollar as soon as they go EOL from Google. Ifã > pF> they're supported by SeaBios, with a little work with aã > pF> screwdriver and a BIOS flash, you could get a decent low-ã > pF> end system for almost nothing. Run Windows or Linux onã > pF> them, or continue them with Chrome OS using Chrome OSã > pF> Flex.ã >ã > I don't see cheap Chromebooks on ebay at all. Most are closeã > to $100 + $27 shipping.ããin the usa i see some for 40usd and up.ããi wouldnt buy one because it's not worth the effort and the outcome.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::ã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: poindexter FORTRAN to Moondog on Sun Mar 05 2023 11:59 amãã > Re: Chrome OS Flexã > By: Moondog to poindexter FORTRAN on Sun Mar 05 2023 08:26 amã > ã > Mo> I've noticed on ebay there are several Chrome desktops/ small form factã > Mo> desktops for sale. If I was in the market for another small board compuã > Mo> li ke the Raspberry Pi and didn't need the gpio header, for the priceã > Mo> they'd make a good replacement.ã > ã > I've got a SFF desktop running as a server - it's got a decent i5 processor,ã > ã > For about the price of a Pi, I got a much more capable system for what I neeã > ã > The Chrome desktops/laptops get marked down to ten cents on the dollar as soã > Run Windows or Linux on them, or continue them with Chrome OS using Chrome Oã > ã > I'm loving the idea of a Linux VM running in Chrome OS for coffee shop work ããRegarding IOT/ projects stuff, I take that back. I saw a video the other dayãregarding the same subject, and GPIO interfaces can be added through USBãconnection.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ The Cave BBS - Since 1992 - cavebbs.homeip.netã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: Ogg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Mar 06 2023 08:44 amãã Og> I don't see cheap Chromebooks on ebay at all. Most are close ã Og> to $100 + $27 shipping.ããI see them on Newegg and a techdeals email list I'm on. Techsavings.com. Woot has occasional deals, too.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.ã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: poindexter FORTRAN to Moondog on Sun Mar 05 2023 11:59 amãã > I'm loving the idea of a Linux VM running in Chrome OS for coffee shop work ã > you get the battery life of a Chromebook with the flexibility of a Linux sheããI've been trying to do this, with no success. Something I read said it might beãimpossible. I'd like to find a desktop like the one you described, though!ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.ioã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: Phigan to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Mar 06 2023 07:51 pmãã > Re: Chrome OS Flexã > By: poindexter FORTRAN to Moondog on Sun Mar 05 2023 11:59 amã >ã > > I'm loving the idea of a Linux VM running in Chrome OS for coffee shopã > > work you get the battery life of a Chromebook with the flexibility of aã > > Linux sheã >ã > I've been trying to do this, with no success. Something I read said it mightã > be impossible. I'd like to find a desktop like the one you described,ã > though!ããi'm not sure he meant VM. i think he installed a type of linux that works on chromebooks. tiny from tinysbbs.com did this.ã---ã þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::ã

Re: Chrome OS Flexã By: poindexter FORTRAN to Ogg on Mon Mar 06 2023 12:18 pmãã > Re: Chrome OS Flexã > By: Ogg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Mar 06 2023 08:44 amã > ã > Og> I don't see cheap Chromebooks on ebay at all. Most are closeã > Og> to $100 + $27 shipping.ã > ã > I see them on Newegg and a techdeals email list I'm on. Techsavings.com. WooããAnother low priced used commodity was thin clients. They were good hosts forãprojects that required a no-frills light linux distroãã---ã þ Synchronet þ The Cave BBS - Since 1992 - cavebbs.homeip.netã