ChromeOS Flex for Old PC and Mac Computers is now available, and Google has updated its list of certified models.
Google released the ChromeOS Flex operating system in February.
Google has announced an expansion of the availability of ChromeOS Flex, its free operating system for older PC and Mac users. In February, the new ChromeOS version was unveiled and made available for beta testing. According to the company, the operating system is free to download and was designed for businesses and schools. Google recommends that users install ChromeOS Flex instead of replacing their old PC or Mac computer, claiming that the operating system uses 19% less energy on average.
Background updates on ChromeOS Flex reduce system downtime, ensuring that the system does not slow down over time. According to Google, the operating system was designed for businesses and schools. The company also claims that ChromeOS Flex consumes 19% less energy, so Google recommends that users replace their current operating system with ChromeOS Flex rather than replacing the entire machine.
Google announced in a blog post that ChromeOS Flex will now be widely available for PC and Mac computers. The new ChromeOS version, according to the company, provides proactive security through sandboxing and protection against malware, ransomware, and employee errors. Google introduced ChromeOS Flex in February of this year, and it was previously available for early access. It is a free operating system to download.
“Globally, 40 million tonnes of e-waste is generated every year – that’s like throwing away 800 laptops per second,” said Thomas Riedl, Google’s Director of Product, Enterprise, and Education. Upgrading devices to ChromeOS Flex rather than replacing them entirely is a significant way to reduce waste and prevent this growing issue.”
Google has also updated its list of certified models that can run ChromeOS Flex. It now has 295 models certified to run the operating system. The company has also included brand-specific listings of the certified models. Apple’s Macbook Pro 2013 15-inch model and the Macbook Air 2012 11-inch model are among them, as is Dell’s Latitude 3160. It should be noted that the webcam was not functional on two certified Macbook Air models. Users running any model, however, can try out the new ChromeOS Flex.
ChromeOS Flex is currently available for free download from the company’s website. Organizations can deploy ChromeOS Flex across their school or company using a USB drive or their corporate network to install the operating system. According to the company, users can also boot and run it from a USB drive to test the new operating software before permanently installing it.