When comparing Crouton & Kali Linux vs Solus, the Slant community recommends Solus for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux distributions for beginners?” Solus is ranked 5th while Crouton & Kali Linux is ranked 30th. The most important reason people chose Solus is:
Which means you don't have to suffer from version to version updates that can break it.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Keeps Chrome operating system
This method will keep your chrome operating system installed; so you can use both on your device.
Pro Will not void warranty
This is a software method, no hardware will have to be modified, so your warranty will stay intact.
Pro Rolling release
Which means you don't have to suffer from version to version updates that can break it.
Pro Easy installation
The installation procedure for this distribution is quite simple. It's GUI based and all you have to do is to follow the instructions given by the installation window itself.
Pro Modern desktop environment
The default desktop environment used by Solus is called Budgie and is quite nice and minimalistic.
Pro Stable
The system itself is very stable. All packages in the repository seem to be carefully picked, well prepared and run stable.
Pro Responsive
System boots quickly and stays responsive. Does what operating system should do, and does it really well.
Pro Most stable Rolling Release Distro
Pro Exclusively for desktop systems
Pro Great package management
The software center makes it really easy to install the latest software through Snappy and Flatpak. Including third party software.
Pro Rock-solid Distro
Very stable and well curated.
Pro Lightning fast boot time
Pro Seamless packages
It may not have the most obscure packages, but the packages it does have is a good number of everything a Linux user needs. Gamers, developers, desktop users, etc. all have the necessary packages and then some. The packages themselves are integrated perfectly and are very well updated.
Pro Default experience is clean and easy
The default desktop experience on the Budgie version is very clean and streamlined. Although the Budgie DE isn't the most customisable, but it's customisable enough for me to recreate the desktop style of ElementaryOS with the dock and bar at the top.
Pro Friendly towards proprietary codecs, firmware and drivers
So you won't have to enable PPAs or extra repos for that.
Pro Well curated software
The software is well curated in the repos, you have access to flatpaks and snaps, so virtually, all the software you'll ever need is there for you.
Pro Friendly community
The only community who values the newcomers. Very helpful community.
Pro Built from scratch
Cons
Con Developer Mode
In doing this method, you will have to put your chrome book in developer mode, while not a huge downside, some security considerations will have to be given to that fact. Developer mode on most chrome books are insecure by design.
Con Ram usage
Due to the nature of Chroots (what Crouton does) you will be running both Chrome OS and your Linux operating system of choice at the same time. On lower end chrome books this may cause issues with RAM usage.
Con Not much software
There is not much software available.
Con Lack of software in repositories
There is a lack of software in the repositories. This is the only OS where I have had to build some applications from source or install from the app's site within the first month os usage. Though this is most likely because the distro is still relatively new.
Con There is often a black screen after update
Con An upgrade breaks the system quite often
Con Forums are not very friendly
Con Systemd
Con No USB Image writer
Con The default desktop environment is not very customizable
Maybe because it's a relatively new project still in its infancy and this may be fixed in the future, but Budgie is not very customizable. You can only change the theme and wallpaper.