定期发布新的(New)PC 和笔记本电脑，但这并不一定意味着您需要急于升级到最新型号。较旧的计算机仍然具有执行大多数用户会寻找的大多数典型的日常办公任务所需的能力，即使它们不适合最新的 PC 游戏(latest PC games)。
如果Windows在您的笔记本电脑上看起来有点慢，您可以考虑切换到资源使用量较少的 Linux 发行版。(switching to a Linux distro)但如果您是Google用户，还有更好的选择：Chromebook(Chromebooks)。您可以购买新的 Chromebook(buy a new Chromebook)，但有一种方法可以免费将旧笔记本电脑变成Chromebook。这是您需要做的。
你需要什么（和潜在的限制）(What You’ll Need (and Potential Limitations))
如果您想将笔记本电脑变成Chromebook，那么在开始之前您需要了解一些事项。
您无法在旧笔记本电脑上复制完整的Chromebook体验，但可以非常接近。ChromeOS是在(ChromeOS)Chromebook(Chromebooks)上运行的操作系统，仅限于Google 批准的(Google-approved)硬件。为了解决这个问题，您可以安装ChromiumOS，这是一个使用大部分相同代码的开源版本。(open-source)
但是，您将缺少一些关键功能。最大的问题是缺乏对Android应用和游戏的支持，这些支持适用于较新的Chromebook(Chromebooks)。另一个缺少的功能是Chromebook powerwashing ，但您可以通过手动重新安装ChromiumOS以同样的方式重置您的设备。
要安装ChromiumOS，您可以使用名为CloudReady的项目。这提供了ChromiumOS体验，但具有额外的功能和改进，可帮助您在旧设备上运行该软件。虽然有免费版本，但如果您在商业、教育或非营利环境中，您可以为技术支持支付额外费用。
CloudReady 有一个经过认证的型号列表(certified models list)，适用于它知道可以很好地使用它的设备，但是您应该能够在其他设备上安装CloudReady，只要您有至少 2GB 的RAM和 16GB 的可用存储空间。也不推荐(also not recommended)2007 年之前制造的设备。
您还需要一个 8GB（或更大）的USB闪存驱动器用于安装。但是，由于某些不兼容问题可能导致安装失败，因此不支持SanDisk制造的驱动器。(SanDisk)
确保在开始安装CloudReady之前先备份旧笔记本电脑，因为在安装过程中硬盘驱动器将被擦除。
创建 CloudReady 安装 USB 驱动器(Creating the CloudReady Installation USB Drive)
要使用CloudReady将笔记本电脑变成Chromebook，您首先需要下载安装文件(download the installation files)。您可以使用CloudReady USB Maker自动执行此操作，它将下载您需要的文件并自动将USB闪存驱动器转换为笔记本电脑的CloudReady安装程序。
或者，您可以使用适用于Google Chrome的(Google Chrome)Chromebook 恢复实用程序扩展程序(Chromebook Recovery Utility extension)下载 CloudReady 映像文件并将其闪存到您的USB闪存驱动器。大多数用户会发现使用CloudReady USB(CloudReady USB)制造商更容易，但如果您是Mac或Linux用户，则可以改用Chrome扩展方法。
- 要使用CloudReady USB Maker，请单击CloudReady安装页面上的下载 USB Maker(Download USB Maker)按钮。下载后，打开应用程序开始安装过程。
- 在CloudReady USB Maker窗口中，您将被告知最低要求（8GB 或更大的驱动器）。此时插入USB驱动器，然后选择下一步(Next)继续。
- 在下一个菜单中选择您插入的USB闪存驱动器，然后选择(USB)Next。
- CloudReady USB Maker(CloudReady USB Maker)将开始下载安装文件。这需要一些时间才能完成，具体取决于您的互联网连接速度。完成后，安装程序将开始擦除并刷新USB驱动器以创建安装程序。
- 创建安装程序的过程完成后，按完成。(Finish.)您需要安全地弹出USB闪存驱动器，然后将其插入旧笔记本电脑以开始安装CloudReady并在此过程中创建新的Chromebook。
在旧笔记本电脑上安装 CloudReady(Installing CloudReady on an Old Laptop)
当您将 USB 闪存驱动器连接到旧笔记本电脑时，您需要确保更改 BIOS 中的引导顺序，(change the boot order in your BIOS)以便首先选择您的USB闪存驱动器。一旦完成，您就可以开始安装了。
- 如果USB驱动器已正确刷写，您应该会在启动笔记本电脑时看到CloudReady徽标。(CloudReady)选择Let's go开始安装。
- 在下一阶段，确认您的网络设置。如果您要连接到无线网络，请立即通过单击您的WiFi网络并提供正确的密码来执行此操作，然后选择“下一步”(Next)继续。
- CloudReady会询问您是否愿意接受匿名数据收集以帮助改进服务。启用或禁用发送指标以改进 Cloudready(Send metrics to improve Cloudready)复选框，然后选择下一步(Next)。
- 在最后阶段，您需要使用您的Google帐户登录。在此处提供您的用户名和密码以登录。
