什么是 CloudReady？它是 Chrome OS 的开源替代品吗？
Chrome OS CloudReady
![](/data/attachment/album/202307/11/143146jtnntsf97x9039x9.jpg)



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> CloudReady 日趋流行，尤其是在使用低端硬件的用户中。我决定了解一下它并分享我的发现。
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### 什么是 CloudReady？


[CloudReady](https://www.neverware.com/) 是一个基于谷歌的 Chromium OS 开源代码仓库的操作系统。Neverware 公司是 CloudReady 背后的组织，它开发的 CloudReady 可以部署到现有的 PC 和 Mac 上，由于其对硬件的要求极低，因此可以保证在上述硬件上的性能提升。大体上来说，CloudReady 把你的旧计算机变成了 Chromebook。2020 年底 [Google 收购了 Neverware](https://9to5google.com/2020/12/15/google-acquires-cloudready-os/)。


在分享我的经验和想法之前，让我先进一步介绍以下它。


### 谁应该尝试 CloudReady？


![CloudReady](/data/attachment/album/202307/11/143326dzjj44w04c9cyzci.jpg)


CloudReady 主要是面向那些能够从使用类 Chromebook 设备中获益，但是已经在硬件设备上进行了投入的机构。下面是我想到的一些例子：


* 经过 CloudReady 扩展的 Chromium OS 用户界面足够简单，用户从 macOS 或 Windows 转向使用 CloudReady 几乎不需要培训。
* 更好的安全性，用户不会被安装充斥于 macOS 和 Windows 上的恶意软件。
* Chromium OS 的硬件要求低，能够在老旧的硬件上良好运行。
* 通过“<ruby> 谷歌管理控制台 <rt>  Google Admin Console </rt></ruby>”来管理计算机。
* 简单初始安装过程。


下面是运行 CloudReady 的最低硬件要求：


* **CPU**：任何 2008 年之后的 CPU （没有提及对 ARM 架构 CPU 的支持情况，暂且认为仅支持 x86 架构 CPU，即英特尔和 AMD 的 CPU）
* **内存**：2 GB 及以上
* **存储**：16GB 及以上
* 具备访问 BIOS 或 UEFI 的权限——为了能够从 USB 安装程序启动


如果你不确定自己的上网本是否能够运行 CloudReady，Neverware 公司发布了能够运行 CloudReady 的认证机型清单。目前该清单已包含超过 450 种机型。你可以通过 [这个官方链接来核查自己的机型](https://guide.neverware.com/supported-devices/)。


### CloudReady 与 Chrome OS 有什么不同？


如果你的主要使用目的是以下场景，那么 CloudReady 能够满足你的需要：


* 通过 “<ruby> Neverware 管理门户 <rt>  Neverware Admin Portal </rt></ruby>”（[到 Google 完成收购为止](https://cloudreadykb.neverware.com/s/article/Neverware-is-now-part-of-Google-FAQ)）或 “<ruby> 谷歌管理控制台 <rt>  Google Admin Console </rt></ruby>” 来管理 CloudReady 设备。
* 你的工作可以通过网页浏览器来完成（基于网络服务）。


当你了解到“CloudReady 是一个基于 Chrome OS 的操作系统”时，你一定认为它至少应该能够运行安卓应用。


遗憾的是，事实并非如此。开源的 Chromium OS 不支持安卓运行时框架/服务，因此在 CloudReady 中不可用。由于一些法律和技术上的原因，Neverware 并没有将安卓运行时添加到 CloudReady 中。


另一方面它也阻止你<ruby> 侧载 <rt>  side-loading </rt></ruby> APK，因为根本没有运行安卓应用的东西。


当我试图从<ruby> 应用抽屉 <rt>  app drawer </rt></ruby> 启动 Play Store 时，它在浏览器中打开了谷歌 Play Store 的网页。这真是个坏消息。然而得益于 CloudReady 是基于“<ruby> 面向网络 <rt> </rt> web focused</ruby>”的操作系统的，我的 Chromium 浏览器扩展运行良好。


![A screenshot of the app drawer in CloudReady with the Google Play Store app icon  along with Chrome Extensions as “Apps”](/data/attachment/album/202307/11/143338vpaiw1rlia00ywyc.jpg)


所以如果你想通过 CloudReady 把自己的旧笔记本变成一个非触屏的平板，那你就不太走运了。


### 为什么会有 CloudReady？


你也许会疑惑，既然已经有了 Chrome OS，为什么 Neverware 还要投入资源开发 CloudReady 这个 “克隆体” 呢？


仔细观察运行 Chrome OS 的设备，你就会发现它们都是预装设备。也就是说 Chrome OS 只适用于生产 Chromebook 的 OEM 厂商。


对于微软的 Windows，OEM 厂商可以预装 Windows，用户也可以下载单独的 ISO。然而，谷歌并不提供可用于在电脑上安装 Chrome OS 的 ISO。


