Hello! GNU/Linux has always been a way out for users who have a relatively old computer. Most of all in those where Windows doesn’t work well. It is also an option for those who care about their security and privacy. On the other hand, there have been other systems that have tried to stand up to Linux as lightweight operating systems, but unsuccessfully. Now, from the hand of Google, comes a new operating system ideal for older and less powerful computers: ChromeOS Flex. Find out what this new system has to offer.
What is ChromeOS Flex?
ChromeOS is a proprietary operating system from Google that comes by default installed on Chromebooks. However, it is impossible to install on other systems. In fact, there are some projects that allow us to install a free version, Chromium OS. In this way we can have an experience similar to that of Google’s system, but without some advantages offered by this system. Now, Google wants to bring its experience to all users who would like to turn their computer into a Chromebook. And, to do so, it has launched the first version of its system, ChromeOS Flex, for everyone.
Similar to ChromeOS, Flex is an open version of this operating system so that any interested user can install it on any computer. However, those who can take most advantage of this system are companies. Indeed, ChromeOS has very advanced security measures. It also has remote administration functions that, in a home, we are not going to take advantage of.
This new operating system allows us to install the Google ecosystem directly on our computer. This ecosystem runs an instance of Chrome, which we can use to browse the Internet. As for the applications, these are somewhat limited. In fact, we can only download and install those that are available in the application store itself, the Chrome Store. Similarly, we can use any webapp as if it were an application natively installed on the PC.
Google has published a list with more than 400 certified devices on which this new ChromeOS Flex works perfectly. However, we will be able to download and install it without problems on any computer, with any hardware.
Download and install
Google has simplified to the maximum the implementation of its new operating system. All we have to do is download it from the Google website. Once downloaded, we save it to a USB memory to proceed with the installation.
When booting the PC with this USB stick, ChromeOS Flex itself will erase our current system and install itself on the computer without us having to do anything. In just a few minutes, we will have this new Google system up and running. If any user was using CloudReady OS, all of them will be automatically upgraded to Flex when this operating system reaches its stable version.
