轻巧(Lightweight)且便宜的Google Chromebook(Google Chromebooks)为功能齐全的Windows笔记本电脑提供了一种出色、低障碍的替代品。通过访问Google 文档(Google Docs)和Android应用程序，Chromebook(Chromebooks)有很多用途，无论是工作还是娱乐。不过，在购买之前，您可以先试用Chromebook体验，看看它是否适合您。
在VMWare(VMWare)中尝试将Chromebook体验作为虚拟机是完全可能的。从技术上讲，您需要使用Chrome OS的开源替代品Chromium(Chromium OS) OS 。它缺少一些功能，但在其他方面是相同的，应该会给您带来Chromebook体验的味道。
什么是铬操作系统？(What Is Chromium OS?)
开源爱好者可能已经知道Google Chrome浏览器是基于一个名为Chromium的项目。虽然Chrome本身的代码不共享，但其中大部分是基于Chromium的，允许谷歌(Google)“锁定”其他仅限Chrome的代码部分。
基于更广泛的Chromium OS项目，同样的过程适用于运行Chrome OS的(Chrome OS)Chromebook 。(Chromebooks)大部分代码是相同的，但Chrome OS包含一些额外的功能，例如您在Chromium OS中找不到的Android应用程序支持。
Chrome OS无法下载，因此非 Chromebook 用户无法直接试用。这样做的部分原因是商业原因——毕竟 谷歌希望你购买它的Chromebook 。(Chromebooks)
Google还可以在Chrome OS中包含一些功能，例如对某些音频编解码器的支持，但由于许可原因，这些功能无法包含在Chromium OS中。(Chromium OS)
值得庆幸的是，Neverware CloudReady是一个采用Chromium OS基本代码并添加额外支持的项目，使其成为非 Chromebook 设备上更可用的操作系统。
您可以将此版本的Chromium OS直接安装到您的 PC 或笔记本电脑上，但您应该在开始之前查看 Neverware 的支持设备列表(supported device list)以检查您的设备的支持情况。我们不会这样做，而是探讨如何将CloudReady Chrome OS安装为VMWare虚拟机。
在 VMWare 上安装 Chrome 操作系统(Install Chrome OS on VMWare)
VMWare允许您在现有操作系统之上运行具有自己隔离的虚拟硬件和存储的虚拟机。例如，在 Virtualbox 中安装 Ubuntu(Installing Ubuntu in Virtualbox)将使您能够访问Windows或 macOS之上的Linux 。
您可以临时执行此操作以测试新系统，或在较长时间内同时运行两个操作系统。多亏了Neverware CloudReady ，您可以在不承诺的情况下测试和试用Chromebook体验。(Chromebook)
- 为您的CloudReady虚拟机命名（或保持默认名称不变），然后单击Import。这会将虚拟机映像和设置导入VMWare Workstation Player。
- 等待(Wait)导入过程完成，这可能需要一两分钟，具体取决于您的 PC。完成后，选择您的虚拟机并单击“播放虚拟机(Play virtual machine)”将其打开。
如果您的 PC 已正确设置虚拟化，VMWare Workstation Player应在几秒钟内加载CloudReady。然后，您可以开始设置过程。
设置 Chromium 操作系统(Setting Up Chromium OS)
首次启动ChromeReady时，您会看到一个设置屏幕。Chromium OS与所有Chromebook(Chromebooks)一样，要求您拥有Google帐户才能登录和使用它。
如果您还没有，请立即创建一个 Google 帐户(create a Google account)，然后返回CloudReady虚拟机。
- 在CloudReady欢迎屏幕上，单击Let's go开始设置过程。
- VMware将尝试设置您的网络连接。VMware通常会自动与CloudReady虚拟机共享您的主机 Internet 连接。
如果这不起作用，请通过单击Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Network Adapter > Configure Adapters并确保选择了正确的适配器来检查VMWare是否共享正确的连接。
- (Confirm)通过在下一阶段选中或取消选中发送指标以帮助改进 CloudReady框，(Send metrics to help improve CloudReady)确认您是否要向Neverware提供匿名分析。(Neverware)单击继续(Continue)以继续。
- (Sign)在最后阶段(CloudReady)使用您的Google帐户详细信息登录CloudReady 。登录后，CloudReady将自动登录，配置Chromium浏览器以添加您的扩展程序、书签等。
使用 Neverware CloudReady(Using Neverware CloudReady)
您的 CloudReady Chromium OS虚拟机可以运行并且看起来与典型的(Chromium OS)Chromebook非常相似。单击(Click)左下角的圆形菜单图标(circular menu icon)可访问您的应用、设置和文件，以及从Chrome 网上应用店(Chrome Web Store)安装新应用。
- 要进一步配置您的 CloudReady 体验，请单击Menu > Settings。这将打开一个类似 Chrome 的设置屏幕，您可以在其中配置网络设置、连接Android设备以及安装第三方媒体插件。
- 您还可以通过单击Menu > Settings > Appearance > Wallpaper 或Appearance > Browser themes。如果您选择添加新主题，您可以从Chrome Web Store下载这些主题。
- 默认情况下，Neverware CloudReady将默认为美国时区和键盘配置。您可以通过单击Menu > Settings > Language and input来更改此设置。单击语言(Language)以设置您的语言，单击输入法(Input method)为您的键盘选择不同的区域设置。
- 尝试完CloudReady 后(CloudReady)，单击键盘上的Ctrl + Alt以便能够将光标移到CloudReady屏幕之外，然后单击Player > Power > Shut Down Guest以关闭虚拟机。
尝试 Chromebook 体验(Trying the Chromebook Experience)
通过在VMWare虚拟机中安装Chrome OS ，您可以在决定购买自己的设备之前开始了解Chromebook 和 PC 之间的区别。虽然体验可能相似，但您需要注意一些差异，包括存储限制和应用程序支持。
如果Chromebook体验不适合您，您可以在 VMWare Workstation 中安装其他操作系统(install other operating systems in VMWare Workstation)并试一试。
How to Install Chrome OS in VMWare
Lightweight and cheap, Google Chromebooks offer a great, low-barriеr alternative to a full-powered Windows laptop. With access to Googlе Docs and Android apps, Chromebooks have plenty of uѕeѕ, whеthеr it’s for work or for fun. Before you buy, however, you can try the Chromebook experience to ѕee whether it’s right for you.
