Google has announced early access to Chrome OS Flex, a new version of Chrome OS that will bring the benefits of Chrome OS to older PCs and Macs.
Last week, Google announced early access to Chrome OS Flex – a new version of Chrome OS intended for use on old PCs and Macs. Over the years, Chrome OS, originally designed to run on Chromebooks, has been adapted to projects aimed to bring the operating system to PCs.
Neverware, the company behind this CloudReady OS – a fork of Chromium OS has helped countless businesses and schools modernize PCs and Macs, including Nordic Choice Hotels, ABN AMRO, and MyGate.
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After Google acquired Neverware in late 2020, the company has been “hard at work integrating the benefits of CloudReady into a new version of Chrome OS” and is now turning CloudReady OS into “Chrome OS Flex.”
Google says that Chrome OS Flex “modernizes devices you already own, allowing you to experience the benefits of Chrome OS on PCs and Macs.” Benefits include accessing a fast and modern work experience, being protected against the latest security threats, enjoying easy deployment and management, and generally enabling a sustainable solution to make the most of existing hardware.
Chrome OS Flex can be installed “within minutes.” Once running, the operating system will look and feel identical to Chrome OS on Chromebook. However, the capacity to run some of its features – like always-on Google Assistant and Android phone syncing – may depend on the hardware of the PC the OS is installed.
Users can find out more about Chrome OS Flex on the Chrome Enterprise website and then either download and install the OS for free on their PC or boot it directly from a USB drive risk-free to try it first.
Do note, though, that as Chrome OS Flex is still in early access mode, it may still contain bugs. In addition, to combine modern computing with cloud-first management, Google is offering a free trial of Chrome Enterprise Upgrade to secure and manage Chrome OS Flex devices.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
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