- 登录后， CloudReady(CloudReady)将需要一些时间来完成安装和设置过程。完成后，选择开始(Get started)使用新的 CloudReady 驱动的 Chromebook。
使用 CloudReady Chromebook(Using a CloudReady Chromebook)
安装完成后，您就可以自由使用CloudReady。如果您已经使用Google Chrome，那么您现有的扩展程序、书签和其他设置将同步到CloudReady供您使用，无需任何额外设置。
除了缺乏Android应用程序支持和一些专有媒体功能缺失之外，您的 CloudReady Chromebook将与任何其他Chromebook完全一样，以网络应用程序和网络浏览器为中心。
您可以在CloudReady中使用的许多应用程序都是基于 Google 的。例如，您可以立即访问Google Drive以及Google Docs生产力应用套件。
虽然CloudReady不包含Google Chrome ，但它确实包含(Google Chrome)Chrome所基于的开源Chromium浏览器。如果您想使用其他服务，您可以直接通过Chromium浏览器或安装合适的Google Chrome扩展程序（Chromium支持）来访问它们。
大多数应用程序需要互联网访问才能工作，但其他应用程序（包括Google Docs）将允许您离线工作，并在您下次连接到互联网时同步数据。
CloudReady 让旧笔记本电脑焕然一新(Giving an Old Laptop New Life with CloudReady)
使用使用CloudReady的旧笔记本电脑，您可以查看电子邮件、使用 Google 文档(use Google Docs)完成一些工作、利用众多Chrome 扩展程序(Chrome extensions)来工作和娱乐等等。如果您想在安装前尝试一下，可以在虚拟机中安装 ChromeOS，(install ChromeOS in a virtual machine)看看 CloudReady 与真正的 Chromebook 相比如何。
您还可以通过其他方式重新利用旧 PC。如果您是游戏玩家，您可以考虑在较旧的硬件上玩游戏(playing games on older hardware)。不过，如果不使用GeForce Now(GeForce Now)这样的游戏流媒体平台，请不要指望高端游戏。如果速度是一个问题，您还可以在更换旧 PC 之前尝试一些方法来加速它。(speed up an old PC)
How To Turn An Old Laptop Into a Chromebook
New PCs and laptops arе released regularly, but that doesn’t nеcessarily mean you need to rush oυt to upgrade to the latest model. Older сomputers still have the power needed to perform moѕt of the typical, day-to-day office tasks that most uѕers will be looking for, even іf they aren’t sυitable for the latest PC games.
If Windows seems a little slow on your laptop, you could think about switching to a Linux distro with lighter resource usage. But if you’re a Google user, there’s a better option: Chromebooks. You could buy a new Chromebook, but there’s a way you can turn an old laptop into a Chromebook for free. Here’s what you’ll need to do.
What You’ll Need (and Potential Limitations)
If you want to turn a laptop into a Chromebook, then there are some things you’ll need to know before you begin.
You can’t replicate the full Chromebook experience on an old laptop, but you can get pretty close. ChromeOS, the operating system that runs on Chromebooks, is restricted to Google-approved hardware. To get around this, you can install ChromiumOS, the open-source version that uses much of the same code.
You’ll be missing some key features, however. The biggest is a lack of support for Android apps and games, which is available for newer Chromebooks. Another lacking feature is Chromebook powerwashing, but you can reset your device in the same way by reinstalling ChromiumOS manually.
