ChromeOS Flex
{{Short description|Operating system maintained by Google}}
ChromeOS Flex is an operating system maintained by Google that is based on ChromeOS. It is similar to ChromeOS, and is available on devices that aren't Chromebooks. For instance, it can be installed on Windows computers.{{Cite web |title=ChromeOS Flex: Our Cloud-Based Operating System - ChromeOS |url=https://chromeos.google/intl/en_ca/products/chromeos-flex/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=chromeos.google |language=en}}
History
In December 2020, Google purchased Neverware, developer of Cloudready, a version of ChromiumOS designed to run on Windows and MacOS hardware.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-15 |title=Google acquires Neverware bringing official support to Cloudready OS |url=https://chromeunboxed.com/google-acquires-neverware-bringing-official-support-to-cloudready-os/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Chrome Unboxed - The Latest Chrome OS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Salter |first=Jim |date=2020-12-16 |title=Google bought CloudReady, the largest ChromiumOS distribution |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/12/google-acquired-neverware-makers-of-cloudready-chromeos-variant/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}
On February 15, 2022, Google announced "early access" to the ChromeOS Flex operating system. Google claims that the operating system is intended for older computers that may not properly run their current OS, and that the solution will eliminate the need for users to buy new hardware.{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2022-02-15 |title=Google turns old Macs, PCs into Chromebooks with Chrome OS Flex |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/02/google-turns-old-macs-pcs-into-chromebooks-with-chrome-os-flex/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}
In July 2022, Google officially launched the operating system. The blog post by them explains Nordic Choice Hotels choice to switch switched to ChromeOS Flex after a ransomware attack.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-15 |title=Google Formally Launches ChromeOS Flex; Says Almost 300 Devices Certified |url=https://www.sixteen-nine.net/2022/07/15/google-formally-launches-chromeos-flex-says-almost-300-devices-certified/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Sixteen:Nine}}
Installation
Google offers a list of supported devices on their support site.{{Cite web |title=Certified models list |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11513094 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ChromeOS Flex Help}} Unsupported devices may not guarantee stability. The user will need a USB flash drive, a computer to create the installation media, and the computer to install the operating system on.{{Cite web |title=Prepare for installation - ChromeOS Flex Help |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11552529 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403225518/https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11552529 |archive-date=2025-04-03 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=support.google.com |language=en |url-status=live }}
= System requirements =
Although Google offers a list of supported devices, they offer a general system requirements list. The minimum system requirements for ChromeOS Flex are:{{Cite web |title=Your Windows 10 PC isn't dead yet - this OS from Google can revive it |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/your-windows-10-pc-isnt-dead-yet-this-os-from-google-can-revive-it/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}
- Intel or AMD x86 with 64 bit device,
- 4 GB of RAM (memory),
- 16 GB of internal storage,
- The system must be bootable from a USB flash drive,
- Access to the system BIOS
= Process =
The user can use either the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension available from the Chrome Web Store, or download the installer image directly.{{Cite web |title=1. Create the USB installer |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11541904?hl=en |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ChromeOS Flex Help}} After preparing the installation media, the user will then need to boot the machine from the USB flash drive.{{Cite web |title=2. Boot device using the USB installer |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11552352?hl=en |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ChromeOS Flex Help}} After booting into the installer, the user can try out the operating system before installation, and/or install it onto the machine directly. The user would follow the on-screen instructions of the installer, noting that all data on the device will be erased during the installation.{{Cite web |title=3. Start using ChromeOS Flex |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11550703?hl=en |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ChromeOS Flex Help}} After installation, the user can set up device management on the devices.{{Cite web |title=4. Set up device management for your organization |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/13007418 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ChromeOS Flex Help}}
Usage and functionality
{{See also|ChromeOS}}
ChromeOS Flex shares much of the same features as ChromeOS. However, there are some differences between the two. For example, there are some security differences, especially with hardware, lack of Google Play and Android app support, and differences in guarantees of performance and stability.{{Cite web |title=Differences between ChromeOS Flex and ChromeOS - ChromeOS Flex Help |url=https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11542901?hl=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402195217/https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11542901?hl=en |archive-date=2025-04-02 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=support.google.com |language=en |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://chromeos.google/intl/en_ca/products/chromeos-flex/}}
{{Google LLC}}