I upgraded from Windows 10 to ChromeOS Flex and this is my experience

Not long ago, Google started promoting ChromeOS Flex as a great alternative that users should take into account Windows 10 that they were unable to upgrade their computers to Windows 11. An interesting move considering that Microsoft’s operating system, released in 2015, will not be supported next year, and that many computers that use it do not meet the requirements to upgrade to its successor .

As many may remember, ChromeOS Flex came out as part of Google’s attempt to give your old computer a second life. No matter if it was a Mac or a very old Windows PC. The Mountain View residents’ goal was to demonstrate that virtually any computer could run their ChromeOS-based software, Chromebook OS. no matter how limited your hardware is.

While the project generated a lot of buzz when it was announced in 2022, it has remained fairly low-key since then. That’s why when Google started recommending ChromeOS Flex as a worthy replacement for Windows 10, I decided to test this for myself.. Without going into details, I must say that the final result surprised me very much.

Installing ChromeOS Flex on an old Windows 10 computer

For this test to be as reliable as possible, older equipment was required. But very old. And luckily, I had exactly what I needed. A relative lent me a desktop computer that, compared to any modern equipment, could easily be called “prehistoric.”

We are talking about a PC with a processor Intel Core i3-2100, 4 GB RAM And 500 GB hard drive. The perfect combination to see if ChromeOS Flex has what it takes to run smoothly and easily and extend the life of such an old device.

The installation process for ChromeOS Flex hasn’t changed at all in recent years. To get the OS, I installed the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension in Google Chrome and followed the simple steps. When selecting a Chromebook for recovery, all I had to do was select ChromeOS Flexand the tool was responsible for creating the block boot using a flash drive.

After completing this step, I turned on the computer and booted it from the USB drive. The operating system installation screen appeared quickly, and I only had to configure a couple of settings (language and keyboard) before moving on. It is worth saying that this process requires an Internet connection either via Wi-Fi or a network cable.

According to the ChromeOS Flex installer, this process can take up to 20 minutes. However, in my case it lasted no more than two. Everything went smoothly and when it was finished the computer was turned off. When I took the flash drive out and plugged it back in, I was ready to use the Google software.

Although ChromeOS Flex allows you to use it as a guest, its capabilities are very limited. Your best bet is to sign into your Google account or create a new one directly from the settings screen. Whichever option you choose, In just a few minutes everything is ready to use.

Knowledge (and use) of Google software

Although I was pleasantly surprised by the short installation process, I liked the speed and responsiveness of ChromeOS Flex even more.. The desktop is identical to the ChromeOS desktop, so it has a minimalist aesthetic; but at the same time it absorbs various elements that we have already seen in other operating systems.

At the bottom we have the taskbar, which collects the most important system icons, in a style similar to that of the macOS Dock or taskbar. task bar Windows 11: The bottom right corner houses the clock and calendar, as well as notifications and connectivity, brightness and volume controls. And in the lower left corner, a kind of Start menu appears with all the pre-installed applications.

Of course, since it’s based on Google Chrome, ChromeOS Flex takes advantage of web apps. This is the crucial moment to make sure everything works quickly and with virtually no waiting. You can have Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Meet, Drive, Docs, or anything else you can imagine open, and the computer won’t even feel the “load.”

And with this we clarify what the strong point of this proposal is: life online. If we only use the computer to check email, read news, watch videos or perform any other type of web browser-based activity, ChromeOS Flex has everything we need and more. If we want to give the hardware more intensive or “professional” use – for lack of a better term – we will very quickly discover the shortcomings of Google’s software and the hardware it runs on.

One of the big disadvantages of ChromeOS Flex compared to ChromeOS is that does not allow you to install Android applications through the Play Store. Run Windows much less often through a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop. And if the computer’s specifications are very limited, we will not be able to use the online versions of demanding applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

ChromeOS Flex: what I liked and what I didn’t

The aesthetic section of ChromeOS Flex is great. operating system good and stable, with many customization options. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use since we have everything in just a few clicks. Window management, allowing you to quickly sort them according to various preset parameters, requires only holding the mouse cursor over the maximize button for a few seconds. Exactly the same as in Windows 11.

The flexible ChromeOS Start menu, officially known as the Start Menu, also includes simple and very useful features. For example, we can search the Internet directly from there. Or activate Google Assistant so it’s always at your fingertips, and you can even summon it with your voice using the historic “Hey Google” command.

integration with other Google products This is also a strong point. This allows you to control devices in other rooms (like Chromecast) directly from the taskbar; or sync history, favorites, passwords, themes, and more right from Chrome.

Added to this is an excellent menu for customizing keyboard shortcuts, of which there are many, as well as the ability to create multiple desktops and easily switch from one to another to manage different workspaces. Although, perhaps, the most important thing is the section security and privacy.

ChromeOS Flex includes very powerful and valuable options. For example, encrypting the names of sites you visit. This, coupled with Chrome’s improved security and the constant updates the operating system receives, makes it a great alternative for those who only need to focus on what’s happening on the Internet.

Although I have mentioned this before, What I liked least about this operating system is the lack of support for Android applications.. This is one of the most noticeable shortcomings compared to ChromeOS, and there is a logic to it. After all, running mobile apps from your computer is one of the main benefits of a Chromebook.

Despite this, it is noted that the ChromeOS Flex user experience could be even better if such an option was offered. Especially when we are limited by the Chrome extensions available in the Chrome Web Store, which, despite their variety, ultimately fall short of expectations.

As far as equipment goes, I didn’t have any major problems. When testing the program on a desktop computer, I was forced to use it connected to the Internet via a network cable. I tried to use key USB to add a Wi-Fi connection, but the device did not recognize it. Otherwise no problems. The fact that there is no need to deal with drivers is commendable..

Windows 10 replacement?

As it becomes clear ChromeOS Flex surprised me for the better. It’s stable and, no matter how limited its experience is compared to a real Chromebook or any other computer, it delivers what it promises. This is useful. Works. It has a calculator, a notepad and even a drawing tool. Any basic need is satisfied without problems, this is out of the question. But despite its merits, it seems that fails to become a direct replacement for Windows 10. And maybe I never will be.

Windows 10 still accounts for more than 67% of PC users running Microsoft software. Many of them may not have switched to Windows 11 because their hardware is not up to par, but there is also a large group who have decided to stay on the operating system because it is reliable. The tools you need are all there, and if you rely on more than just a web browser, ChromeOS Flex isn’t worth considering.

At the same time, I believe that the computer from which I am writing these lines could be perfect for my parents, who never had a very strong approach to computing. Or even for my daughter who hasn’t started primary school yet. But in regions far from home or education, its implementation as an alternative to Windows 10 is much more difficult. Moreover, I dare say that it may be more attractive to those who come from distribution based on Linux, thanks to the terminal and support for installing integrated development environments, rather than for someone coming from the Microsoft platform.

If Google wants to entice other audiences—professionals, for example— It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to achieve this with ChromeOS Flex. You might have a better chance of doing this with the Chromebook Plus, announced last year. Additionally, this software has the great benefit of keeping many computers active (and in use) that would otherwise become e-waste. This is no doubt worth appreciating, but I don’t know if it’s really enough to attract the attention of a mass audience.