Someone got Googlebook OS running on a Chromebook, and it's surprisingly smooth

Googlebook OS has barely had time to unpack its bags, yet enthusiasts are already asking one of the most important questions about Google’s new laptop platform: Do we really need to spend $1,000 on a new Googlebook to use it? Google has already confirmed that many newer Chromebooks will eventually be able to migrate from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS, but it hasn’t said which consumer models qualify or when those upgrades will arrive. Someone has now decided not to wait.

A Reddit user has successfully installed Googlebook OS on an ASUS Chromebook Plus, apparently making this one of the first examples we’ve seen of Google’s new operating system running directly on existing Chromebook hardware. And the early impression is surprisingly encouraging.

The user says the system feels exceptionally fast and smooth, even claiming that Googlebook OS can feel faster than ChromeOS in some situations. Their machine has 16GB of RAM, though they believe an 8GB Chromebook could handle it as well.

Before anyone starts digging through recovery images, however, this is very much an experimental installation. The user describes the setup as “frankensteined,” and key hardware features, including Wi-Fi, audio, and Pixel integration, aren’t working. They also say it took several days to get it running, so this isn’t remotely comparable to an official Chromebook upgrade yet.

Still, that’s what makes the experiment interesting. We’ve already seen enthusiasts getting Googlebook OS to boot on hardware it wasn’t designed for, including Macs, but seeing it alive on a Chromebook feels much closer to Google’s eventual destination.

Google says many of its newer Chromebook models can upgrade to Googlebook OS, with migration details still to come. It has also committed to supporting qualifying newer ChromeOS hardware as the platform transitions.

For Chromebook owners watching $1,000-plus Googlebooks launch with a still-young operating system, this little experiment offers an enticing glimpse of another path. Their existing laptop might already have plenty of horsepower for Google’s next OS. The missing piece is Google officially opening the door.