Is your computer too old to accept new updates and unusable for updated operating systems? Are you thinking of replacing it as soon as possible, but the prices of new devices are expensive and beyond your financial capabilities?
Google has come up with a solution, announcing in a Google Cloud blog post on July 14 that ChromeOS Flex has become publicly available.
The company says that older devices can be converted to Chromebooks by using the new operating system Chrome OS Flex.
Therefore, the inability of your old MacBook - which is 9 years old - to receive updates for new operating systems does not mean that it is no longer useful, as you may be able to extend its life by installing the Chrome OS operating system Flex, a light Chromebook interface from Google.
Chrome OS Flex project
Google started the project in early 2021 when it realized the need for a simple operating system that could be installed on a wide range of devices such as Macs and non-PCs. Chrome OS Flex entered a beta period last February, and after 5 months it became The system is ready to run more than 400 devices for free.
Google sums up Chrome OS Flex as “an easy-to-manage, fast cloud operating system for PCs and Macs, free of pre-installed applications, and a key factor in maintaining an intelligent operating system, designed to run quickly.”
Google appears to be developing this system with a dual purpose: a way for consumers to experience the benefits of Chromebooks, and a trial for companies to determine their business viability.
You can also download it to a USB drive and quickly install it on the hacked devices.
Importance of Chrome OS Flex
According to the Google Cloud blog, Chrome OS Flex provides the following:
1. Proactive Security: The system offers much-needed protection from growing threats, including ransomware, malware, and employee errors.
2. Quick Deployment and Easy Management: Quickly use and transfer Chrome OS Flex over a corporate network or via USB and by upgrading Chrome Enterprise, you can manage applications and policies from anywhere, even from seaside.
3. Fast, up-to-date work experiences: Devices slow down over time, and background updates reduce device downtime and improve productivity, so you can spend extra time relaxing.
4. Sustainability for your business and planet: The system breathes new life into existing devices to reduce e-waste and energy consumption and maintain clear blue skies.
Less energy
Google also claims that the Chrome OS Flex operating system consumes 19% less power than other major interfaces, which leads to another major goal of the tech giant for the new operating system which is sustainability.
Most importantly, Chrome OS Flex was designed primarily with the goal of preserving old hardware rather than dumping it in landfills by offering an agile operating system capable of running enterprise operations.
And while an old computer might get bogged down by the original operating system, a lightweight option like Chrome OS Flex can extend the life of the device, thus reducing electronic waste.
List of hundreds of compatible devices
To help device owners know if Chrome OS Flex is a good choice for them, Google has put together a list of hundreds of compatible and incompatible devices with Chrome OS Flex, tending Acer and HP devices. (HP, LG and Toshiba) should work fine with the operating system installed, while some other devices such as Dell and Apple may suffer from Some minor problems.
Devices that don't appear on Google's list can still technically receive Chrome OS Flex as long as they meet the minimum requirements, but some vital features, such as the device's touchpad, keyboard, and USB ports, may not be guaranteed. and audio/video outputs.
In the year 2025, when support for Windows 10 (Windows 10) ends, many current devices will become obsolete, and many devices may become useless in the face of the strict operating requirements of Windows 11 (Windows 11) and later.
Although Google calls the Chrome OS Flex project an "early access" or "unstable" project, you can now use it on your old computer instead of getting rid of it for good.
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