Googlebooks don’t have the same web app or Linux app support as Chromebooks

Googlebooks lack the same web app and Linux app support found on Chromebooks, with only "compliant" apps allowed for installation. Linux applications do not function in the same manner as on ChromeOS devices. Googlebooks primarily rely on Android and web apps for core functionality, with the Play Store guiding users to the most suitable app for their device.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) support on Googlebooks is not as robust as on Chromebooks; while most PWAs can be easily installed, Slack's PWA encountered installation issues. Google confirmed this issue as Slack's PWA is not deemed compliant, unlike Chromebooks that allow manual PWA installation. Despite support for PWAs on Googlebooks, the Slack web app isn't a compliant PWA, meaning it cannot be manually installed on Googlebooks or Android devices.

This situation mirrors another regression in app support compared to Chromebooks. Googlebooks currently lack the comprehensive Linux app support found on Chromebooks, which gained popularity in 2018 and has since expanded capabilities. Google's limited documentation surrounding Linux apps on Googlebooks only describes accessing a Debian command line interface via the Terminal app.

Although this functionality allows for advanced tasks and software development, GUI apps are not the primary focus for the initial release of Googlebook. Linux users have reported reliability issues with applications like GIMP, a popular photo editing tool for Linux. With no documentation available for running Linux GUI apps, this functionality is best suited for experienced users rather than the average consumer.