Summary
Google is now selling a $3 ChromeOS Flex USB Kit, in partnership with Back Market, to simplify installation on old PCs and Macs.
ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight, cloud-first OS that revives old machines but lacks Android and full Linux support.
The $3 kit ships in 4-5 days, includes step-by-step guides and videos to make old laptops usable again.
Instead of tossing your old laptop in the garbage, Google wants you to give it a new lease on life with its lightweight ChromeOS Flex operating system — and now, the tech giant is making that OS even easier to install.
ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight operating system that makes outdated, laggy Windows PCs and MacBooks feel snappy again by running on a cloud-based OS. However, until now, installing ChromeOS Flex has only been possible through Google’s official website.
Unlike the standard version of ChromeOS, Flex doesn’t support Android apps and has limited Linux app support (most aspects of the OS are cloud-based, with some web apps). Thanks to a partnership with Black Market, a refurbished electronics company, Google is offering the ChromeOS Flex USB Kit, a USB stick that makes it easier to get ChromeOS Flex running on your ancient computer.
“To offer another solution, Google is partnering with Back Market, a leader in refurbished electronics. Starting today, a new ChromeOS Flex USB Kit is available on their site to help you install our fast, secure, and free operating system to modernize the PC or Mac you already own,” writes Google on its The Keyword blog.
Related
Leaked image reportedly offers a glimpse of Aluminum OS, Google’s Windows 11 rival
The new operating system aims to combine the best of ChromeOS and Android.
If you have an old laptop lying around, this USB stick could come in handy
Give your aging laptop a second chance
Credit:Â Google / XDA
The kit itself costs $3, with delivery expected four to five days after ordering (it’s currently out of stock). Alongside the USB stick, the kit includes a straightforward installation guide with video tutorials that walk you through the setup process. ChromeOS Flex obviously isn’t going to turn your ancient laptop into a video editing beast, but it could transform an older computer into a useful device again.
For example, I’m thinking of installing ChromeOS Flex on my 12-inch MacBook from 2016, rather than getting rid of it. After all, the laptop is still in great condition, despite being almost a decade old (unfortunately, it isn’t on ChromeOS Flex’s compatibility list).
Google is reportedly working on a new unified operating system called Aluminum OS that unifies ChromeOS and Android, but despite countless leaks, the operating system still hasn’t been officially announced by the tech giant. That said, Sameer Samat, Google’s head of Android ecosystems, has confirmed that the tech giant is merging ChromeOS and Android.