Take a look at https://galliumos.org -- its Xubuntu tweaked for certain Chromebooks. I've been running it on a first gen Toshiba CB2 (4gb ram, 16gb eMMC, 1080p display) -- and it runs really well. I run i3 and the other standards.
I use it as my out-on-the-town laptop out of fear of either dropping or losing my late 2013 macbook pro.
Anyway, the dev community around this is pretty decent, and other distros do run with varying degrees of success. If nothing else, its a fun, quick little project to get it up and running.
edit: I should also mention that having a 8-10hr actual-use battery life is a dream come true.
Its crazy, right? I confess that I was totally in that camp prior to getting this little chromebook. I always figured that 4 - 5 hours was as good as I'd ever get, but now I've seen the light.
I use it as my out-on-the-town laptop out of fear of either dropping or losing my late 2013 macbook pro.
Anyway, the dev community around this is pretty decent, and other distros do run with varying degrees of success. If nothing else, its a fun, quick little project to get it up and running.
edit: I should also mention that having a 8-10hr actual-use battery life is a dream come true.