The first thing we must understand is the Chromebook concept. A Chromebook is a laptop that uses the Chrome OS operating system, which is a variant of Android, created by Google.
The Chromebooks they have won great popularity since its launch in 2011, due to the lightness of its operating system, designed in principle to work almost exclusively with an internet connection.
The appeal of this operating system to Raspberry Pi users is due to the Combining the affordable cost of a Raspberry Pi with the simplicity of Chrome OS. If you want to know how to enjoy this combination of price and simplicity, read on!
What are the benefits of using Chrome OS on a Raspberry Pi?
The Chrome OS operating system was released in 2011 as Google initiative to develop a low-power operating system, aimed at computers with lower hardware performance. Installing Chrome OS on your Raspberry will provide you with a desktop computer perfectly suited for the execution of low-demand tasks, with all the features of a PC such as document creation and editing, file explorer and navigation, among other office automation tasks.
Another advantage of Chrome OS is the ability to do almost everything using extensions in Chrome, easily obtainable through the Chrome Store that has always been available in the browser. Besides that, being a Google agent, Chrome OS has access to the Play Store, allowing you to access the wide catalog of applications of Android and further expanding the possibilities of your new Chromebook.
What are the best Raspberry Pi boards that I can use as a Chromebook?
While Chrome OS is a lightweight and functional operating system, and your Chromium code doesn’t restrict it to any particular hardware type, it must be said that It is only recommended to install it on the latest Raspberry Pi installment. Today, its best compatibility is with the Raspberry Pi 400 2GB, 4GB and 8GB.
The easiest way to acquire it in your module is through the FydeOS installation, an edited version of Chromium Os for this purpose, which will grant access to an operating system capable of performing simple to moderately demanding tasks. Next on the list is the Raspberry Pi 4. Chrome OS supports this module in its presentations of 2Gb, 4Gb and 8Gb. Although for most of the tasks it is as good as the previous one, it presents some quality loss when it comes to playing videos in 1080px at 60fps.
Although lower resolutions its playability is quite decent. Last on the compatibility list, we have the Raspberry Pi 3 B +, and this model is in the last place on the list because, although it presents an acceptable performance when running the operating system, it is the one that presents the most loss of video quality, with a small margin of error compared to the Pi 4 version, only noticeable when unfolding the FPS meter.
As for the other Raspberry Pi models, specifically the Pi 1 and Pi 2, its processing capacity will not allow it to operate the operating system optimally, since the loss of frames will be too noticeable to provide a pleasant experience. So, if you have one of these two versions (discontinued), we’re sorry to tell you that maybe the Chrome OS may not be the best option for you.
Learn step by step how to install Chrome OS on a Raspberry Pi mini computer from scratch
If what you want is install this practical operating system on your Raspberry Pi and transform it into a Chromebook perfectly functional, we have two installation options: Etcher and Berryboot.
We will explain how to install through both options:
With Etcher
Identify what Raspberry P modeli want to modify.
In general, the versions for which Chromium OS is available are 3 / 3B +, 4 and 400:
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Download from the web
https://github.com/FydeOS/chromium_os-raspberry_pi/releasesthe Chromium OS file for Raspberry Pi.
- Download Etcher for your operating system.
Download Etcher Windows
Download Etcher for Linux
Download Etcher for MacOS
- After installing it, you will have the right tool to install files of lightweight operating systems within a SD card.
- Format your Micro SD card to avoid any compatibility issues. Etcher does this process in a way automatic.
- If your version of Etcher doesn’t, you should just format the MicroSD to FAT 32 if it exceeds 32Gb.
- Open Etcher. Select the image file (ISO).
- Select Micro SD card and start the process.
- Once done, insert the MicroSD into your Raspberry Pi module. It should be the first time this has been done.
- Immediately upon startup, an installation wizard will skip to start the initial setup process.
- When you finish the initial setup, you will be ready to start using Chrome OS adapted to a Raspberry Pi.
With Berryboot
There are many websites where you get this program, but you must make sure to download them legally To avoid inconveniences.
Make sure it is the compatible version for your Raspberry Pi module:
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Download the app from
berryterminal.com/.
- Format Micro SD to FAT32 to avoid compatibility errors
- Unzip Berryboot and transfer all files to the SD card so that it is ready to boot into the Raspberry Pi
- Select an operating system from those available and perform initial settings to get the OS ready to go.
- Berryboot will be installed on our Raspberry Pi as a tool to use different operating systems without formatting.
- Download the Chromium OS file for Raspberry Pi, always taking into account which version it is compatible for.
- Unzip the file, transfer the image (ISO) to the Micro SD that you are going to insert in your RPi.
- Launch Berryboot on your Raspberry Pi.
- As soon as the window opens, select the option “Add OS”.
- Choose the option “Copy from external USB”.
- After a few seconds, Chrome OS file will be available to select as operating system.
- Choose the option “Set Default” to select it by default.
- Press “Exit”, a countdown will start for automatic restart.
This process is very similar, in certain respects, to the process of installing operating systems in Raspberry Pi via NOOBS. But, while this is better known, Berryboot offers greater efficiency when installing external operating systems, as well as a somewhat more practical interface.