It’s entirely possible to try the Chromebook experience as a virtual machine in VMWare. Technically, you’ll need to use Chromium OS, the open-source alternative to Chrome OS. It lacks a few features, but it’s otherwise identical and should give you a flavor of the Chromebook experience.
What Is Chromium OS?
Open-source fans may already know that the Google Chrome browser is based upon a project called Chromium. While the code for Chrome itself isn’t shared, large parts of it are based on Chromium, allowing Google to “lock down” other, Chrome-only sections of code.
The same process applies to Chromebooks, which run Chrome OS, based on the wider Chromium OS project. Much of the code is the same, but Chrome OS includes a few extra features like Android app support that you won’t find in Chromium OS.
Chrome OS isn’t available for download, so non-Chromebook users can’t try it directly. The reasons for this are partly commercial—Google wants you to buy its Chromebooks, after all.
There are also some features that Google is able to include in Chrome OS, like support for certain audio codecs, that can’t be included in Chromium OS for licensing reasons.
Thankfully, Neverware CloudReady is a project that takes the Chromium OS base code and adds additional support to make it a more usable operating system on non-Chromebook devices.
You can install this edition of Chromium OS to your PC or laptop directly, although you should check Neverware’s supported device list to check how well your device is supported before you begin. Rather than do this, we’ll explore how to install CloudReady Chrome OS as a VMWare virtual machine instead.
Install Chrome OS on VMWare
VMWare allows you to run a virtual machine, with its own isolated virtual hardware and storage, on top of your existing operating system. Installing Ubuntu in Virtualbox, for instance, would give you access to Linux on top of Windows or macOS.
You can do this temporarily to test a new system out, or to run two operating systems at the same time over a longer period. Thanks to Neverware CloudReady, you can to test and try out the Chromebook experience without committing to it.
- You’ll first need to download and install VMWare Workstation Player, available for free, non-commercial use on Windows and Linux. Once installed, download the VMWare image for CloudReady to your PC. You’ll also need to make sure that virtualization is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings.
- In VMWare Workstation Player, click Player > File > Open. Locate the CloudReady OVA file, select it, then click Open.
- Give your CloudReady virtual machine a name (or leave the default name intact), then click Import. This will import the virtual machine image and settings to VMWare Workstation Player.
- Wait for the import process to complete, which may take a minute or two, depending on your PC. Once completed, select your virtual machine and click Play virtual machine to turn it on.
If your PC is correctly set up for virtualization, VMWare Workstation Player should load CloudReady in seconds. You can then begin the setup process.
Setting Up Chromium OS
When you first boot ChromeReady, you’ll be presented with a setup screen. Chromium OS, like all Chromebooks, requires you to have a Google account to be able to sign in and use it.
If you don’t have one already, create a Google account now, then return to the CloudReady virtual machine.
- At the CloudReady welcome screen, click Let’s go to begin the setup process.
- VMware will attempt to set up your network connection. VMware will usually share your host internet connection with the CloudReady virtual machine automatically.
If this doesn’t work, check that VMWare is sharing the correct connection by clicking Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Network Adapter > Configure Adapters and ensuring the correct adapter is selected.
- Confirm whether or not you want to provide anonymous analytics to Neverware by checking or unchecking the Send metrics to help improve CloudReady box at the next stage. Click Continue to proceed.
- Sign into CloudReady using your Google account details at the final stage. Once you’ve signed in, CloudReady will automatically sign in, configuring the Chromium browser to add your extensions, bookmarks, etc.
Using Neverware CloudReady
Your CloudReady Chromium OS virtual machine will work and appear very similar to a typical Chromebook. Click the circular menu icon in the bottom-left to access your apps, settings, and files, as well as install new apps from the Chrome Web Store.
- To configure your CloudReady experience further, click Menu > Settings. This will bring up a Chrome-like settings screen, where you can configure your network settings, connect Android devices, and install third-party media plugins.
- You can also change the background and theme in use by clicking Menu > Settings > Appearance > Wallpaper or Appearance > Browser themes. If you choose to add a new theme, you can download these from the Chrome Web Store.
- By default, Neverware CloudReady will default to an American timezone and keyboard configuration. You can change this by clicking Menu > Settings > Language and input. Click Language to set your language, and Input method to choose a different locale for your keyboard.
- Once you’re finished trying CloudReady, click Ctrl + Alt on your keyboard to be able to move your cursor outside of the CloudReady screen, then click Player > Power > Shut Down Guest to switch the virtual machine off.
Trying the Chromebook Experience
By installing Chrome OS in a VMWare virtual machine, you can begin to understand the differences between Chromebooks and PCs before you decide to buy your own. While the experience can be similar, there are differences you need to be aware of, including storage limits and app support.
If the Chromebook experience isn’t for you, you could install other operating systems in VMWare Workstation and give them a try instead.
