I use Chrome OS on my 2012 11-inch MacBook Air, and it works perfectly for streaming YouTube/Netflix when I work. You can make Zoom calls, presentations, create docs, and do everything you would on a normal Mac, albeit on the web apps. So, there’s no point in installing another resource-intensive OS on your Mac if it can already run macOS.Ĭhrome OS is pretty light and allows you to use your old MacBook without any issues. Moreover, their recent versions of both Windows and Ubuntu are quite heavy for an old Intel processor. Windows and Ubuntu are viable options as well however, Windows requires a paid license to work, and Ubuntu isn’t optimized for old hardware. Why Chrome OS? Why not Windows or Ubuntu?įirst of all, Chrome OS is free and takes only 10 minutes to install.

You can watch YouTube, scroll through Twitter or any other social networks, and do everything you would do on a Mac with macOS. Now that most of the core apps required for work, such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, are available as web apps, the main aim of Chrome OS is to run, well…, Chrome smoothly, even on a ten-year-old Mac. The OS is simple to use and has a familiar desktop feel.ĭespite the desktop-like look and feel, Chrome OS is essentially a web browser at its core. It is a lightweight alternate operating system to macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu. What is Chrome OS?Ĭhrome OS is Google’s operating system for laptops that don’t have high-end specs. But, do you know you can still extract two to three years of more life from your old Mac by installing Chrome OS on it? Slow-downs, crashes, and lags become a common sight. However, every tech product has a certain age.ĭespite having future-proof internals, MacBooks start to show their age after six or seven years. They’re one of the most reliable pieces of tech one can own. MacBooks are a long-term investment, no doubt. Why you should consider installing Chrome OS on an old Mac? Installing Chrome OS on Mac: Things you need to know.

Why you should consider installing Chrome OS on an old Mac?.

So, in this simple step-by-step guide, let me explain why and how to install Chrome OS on any old Mac for free. Have an old MacBook that is unable to handle macOS? Did you know you can erase macOS from your Mac and install Chrome OS in place of it? It’s fairly easy to do so, and if you have a habit of watching something while you work (wink, wink, cricket, basketball, and football fans), you can use your old Mac as a second screen.

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