Tech Tools: New operating system for older PCs and Macs

Chrome OS Flex (Free)

If you have an older Windows or OS X device at home that is creaking along and you have no idea what to do with it, Google might be able to help you out. It has released a new operating system, Chrome OS Flex, that brings the cloud-first OS to PCs and Macs. It's free to download, built for businesses and schools, and integrates all the benefits of Neverware's CloudReady, which Google acquired with the company in 2020, into Chrome.

Protect against threats

It is fast to start up, system updates happen in the background, and it has regular security updates to help you protect against threats. It’s a win for organisations who have ageing devices, and a win for users.

It’s still in development, but you can try out Chrome OS Flex without even permanently installing it on your compatible PC or Mac – you can boot it up directly from a USB key.