Google wants you to try Chrome OS out on an old computer or Mac.
Chromebooks are no longer flying off the shelves, but Google thinks Chrome OS is a fantastic way to repurpose an outdated laptop. Operating systems are all that matters to users, and one company is preparing for a world where operating systems fade into the background.
Try Chrome OS
The new Chrome OS Flex, Google’s latest attempt at a desktop OS, is designed to be installed on a wide range of PCs and Mac computers in a matter of minutes. As a corporate and educational operating system, it is being marketed as a viable alternative to Chromebooks, although it is essentially the same experience.
A full-fat operating system like Windows or macOS would be overkill for most of what we do on a computer these days because we perform most of our work in a web browser. Since it’s only a web browser built on top of the Linux kernel, Chrome OS Flex is a lot easier to deploy and manage.
Chrome os system requirements
A list of certified devices is being compiled by Google so that Chrome OS Flex can run on most Intel or AMD-powered systems with at least 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. With Chrome OS, functionality like Google Play and Android apps won’t be available at all, depending on the hardware it’s operating on.
How to install Chrome OS Flex on Windows Laptop or MacBook
It makes sense for Google to promote Chrome OS to customers who own devices that are no longer supported by the most recent versions of Windows or macOS because shipments of Chromebooks were down in 2021 due to a downturn in education spending. However, Google did acquire CloudReady software in 2020, which enables individuals and organizations to transform aging computers into Chrome OS devices.
Chrome OS Flex can be tested for free by anyone who wants to give it a go. It’s important to keep in mind that this is still in early access, so there may be some glitches. However, if you like, you can run it from a USB drive before making the decision to install it permanently.
Existing CloudReady users will be transferred to Chrome OS Flex once a stable version is released, which is expected in the coming months.
