How-To Install Illustrator on ChromeOS

[Blaharz]

Hello, I have a problem, namely I need to install Adobe Illustrator on my daughter's chromebook. The school says that there is no way to do this and forces us to rent their... chromebook with the software already installed. I don't really understand whether it is possible or not, or whether the school is somehow pirating the product. Please can someone explain the above topic. Thank you in advance.

[Anubhav M · Accepted solution]

Hello @Blaharz,

Thanks for reaching out. Illustrator is currently not supported on Chrome OS. Learn more here: (https://adobe.ly/47wDExG).
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks,
Anubhav

[Disposition_Dev]

It seems the definition of "chromebook" has evolved over the years. My son was issued a "chromebook" by his school, but it runs windows like a regular (low spec) laptop. But there are aslo chromebooks that do not use windows as an operating system.

Basically the problem isnt with the school or even the hardware itself, but rather with google's decision to use what is effectively a cross between a desktop OS and a mobile OS. Adobe software is designed for the two major desktop OSs (MacOS and Windows. Linux can run it too, but only if you run a virtual machine that runs windows).

I've never owned a chromebook, but my understanding is that the OS is built around the idea of cloud apps running from a remote server rather than running natively on the laptop itself. This helps save on size/weight and battery consumption. And with todays internet speeds, there isnt much of a performance hit (at least in things that the chromebook was designed for like text editing or document creation or web browsing). 

However the downside is that it isnt really a full computer with a full operating system.

Depending on the specs of the machine, it may be possible to install windows and then install creative cloud and illustrator. But im guessing the internals of a chromebook would leave much to be wanting in terms of performance with illustrator.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask anything if something is still a bit nebulous.

Dilliam_Wowling