ChromeOS Flex is out of beta, making it even easier to turn that old laptop into a Chromebook
Updates aren’t as big an issue for computers as they are for Android phones, but sometimes even an old laptop stops getting the bits it needs to work well, leaving older (but arguably still good) models behind. Enter:ChromeOS Flex. It’s a great way to teach an old computer new tricks, and today, it leaves beta.
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As much as we might think of ChromeOS Flex from a consumer perspective, it’s worth remembering that Chromebooks have been massively popular as education-oriented devices. These days, schools don’t always get the budget to replace old hardware regularly, but ChromeOS has pretty low system requirements, running on some of the lowest-end specs you can buy. For a classroom sitting on a pile of decade-old laptops (that arguably might not even be secure to use anymore with their default software), ChromeOS Flex could plug the gap and stretch out their lifespan a little longer.
But it’s not just classrooms that can take advantage of this. Businesses and other organizations that can’t afford new hardware and can get by in a browser can also make the switch. While IT departments might not take kindly to using a piece of beta-labeled software, that’s not an issue here anymore. Google says it should be easy to deploy (via USB or over a network) and simple to manage. You can even administrate them through the Google Admin console if you cough up the cash forChrome Enterprise.
As one example, Google points out the case of Nordic Choice Hotels, which was able to deploy ChromeOS Flex onto ransomware-affected hardware, converting 2,000 computers in less than 48 hours. Fleet deployment and management is a touch logistical hurdle at the best of times, let alone during an emergency, and particularly when you’re dealing with outdated hardware that’s already in place.
you could’t just grab some piece of 1995-era hardware and expect to toss ChromeOS Flex on it, though. There areminimum requirementsthat it needs to work. They’re honestly pretty forgiving, but it does mean you’re probably limited to something made in the last couple of decades:
Google also maintains a list of"certified" computersthat it guarantees a certain level of performance, functionality, and stability for. That doesn’t mean ChromeOS Flex won’t work on other hardware, it just means Google hasn’t explicitly tested it, and you might not get the best possible experience.
Although the enterprise tools might cost you, ChromeOS Flex remains free. And now that it’s out of beta, it should beeasier to get your hands on.
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