We Turned This "Chromebook Killer" Into A Killer Chromebook!

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Google certifies hundreds of laptops for ChromeOS Flex, and it just so happens that the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE is one of them. So, we decided to take this "Chromebook Killer" and use the power of ChromeOS Flex to turn it into a killer Chromebook.
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[@photolabguy]

It's disappointing that Android apps don't work in Flex. In your opinion, do you think that will ever change?

[@dutchbachelor]

I personally doubt it. The hardware is usually more than capable enough. However, it would in all likelihood cause a massive sales slump for many of the cheaper and mid-range chromebooks and I can imagine Google doesn't want to rock the boat with it's partners.

[@deniskfender]

What about Linux apps? Is it possible to run them?

[@makispps]

@@deniskfender Yes, you can run Linux apps in Flex.

[@crosswhite17]

@@deniskfender if you want Linux apps,why not just put Linux on it?

[@SiddharthVarman]

can Google brunch chrome os. takes some tinkering but has all the features not in Flex version of chromeOS

[@MrA2G]

I would love to see more chromebook varieties here in Australia, or at least get the latest and not a year or two old. I guess flex is more of an appealing option for some, but the lack of android apps is a killer.

[@anetizen6404]

1. Watch the video on how to change Flex into normal, or install FydeOS instead 2. Instead of paying a premium on getting good-quality Chromebooks, get an old Intel Mac and have fun!

[@dutchbachelor]

Thats one of my biggest beefs I have on Windows. That the updates take forever. I work in IT and when I get a new OOTB Windows Laptop it can take me the better half of a day to update and enroll it in Intune. If you have to do that a couple of times each month that gets old REAL fast.

[@SimonBauer7]

i mean what exactly did Microsoft expect here? a celeron dual core with no ht and emmc storage? and you expect THAT to run any form of current windows fast? yea no. i am sorry for any student using that with the default windows 11 se.

[@Red_Panduh]

I think the 4120 is 4 core

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@Red_Panduh Yep 4 core 4 threads, at 1.10Ghz with a burst of 2.60Ghz with a TDP of 6 Watts with the average wattage at 4.8 Watts according to the official Intel specs page. But with that TDP, I doubt it hold that 2.60 Ghz burst speed for very long periods, maybe just long enough to say open Chrome a bit faster.

[@notloki3140]

That is the norm for low end fanless laptops. I'm using something similar and yes it takes a few seconds to do most tasks, but I needed over 8h of battery, a nice screen (and overall build quality), decent speakers for watching KZbin for not a lot of money. If the requirements are different, then do not get these. For most school activities these run just fine.

[@SimonBauer7]

as i said i wouldnt use this with windows. with linux yes but every single action taking a while is too annoying.

[@SimonBauer7]

@@Red_Panduh the n4020 isnt though. this one is 2 core 2 thread.

[@HIHIHJIHIHIH]

Please make a video for a Chrome tablet vs Android tablet to help potential buyers to differentiate the two.

[@thomasraukamp]

I think Microsoft has some of the nicest laptops and 2-in-1s around. I hope Google manages to port Flex to most of them. The Surface Laptop Go is such a nice little and elegant device for example.

[@chidorirasenganz]

Just tried Flex on the Go 2 and it’s almost perfect!

[@mikegeorge5354]

I installed Chrome OS flex on a Aspire 5520 which is not supported. I love it as much as my new HP Chromebook

[@Asstromech-R4-M1-VI]

Me to

[@holladaycubed]

Yeah, I installed chrome OS flex on my surface go and it runs beautifully. I have two glaring issues with it right now one it cannot access the microphone or camera, which I don’t use and no matter how you shut it down by closing the keyboard, or pushing the power button to shut it down it always thinks it got shut down incorrectly, but other than that for the base model surface go with only four gigs of RAM. It works way better and way smoother than windows and I can play 4K videos on KZbin without a hitch compared to windows that was struggling to play at 1440 P.

[@Jan7727]

Are you able to enable the Linux container?

[@holladaycubed]

@@Jan7727 not sure my primary use for it is media consumption

[@crosswhite17]

It might be able to play KZbin at 4k but what resolution is the screen actually showing?

[@holladaycubed]

@@crosswhite17 1080 I think but I hook up to an external 4k monitor

[@rodrigomendes3327]

Thanks for this. I was install it on my Surface Go 2, but camera and mic are mainly what I need to work.

[@AskIveSolar]

Dang they don't reply to comments, that sucks.

[@ivanlinuxandunix]

If you wanna see the actual installation process, go to 7:06.

[@whiskeyshots]

Be honest, you did this whole video just to deliver that last line. Don't you. 😂 Great video as always.

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

I have two problems with flex 1 - it won't do Crostini; I need the Linux (which does what I need for programming) 2 - I don't have Windows or Mac laptops. I just have my Chromebooks, which keep me happy anyway Good idea though if you have some older kit

[@TannerVW]

Flex does Crostini.

