$3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#1

Post by pentagrama » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:24 PM UTC

$3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers
9to5google.com

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#2

Post by Skidaddle » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:44 PM UTC

Interesting idea - could it be done for a Linux distro?

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#3

Post by ge96 » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:49 PM UTC

Skidaddle wrote: post #2

Interesting idea - could it be done for a Linux distro?

Is that what a live USB is say with Ubuntu

Not sure if ChromeOS Flex is supposed to wipe the host OS or just run on top of it.

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#4

Post by ivell » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:54 PM UTC

This is great! Only concern I have is that it seems Google is moving to Android Desktop OS. So would ChromeOS be supported in the future? What about the hardware support in this case?

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#5

Post by functionmouse » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:56 PM UTC

Fighting obsolescence with "most likely to become obsolete" OS

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#6

Post by jmclnx » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 5:04 PM UTC

Skidaddle wrote: post #2

Interesting idea - could it be done for a Linux distro?

I do not understand this question.

Is there a reason you cannot install Linux ? Linux can be installed from a USB and should work on any system running windows 10.

If Linux is too heavy for your system, there is always NetBSD. I have NetBSD on an AMD 300MHz (= PII) with 512 MB memory and it runs fine.

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#7

Post by beAbU » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 5:05 PM UTC

This is a bootable USB memory stick with ChromeOS Flex on it.

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#8

Post by zdragnar » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 5:07 PM UTC

Skidaddle wrote: post #2

Interesting idea - could it be done for a Linux distro?

Slax (https://www.slax.org/) runs entirely off of a USB stick. There's other options that have been around for awhile aimed at simple experiences for older and weak hardware.

Back in the netbook era, there were quite a few that tried to be internet browser focused like peppermint OS, though I don't know how well any of them faired with the rise of chromeos.

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#9

Post by dpoloncsak » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 5:08 PM UTC

There has to be a very niche market for people who want ChromeOS on their device but do not have the technical know-how to do so, or without a device that can flash an iso.

I guess for $3 it's not really a cash-grab or anything. Kinda nice to see vendor-supported live USBs honestly

Re: $3 ChromeOS Flex stick will revive old and outdated computers

#10

Post by thekevan » Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 5:11 PM UTC

zdragnar wrote: post #8

Skidaddle wrote: post #2

Interesting idea - could it be done for a Linux distro?

Slax ( https://www.slax.org/ ) runs entirely off of a USB stick. There's other options that have been around for awhile aimed at simple experiences for older and weak hardware. Back in the netbook era, there were quite a few that tried to be internet browser focused like peppermint OS, though I don't know how well any of them faired with the rise of chromeos.

I still love Peppermint OS and have used it on several low end boxes.

It also didn't try to be internet browser focused, it just gave you easy ability to make the OS browser focused. Out of the box, it was like a better Lubuntu. You had the opportunity to chose what web based apps/services you would add.