A Free Option Turns Old Windows XP Laptops into Chromebooks

[steven36]

Microsoft has made an unprecedented offer in allowing users of Windows 7 and Windows 8 upgrade to Windows 10 in the first year of its release. But older PCs that run Windows XP and Windows Vista are out of the loop. Those wanting to speed up their operation and beef up their security with a free option have traditionally had to turn to powerful but complex Linux options.

Now, though a company called Neverware has created a relatively simple way to turn these laptops (or desktops) into Chrome OS devices using the simple, secure and speedy operating system developed by Google. Dubbed CloudReady, the process involves downloading a file and then tracking down a Web app called the Chromebook Recovery Utility to send it to a USB flash drive. Once the flash drive is ready the PC must be set o boot from the flash drive.

As with many "live" Linux installations, you can try out Chrome OS from the flash drive. This is a good option to make sure things work although it will be slow. Once satisfied, you can install Chrome OS but make sure you do a complete backup of anything you want on the old PC as it will be completely erased and replaced with Chrome.

Overall, Chrome OS is a great option for older PCs, Unlike with Android, it is optimized for keyboards and mice or trackpads. but there are a few caveats to keep in mind. The operating system and its Web apps still are far more useful when they have access to Wi-Fi. This issue is exacerbated a bit when working with older PCs as they may not support newer, faster Wi-Fi standards.

Older processors are often not as energy-efficient as more modern ones so battery life may not be as impressive as it would be on a cheap Chromebook (or even new sub-$300 Windows laptops). This is particularly true given that many of these laptops have hard drives as opposed to the flash memory on modern Chromebooks. In general, though, Web tasks should be a bit zippier, particularly if the PC was using an older version of Internet Explorer.

Source

[emerglines]

Nope, no, nah, noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[straycat19]

Really ChromeOS is like not having an OS, and it is only good for browsing the internet. I lost count of the number of Chrome notebooks that were bought and returned because people thought they were getting a cheap laptop to run office and other windows apps. Even Walmart had so many returned that they quit carrying Chromebooks at all in the local stores.

[steven36]

Really ChromeOS is like not having an OS, and it is only good for browsing the internet. I lost count of the number of Chrome notebooks that were bought and returned because people thought they were getting a cheap laptop to run office and other windows apps. Even Walmart had so many returned that they quit carrying Chromebooks at all in the local stores.

That's about all an old stock XP Computer is good for is to browse the internet unless you were going to use it to play old game house games offline or something it can't handle x264 or , x265 videos , it cant play new games . It takes forever to encode videos in it . That's why I have a XP in the closet that’s not been used since I was on satellite internet like 2010 . :P . I don’t miss XP at all and the old teach boxes they came in.. there useless compared to today’s slandered unless you just use it for work or browsing the internet .

Part of the reason Vista was hated back in the day was because everyone was stuck on old XP boxes that could not handle the upgrade and most all programs were meant for and x86 O/S .But most everything works fine under x64 for years now and its much faster than back then , But even though it was hated by the masses any serious gamer built or bought them a pc that could handle Vista. :lol:

[smallhagrid]

Wow - this down-on-XP thing is very powerful indeed !!

Almost like some sort of crusade or vendetta or something.

I'll say it again:

Folks who are still hanging on to XP are mostly members of these 2 groups=>

1. Too poor to buy new stuff, especially while their old stuff keeps working well enough for them;

2. Technically competent enough to keep their stuff running they way they want it to stay for as long as possible.

No amount of proselytizing, persuasion, statistics or even outright threats will change these folks' minds.

Further:

Nothing that is chrome appeals much to folks with any desire beyond channel surfing - it is simply too dumbed down.

Again - speaking just for myself upon these subjects...

I use nice, older OSes and browsers and other apps out of personal preference - and as long as they do what I need them to, I see no need to change.

Also - whenever anyone tries to stuff radical changes down my throat that is the BEST way to make me utterly refuse such changes altogether.

Now, if there is something better that shows me it does what I need better in some real, tangible manner - I will consider it.

But this is MY stuff and these are MY choices and I will use whatever OS that I damn well please to no matter what anyone says.

[steven36]

Wow - this down-on-XP thing is very powerful indeed !!

Almost like some sort of crusade or vendetta or something.

I'll say it again:

Folks who are still hanging on to XP are mostly members of these 2 groups=>

1. Too poor to buy new stuff, especially while their old stuff keeps working well enough for them;

2. Technically competent enough to keep their stuff running they way they want it to stay for as long as possible.

Not really the majority of xp users are small business that are too cheap to upgrade if they were poor they would not own a business.

The rest are mostly people who had XP gave to them or senior citizens and don’t really know much about computers .

Even poor people rent to own stuff . You can rent to own a newer pc for a few dollars a week . If you’re so poor you cant do this you need to cancel you’re internet and spend you’re money on food and clothes.

I used XP for 10 years I never used Vista no more than a few days then upgraded to windows 7 . So no one can tell me about XP and I don’t miss it at all.

[Rok]

ChromeOS! Who wants it?! There are much better options available.

[steven36]

ChromeOS! Who wants it?! There are much better options available.

If you’re running XP with old teach in it there’s not many options thats why most leave XP as XP . I had a newer XP in 2010 that had 2gb of ram and atom processor I put Windows 7 on it it could not do nothing a PC with 4gb of ram and a newer processor it to slow . The XP I had before this was over 1000 dollars when it was new It had a P4 processor in it I put extra ram in it it only came with 512mb . Even using a chrome O/S you need at lest upgrade ram to be able to do simple browsing . Its going cost people money if there on and old stock xp from the early 2000s if they upgrade to Linux or Chorme . Even linux light recommends you update to at lest 1gb for simple stuff like youtube . A bunch of people bought XP on up to the time Windows 7 came out because they didn’t want Vista and these newer XP boxes don’t even run good with new windows much less the real old ones.

Over 7 Million Chromebooks Will Be Sold This Year

http://www.omgchrome.com/chromebook-sale-grow-27-percent-2015/

More people are buying Chromebooks this year than laptops No one is buying windows computers much any more since windows 7 only businesses buy computers any more much at home people buy phones and Chormebooks :lol:

[Arachnoid]

Google were delisting Chrome until quite recently but it looks like a change of heart as "its here to stay" according to reports