所以需要开发一个基于 Chromium OS 的操作系统，让你能够将其安装到已有的 PC 或 Mac 上。


CloudReady 为你提供一种安装基于 Chromium OS，企业用户也可以通过 Neverware 获得官方支持服务。


### 获取 CloudReady


![CloudReady screenshot](/data/attachment/album/202307/11/143347meb4meuwglglp8yu.jpg)


**CloudReady 提供三个版本：家庭版（免费）、教育版（付费）和企业版（付费）**。如果你想先体验一下 CloudReady，那就选家庭版。


Neverware 不提供 ISO　镜像，但它提供一个启动 U 盘制作工具。这个工具仅限 Windows 操作系统。


Neverware 同时提供一个 RAW 文件，你可以用 [任何基于 Chromium 的浏览器](https://news.itsfoss.com/chrome-like-browsers-2021/) 的 [Chromebook 恢复扩展](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chromebook-recovery-utili/pocpnlppkickgojjlmhdmidojbmbodfm?hl=en) 来制作启动 U 盘。



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> **[下载 CloudReady 家庭版](https://www.neverware.com/freedownload)**
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如果你想要在虚拟机里体验 CloudReady 的话，Neverware 提供了 “.ova” 文件。该 “.ova” 文件无法在 VirtualBox 上使用，它旨在与 VMware 一起使用。



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> **[下载 CloudReady “.ova” 文件](https://cloudreadykb.neverware.com/s/article/Download-CloudReady-Image-For-VMware)**
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### Ubuntu Web：ChromeOS 和 CloudReady 的替代品？


如果你想要在旧电脑上使用 CloudReady，但是它缺少安卓运行时这点让你失望了，也许你可以试试 [Ubuntu Web](https://ubuntu-web.org/)。


![A screenshot of Ubuntu Web](/data/attachment/album/202307/11/143222p2evoo5zxomughev.jpg)


正如其名称所示，Ubuntu Web 是面向寻找 Chrome OS 替代品的人群的 Linux 发行版。


Ubuntu Web 有与 Ubuntu 一样的同步能力，让你能够用 [/e/ Cloud](https://e.foundation/ecloud/)（一个专注于隐私的 Google 云同步服务替代品）实现同步。


最重要的是 Ubuntu Web 默认附带了 [Waydroid](https://waydro.id/)。


Waydroid 是一种“基于容器的方式，可以在 GNU/Linux 系统上运行一个完整的 Android 系统”。也就是说你可以在 Ubuntu Web 上运行安卓应用（不像 CloudReady）。


### 总结


尽管你可能会觉得 CloudReady 与 Chrome OS 相比并没有太多的优势，但对于那些想要部署集中管理的、基于 Chromium OS 的操作系统，但又不想在 Chromebook 上投资的组织来说，它似乎是一个不错的选择。


对于使用低端硬件的家庭用户来说，它也是一个不错的选择，但是我们 [已经有很多轻量级的 Linux 发行版](https://itsfoss.com/lightweight-linux-beginners/)。


你是否已经使用过 CloudReady？或者你是第一次在这里听说它？你对这个项目的总体看法是什么呢？


*（题图：MJ/5c18795b-6978-48a0-a6f7-baffde69ab48）*




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via: <https://itsfoss.com/cloudready/>


作者：[Pratham Patel](https://itsfoss.com/author/pratham/) 选题：[lujun9972](https://github.com/lujun9972) 译者：[toknow-gh](https://github.com/toknow-gh) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
CloudReady is getting popular, especially among people with low-end hardware. So, I decided to take a look at it and share my findings with you in this article.

## What is CloudReady?

[CloudReady](https://www.neverware.com/) is an operating system based on Google’s open-source Chromium OS code-base. Neverware, the organization behind CloudReady, developed the CloudReady OS to be deployed on already existing PC and Mac hardware and guarantees performance uplift on said hardware due to its minimal hardware requirements. Basically, CloudReady turns your older computer into Chromebooks. [Neverware was acquired by Google](https://9to5google.com/2020/12/15/google-acquires-cloudready-os/) itself in late 2020.

Before I share my experience and opinion on it, let me tell you a bit more about it.

## Is CloudReady for you?

![neverware cloudready](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/01/neverware-cloudready-800x501.webp)

CloudReady is primarily aimed at institutions that would benefit from Chromebook-like devices but already have invested in hardware. Below are a few examples that come to my mind:

- User Interface of Chromium OS, and by extension CloudReady is simple enough that there is seldom any need to re-train the staff to switch from macOS or Windows to CloudReady’s UI.
- Better security – because users can’t install traditional malware ridden apps that are available for macOS and Windows.
- Chromium OS has low requirements for hardware, so it is pretty much guaranteed to run on your older hardware.
- Managing computers through the Google Admin Console.
- Relatively easy initial setup.