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

@@TannerVW Oh, does it? I was unaware. OK, number 2 still holds! I do have a bunch of Raspberry Pi's, and there is a windows licence on an old desktop, but for what I do, a chromebook is good value.

[@niazchoudhury9144]

My HP EliteBook 820 G3 is fully Certified for Chrome OS it even gets actually os updates till 2028

[@MoChuang343]

I would love to see a surface go running flex vs Lenovo duet video

[@okidave]

I need to look into something like this for my next ChromeOS device with my Pixelbook nearing end of life. Google isn't making ChromeOS laptops anymore, so this seems like the next best thing.

[@sergioruiz9464]

They're still selling the pixelbook go

[@matteventu]

Bear in mind it has no Play Store. If that doesn't matter to you, then it's an excellent choice.

[@Loukoumakias]

@@matteventu, there are other options like Brunch Framework. I use this on my main laptop and it's just like any other Chrome OS with Google Play Store.

[@diwaalejandrogalvez796]

If only Chromebooks are officially sold here in the Philippines. Edit: I'm curious to know if booting this on ChromeOS instead of Windows have any effect on the battery life. Any tests on that?

[@dustincarr3215]

Use F9 & F10 for volume control.

[@aaronerskine3401]

big fan of your channel! quick question, my son is working on some videos for school project and we wanted to know what type camera, lighting and editing software you use for your videos... they are always very clear and focused

[@keacoq]

I ran ChromeOS flex on a couple of windows machines when it first came out, no problems except it does not run android apps. As a confirmed Chromebool user. I cannot quite understand how you can say the machine runs just like a real Chromebook, and in the next breath say it does not run android apps. To me android apps are one of the main reasons to use a Chromebook. Can you perhaps explain/demo just how one uses a Chromebook without android apps? Does play store exist? What apps are possible?

[@lawrencespicher1769]

linux is available on chrome os flex

[@JoseRDominguezVic]

Have you try adding an external keyboard? Maybe let you configure the right profile for it.

[@jebaker2]

What is the performance like? That’s kind what I was hoping for in this video.

[@seandeegan7879]

Is that the Google Pixel Watch you're wearing on your wrist?

[@Seven71987]

I would be funnier if Microsoft named their SE Surfaces as Edgebooks.

[@smajl]

Hey, I have a question, do you edit videos on chrome too? If yes, what software do you use?

[@fadedcrayon4764]

I'm curious too

[@rodrigomendes3327]

I'm wondering if Chrome OS Flex would be a good option for my Surface Go. I love Surface Go, but I don't need Windows on it anymore. A lighter OS like Chrome OS would be amazing.

[@fadedcrayon4764]

I'm curious if the keyboard would still work 🤔

[@GigaDarth]

@@fadedcrayon4764 it’s not a certified device it’s not even listed so prob not

[@fadedcrayon4764]

@@GigaDarth I got bad news for you bro. It works 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@GigaDarth]

@@fadedcrayon4764 oh did you try it that’s sick

[@fadedcrayon4764]

@@GigaDarth yup it works 😁

[@davegaddis8382]

Applause! Applause! I now have a Surface Pro 3 running Chrome OS Flex that simply sings through everything I need a tablet to do...and I spent less than $100. Thanks for the review.

[@yornotelppa]

I just booted ChromeOS flex on my Surface Pro 4 and no support for touchscreen! Can't use it without the keyboard. Did you get your 3 to work without the keyboard?

[@davegaddis8382]

@yornotelppa I did, but it wasn't immediate and now it launches w/o touching the display but closes when I hit a key on the kb. Explore settings if haven't already.

[@yornotelppa]

​​@@davegaddis8382I'm sorry but I'm not sure I understand what you meant by " now it launches w/o touching the display but closes when hit a key on the kb." My question is, did you get ChromeOS flex to work on the Surface Pro using only the touchscreen without a keyboard attached? Thank you for your help!

[@davegaddis8382]

initially I couldn't get the virtual kb to launch. I connected the device kb and it launched and then disappeared as soon as I hit a key. then i went into settings and saw that i could set the kb of preference much like the windows setting worked.

[@yornotelppa]

@@davegaddis8382 Thanks for the reply, I've gone through all the settings and it doesn't look like I'm going to get my surface pro 4 to work without the physical keyboard. That's probably the reason the pro 4 isn't listed on the capability list. Thank you for your time and help.

[@mesh4801]

Can you restore the Windows image back? its a special build called Windows 11 SE.

[@EdgarVillegasG]

Does ChromeOS runs in the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 SQ3 Laptop?

[@sergioruiz9464]

In theory can you build a "PC " and make it a chrome os flex "PC"

[@bartoszmezynski2803]

I have installed Chrome OS flex on Surface Laptop 1 gen but the keyboard doesn't not work... Is there any fix for that?

[@KirbyKlein6]

Chrome OS is for everyone. It's hands down the easiest and most secure OS there is.

[@awaisahmed9418]

Is there no way of sideloading android apps on Chrome os Flex?

