Good Morning...
I have just switched to a chromebook and it has provisions for running Linux as well. I followed the steps and got Linux up and running and have access to the terminal, but cant bring up a GUI. It appears to be Debian. I've done a lot of looking in tutorials but can't seem to hit on the answer to this. My plan is to learn and get proficient in Linux in 2020 and learning the terminal commands might be the best way to learn but I'd like to have a GUI to look at also. If you choose to help, please consider that I'm brand new to Linux and old on top of that.

Thank you,

Wendell

What you are likely seeing is the terminal of the cut down version of Linux that ChromeOS runs.
There are ways to put a full Linux onto a chromebook, but it isn't very user friendly.
I suggest getting hold of a pre used computer & put Linux onto it, it will be easier in the long run.

1 members found this post helpful.

I can second the remark by fatmac. I have a Chromebook as well but Linux on a Chromebook is like trying to use a phone camera to do a professional photoshoot.

Installing Linux on a used laptop is not hard. I'd stick to the usual distro's and I can recommend using Ubuntu. If you want to do something in Ubuntu there is always a TON of information available online, so you won't be stuck for long.

You can check out what laptops are Ubuntu certified on the Ubuntu website. Personally I can recommend getting a used Thinkpad laptop. They're quite sturdy. A 3 or 4 year old model will suffice very nicely, just get one with an SSD and a nice screen of at least full HD resolution.

Thank you fatmac and Hermani,

I had a feeling it had to do with the chromebook but needed confirmation before I gave up on it. I've always been intrigued with linux and decided that 2020 was going to be the year I learned it.

Again Thanks for taking the time.

Wendell

Hi.

It depends on what you're using to run it. If you're doing it the (official) google way, your GUI is already present as it's meant to run GNU/Linux "GUI" apps inside its existing "ChromeOS GUI" (you might need the beta channel to make it functional though).

If you want a more complete Linux GUI (GNOME, Plasma,...) I would still recommend using Crouton (unofficial):
https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton (scroll down for instructions).