I would subscribe to the NetfliXBMC thread and keep yourself informed of how easy or difficult it is to launch the Chrome browser from inside Kodi running on Ubuntu.
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=178693
Looks like this the addon is maturing nicely now, with a Netflix keyboard and remote control Chrome Browser Extension.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detai...pknknljhkj
** Good news **
Newbie friendly to get Netflix up and running.
** I'm running OSX - Kodi / Chrome browser but Ubuntu will be very similar.
Install NetfliXBMC add-on by installing repo from Zip file here:
https://www.alelec.net/kodi/repository.alelec.zip
- basic setup, entered my Netflix username / password.
- launched the add-on and it loaded the Netflix library, hit play on a movie and it asked if I wanted to install - Chrome Launcher - hell why not!
- the Chrome browser then launched fullscreen and I'm getting Netflix HD quality in the browser.
- Netflix player Keyboard controls work after installing the Chrome browser extension, should by easy enough to map to a remote as well.
- I then hit Esc and I'm back in Kodi.
I would definitely try installing a single boot Ubuntu on the Chromebox now, install the Ubuntu version of the Chrome browser (v37+) and the extension mentioned above and then Ubuntu - Kodi and the NetfliXBMC add-on.
Possibly try Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS 64-bit
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop