Chrome OS Flex as a Windows replacement

Recently, YouTuber Brandon Stecklein evaluated Chrome OS Flex against Windows 10 to see if it could be a viable alternative. The evaluation was based on ease of installation, usability, and hardware support. It is also important to note that Chrome OS Flex and Chrome OS share some key differences that play a significant role in the OS's viability as a replacement for Windows.

Firstly, Chrome OS Flex has limitations compared to the Chrome OS found in Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Chromebases. Chrome OS Flex cannot update the BIOS or UEFI firmware of the device it is on, rendering it vulnerable to exploits if the OEM does not patch the device. Similar shortcomings come from the lack of "Verified Boot" and encryption for devices without a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Chrome OS Flex is also limited to AMD and Intel processors and does not support ARM. Unfortunately, system and peripheral hardware may face compatibility issues if the system is not on the "Certified model list."

Fortunately, the installation process is easy for users on the "Certified model list" or those who meet the minimum device requirements. Armed with an 8 G USB stick, users can use the "Chromebook Recovery Utility" to create a bootable image of Chrome OS Flex to either test on their prospective system or fully wipe and install the OS. Alternatively, users familiar with creating bootable drives can download the Chrome OS Flex image and use a tool such as Rufus to create their own.

Once installed, the similarities between Chrome OS Flex and Chrome OS are apparent. Users are greeted with a familiar and modern OS focused on internet browsing and web-based applications. Noticeably, the install features little to no bloatware, unlike a fresh Windows installation. The lack of bloatware also contributes to a smoother computing experience due to the lack of extensive processes running in the background, Chrome excluded.

For users who perform most of their daily tasks with a browser or other cloud-based applications, Chrome OS Flex can be a free and easy way to boost your hardware performance and streamline your computing experience. The rise in the capabilities of web-based applications has largely addressed the downsides of installing software locally. Still, for users who need to run programs locally, Chrome OS Flex comes with Linux support. Systems running Chrome OS Flex and can support Linux have access to thousands of applications, many of which are available as Flatpak packages from Flaphub.

As Stecklein mentions in his video, Chrome OS Flex has limitations in gaming. There is no access to the Google Play Store or support for Android apps or games. Installing software such as Steam on the device will also be more involved and may not work as intended. Consequently, this may be a deal breaker for users coming from Windows systems. Given the rise of Linux gaming, Google could take steps to remedy this.

For users interested in dumping Windows, please visit the resources below to create a bootable version of Chrome OS Flex and try it yourself.

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