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It may not be useful for businesses, creatives or professionals. However, it may make sense for elementary schools that relies on chromebook ecosystem? Might be cheaper to buy sufficiently old macbook airs than new chromebooks? 🤔
I feel bad for those kids. Their data was being farmed by google when they didn’t know what data farming is, and their whole life is stored on google server, without their consent.
Yeah, downgrading would be the best thing I guess. Too bad Apple never bothered to fix the bug.
“In the name of security, we shall prohibit user from downgrading our system forever!”
 
This is really interesting. My daughter needs a Chromebook for school and they're all of such awful quality. My 7 year old 13" MBP will almost certainly work better for her needs, even though the hardware is insufficient for a modern macOS.
What's the benefit of doing this versus just downloading Chrome?
 
There are now some Macbooks that are too new for Snow Leopard (they came out after) but too old for the latest and greatest, Monterey or Ventura. For example, the 2011 Macbook Air is stuck between Lion and High Sierra.
High Sierra is good enough imo. First, it’s the last macOS that runs 32-bit program without compromise. (Mojave nag screen doesn’t count). Second, it is modern enough to use some of those handy features (such as handoff) and support is generally ok imo. iTunes 12.6.5.3 is also a plus if one has the need. Snow leopard is just a tad too old nowadays
 
Not everyone is willing or able to just up and spend money on a new computer when they can do something for free that gives them some modern functionality
Idk. ChromeOS is extremely limited to begin with. “Modern functionality” is a bit of stretch. Windows 10 would offer way more modern functionality than ChromeOS.
Main problem with old macOS is serious security vulnerabilities. If you can use one of the macOS patchers to run unsupported macOS, that is the way. If not, Windows 10 or Linux probably. If this ChromeOS install works as well as it does on Chromebooks (I don't know if it does), it wouldn't be a bad option for a laptop you don't use for much -- easy security updates and something you can use for browsing (and maybe do some Linux via Crostini). I actually really like my Chromebook and ChromeOS, but its definitely not my main laptop.
Umm. While I agree using older software online is risky, but no any amount of software patches would prevent targeted attacks. Also, using ChromeOS for latest security updates? A nicely polished Linux distro would do just great if not even better for latest updates. On top of that, a cloud-based OS is just asking to get gimped by internet problems.
 
This thread taught me something new: that these forums have a max limit of 'Dislikes' you can give per day...and I didn't even get off the first page! 🤣


GL6VG81.png
 
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You know how else you can keep old devices secure and usable without hassle? Basic internet common sense like not visiting suspicious sites. Antivirus also helps. You don't need ChromeOS Flex to keep old devices secure and usable.
Kinda do sometimes. Some of these guys only run El Capitan. Have you tried to use El Capitan in 2022? Nothing works great. Web browsing is an AWFUL experience. Don't even get me started trying to use Lion on my 2008 Macbook.
 
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This is ridiculous PR from Google. Google is far worse than Apple!
I purchased a Chromebook 3 years and Google has already dropped the support on it just this month!
And now they do want to provide support for 10-year-old Apple computers?
Are they essentially acknowledging that a 10-year-old Apple is worth more than a 3-year-old Chromebook?
 
I don't understand some people.

We're given a free option to install a modern, up-to-date OS on some older systems. Apple themselves would warn you not to stay with an unsupported, vulnerable version of OS X with an outdated, vulnerable browser.

Have you not used Chrome OS? Things are mostly web-based with it, but that is what most people use a computer for. Chrome OS is perfect for that.

Schools have been tripping over themselves, buying Chrombooks as fast as possible. Windows systems are a pain to manage and Apple systems are too expensive. Chrome OS gives them the simplicity and security of Apple without the high price. It's a tested and functional platform, and more than capable for most people.

If you feel it's too limiting for you, then install your favorite full Linux distribution. No reason to crap all over Chrome OS.
 
Even a really old version of MacOS is better then the most current ChromeOS. This is pointless.
Older versions may be as nice as can be. They don't get any security update from Apple and therefore cannot really be used. ChromeOS is always kept current.

Now, that the next version of MacOS will not be available to not so old Intel-machines, it is nice to have an option.
 
Older versions may be as nice as can be. They don't get any security update from Apple and therefore cannot really be used. ChromeOS is always kept current.

Now, that the next version of MacOS will not be available to not so old Intel-machines, it is nice to have an option.
I don't understand some people.

