Best products from r/GalliumOS

Yes, mint also does all the HiDPI for you. The real reason I choose GalliumOS is having all the button mapping work out of the box. Also, the touch screen works as intended(like in chromeOS) as well! It works in other OS's just as basic mouse click less actual optimization.

For your knowledge, use the HiDPI fix for SAMUS or Chromebook pixel 2015 and it fixes most things. someone also just posted a fix for steam HiDPI issues.

Next thing if you have some extra cash is to make new internal storage for your pixel 2013. As /u/Mrchromebox has stated use the UEFI firmware. Then buy one of each of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GTGLMB2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S98ZVLZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

I then reinstalled galliumOS solely on my 500gb micro SD it is only 2.0 USB but things are working well and games I play work fine. The startup is a little slower, but really it is neglectable... and a huge upgrade to 32gb SSD. You have to change to boot order, but works great!

------------------------

Question: /u/Mrchromebox can I reformate my 32gb SSD that in onboard without it messing with the bios? Thanks!

>I was referring to this model: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B013CCTNKU, which now appears to be the previous-generation... I have not tried the newer ones.

Oh, that is much better. I'll see if I can find a seller somewhere.

>Yes you can copy from one USB to another. There are a few ways to do it, with different pros and cons.. I'd use dd, but there's probably a friendlier tool if that doesn't fit your tastes. :)

Good to know, I'll try that as well.

Thanks for your help!

I don't know if it counts as king, but the Acer aspire laptop they're selling on Amazon right now is a full fledged Windows laptop, could easily dual boot Ubuntu 19.10, and firmly sits in the Chromebook price range at $260. It also has a ryzen 3 3200u that benches out better than a Celeron 4100 (about the %30 faster on userbenchmark as long as you're ok with going with ryzen. BTW AMD apparently is know for running Linux better than a lot of Intel machines.


Edit: I also found this chromebook by Acer that has 8gb of ram, but a tiny 64gb internal memory and an M3-8100y processor that I can't find a benchmark for, but if you're looking for a Chromebook it looks promising.

I was referring to this model: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B013CCTNKU, which now appears to be the previous-generation... I have not tried the newer ones.

Don't use USB2.0. It will work, but it will be very slow. USB3.0 or USB3.1 are good.

Yes you can copy from one USB to another. There are a few ways to do it, with different pros and cons.. I'd use dd, but there's probably a friendlier tool if that doesn't fit your tastes. :)

It completely froze and would not work after that. I tried a re-installation but the usb was toast.
I have had very good luck with the Sandisk Switch:
https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-SecureAceess-Software-SDCZ52-064G-B35/dp/B00BX5B9YM/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1501463215&sr=8-30&keywords=usb+sandisk
It is not as small as a Fit but is fairly small form factor.

it works out of the box if you buy one with drivers in the mainline kernel. Just go on Amazon and search for 'USB ethernet linux'

edit: I'll make my post more useful and add that I've used the Amazon Basics USB 3.0/Ethernet adapter and works perfectly across all OSes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M77HMU0

Seconding /u/ColtonDRG's comment. OP, here are some links to Haswell machines, which should be easy peasy, especially that favored C720 with a softer price point, but keep in mind it's also smaller. I'm biased, since I favor the 11" - 12" laptops.

Acer C720

HP Chromebook 14

Toshiba CB35

If you're feeling adventurous, I'm using a Thinkpad X131e and it sails with Gallium OS, but requires a bit more work than the other models to get up and running, and there is no chance of dual booting if you wanted to do that later down the road.

thanks for the reply, but that seems to be a bit out of my price range. i can't see anything under 400

I've found this one which seems to be pretty close

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0172GUW4I/ref=psdc_565108_t2_B016J9LHSO

but I'm concerned that it won't be able to handle decoding 1080p video. (i understand it'll be downscaling to a lower resolution. I'm fine with that. Everything on my nas is 1080p where possible)

When is the next generation models coming out? Will they be supported by galliumos out of the gate or will it take a few months even once they have come out?

I have an Acer C720. I ended up changing out the SSD from the 16GB to this 128BG SSD. It's about the simplest hardware change you can make on the C720 and there are lots of videos on Youtube showing how to do it. You do void the warranty by opening the bottom though. I went further and changed out the entire motherboard to go from 2GB of RAM to 4BG as well. That one was a little more complicated but it works like a champ now. Here's the moneyshot.

I very much second the USB drive, I use this one (https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-128GB-Flash-MUF-128BB-AM/dp/B017DH3O5A) and is possibly the best thing for this computer.

The 32 gigs the 14 has is more forgiving than other chromebooks' 16 so you dont need to worry as much about slimming the install. Programs and such wont take up a whole lot of space so you shouldnt need to try to put them on the USB.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J5RH06K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's the link for the one I bought in Aug. 2017. It seems to be working well, no complaints. I'm very happy with the laptop. Good luck.

I use an ASUS 13.3" (4 GB RAM 4-core Celeron) for similar work. I use WebStorm just fine. Love it.

$279 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INVHL2C and it has 64GB internal storage.

Still holding out for internal sound support on Skylake devices.

In the meantime, I've had success using an external USB sound card.

Alternatively, you can experiment with Bluetooth receivers (speakers and some phones).

I don't know that you're going to have luck with changing the SSD.

I bought a Samsung 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $41 that's the size of my thumbnail to permanently leave in my Samsung Chromebook 3.

That's where I installed GalliumOS. I definitely notice the occasional hangs because of it, but I wanted to leave my ChromeOS disk alone.

For $197, I fucking love this machine.

I am using an AX88179-based 1Gbps ethernet-to-USB3 adapter. It is this one. Might not be the latest and greatest, but it "just works" wonderfully with no messing around. I haven't tried with the ChromeOS, but it works with vanialla Linux.

Sometimes I need it for my Raspberry Pi Zero and it works too.

Acer 15.6" Chromebook Celeron N3060 Dual-Core 1.6GHz 2GB RAM 16GB Flash ChromeOS (Certified Refurbished) works just fine for me. It has some issues running chrome in the background while using other apps, and playing YouTube videos at anything over 720p60fps, but other than that it's a good little machine for the price.