Chrome OS for Your Small Businesses?

A simple, clean, familiar and read-to-get-to-work desktop?

I’ve been running a new operating system for a couple of weeks now. No, it’s not Windows or MacOS. It’s also not Linux. It’s Chrome OS Flex. Yes, it’s based on the same Chrome OS that is running on millions of Chrome Books everywhere.

However, I’m not running it on a Chrome Book. I’m running it on a regular computer, an old clunker, as a matter of fact. Spoiler alert: it’s amazing. This is especially true for what it could mean for gig workers, small businesses, and solopreneurs.

Now, before I begin, I’m not planning on walking you through installing it, or running through its features. There are plenty of good places online to find that info. Here is a recent one that is pretty simple and quick: How to install Chrome OS Flex.

Another detail is that what we’re talking about is not a finished version. The full name is Chrome OS Flex (Developer-Unstable), but I am going to call it Chrome OS to keep things simple and because it is so similar to that operating system. Now this “unstable” business sounds a whole lot scarier than it is, because it’s been downloaded and installed by thousands of people who have reported very few issues. That said, according to Alphabet/Google, it’s not quite ready yet, so keep that in mind.

In this article, I want to share with you why I think Chrome OS is a game changer. That’s right, I said it and I realize many people are more conservative about making such a bold prediction. So, let’s dive in and see if Chrome OS is in your future, too.

Why this is different from other free operating systems

When it comes to free OSes, there are thousands of options, most of them are based on some version of Unix/Linux. Heck, even MacOS is free and based on this. One Windows requires a purchase, although most computers purchased new include this, so the cost is hidden from most people.

I’ve written at length about Linux Mint, which is also free. I’ve been using and installing it for clients for years. It is still one of the best as well as easiest to use and learn Linux options, in my opinion. Well, it is, except for one key issue.

That issue affects all operating systems, even MacOS and Windows, and that is: too many options. When you receive a new computer with anyone of these OSes installed, you must go through a long list of steps to get it set up. Once it is, you still must do a lot just to get to work, from installing software to setting up your screen. Then you need to connect to networks, decide where to save your files, and set up all the necessary safety stuff from virus scanners to backup. This can take hours.

Chrome OS doesn’t require this. As Henry Ford famously said: “People can have their Model-T in any color as long as it’s Black.” Chrome OS is the same: it works just like the familiar Google web browser, that you’ve always used. That’s it. As a matter of fact, the browser is the OS.

So, what about choice? What about all those routine things you have become accustomed to doing with MacOS and Windows? Ask yourself this: do you really need that many choices and options? Or do they keep you from actually getting to work? Are they merely distractions?

That is how Chrome OS is so different. You sit down, and you go to work. That’s it. When you’re done, you walk away. All those other things you used to have to do, you don’t need to do anymore. The fact is most of the work we do these days is already done in a browser, so why should we bother with desktops, files, folders, viruses, backups, etc. All that should be handled automatically, and Google has done a fantastic job of doing just that, so that you can get to work.

One of the few, simple welcome/setup screens

How this worked for me

As I was using Chrome OS, I was more productive. At first, I thought I would be limited, but I quickly forgot about any of that and just logged into my business-specific sites and did what I needed to do that day.

No, I did not have Photoshop available, but I used Canva, and it was good enough for ¾ of what I needed. It was the same story with most of my other apps. Using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook online took some getting used to, but it was functional enough. The bottom line was that I found browser-based alternatives that were good for most of what I needed.

For what I couldn’t do on the Chrome OS computer, I used my regular Windows computer. But I am also not a typical user. I have many applications I rely on for my work that most folks wouldn’t need. This is because I work with computers for a living, so I’m not the target audience for Chrome OS.

The familiar Google Chrome browser look & feel

Some other benefits to consider

As I mentioned it’s completely free. It is likely to remain free when it is released as a finished product. Unlike Windows, which you need to pay to upgrade every few years, you won’t have to pay to use this OS. Yes, the latest MacOS is free too, but it will only run on newer Macs – what do you do with an older Mac? You must run that older OS indefinitely.

Chrome OS also runs on very old computers, both PC and Mac. I’m using it on a 10-year-old HP computer. Running Windows on a computer that old is painfully slow, but Chrome OS is incredibly light and will automatically install and run on that old computer collecting dust I the closet.

When I say it runs, I mean that it runs extremely well. It’s fast and zippy. After all, it was designed from the ground up to run on cheap tablets and stripped-down laptops. When installed on a desktop computer with even more power (even if it is 10 years old), it works just like a new computer running Windows or MacOS. Seriously, there are no noticeable speed issues for basic online work that I’ve noticed.

As already mentioned, it is also incredibly easy to learn and use. If you know how to run a browser and click a power button, you know how to use Chrome OS. This makes it ideal for everyone from your 5-year-old to your granny.

There are other benefits for techy folks like me as well. For example, you can automatically install and manage it on a network. So, if I had a large company of 50-500 employees (hey, I can dream), I could literally install this over the network to each of these computers. Within a couple of hours, I could have every computer running exactly the same software – think about how much this would simplify management and cut my support costs.

