I haven't had trouble with DEB files, though, and I managed to get software like VS Code running just fine. This means you can install a lot of desktop programs, though I've heard that Flatpaks and Snaps seem to run into issues. Since I last actually used ChromeOS, Google added the ability to run Linux apps via Debian compatibility.

I just need the thing to boot and work properly, such as for novel writing, coding or studying. That's part of its appeal, however, and what makes it ideal for children and people who don't want to fiddle with their computer's OS.ĬhromeOS is great for what I need in a laptop. Coming from things like GNOME and KDE, ChromeOS feels more restricted, much like Windows and macOS. I appreciate the simplicity of ChromeOS, though I lament the lack of features and customizations.

The dash feels very similar to a modified GNOME, but there's a lot of Android's DNA here that also helped me adjust - this was a huge change over when I used ChromeOS several years ago.

But thanks to using the top two desktop environments on Linux, GNOME and KDE Plasma, the ChromeOS UI didn't feel all that different.

Install chrome on macbook pro