Google just made it incredibly easy to save your old, slow laptop from the nearest garbage dump. The technology giant recently teamed up with Back Market, a popular company that sells refurbished electronics, to create a simple installation kit for ChromeOS Flex. This lightweight operating system breathes completely new life into aging hardware that struggles to run modern software. For a very small price, anyone can now transform their sluggish PC into a fast, highly usable Chromebook.
The new physical installation kit costs just three dollars in the United States, three pounds in the United Kingdom, or three euros across Europe. For that tiny amount of money, buyers receive a standard USB thumb drive preloaded with ChromeOS Flex software. The package also includes very clear, simple instructions that explain exactly how to install the new operating system step by step. Google specifically designed this kit so that anyone, regardless of their technical skills, can successfully upgrade their old computer in just a few minutes.
ChromeOS Flex essentially strips down the heavy software that normally bogs down older machines. While it lacks a few specific features found on standard Chromebooks you buy in a store, it functions the same way. The software relies heavily on cloud computing, meaning the internet handles most of the heavy lifting instead of the computer’s internal processor. Because the operating system is so light and streamlined, a laptop from eight years ago will suddenly feel fast, responsive, and incredibly snappy while browsing the web or typing documents.
Google strongly highlights the environmental benefits of this new program. Building a brand-new laptop from scratch creates a massive carbon footprint and requires mining precious metals. By installing ChromeOS Flex, owners can easily squeeze several more years of useful life out of the computer they already own. This keeps perfectly good hardware out of local landfills and reduces harmful manufacturing emissions. Furthermore, Google points out that ChromeOS actually consumes about 19 percent less electrical energy on average than traditional operating systems.
The timing of this cheap installation kit is very deliberate. Google is aggressively targeting millions of Windows 10 users right now. Microsoft officially ended regular support for Windows 10 last October. While some security updates continue, the company will completely abandon the old operating system for everyday consumers in exactly six months. When that deadline hits, old Windows 10 laptops will become extremely vulnerable to computer viruses and malware. Google wants those stranded users to switch to ChromeOS Flex instead of throwing their laptops away.
While Google clearly focuses its marketing on Windows 10 users, the software also works on many other computers. Users can actually install ChromeOS Flex on several older Apple MacBooks. Google provides a massive list of certified compatible devices on its official support website. The company also lists potential hardware issues, warning users if a specific laptop model might have trouble running the built-in webcam or connecting to Bluetooth devices after the installation finishes.
Installing the software using the new kit takes almost no effort. Users simply turn off their old laptop, plug the USB stick into a free port, and turn the laptop back on. The computer will automatically read the USB drive, and a simple menu will guide the user through the short installation process. Since Google considers this a pilot program, the company has manufactured only a limited number of kits. However, Google encourages buyers to pass the USB stick to friends or family once they have finished installing the software on their own machines.
If you want to save your old laptop right now, you do not even have to wait for the mail to arrive. Anyone with a blank USB drive and a decent internet connection can download ChromeOS Flex directly from Google for free. However, creating a bootable USB drive requires some basic technical knowledge that might scare away the average person. The new three-dollar kit removes all that confusing technical work. It simply provides the “cure” for old, dying hardware in a package that anyone can easily understand and use.
