When comparing Chromium OS vs NetBSD, the Slant community recommends Chromium OS for most people. In the question“What is the best OS to run on ARM-based SOCs like the RPi?” Chromium OS is ranked 4th while NetBSD is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Chromium OS is:
Since you only have the browser, you cannot install applications (outside Chrome Apps which are decently protected by their limited API and the Chrome Web Store). This means no harmful virus, and also nearly no way you can screw your system. Everything will just work.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Safe and requires little to no maintenant
Since you only have the browser, you cannot install applications (outside Chrome Apps which are decently protected by their limited API and the Chrome Web Store). This means no harmful virus, and also nearly no way you can screw your system. Everything will just work.
Pro Minimalistic interface
Chromium's system UI uses as little screen space as possible by combining apps and standard web pages into a minimal tab strip: While existing operating systems have web tabs and native applications in two separate strips, Chromium OS combines these, giving access to everything from one strip. The tab is the equivalent of a desktop application's title bar; the frame containing the tabs is a simple mechanism for managing sets of those applications and pages.
Pro Lightweight
Because Chromium OS is designed for users who spend most of their computer time on the Web, it is intended for use in computers with little local storage and fast boot-up times.
Pro Adhere to the standard
It adheres to traditional Unix and new defined standards.
Pro It's Open Source
It's open source with a BSD License, which is much more business friendly than GPL. It's the real ancestor of Mac, that is being used nowadays.
Pro It's real
Under NetBSD csh is csh not tcsh; also vi is real vi not elvis, nvi or vim. It's ideal for purists.
Pro Architecture portability
It's the most portable OS in the world when considering what architectures it can run on. It runs on very wide range of hardware, from toaster to satellites. This of course does not mean it supports drivers for many consumer facing products making it a difficult solution to just boot up and use when compared to other OSs.
Pro Clean source code
It prioritizes source code cleanliness over anything.
Cons
Con Google
Possibly harms your privacy.
Con Made for developers
ChromiumOS is mainly made for development, so there exist no official install images and you have to build it from source or use third party images like Arnold's or the waterfall images.
Con No auto-upgrade (unlike Chrome OS)
Chrome OS auto-upgrade the system, but Chromium OS does not. It's possible that they're thinking about adding that feature from the design doc.
Con Lack of drivers
It lacks drivers for some new devices.