Chrome Story

Convert Your Old Laptops Into Chromebooks With CloudReady

Chrome OS comes pre-installed on Chromebooks. Hence, the version of Chrome OS that runs on all Chromebooks is not available for download. However, there is an alternative that is close enough. CloudReady, an operating system that converts your laptop into a Chromebook.

I was using Chromium OS on my old netbooks, before CloudReady. Good Chromium OS builds were available initially, but later, all those sources died down. All of them stopped updating. There are still a few, but I recommend CloudReady because they have built a business around it and is more likely to stay. Plus, they work with Google on this.

CloudReady – Turn Laptop into Chromebook

Chrome OS has an open source version, Chromium OS just like Chrome has Chromium, the browser. These two are almost identical. Chrome OS is Chromium OS plus additional features that Google adds.

Neverware, the company that makes CloudReady takes Chromium OS and adds most of the missing pieces including the automatic updates. If you are a school or a business, you can even purchase the Management Console license to remotely administer your fleet of Chromium OS laptops.

If you are worried about giving up Windows, CloudReady even lets you dual boot Windows alongside Chrome OS.

Download CloudReady

Anyone can download CloudReady free of cost from Neverware’s website here. The download page has instructions on how to install and also a quick start guide.

CloudReady Works on Macbooks Too

CloudReady can convert even your old MacBooks also into Chromebooks (sort of). Instructions are available on Neverware’s website. Chromium OS on a Mac will make a really beautiful machine.

CloudReady is an excellent option for schools and businesses with many old computers around. With CloudReady, they can be turned in to new computers. The Management Console makes it even more attractive.

If you are a regular user, this can be your first experience with Chome OS, before committing to buying a Chromebook. Install CloudReady on an old laptop and make it useful again, and also experience an operating system that was built for the web.

Author

Dinsan

Content Developer and Digital Minimalist. I love testing new Chromebook features and writing about them. My favorite Chrome OS Channel is Canary. | Twitter

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  1. Thomas Broyer

    Unless Hexxeh didn’t update his web site, Flow is not something to recommend: “Last release was 15th February 2010”, ouch!

    Reply
    1. Dinu

      Yes, you are correct… but that’s the only build which will work on most of the hardware.. hope hexxeh updates his flow build real soon!

      Reply
  2. earls

    Correct, ChromeOS Vanilla is what you want.

    I just bought one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119050

    I hoping to get ChromeOS on there…

    Reply
    1. Dinu

      good luck there!

      Reply
  3. Guest

    Official Chrome OS ISO ==> less chromebook users, more people who like Chrome OS

    Reply
    1. Dinu

      well, that’s a point.. but they want more Chrome OS users where they have full control.. not just Chromium OS users, where they may or may not have control… but still more people using Google products = more money for them..

      Reply
  4. Rex Rollman

    I would personally like to see Google offer official VirutalPC/VMware images for people who want to browse the web more safely. Of course, that’s probably something they have already considered and rejected, but one can hope.

    Reply
    1. Dinu

      Vanilla build from Hexxeh is available for virtual machine… if you like it..

      Reply
  5. Chromiyaw

    I have tried to burn the img image to USB using the method given..but i cant boot from it..then i tried to convert it to iso using ccd2iso but still no hope..can you please tell me how to do it? i mean how to burn it to USB..or how to convert it to ISO..

    Reply

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