Technically, yes, linux just the kernel. Pratically, a chomebook is 'linx' like singapore is a 'democracy'.

These flipping chromebooks are just going to hurt GNU and FOSS IMO.

Probably hurt it as much as Apple hurt BSD. IMO, Linux will not be hurt, or changed by Android or Chromebook. Those will just remain two closed proprietary distros much like OSX is.

Ill personally pass on Chromebook.

There's only two baskets now? Come on.

How many people who arent into computers know that OSX is BSD/Mach based? Virtually no-one, and apple doesnt really talk about it. They didnt call it BSD MacOSX. ;)

Its far more widely known that chrome OS uses linux. Google have actually called it 'Chrome OS Linux' (sometimes) and I'm pretty sure I've seen it called a 'lightweight linux distribution for the best browsing' by them as well.

If you have non-techie users buyng chromebooks to get a cheap repalcement for those out of support XP boxxen, then figure out how much of a walled garden it is, its _not_ going to do linux or FOSS any favours.

Huh? I do not understand this.

I do see your point. You are saying that new initial users to Linux might have their first experience with ChromeOS and find it 'closed' and useless and therefor think that Linux itself is useless.

This is not a new phenomenon though. If you group that in with first-timers that are irritated, un-thrilled, intimidated or unimpressed by linux, i don't think its going to make a new epoch of linux haters. It's going to be the same as it always has been.

They will talk smack about Chrome Linux being crap, and go back to windows, or someone will point out for them that they have only glimpsed what Linux is and so on just like it is now, and they will investigate further and become Linux users.

To be honest, the people that end up using Linux for more than a month, are people who are inquisitive and not afraid to ask questions. Those kind of people who end up with ChromeOS will quickly find that there are many better alternatives, and Linux usage will live on. IMO.

"Yes, I know I write a lot about Chromebooks but they fascinate me. I'm kind of obsessed by them.".....

for me it sounds like a typical e-marketing copywriter, actually the company i'm working is looking for someone like him.

i'm absolutely not impressed by chromebooks, and either from the the hole andorid iphone hype. i barley use my handicapped tablets or those cloud services - is just boring. i think this is for user folks like house wifes and office clerks.

you replace the hardware, plain and simple
if your server's uptime is that critical then that's what redundant hardware is for

moving to the cloud imho is a stupid move as with that all it takes is your account to be spuriously canceled and/or your internet connection to go down and you are dead in the water.

at least with local servers there is a modicum of control over the situation, whereas if your data is in the cloud you surrender control to a third party of dubious trust.

that being said no amount of technology is a viable substitute for a well written and implemented disaster recovery plan.

I have a chromebook, and I use it almost all the time. I have Debian on it, but I find I use it less and less. ChromeOS works. It boots almost immediately, and by far the thing that takes the most time during booting is entering my password. From hibernation it's on instantly. From a cold boot, it's ~5 seconds. And there are few things I can't do in it. For those few things, I can boot Debian. The hardware is as good as any other laptop, pretty much, although the total RAM is lower, usually 2GB, although mine has 4GB. That's plenty for running ChromeOS. There is still some maturation required, but it's coming along quickly. Some may not like it, and some may be terrified of it, but I think ChromeOS is going to be what kills Windows, if anything. Standard Linux has no chance at that, because it requires too much tweaking for the average Joe to put up with. Linux geeks enjoy doing it, but most people don't. I do enjoy it, but I realize that I'm in the minority in that. Most people just want something that works, without having to invest much time and effort. ChromeOS provides that. From the box to full operation takes maybe 5 minutes, usually less. If you want to completely start over, and do a complete reinstall, that takes less than 10 minutes, even if you're a complete noob. Like it or not, having something that just works, instantly, is a powerful draw.

i hear this mantra since 20 years: people do not need a powerful complex pc,
they just want to see a movie, read their emails, see some webpages and bla bla bla...
so lets make them a "dedicated idiot device"(and we make some bugs out of it:)
but this all had not succeeded.

i'm convinced that the people want a ever more power full, complicated and flexible device where their learning curve never exhausted.
above most people use their pc to extend their working performance by more calculus power,just think on architects, designers, scientist....

this slim clients or or this slim notbooks(increased tables) will get very soon boring, as the tablet did,
they first sales decline is already seen this year.

for me its like to play all the same game in the same level.
and additionally nerved by the google adds.

and putting my private data to those gigantic powerful and i think power-station powered google server farms?
so they can scan it and improve their web and human index?
the google employees are not angles or enlighten geeks, their are humans as everybody.
the latest google exe'c with heroin overdose and a hooker on board shows this clearly.
i bet he had full clearance to all of their collected data.

Jeepers. I don't store anything of value on the cloud on my Acer C710 ChromeOS Chromebook.

I have a SD card slot and USB ports for that.
I guess some folks did not know they, (Chromebooks), came with that.
The hdmi port has been a life saver also.
It was cheaper than a Android Tablet. Or a cellphone.
4gig of ram.
Dual core Celeron processors.

The capability to install any distro with a kernel giving the touchpad some love later on.
Why all the Hate for a $100.00 netbook, (What I paid for a refurbished one)?

Your cellphones are more vulnerable. No?

Edit: I guess I can throw out one thing that does not make these netbooks perfect.
Being locked out of bios without jumping through hoops.
Seems to be a Vendor thing more than a google thing though.

Like it or not, UEFI is here to stay, on all platforms. Its not just chromebooks.

The HDMI port is becoming less important for me, because wireless is far more convenient. I use my Chromecast most of the time, because running that long HDMI cable is a PITA. I plug the Chromecast into an HDMI port on the TV, and leave it there, and I can cast to it from my chromebook, my phone, my tablet, or my desktop, without any other wires being involved. But the HDMI port is sometimes necessary, and it's essential, IMO.

I store stuff in the cloud, and don't worry about most of it. If Google, the NSA, or anyone else finds out what music I own, I don't really care. I have all my music backed up in the cloud, and I like that capability. Any personal files that I care about are encrypted before they go to the cloud, if they go. Most of my files are backed up on local storage, and what is in the cloud are files that I need access to frequently, but which don't have personal data. Some people are terrified of new ways of doing things, without actually understanding much of it.