Here are the minimum hardware requirements for running CloudReady:

**CPU**: Any CPU made available after the year 2008 should work (no mention of ARM CPUs so assume only X86 – Intel and AMD – CPUs are supported)**RAM**: 2 GB or more**Storage**: 16GB or more- Full access to BIOS or UEFI – in order boot from the USB installer

If you wonder whether your current netbook works well with CloudReady, Neverware has published a list of netbooks that are certified to run CloudReady. Currently, there are over 450 models that are certified. You can [check your model against the official list at this link](https://guide.neverware.com/supported-devices/).

## How does CloudReady compare with Chrome OS?

If your primary goals are either of the following, you will be satisfied with CloudReady:

- Managing CloudReady devices with Neverware Admin Portal (
[until the Google acquisition is complete](https://cloudreadykb.neverware.com/s/article/Neverware-is-now-part-of-Google-FAQ)) or through Google Admin Console. - Work at your organization can be done within a web browser (using web based services).

When you hear the words “It is an Operating System based on Chrome OS”, you would assume that at the very least, it can run Android apps.

Sadly, that is not the case. There is **no support for the Android** Runtime (ART) framework/service for open source Chromium OS, and hence is not available in CloudReady. Neverware has not pursued adding Android Runtime to CloudReady due to several legal and technical reasons.

This, in turn, prevents you from even side-loading an APK, since there is nothing that can run those Android apps.

When I tried launching Play Store from the app drawer, it opened the Google Play Store webpage for me in the browser. So bad news on that front… But, since CloudReady is based on an Operating System that is “web-focused”, my Chromium browser extensions appear to be working flawlessly.

![07 app drawer](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2021/12/07_app_drawer-800x599.webp)

So, if you are looking to use your old laptop as a non-touch tablet with CloudReady, you are a bit out of luck.

## Why does CloudReady even exist?

You might have wondered that if Chrome OS already exists, why did Neverware devote their resources to create a ‘clone’ called CloudReady?

If you look carefully at devices that run Chrome OS, they are pre-builts. This indicates that Chrome OS is only available to OEMs that make Chromebooks.

With Microsoft’s Windows, OEMs get Windows to preinstall, and a separate ISO is also available for users to download. However, Google doesn’t provide you with an ISO which you can use to install Chrome OS on your computer.

Hence, the need to create an operating system based on Chromium OS code-base. Something that you can install on your already existing PC and Mac hardware.

On top of providing you with a way to install a Chromium OS-based operating system, Neverware has options for Enterprise users who would want official support for their operating system. You get that with CloudReady.

## Getting CloudReady

![cloudready screenshot](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/01/cloudready-screenshot-800x500.webp)

**CloudReady offers three editions: Home edition (free), Education, and Enterprise (both paid)**. If you want to give it a try first, the obvious choice will be to go with the home edition first.

Neverware does not provide you with an ISO. But, Neverware does give you a tool to create bootable USBs with their USB Maker tool, it is Windows only.

Neverware also provides you with a RAW file that you can use to manually create a bootable USB from any operating system using the [Chromebook Recovery Utility extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chromebook-recovery-utili/pocpnlppkickgojjlmhdmidojbmbodfm?hl=en) from [any Chromium based browser.](https://news.itsfoss.com/chrome-like-browsers-2021/)

Since Neverware does not provide an ISO, if you want to try it out as a Virtual Machine, Neverware provides with a “.ova” file. But, this “.ova” file won’t work with VirtualBox. It is intended to be used with VMware.

## Ubuntu Web: An alternative to both ChromeOS and CloudReady?

If you are someone who hoped to use CloudReady on your old computer or laptop but got disappointed by the fact that ART is absent in CloudReady, maybe give [Ubuntu Web](https://ubuntu-web.org/) a try.

![ubuntu web screenshot](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/01/ubuntu-web-screenshot-800x500.jpeg)

As its name might suggest, it is a Linux distribution that is aimed at people looking at Chrome OS alternatives.

Ubuntu Web has the same, familiar Ubuntu base, which provides you with the ability to sync with [/e/ Cloud](https://e.foundation/ecloud/), a privacy-focused alternative to Google’s Cloud syncing services.

The cherry on top is that Ubuntu Web ships with [Waydroid](https://waydro.id/) by default.

If you didn’t know about Waydroid, it is a “container-based approach to boot a full Android system on a regular GNU/Linux system”. This means, it will run your Android apps (unlike CloudReady).

## Conclusion

CloudReady appears to be a good option for organizations that want to deploy a centrally managed Chromium OS-based operating system but don’t want to invest in Chromebooks.

It could also be a good option for home users with low-end hardware, but we [already have plenty of lightweight Linux distributions](https://itsfoss.com/lightweight-linux-beginners/) for that.

Have you used CloudRead already or are you hearing about it for the first time here? What’s your overall opinion of this project?