We're given a free option to install a modern, up-to-date OS on some older systems. Apple themselves would warn you not to stay with an unsupported, vulnerable version of OS X with an outdated, vulnerable browser.

Have you not used Chrome OS? Things are mostly web-based with it, but that is what most people use a computer for. Chrome OS is perfect for that.

Schools have been tripping over themselves, buying Chrombooks as fast as possible. Windows systems are a pain to manage and Apple systems are too expensive. Chrome OS gives them the simplicity and security of Apple without the high price. It's a tested and functional platform, and more than capable for most people.

If you feel it's too limiting for you, then install your favorite full Linux distribution. No reason to crap all over Chrome OS.
I work in a school and use ChromeOS all the time. I hadn't considered there are some security vulnerabilities on significantly older OSes that you simply remove out of circulation if you switch to ChromeOS over MacOS....but I think that's an overstated concern, honestly. Anything THAT old is probably so dated, you're talking about hardware issues even. Having experience using both chromeOS and MacOS, There are huge limitations on a brand new install of chromeOS versus an older install of the Mac.
 
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Older versions may be as nice as can be. They don't get any security update from Apple and therefore cannot really be used. ChromeOS is always kept current.

Now, that the next version of MacOS will not be available to not so old Intel-machines, it is nice to have an option.
Sigh
 
Umm. While I agree using older software online is risky, but no any amount of software patches would prevent targeted attacks. Also, using ChromeOS for latest security updates? A nicely polished Linux distro would do just great if not even better for latest updates. On top of that, a cloud-based OS is just asking to get gimped by internet problems.
There was at least one RCE in the last few years that I would absolutely not want to still be running an OS with the vulnerability. You don't have to be targeted for automated attacks to compromise you.

I already mentioned running patched current macOS if possible (e.g. dosdude1's catalina patcher), or Windows 10 or a Linux distro. However, for some use cases ChromeOS wouldn't be bad, and the ease of applying security updates is quite nice (just restart the machine). Android support might also be nice for some. You wouldn't want ChromeOS on your main machine of course, but if you have some old laptop lying around that you're not using it might make sense.

I actually have used my Chromebook without internet on a flight and with Linux enabled via Crostini I was able to do software dev work without issue. Also some webapps can run offline. Its not as useless without internet as you'd think.

Only thing is people are saying here that ChromeOS Flex is buggy / unstable on Macs, so maybe it's not currently a good option. I'm just saying ChromeOS is underrated.
 
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You know how else you can keep old devices secure and usable without hassle? Basic internet common sense like not visiting suspicious sites. Antivirus also helps. You don't need ChromeOS Flex to keep old devices secure and usable.
Some people would simply benefit more from having a machine that only runs Chrome instead of a machine that runs an outdated and unsupported OS. If that’s not you or somebody you know who would benefit, then good for you! Move on with your life and let others enjoy having options.
 
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I don't understand some people.

We're given a free option to install a modern, up-to-date OS on some older systems. Apple themselves would warn you not to stay with an unsupported, vulnerable version of OS X with an outdated, vulnerable browser.

Have you not used Chrome OS? Things are mostly web-based with it, but that is what most people use a computer for. Chrome OS is perfect for that.

Schools have been tripping over themselves, buying Chrombooks as fast as possible. Windows systems are a pain to manage and Apple systems are too expensive. Chrome OS gives them the simplicity and security of Apple without the high price. It's a tested and functional platform, and more than capable for most people.

If you feel it's too limiting for you, then install your favorite full Linux distribution. No reason to crap all over Chrome OS.
I bought an Android phone before I moved. That turned out to be a mistaake b/c the computers I bought after said move were Macs. But I also ended up purchasing a number of e-chess boards and the software I started using was on my Samsung. I’m getting close to the date where I give my sister the Samsung so I picked up a Chromebook to be able to continue running the software I like and that control the e-boards.

Have an old Dell/Windows machine that fits the specs nicely, so after I install a new battery I;m gonna gove Chrome OS Flex a shot.

I pick and control what Google gets from me and I certainly enjoy free. Yep, I know about Linux; have Ubuntu on a Macbook Air (virtualized).

Tom
 
Even the worst Macs, ones with a butterfly keyboard, deserve better than this.
I just got a new M1 MBP and I’m passing my butterfly model to my wife.

She hasn’t typed on it yet. She doesn’t do a lot of typing. Mostly web surfing and paying bills. But I’ve got a feeling she’s not going to love me as much come next week.

The new keyboard is so much better. I write a LOT of reports for work, so typing is a big part of what I do.
 
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