Enlarge / Google Chrome OS Flex.
Google announced today in a blog post that ChromeOS Flex, a version of its Chromebook operating system suitable for most hardware, has moved from early access to general availability. He also said he certified “more than 400” devices, including Apple, Dell and HP systems, to run the operating system smoothly and stably.
Google announced ChromeOS Flex in February, based on its acquisition of CloudReady in 2020 (CloudReady becomes ChromeOS Flex now that the latter is stable). Cloud OS Flex can be downloaded to a USB drive for free, allowing you to install it on a Mac or Windows computer.
The most obvious use of ChromeOS Flex is to revitalize an outdated machine that may be too old to get software updates for your native operating system. Our beta review of ChromeOS Flex found that the operating system is an interesting alternative for people who are content to make the most of their computing in a browser and to get a budget-level Chromebook experience from a system of 8 to 9 years.
In his blog post today, Thomas Riedl, director of Product, Enterprise and Education at Google, also highlighted the business potential of ChromeOS Flex, detailing 200 Nordic Choice hotels that are said to have used ChromeOS Flex to restore 2,000 computers in about two days after a ransomware attack.
Announcements
On his blog, Riedl claimed that Google used ChromeOS Flex’s early access period to solve “more than 600 issues” and that the company will continue to certify more devices to run the operating system. He said hundreds of devices are already certified, including the Apple Mac Mini 7.1; Apple MacBook 7.1; Apple MacBook Air 5.1; and first-generation Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon — will provide a “consistent, high-quality experience” while running ChromeOS Flex.
You can still install ChromeOS Flex on a device that Google has not certified, assuming it meets the minimum requirements (Arm chips, for example, are not supported), but according to Google, the machine must be certified for The following features are guaranteed by Google:
- User interface and system graphics
- Installation
- Wi-Fi
- Ethernet
- Internal display (if applicable)
- At least one audio input and output method
- Sleep and resume
- Touchpad
- Keyboard
- USB
- Infrared (IR) webcam (if applicable)
However, even with ChromeOS Flex certification, there are some features that Google says it tested, but that “aren’t necessarily guaranteed to work on all certified models.” They are:
- Bluetooth
- Touch screen
- Automatic screen rotation
- Keyboard shortcuts and function keys
- SD card slots
And there are numerous features and ports that Google says have not been tested or supported by ChromeOS Flex, such as fingerprint readers, optical drivers, IR webcams, proprietary connectors, stylus input, and Thunderbolt functionality.
In general, a Chromebook that doesn’t work with ChromeOS Flex may not perform poorly, such as boot speed, battery life, and power savings, as a machine with ChromeOS, according to Google.
The list of ChromeOS Flex certified devices shows a wide range, but for those accustomed to a different operating system, the transition won’t necessarily be perfect. Still, it’s still a viable option for those who would rather have a makeshift, low-power Chromebook than more electronic waste.