July 15, 2022 –
Bring old PCs and Macs back to life with ChromeOS Flex. After a test phase, the Google operating system is now open to all interested parties.
Google has now officially released the cloud-first operating system ChromeOS Flex to all interested parties after a closed test phase lasting several months. The operating system has low hardware requirements and can also be used on older PCs and Macs. So far, Google has certified 295 different devices for ChromeOS Flex, the exact list can be found here here.
The manufacturer positions its lightweight OS in one blog post with features like proactive security, rapid deployment and easy management. The work experience should be fast and modern. And last but not least, ChromeOS Flex also serves sustainability: Older devices can continue to be used and do not have to be replaced with new ones, which reduces the volume of e-waste.
ChromeOS Flex is similar to the ChromeOS found on Chromebooks. Google describes the differences here. The operating system can be tested by starting it from a bootable USB stick. If everything runs satisfactorily, it can then also be installed on the device from the USB stick. The minimum system requirements according to the Installation Guide: Intel or AMD x86/64, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, administrator access to the BIOS. The installation guide also notes that processors and graphics cards manufactured before 2010 may have problems. The Intel graphics systems GMA 500, 600, 3600 and 3650 are not supported at all – they would not meet the performance requirements. (ubi)