Chrome OS and Linux apps: support not for all Chromebooks
Google would have decided not to support the compatibility feature of Linux applications on all devices with Chrome OS: this is due to the use of too old kernels.
Chrome OS has long been preparing to provide support for Linux applications, but this support may not be available on all devices on the market. Google would have decided to support the functionality only on those devices that are equipped with Linux kernel 3.15 or later, cutting out all devices with a previous kernel.
The reason behind this choice would be eminently technical: to make Linux applications work you need to use containers with features like vsock, but only available on kernels from 4.8 onwards. Google then backported the functionality to the old kernels used on the various devices, but found kernels earlier than 3.15 too old.
Most devices with Chrome OS, as well as those with Android, are born and die with the same kernel installed, without major changes. Usually, only safety patches are installed or to correct problems of various kinds, but it is rare to switch to a newer version.
The models that would not be compatible with the Linux applications on Chrome OS are the following:
- AOpen Chromebase Mini (Feb 2017; tiger, veyron_pinky)
- AOpen Chromebox Mini (Feb 2017; fievel, veyron_pinky)
- ASUS Chromebook C201 (May 2015; speedy, veyron_pinky)
- Acer C670 Chromebook 11 (Feb 2015; paine, auron)
- Acer Chromebase 24 (Apr 2016; buddy, auron)
- Acer Chromebook 15 (Apr 2015; yuna, auron)
- Acer Chromebox CXI2 (May 2015; rikku, jecht)
- Asus Chromebit CS10 (Nov 2015; mickey, veyron_pinky)
- Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA (Jul 2015; minnie, veyron_pinky)
- Asus Chromebox CN62 (Aug 2015; ford, jecht)
- Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebook (May 2015; tidus, jecht)
- Toshiba Chromebook 2 (Sep 2015; gandof, auron)
The Chromebook Pixel of 2015 and the Dell Chromebook 13 7310 are still under discussion, for which Google will make a decision over the next few weeks, as reported by Android Police.
