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Google buys a company that turns old PCs into Chromebooks
- Google has bought Neverware, a company that turns old PCs into Chromebooks.
- It intends to turn CloudReady into an official Chrome OS product.
- This could be a tremendous help for schools wanting to keep PCs relevant.
Google might soon give old PCs a new lease on life as Chromebooks. As 9to5Google reports, Google has quietly bought Neverware, a company whose CloudReady product brings Chrome OS (more specifically, Chromium OS) to older Macs and Windows PCs that might no longer receive system updates.
Neverware had no plans for changes to CloudReady in the near term, including the free Home Edition aimed at individuals. In the long run, however, the company said it would become an “official Chrome OS offering” with upgrades. You can expect the full weight of Google’s support for at least some versions, in other words.
See also: The best Chromebooks to get from ASUS, Google, and more
This isn’t the first time Google and Neverware have been friendly. Google helped fund Neverware in 2017, helping to get CloudReady off the ground.
This could play an important role in expanding Chrome OS’ reach. Many schools and smaller companies can’t always afford to replace computers, especially if the only issue is a lack of software updates. Google could use Neverware’s CloudReady to make Chrome OS the go-to option for cash-strapped organizations, and might steer them away from Macs and Windows systems the next time they’re buying new hardware.