GoKawiilGoogle is issuing you its periodic reminder that you aren't tethered to Microsoft's operating system if you own a PC. In fact, the search giant is making it easier than ever to switch over to ChromeOS Flex.
As part of a new partnership with Back Market, a refurbished electronics company, Google is now offering ChromeOS Flex USB Kits to make installing its signature OS a breeze on PCs and Macs alike.
Whether you've been purposefully avoiding a Windows 11 update or you're one of the more than 500 million computer owners with a PC that is too old for an operating system upgrade, your Windows 10 PC hasn't received an update since last October when Microsoft ended its support for it. (Microsoft's Extended Security Updates program will keep pushing critical updates your way until this coming October for $30, a fee I doubt many people clinging to an old PC are willing to pay.)
When your operating system stops getting updates, you're facing down the barrel of a security nightmare -- no more exploits will get fixed, leaving your system (and potentially sensitive data) vulnerable to bad actors. Google's ChromeOS Flex continually supports older devices than Windows 11, which could make it a good alternative until you upgrade to another PC.
The new Back Market USB kit is available now for $3, or you can download ChromeOS Flex for free by following the simple instructions included at the end of this article.
A quick ChromeOS Flex history lesson
Google's ChromeOS isn't available to install on a laptop or desktop like Windows or Linux, but the next best thing is Google's ChromeOS Flex. Formerly known as Neverware CloudReady, the OS is primarily built for businesses and education. But ChromeOS Flex is free for personal use, and it's so lightweight that it's great for breathing new life into a computer that's struggling from the demands of Windows, MacOS or Linux.
Google acquired Neverware in December 2020, and the result was ChromeOS Flex. While CloudReady was good, Flex is much closer to the experience you'd get with a Chromebook or other ChromeOS device. That includes the official Chrome browser, support for Family Link (or school-issued) accounts, and Phone Hub, which lets you connect to an Android phone to view notifications and share files between the phone and laptop. The one thing you don't get is access to the Google Play Store and Android apps.
ChromeOS Flex runs well even on old hardware. That's why it's such a good option for repurposing a laptop that can no longer run current versions of Windows, MacOS or Linux. Google guarantees Flex to work, however, only on a growing list of certified models. If your model isn't certified, that doesn't mean it won't work, though. It just means that full functionality and performance aren't a given.
You can wipe a laptop's drive and install ChromeOS Flex or run the OS off a thumb drive to test it out first. Josh Goldman/CNET
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