Not long ago, Google came out to promote ChromeOS Flex as the great alternative to be taken into account by users of Windows 10 that they could not update their PCs to Windows 11. An interesting move, considering that the Microsoft operating system launched in 2015 will be unsupported next year, and that many computers that use it do not meet the requirements to switch to its successor.
As many will remember, ChromeOS Flex was born as part of an effort by Google to give a second life to your old computer. Regardless of whether this was a Mac or a very old Windows PC. The intention of those from Mountain View was to demonstrate that practically any computer could run their software based on ChromeOS, the Chromebook OS, no matter how limited your hardware.
Although the project generated a lot of noise when it was announced in 2022, it has remained quite low profile since then. That is why, when Google began recommending ChromeOS Flex as a viable replacement for Windows 10, I decided to test it for myself.. Without giving too much away, I must say that the final result has left me very surprised.
Installing ChromeOS Flex on an old Windows 10 PC
For this test to be as reliable as possible, it required old equipment. But really old. And luckily he had just what he needed. A relative lent me a desktop computer that, compared to any modern hardware, could well be described as “prehistoric.”
We are talking about a PC with a processor Intel Core i3-2100, 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB hard drive. A perfect combination to check if ChromeOS Flex had what it took to run easily and without complications, in order to extend the useful life of such an old device.
The ChromeOS Flex installation process hasn’t changed at all in recent years. To get the OS, I installed the “Chromebook Recovery Utility” extension on Google Chrome and followed the simple steps. When choosing the Chromebook to recover I only had to select ChromeOS Flexand the tool was responsible for creating a unit of boot using a pendrive.
Once this step was completed, I turned on the PC and booted it from the USB stick. The operating system installation screen appeared quickly and I only had to configure a couple of parameters (language and keyboard) before moving forward. That is to say, the process requires that we be connected to the Internet, either via WiFi or through a network cable.
According to the ChromeOS Flex installer, the process could take up to 20 minutes. However, in my case it didn’t last more than two. Everything went smoothly and the PC was turned off when everything was finished. When I removed the pendrive and turned it on again, I was ready to use the Google software.
While ChromeOS Flex allows you to use it as a guest, the features are very limited. It is best to log in with your Google account, or create a new one directly from the settings screen. Whichever option you choose, In a matter of minutes everything is ready for use.
Knowing (and using) Google software
While the brief installation process pleasantly surprised me, I enjoyed the speed and response of ChromeOS Flex even more. The desktop is identical to that of ChromeOS, 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 that brings together the most important icons of the system, in a style similar to that of the macOS dock or the taskbar of Windows 11. In the lower right corner we have the clock and calendar, plus notifications and connectivity, brightness and volume controls. While in the lower left corner a sort of Start menu appears with all the pre-installed apps.
Of course, being based on Google Chrome, ChromeOS Flex takes advantage of web applications. This is the crucial point so that everything runs quickly and with almost no waiting times. You can have Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Meet, Drive, Docs, or whatever you can imagine open, and the computer doesn’t even feel the “load.”
And with this we make it clear what the strong point of this proposal is: life on the web. If we use the PC only to check emails, read news, watch videos or carry out any other type of activity that is based on a web browser, ChromeOS Flex has everything we need and more. If what we want is to give the equipment more intensive or “professional” use – for lack of a better definition –, we very quickly find the shortcomings of the Google software and the hardware on which it is running.
One of the big cons of ChromeOS Flex compared to ChromeOS is that does not allow the installation of Android apps through the Play Store. Much less run Windows through a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop. And if the computer’s specifications are very limited, we cannot take advantage of 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 fabulous. The operating system is nice and stable, with many customization options. In addition, its use is incredibly simple, since we have everything just a few clicks away. Window management, which allows you to quickly sort them according to different pre-established parameters, only requires holding the mouse cursor over the maximize button for a few seconds. Just like in Windows 11.
The ChromeOS Flex Start Menu, formally known as the “Selector,” also includes simple and very useful features. For example, we can search the web directly from there. Or activate the Google Assistant to always have it at hand, and you can even invoke it with your voice through the historic “Hey, Google” command.
The integration with other Google products It is also a strong point. This allows you to manage devices in other rooms (a Chromecast, for example) directly from the taskbar; or sync histories, favorites, passwords, themes and more, directly from Chrome.
To this we must add the excellent menu to configure the keyboard shortcuts, which are many, and the possibility of creating multiple desktops and easily switching from one to another to manage different work areas. Although perhaps the most important thing is the section of security and privacy.
ChromeOS Flex incorporates very effective and appreciated options. For example, encrypting the names of the sites you visit. This, added to Chrome’s improved protection and the constant updates that the operating system receives, make it an excellent alternative for those who only have to focus on what is happening on the web.
Although I already mentioned it before, What I liked least about this operating system is the lack of support for Android apps. This is one of the most notable absences compared to ChromeOS, and it has its logic. After all, running mobile apps from your computer is one of the great attractions of Chromebooks.
Even so, it is noted that the ChromeOS Flex user experience could be even better if that possibility were offered. Especially when we are limited to the Chrome extensions available in the Chrome Web Store, which, despite their variety, end up falling short.
As for hardware, I had no major problems. When testing the software on a desktop computer, I was forced to use it connected to the Internet via a network cable. I tried to use a dongle USB to add WiFi connection, but the device did not recognize it. Otherwise, no problems. The mere fact of not having to deal with drivers has been to be appreciated.
The replacement for Windows 10?
As is becoming clear, ChromeOS Flex has surprised me for the better. It’s stable, and despite the limited experience compared to a real Chromebook—or any other computer—it delivers on what it promises. It is useful. Works. It has a calculator, a notepad and even a drawing tool. Any basic need is covered without problems, and that is out of the question. But despite its virtues, it gives the impression that is not in a position to become a direct replacement for Windows 10. And maybe I never will be.
Windows 10 still accounts for more than 67% of computer users with Microsoft software. Many of them may not have switched to Windows 11 because their hardware does not meet the requirements, but there is also a large group that has decided to stay on this operating system because it is reliable. All the tools you need are there, and if you rely on much more than a web browser, ChromeOS Flex is not an option to consider.
That said, I believe that the computer from which I am writing these lines could be ideal for my parents, who have never had a very strong approach to computing. Or even for my daughter, who hasn’t started primary school yet. But in areas far from home or education, adopting it as an alternative to Windows 10 is much more difficult. What’s more, I dare say that it may be more attractive to someone who comes from a distro based on Linux, thanks to its Terminal and support for installing integrated development environments, rather than for someone coming from a Microsoft platform.
If Google wants to seduce other audiences—professionals, for example—, unlikely to achieve this with ChromeOS Flex. You may have a better chance of doing this with the Chromebook Plus that were announced last year. Furthermore, this software has the great merit of being able to keep many computers active (and in use) that, otherwise, would have already become electronic waste. That is worth considering, without a doubt, but I don’t know if it is really enough to capture the attention of a mass audience.