To install ChromiumOS, you can use a project called CloudReady. This offers the ChromiumOS experience, but with additional features and improvements to help you run the software on older devices. While a free version is available, you can pay extra for tech support if you’re in a business, education, or non-profit setting.
CloudReady has a certified models list for devices that it knows work well with it, but you should be able to install CloudReady on other devices, so long as you have a minimum of 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage available. Devices that were manufactured before 2007 are also not recommended.
You’ll also need a 8GB (or larger) USB flash drive to use for the installation. SanDisk -manufactured drives aren’t supported, however, due to some incompatibility issues that can cause the installation to fail.
Make sure you backup your old laptop first before you begin installing CloudReady, as the hard drive will be wiped during the installation process.
Creating the CloudReady Installation USB Drive
To turn a laptop into a Chromebook using CloudReady, you’ll first need to download the installation files. You can do this automatically using the CloudReady USB Maker, which will download the files you need and automatically turn a USB flash drive into a CloudReady installer for your laptop.
Alternatively, you can download the CloudReady image file and flash it to your USB flash drive using the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension for Google Chrome. Most users will find it easier to use the CloudReady USB maker, but if you’re a Mac or Linux user, you can use the Chrome extension method instead.
- To use the CloudReady USB maker, click the Download USB Maker button on the CloudReady installation page. Once downloaded, open the app to begin the installation process.
- In the CloudReady USB Maker window, you’ll be informed of the minimum requirements (a 8GB or larger drive). Insert your USB drive at this point, then select Next to continue.
- Select your inserted USB flash drive in the next menu, then select Next.
- The CloudReady USB Maker will begin downloading the installation files. This will take some time to complete, depending on your internet connection speeds. Once this has finished, the installer will begin to wipe and flash the USB drive to create the installer.
- Once the process of creating the installer is complete, press Finish. You’ll need to safely eject your USB flash drive, then insert it into your old laptop to begin installing CloudReady and creating a new Chromebook in the process.
Installing CloudReady on an Old Laptop
When you connect your USB flash drive to your old laptop, you’ll need to make sure to change the boot order in your BIOS so that your USB flash drive is selected first. Once it is, you’re ready to begin the installation.
- If the USB drive was flashed correctly, you should see the CloudReady logo when you boot up your laptop. Select Let’s go to begin the installation.
- At the next stage, confirm your network settings. If you’re connecting to a wireless network, do this now by clicking on your WiFi network and providing the correct password, then select Next to continue.
- CloudReady will ask you if you want to accept anonymous data collection to help improve the service. Enable or disable the Send metrics to improve Cloudready checkbox, then select Next.
- At the final stage, you’ll need to sign in using your Google account. Provide your username and password here to sign in.
- CloudReady will take a few moments to finish the installation and set up process once you sign in. Select Get started to begin using your new CloudReady-powered Chromebook once this is done.
Using a CloudReady Chromebook
You’ll be free to use CloudReady as soon as the installation is complete. If you already use Google Chrome, then your existing extensions, bookmarks, and other settings will be synced over to CloudReady for you to use without any additional set up.
Other than a lack of Android app support and some missing proprietary media features, your CloudReady Chromebook will work exactly like any other Chromebook, centered around web apps and your web browser.
Many of the apps you can use in CloudReady are Google-based. For instance, you can immediately access Google Drive, as well as the Google Docs suite of productivity apps.
While CloudReady doesn’t include Google Chrome, it does include the open-source Chromium browser which Chrome is based upon. If you want to use other services, you can access them directly via the Chromium browser or by installing a suitable Google Chrome extension (which Chromium supports).
Most apps will require internet access to work, but others (including Google Docs) will allow you to work offline, syncing the data when you next connect to the internet.
Giving an Old Laptop New Life with CloudReady
With an old laptop using CloudReady, you can check your emails, use Google Docs to get some work done, take advantage of numerous Chrome extensions for work and fun, and more. If you want to try before you install, you can install ChromeOS in a virtual machine to see how CloudReady compares to a real Chromebook.
There are other ways you could repurpose an old PC, too. If you’re a gamer, you could think about playing games on older hardware. Although, don’t expect high-end gameplay without using a game streaming platform like GeForce Now. If speed is an issue, there are also things you can try to speed up an old PC before you replace it.
