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> Kimathi Bradford, a 16-year-old Oakland tech repair intern, has looked into whether there was a way to replace the outdated Chromebook software with a non-Goo

> Kimathi Bradford, a 16-year-old Oakland tech repair intern, has looked into whether there was a way to replace the outdated Chromebook software with a non-Google brand, but it ended up being a lot of work, Kimathi said, and the open-source replacement wasn’t up to par. > “It’s like the Fritos of software,” he said. “No one really wants to use it.” At the risk of being a 'typical HN commenter', I wonder why not? Obviously there would be a learning curve but I feel like all students would need is a Linux operating system and a web browser.

Kerb_ 3y ago
Linux and a web browser is all almost anyone needs. The reason we don't teach students it is the same reason most adults haven't learned it, and possibly in part because most adults have no experience with it. Meanwhile, ChromeOS is intended to be an extremely accessible operating system. There is almost no learning curve if you're coming from Chrome as a web browser or MacOS. Most students, at the age they get assigned Chromebooks, have been using Google Docs, Slides, Drive, etc for years. A device that seamlessly integrates all of that is surprisingly nice, and the reason I got a Chromebook to supplement my home PC. It's also very hard to fuck up a ChromeOS install to the point of unusability. It's easy for administrators to apply required apps, rules, and settings to all the Chromebooks in the organization, which is great when you need web filters and surveillance software to make sure students follow the rules with the devices. Google also provides tech support for the hardware and software, and I don't think Linux distros are gonna come with that level of support.