Google’s New Chrome OS Flex Will Rescue Your Old PC or Mac

Google today announced a new operating system , Chrome OS Flex , a detached - to - purpose , swarm - found oculus sinister built to convert onetime PCs or Macs into Chromebooks .

The new OS was arise by Google a few years after acquiring Neverware — the makers of Cloudready — and was primarily made for schools and business enterprise with fleets of old personal computer or Macs that have been bogged down after years of use . Google argue these system could be revitalized by stripping out Windows or macOS and installing Chrome OS Flex , a lightweight operating system that can run on weaker ironware and remain unchanging for years due to its reliance on the swarm . Most importantly , Chrome OS Flex will get the same aid from Google as Chrome OS — that is , it relies on an identical code floor and will get the same sack cadency .

Thomas Riedl , director of product for enterprise and education on Chrome OS , told us that Google invested hard in ascertain that UIs are uniform across both operating scheme and institute primary Chrome bone feature of speech , including the Google Assistant , Chrome web browser app , and cross - machine Android tools , to Flex .

Image: Google

Image: Google

“ With such alike end - user and IT experiences , it ’s also gentle to transition from Chrome OS Flex to chromium-plate O devices when you ’re quick to purchase novel hardware : With Chromebooks , Chromeboxes , and Chromebases , you ’ll receive end - to - end optimisation across computer hardware and computer software with the strongest security and turgid app ecosystem through the Google maneuver Store , ” Riedl wrote in a web log mail .

Chrome OS Flex could be a saving grace for businesses set about to work with a mixed fleet of honest-to-god Mac or PC and newer Chromebooks . Those aging system could not only be turn over novel life-time running Chrome OS Flex but with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade , they can be managed within the same Google Admin console table as newer Chrome group O devices . It would also be much easier to move everything over from Flex to a new Chromebook when it ’s time for a ironware rise .

“ Oftentimes , Windows forces them [ consumers ] to use system for shorter than they should . We have Chrome ready for you and you do n’t have to buy raw ironware , ” Riedl say . He went on to say that the first 100 Chrome OS releases were on Google ’s own machine , but the next will be on “ whatever ironware you fuddle at it . ”

Image: Google

Image: Google

Google also makes a sustainability logical argument in that moving to Chrome OS Flex could restore laptops that are on lifespan backup before they ’re shipped off to a landfill . Businesses might also switch to Chrome OS Flex for specialized computer hardware like stall and digital signage , and in one utmost exercise case , aScandinavian hotel concatenation switch to Chrome OS(using CloudReady ) to take flight from a ransomware onrush .

Google says Chrome OS Flex can fly the coop efficiently on devices that are up to 13 years old — a bluff call we are eager to try out out once we can get our hands on an Apple PowerBook G4 .

“ you may go back 10 or more years and people are still find a really honorable experience . I do recall you ’ll get some advantages with speed or carrying out but one of the more profound things is that Windows wo n’t stay as performant on class five as on class one . Chrome OS Flex wo n’t age as ill and wo n’t fall that baggage over time , ” Forrest Smith , a product manager for Chrome OS , secernate Gizmodo .

Image: Google

Image: Google

There are some notable restriction with Flex , most of which halt from using hardware made for another OS . For instance , Chrome OS Flex devices running on PC or Mac computer hardware wo n’t have the same cardinal shortcuts as Chromebooks . Moreover , certain gimmick drivers are n’t compatible with Flex ; as a result , the webcam on some MacBook model wo n’t function properly .

Riedl also concede that while Flex is purportedly more secure than a PC , it is n’t quite as secure as a Chromebook given the computer software / hardware gulf . Google says it will be transparent with customer in account the risks of swop to Flex and project to release alist of certified machine modelswith short letter outlining which features do and do n’t work .

While testing Chrome OS Flex is as sluttish as bring up it from a USB driving — a procedure that should take about 30 minute of arc — put back an o with another across an intact fleet is non - trivial . Smith says that while IT admins are well-fixed with the induction process , it is n’t something anyone can pull off . The foresighted - full term end , however , is to simplify the unconscious process and broaden the acceptation of Chrome OS Flex to individual users .

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“ At Google , we were very tempt to just go big and to put it out to everybody , but over the years , we ’ve learned that having a focus is good . Our most loyal fans are those who monkey around with it and try on it out so what you ’ll see is that you have an installer and can try it out yourself , ” Riedl said .

These are still early days for Chrome OS Flex , and Google admits it has n’t done any large - scale testing just yet . With this early access period , the company is giving users a chance to play around with the OS and offer feedback before it pushes it out to market . Those who want togive Chrome OS Flex a trycan do so by loading it from a USB ; this method gives you a “ hazard - gratis ” way to try Chrome OS Flex before doing a full OS swop .

Google says a unchanging translation of Chrome OS Flex will be made useable “ in the coming months ” and to expect bugs in its current state . Those who were using CloudReady will be kick upstairs to Chrome OS Flex free of accusation .

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