Google is bringing Chrome OS to PCs and Macs

Google has introduced early entry to a brand new model of Chrome OS known as Chrome OS Flex. The new model of Chrome OS, designed for companies and colleges, is designed to run on previous PCs and Macs. The working system might be put in “within minutes,” in keeping with Google’s weblog publish.

Google advised me that Chrome OS Flex will feel and appear an identical to Chrome OS on a Chromebook — it’s constructed from the identical code base and follows the identical “release cadence.” It did caveat that some options could also be depending on the {hardware} of the PC you’re utilizing. In truth, it mentioned this for each particular characteristic I requested about, together with always-on Google Assistant and Android telephone syncing. So, for those who’re going to do this, preserve an eye fixed out.

This gained’t be the primary time Chrome OS has proven up on units it didn’t ship with. Google not too long ago purchased Neverware, which beforehand bought an software known as CloudReady that allowed customers to transform previous PCs into Chrome OS methods. That set off speculation about the place we would subsequent see Chrome OS and its future within the PC house.

Since that acquisition, Google notes, “we have been hard at work integrating the benefits of CloudReady into a new version of Chrome OS.” This seems to be Google’s first step.

If you need to check out Chrome OS Flex your self, you possibly can study extra on the Chrome Enterprise website. Note that the OS continues to be in early entry mode, so you might encounter bugs — you possibly can boot it straight from a USB drive for those who’d relatively poke round earlier than putting in it in your machine.