Ok, but this is getting way off topic… Let’s get back to Chrome OS.

Watching a TEDx video on YouTube was surprisingly smooth on this old computer

So who is it for?

This is where I’m going to surprise you. It’s possibly not for you. If you have built your business around the routines of Windows and Mac computer use, you will find working with Chrome OS a bit limited. After reading all this you’re thinking did he just lead me down a rabbit hole?

No.

Just because it may not be for you, it could easily be for others around you. Most of us who work from home have employees (or family members) who don’t need all that extra PC/Mac software. What they need is a quick computer to get some work done.

You may have temporary employees, remote users, or interns, for example. They need to get up to speed fast, so give them a super simple computer that lets them get right to work. They already know how to use a browser, so there is no training required. Done.

More to the point, if they have already used a Chrome Book, this is exactly the same experience. This is where we get to the crux of my article. Who has that familiar experience with Chrome Books already?

Kids!

That’s right, schools have been deploying Chrome Books as an inexpensive, simple, and easily manageable way to get kids to use technology in and outside of the classroom. We have an entire generation of kids who will soon be joining the workforce who know Chrome OS.

Remember in the 1980’s and 90’s when Apple practically gave away iMacs to schools? It created an entire generation (Millennials) who took that experience and demanded to use Macs from their employers when they joined the workforce. This created the rise of Apple.

Google is following in Apple’s footsteps, but instead of offering powerful computers to kids, they are just offering a much simpler laptop-type computer with an equally simple operating system. That new experience is Chrome OS.

These kids will be tomorrow’s workforce. For many of us small business owners, these kids are already working for us. As such, we have an early glimpse into the future of employee computing. That future is just a browser onto the internet.

Actually, I will go a step further: young people don’t really care that it is Chrome OS. They are more concerned about whether they can access their favorite apps. They just aren’t as fanatical about the operating system as the boomer and gen-X generation was – gone are the days of Apple vs. Microsoft.

The important thing is that it is a third alternative; that it is an alternative, period.

Why small business should use it

Since the people who will use it the most: the young, next generation of workers, do not care about the OS, it is only a really concern for us Boomers and Gen-Xers. For us, what really matters most is that it works, it’s inexpensive, and it’s simple.

So no, Chrome OS is not intended for us Boomers and Gen-Xers, but there is no reason why we can’t make use of it. If anything, it will cut costs because it won’t require a new computer for every part-time or temporary employee that joins the business. So why not re-use those old computers that were just sitting in the closet and would eventually need to be salvaged?

It may actually be the case, that these employees using Chrome OS are more productive than the ones using full Windows/Mac computers. That was my ah-ha! moment about Chrome OS. A simpler OS with fewer options means that employees get right down to work. It also won’t require much new employee training or on-boarding.

You might even get granny to do some free-lance work for your company… On a serious note, this may also be a great way to bring older employees, foreign workers, and anyone who is not completely trained on the latest computer software to become a more engaged member of your team – a great way to diversify the team, too.

Finally, you could very possibly be that employee yourself. If you’re one of those owners who is easily distracted by all the different options on a typical Windows/Mac desktop, Chrome OS may just be the best option for you. Owners are already pulled in so many different directions, so a tool that is simpler and more focused may just be the best option. Finally, it could also offer additional insight into the work habits of those same new millennials you will be hiring in the near future.

In Conclusion

I really believe that Chrome OS will slowly become a revolutionary shift in the personal computer industry. I say this not so much because it is Chrome OS, but more so because it is a better alternative for many situations. It is easily accessible, it is free, and it is ready to be used after a few simple steps. Most importantly, it is simple and familiar.

Technology has become far too complicated. As one example: the last time I purchase a home theater receiver, I spent hours configuring it. Now, the bottom has dropped out of the home theater market and I believe that a big reason is the complexity. People would rather just buy a soundbar, click a few buttons on their phone and have surround sound that is good enough.

The same is true for computers. Unlike the folks that brought us Chrome OS, Microsoft hobbled the acceptance of its latest OS, Windows 11, by making it run on only the newest computers. These computers are more complex and cause people to look for alternatives. This all adds to the expense as well.

Apple is also taking a huge gamble by abandoning Intel and developing their own CPUs. Like Microsoft, it creates a huge rift between old and new computers. It also adds complexity and headaches for the end-user, and also added expense.

These decisions by Microsoft and Apple may only be acceptable for large companies, some home users, and graphic designers with deep pockets. However, it is not fine for small businesses who need to minimize expenses and just get work done, and who are looking to hire young workers. The fact is that the TLDR generation just doesn’t have time for those headaches, and small businesses don’t either.

If you value time and money for your small business, then Chrome OS may just be in your future. As someone who has been installing Linux Mint as a viable alternative to Windows and MacOS for years, this new OS is now also on my radar. As soon as it is no longer designated as “developer-unstable,” I will be installing it for anyone who asks.

As a result, I predict that Chrome OS will be the most installed operating system on desktop computers and laptops in the next five years.

Don’t agree? Let me know your thoughts below.