Reddit User Installs Googlebook OS on ASUS Chromebook Plus, Android Authority Reports

Android Authority reported that the installation was performed on an ASUS Chromebook Plus. The report described the early impression as surprisingly encouraging. The user was able to get Googlebook OS running on a machine that was not sold with the operating system preinstalled, making the experiment relevant to Chromebook owners who are asking whether they will need to buy new hardware to use the platform.

Google has already confirmed that some newer Chromebooks will eventually support Googlebook OS. The company has not provided a public rollout timeline. It also has not said which consumer models qualify or when those upgrades will arrive. In the report, Google's confirmation is also described as covering many newer Chromebooks that will eventually be able to migrate from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS, but the public details remain limited.

Googlebook OS has only recently arrived, yet enthusiasts are already asking one of the most important questions about the new laptop platform: Do users really need to spend $1,000 on a new Googlebook to use it? The successful installation on an ASUS Chromebook Plus offers an early, unofficial answer. The operating system can run on at least one existing Chromebook, though the current experimental state is not fully functional because Wi-Fi, audio and Pixel integration are broken, according to Android Authority.

The report did not say whether the installation process is practical for average users. It did not identify the Reddit user or provide step-by-step instructions. It also did not say whether Google endorses or supports installing Googlebook OS on unsupported Chromebooks. Google's public position remains that newer Chromebooks will eventually be able to move from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS, but the company has not announced a timeline or a list of eligible consumer models.

For now, the ASUS Chromebook Plus experiment is one of the first examples seen of Googlebook OS running directly on existing Chromebook hardware. Its performance is reportedly promising, while its missing features show the limits of the early build. Android Authority reported that the setup sometimes feels faster than ChromeOS, even as Wi-Fi, audio and Pixel integration remain unusable.

Editor's Summary Android Authority reported that a Reddit user installed Googlebook OS on an ASUS Chromebook Plus, an early example of the new platform running on existing Chromebook hardware. The experimental build reportedly feels fast and can sometimes outperform ChromeOS, but Wi-Fi, audio and Pixel integration are broken. Google has confirmed that some newer Chromebooks will eventually support Googlebook OS, though it has not announced which models qualify or when upgrades will arrive.