If you're just going to install a Linux distro doesn't that defeat the point?
I thought the whole idea of chromebook was that you used google services rather than locally installed apps. So yes, inherently more tracking since they want to monetise ads.
> If you're just going to install a Linux distro doesn't that defeat the point?
It doesn't defeat the point for the buyer, since its often the most cost-effective way to get basic hardware for a linux laptop.
It doesn't defeat the point for the hardware vendor.
Heck, it doesn't really even defeat the point for Google. Sure, it may not be as good for them as you using ChromeOS, but its better for them than you either using Windows or MacOS (or paying for Windows or MacOS to get a Linux box.)
The intended method of use is Chrome OS, there will be geeks who buy it as a cheap Linux laptop but that's not really the target market or how they are mostly used.
The idea of the chromebook is to move away from native apps that run on your computer to cloud apps where your computer serves as mainly a front end to google's datacenter.
I thought the whole idea of chromebook was that you used google services rather than locally installed apps. So yes, inherently more tracking since they want to monetise ads.