NOTE: This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I have written often about Chromebooks and want to publicize this article on how anyone can add (an almost exact clone of) the Chrome operating system to almost any Windows or Macintosh computer, including to an older computer that maybe is gathering dust in your closet.
Don't throw away that old laptop just yet.
Chromebooks are a great alternative to traditional laptops and PCs. Running ChromeOS, they are cheap, powerful devices that provide all the functionality you could ask for. Even better, the best Chromebooks on the market are relatively inexpensive. But you don't need to buy a Chromebook to try out ChromeOS. Google lets you experience the operating system on your old laptop or PC through ChromeOS Flex.
What is ChromeOS Flex? And how do you install it on your old PC or laptop? Read an article by Rajesh Pandey to find out. The article is in the Android Police web site at: https://www.androidpolice.com/google-chromeos-flex-install-guide/.
NOTE: Chromebooks (as well as computers with Chromeos Flex software installed) make excellent devices for children, adolescents, senior citizens, and other non-computer-literate adults. They are easy to use, never get viruses, and automatically install software updates without user actions. I strongly recommend you install Chromeos Flex (it’s easy to install) on an older laptop or desktop computer and then give it to a non-computer-literate person.
All that is required is 2 simple steps:
- Create a bootable ChromeOS Flex USB drive to try ChromeOS Flex prior to installing it.
- When you’re ready, install ChromeOS Flex on your PC or Mac to replace your operating system.
You can learn even more about Chromeos Flex (even for use on Macintosh and Windows systems) at https://chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeosflex/.