Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
- Google has bought Neverware, a company that turns old PCs into Chromebooks.
- It plans to turn CloudReady into an official Chrome OS product.
- This can be a huge help for schools looking to keep PCs relevant.
Google could soon be giving old PCs a second life as Chromebooks. Such 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 may no longer receive system updates.
Neverware had no plans for any changes to CloudReady anytime soon, including the free Home edition for individuals. In the long run, however, the company said it would become an “official Chrome OS offering” with upgrades. In other words, you can expect the full weight of Google’s support for at least some versions.
Also see: The best Chromebooks you can get from Asus, Google, and more
This isn’t the first time Google and Neverware have been friendly. Google helped fund Neverware in 2017, which got CloudReady off the ground.
This could play an important role in expanding the reach of Chrome OS. Many schools and smaller businesses cannot always afford to replace computers, especially if the only problem is lack of software updates. Google could use Neverware’s CloudReady to make Chrome OS the go-to option for organizations on a budget, and could lead them away from Macs and Windows systems the next time they buy new hardware.