Googlebooks lack web app and Linux support of Chromebooks

Googlebooks depend on Android and web apps for most functions, but support for Progressive Web Apps doesn't match Chromebooks. 9to5Google found that the Slack PWA cannot be installed because it is not a "compliant" PWA, according to Google. On Chromebooks, Chrome allows manual installation of non-compliant PWAs, and Google says that capability will arrive on Googlebooks soon.

Linux app support is also reduced compared to Chromebooks. Chromebooks have allowed installing Linux apps since 2018, offering full desktop apps via terminal integration. Googlebooks, however, provide a Terminal app that gives access to a Debian command-line environment but no straightforward method for running graphical apps. Google told 9to5Google that GUI apps "aren’t the main focus" of the initial Googlebook release.

Users who tried Linux GUI apps on Googlebook found they appear in a single Terminal display window without their own Android windows or taskbar items. One user reported reliability issues with GIMP. Google has not published documentation on running Linux GUI apps, making the feature inaccessible to most users.

• 9to5Google
• Chromebook
• Googlebook
• Linux apps
• PWA
• Slack