Chrome OS Flex: Make Your Old Computer New Again

In my last article, I discussed Windows 11 and whether you should upgrade (or not). There was a healthy discussion in the comments, and I was encouraged to look for other alternatives to Windows 11 that save the otherwise doomed devices that do not meet Microsoft's stringent system requirements.

I try, as much as possible, to reuse old hardware and always jump at the opportunity to try new, free-to-use, operating systems and other software that can help turn project machines into valuable or usable equipment. For example, I documented my journey with pfSense, an ingenious way of turning an old device into a powerful router, gateway, firewall, kick-ass network device.

Enter Chrome OS Flex

If you are a tinkerer like me, you might have heard about CloudReady. It was a Chromium-based operating system that extended the life of old computers into Chromebooks or something close.

Chrome OS has grown since it was launched back in 2010. Back then, it was just a browser pretending to be an Operating System. Nothing much could be done without Wi-Fi. There was no Taskbar, no Desktop, there were some settings and barely any applications.

Fast-forward to today, and Chrome OS wants to bam ba! and wants to chill with big boys! Enough with the memes. Chrome OS is now a computing solution that is fully featured and polished. Today, Chromebooks and Chrome OS Flex devices can hold their own for business, personal and education-related use.

If you enjoy the ultra-fast boot times of a brand new machine, then you will love Chrome OS flex on your vintage computer. some features out of the box include instant tethering, Smart Lock, synchronization with your other android device for your bookmarks and settings, and Nearby Sharing.

Chrome OS Flex runs on top of a Linux kernel and there is support for Linux and Linux apps. Google Play and Android apps are not supported, at least not yet (fingers crossed).

When Do I Join?

Like most people who work in IT, I tend to hoard old hardware. I have at least three laptops at any given time; one that works like a charm, one that I am nostalgic about, and one project machine I make excuses for that I never seem to get off the ground.

For my installation, I used the trusted-not-completed project machine; an older Dell Latitude E6640. It, to my surprise, did not cut the Windows 11 upgrade. The specs include an Intel(R) Core(TM)i7-4610 CPU, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM (two banks of 4 GB), a 320 GB hard disk drive, a DVD +-RW Drive (who uses this anyway?), and an AMD Radeon HD 8690M Graphics with 2GB memory

Chrome OS Flex can run on pretty much any device that came out in the past decade, Windows and Mac, but for optimal performance, I would recommend a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, an x86 - 64 CPU (thirty-two bit or sixty-four bit capable CPU), and at least 16 GB of internal storage.

Installation is pretty straightforward. You might need to check if your device is certified by Google. It helps if your device is verified to work with Chrome OS Flex, but if it is tagged as minor or major issues expected, you can proceed with the installation but some things might not work correctly. If you cannot find your device on the list, do not worry as the list is updated often since Chrome OS Flex is currently released for early access.

at the time of writing this article, the Dell Latitude E6440 has been listed as working with minor issues expected. Who said it was going to be easy?

How Do I Install Chrome OS Flex?

You will need a USB flash drive, the Chrome Web browser with the Chrome Recovery Utility Extension enabled, and most importantly, a lot of patience.

To build the USB installer;

1. Open the extension and click on Get started.
2. Click on Select a model from a list.

3. Then, choose Chrome OS Flex as the manufacturer and Chrome OS Flex (Developer Unstable) as the Product.

4. Insert your 8 GB or larger USB drive to use as a bootable flash drive on the target computer. Remember to select it from the drop-down menu.

5. The creation of the media will take a while, be patient. Once complete, insert the drive into the target machine and boot from it as you would with any other OS installation.

One advantage of Chrome OS Flex and most Linux-based OSs is that they allow you to sample the goods before committing. You can use the opportunity to check what the operating system has to offer once you boot from the USB drive. Once ready, just click on install to make Chrome OS Flex your primary OS.

The Experience

Chrome OS Flex's user interface is easy to navigate for former Windows and Mac users. It also helps that you can port your settings over from your android device. If most of what you do on the laptop is web-based, then the transition will be smooth for you. Google announced plans to support Windows apps into the Chrome OS environment and that should trickle down into Chrome OS Flex.

Chrome OS Flex is still in its infancy and has some bugs. This should not discourage you as they are updating the operating system regularly. If you have a budget Windows 11 laptop, your experience will improve greatly should you opt for Chrome OS Flex.

With there being no end in sight for the recent chip shortages, there is a greater need for us to repurpose old hardware that would otherwise end up as e-waste.

What do you think? Is Chrome OS Flex right for you?