Leaf browser download alternative browsers for chromebook

But does it make the transition from Android to Chrome OS? In a word, mostly. Opera Mini does a great job of rendering like a pro, works with your trackpad, and feels as stable as the built in Chrome. There are only two caveats with Opera Mini. The first in similar fashion to Firefox is that you cannot freely resize the window. The second is that it doesn't offer all the bells and whistles of the desktop iteration.

However, you can opt for Mini's big sister, Opera Browser and get a few more features such as App layout selector and syncing. However, even using the fuller version, you still don't get the sidebars and other extras found on the desktop version. The quick conclusion for Opera Mini is that it does a serviceable job standing in for Chrome on Chrome OS, but doesn't call out for you to make the permanent switch.

Check out just about any "best of" alternative Android browsers list and you will find Dolphin Browser near the top. With good reason. Dolphin offers theming, flash support, ad blocking, gesture support, add on support, and more. On Chrome OS, Dolphin works quite well. Running the browser on Chrome OS doesn't strip away any of the features that have made the browser popular and the app works flawlessly.

Dolphin renders exactly as you would expect Figure C and does so quickly. Dolphin Browser also offers the ability to sync across devices. This feature is a bit hidden because it is found under Tab Push ; but once you connect Dolphin to either Google or a Dolphin account, your tabs, bookmarks, and more can be synced across platforms.

Like the previous two entries, the one caveat to Dolphin is its inability to be resized. But considering this is the only issue I encountered with Dolphin Browser on Chrome OS, I feel fairly confident in saying that this particular take on the mobile browser is an outstanding alternative to the default Chrome.

If you're looking for one of the best browsers for privacy, you might be familiar with Ghostery's Firefox and Chrome plugins. But did you know the developers rolled those features into a full-fledged browser? Ghostery might well be the browser you want, if you're looking for serious anonymity while browsing. This particular browser goes out of its way to block 3rd-party access to your data through trackers. Ghostery has a massive tracker database with over 2, trackers and 4, scripts and allows you to instantly clear all cookies and other saved data.

The biggest caveat to using Ghostery is that it a fairly bare-bones browser Figure D. You won't find a lot in the way of features and, thanks to its tracker blocking, Ghostery does noticeably slow down the page loading. So if you're a fan of speed and features, Ghostery isn't the browser for you. If, on the other hand, you like your privacy, you'd do well by this browser on Chrome OS.

However, the rest either do not function properly on Chrome OS or offer nothing that would warrant even bothering to install. The four browsers listed do function well and offer features you might find appealing or even necessary. Of course, in order to install any of the above browsers, you will have to have a supported Chromebook and have the Android Play Store enabled.

Once you've met those requirements, you can test these browsers on your own to see if they meet your mobile browsing needs. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays. He's covered a variety of topics for over twenty years and is an avid promoter of open source. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen Image: Jack Wallen. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays Sign up today. Google has an official support document on how to set this up, though keep in mind that the feature is still labeled as being in beta, so you should expect the occasional bug.

Click the clock in the lower right corner of the Chrome OS interface, then click the cog icon to get to the Settings pane. Choose Linux Beta and Turn on. Firefox is perhaps the one most people will be interested in, and that can be installed with the line:. The best route is to download the correct installation file to your Chromebook making sure to place it in the Linux apps folder , then use the commands below.

For example, for Vivaldi you would download the bit Debian Linux package from here , then type these lines into the command line hitting Enter each time :. Programs that you install in this way will appear in the Chrome OS app drawer, either on their own or under the Linux apps heading. Just click on the relevant icon to launch a browser, and Chrome OS handles all the necessary switching to and from the Linux environment. These instructions should work in Chromebooks released in the last couple of years and several older models, too.

The official subreddit for getting Linux running on Chrome OS is a good starting point. Browsers you install using this method will run as they would on Linux, in full desktop mode and with all the associated features enabled.

Unless you specifically request the desktop site from the browser menu, websites will appear as they do on your phone.