Tried Chrome 'Vanilla' and Neverware cloud ready but it just won't boot from either DVDs and or the seemingly preferred USB route(s). Still trying on this Intel based iMac using the latest version of VirtualBox.

There are problems with chrome os as a virtual machine. Neverware makes a VMware image for vmware player.

1 members found this post helpful.

So, 'Awesome Machine' are you saying VMWare might work where VirtualBox wouldn't?

So, 'Awesome Machine' are you saying VMWare Fusion might work where VirtualBox wouldn't? Yes you were.

Well, I hate to say it, but neither of those are "Linux" so to say, and both have "issues" that are unique to themselves. As far as I am concerned, Apple Computers are some of the least desirable hardware if you want to install GNU/Linux. Most people who use GNU/Linux use it on a regular PC with a "normal" bios/uefi, not a "Mac thingy" with various Apple quirks.

Chrome "Vanilla"? Neverware cloud? Sounds like a bunch of mumbojumbo to me.
And I am not trying to be harsh. I'm trying to poor a bit of cold water on the situation and try to be a little more realistic. This combination that you are trying is probably not what you should be doing, or should want to be doing in the first place. On top of that it is Virtualbox with a bunch of their own issues going on, including tying up hardware with virtual hardware, which is manageable in GNU/Linux if you run into some issues, but on a Mac?

Is there a specific reason you are trying to install that stuff in a virtualbox on a mac? Is there perhaps another option, or do you have to do what you are trying to do for some particular reason? What are you trying to accomplish exactly?

Probably someone here can answer you and know those things, but it's not exactly the right place to ask.

I've learnt so much more since posting to this [poor]website, certainly enough to know how vacuous your whole posting is. Where you say neither of those are Linux: untrue; where you slang off Apple hardware, I'm dual booting on a 2009 MacBook Pro with Windows 10 running faster than on a PC and Fedora and Ubuntu running in VirtualBox on the Mac side. The reason I've found (for the benefit of other members) the image produced by the *.bin file doesn't cut it in VirtualBox (as can be seen in both Fedora and more clearly in Ubuntu) is the splitting into three parts, namely OEM, ROOT-A & STATE, however VM Fusion & VMware on the PC seems to deal differently with the issues, pure Linux would seemingly require ROOT-A (booting) and STATE (data holding) partitions copied to the 'hard drive' before working as pre-supposed. The reason for initially using a VM was to trial before e.g. using on old PCs.

Well, what I would recommend is that you try a GNU/Linux distribution on your Mac directly, and a proper distribution, not proprietary Google Chrome OS.. In all ernest, you should contact Google about Chrome OS. You can also install these GNU/Linux distributions in a working Virtualbox environment.

Here are som distroes you can try on your Mac:
https://distrowatch.com/

Would you recommend Fedora (Red Hat) type/kind or Debian based e.g. Ubuntu?

It depends on your skill level and willingness I would say, and computer specs.
Easy option: Ubuntu
Middle option: Mageia, Manjaro
More advanced: Debian/Devuan

For example.

1 members found this post helpful.

I'll take the Gorilla option then, LOL.