[@OriginalGangstas123]

You should try the brunch framework, I use it and it runs very well

[@michaellogies1290]

You can enable the function keys in the Chrome OS options menu, IMHO. I wonder if using Secure Boot for "Chrome OS Flex" would make the device more secure. At least on my Windows PCs that have been switched to Chrome OS Flex, I've done that without any problems.

[@cammy85]

That's good. Secure Boot has to be turned off in order to run the USB, but I don't see how it wouldn't work after Flex has been installed.

[@RalphAverbuch]

I'd really like to see a top 10 list of recommended old Windows laptops that would make great candidates for swapping to Chrome OS Flex.

[@notloki3140]

That would be an impossible video to shoot. Whichever 10 old laptops they can get their hands on, those would be the "best". You are talking about tens of thousands of variants across the globe at this point. I would recommend going on your resell market (like eBay) and see which are the latest batches of dumped laptops from a business. Get that, pray it works to run Flex on them or stick with Windows. You will get better specs and performance than this rubbish anyway.

[@santoshgodage]

Great video 😍 thanks for the info

[@MrGaryparker]

Maybe we could sneak into the MS factory and load ChromeOS Flex on all their new laptops!

[@cammy85]

When going to install: remove all USB drives you may have connected; especially if you have backed up your Windows installation and other files to it. Trust me. 🤦

[@waltermitty4132]

Can I disable the track pad in Chrome OS Flex? With my normal Chromebook, I often work with it plugged in and use a mouse. When I am using the mouse, I like to disable the trackpad to avoid unintended key presses. In a regular Chromebook there is a flags:// setting that allows disabling of the trackpad using the Search-Shift-P combination. Are there any work-arounds in Chrome OS Flex? Thanks.

[@lawrencegt2229]

Would this be a way of manually updateing chromebooks that no longer receive suto- updates?

[@damikki]

Great that it's running ChromeOS but you forgot the most important step, you need to put some black tape over that nasty M$ logo on the screen bezel.

[@tlawlessrr-vid-archive]

Great video. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@SamuelSandoval1]

Hey there, because of you.. I actually bought one off from eBay and installed ChromeOS Flex on Surface SE... now it doesnt come with barrel charger. I had a few unluck with amazon, bought one but did not fit in... Could you take a look at your MS Surfaec SE charger and type out the brand/model number so I can order one for my SE?

[@asan1050]

ThanksMuch !

[@ivomagalhaes1]

Linux on Dev, works?

[@dadabooey]

I went ahead and turned my surface laptop go into a chromebook too and loving it. My onlyu concern is ... no battery icon. Apparently there is no work around to it right now? Until there is a legitimate update from flex. Unless you know of a work aroud now?

[@seapanda-117]

Chapters please.

[@samuele_gonnella]

One question: what do you use to edit videos?

[@backpocket718]

Lumafusion just dropped their beta for chromeos/ android and I couldn't be more excited. I have this video editor on my iPad and have been dreaming of the day I could use it on anything other than my garbage apple. I have been begging them for this for years and they released it today. Check it out!

[@samuele_gonnella]

@@backpocket718 where do I find the download?

[@PsalmistScribe]

@@samuele_gonnella it's in the Play store I believe. Cost like 20 bucks but it can be worth it

[@1MinuteFlipDoc]

pretty sure they use a mac + finalcutpro

[@crosswhite17]

@@backpocket718 I think you will need a pretty powerful Chromebook to run LumaFusion. I have PowerDirector on my android phone and it runs great; on my Chromebook, admittedly low end Chromebook, it is unusable.

[@sharontropiano5793]

Please check out Samsung Galaxy S8 ultra tablet thanks

[@Empty-nd9fb]

Can i install on a lenovo duet 3i with usbc?

[@yvonnegraves7357]

That’s looks cool 👌

[@JoshuaTheYouTubeGuy2000]

I wish we could install Linux on the Surface Laptop SE.

[@SUVTouring]

awesome !

[@SkyTechLover]

Flex OS is useless because you don't have Play Store so is by far NO Chromebook.

[@Asstromech-R4-M1-VI]

Easy simple put crlt power button refresh devlopers mode pls thank you gaming

[@Asstromech-R4-M1-VI]

For everybody

[@Asstromech-R4-M1-VI]

Chrome book made in china Korea Japan tiwan easy bulit.

[@cmoore2294]

QUESTION: Kind sir, we rely upon you, and your informed opinions, to assist us in making expensive purchasing decisions. I have watched many of your reviews and know what you are capable of. With that said, calling that Windows laptop in your review a “Killer Chromebook” is a tragedy and a gross mistake. That laptop is grossly underpowered, even for a Chromebook. I have an Acer Chromebook 317 17.3" Intel Pentium N6000 1.1GHz 4 Core/4Threads, 8GB Ram 64GB Flash with ChromeOS. It has a much faster processor, twice the RAM, twice the number of cores, twice the display, and a backlit full-size keyboard. Does my Chromebook also qualify as a “killer Chromebook.” I think not. Please provide fair and balanced reviews that will prevent the meek and uninformed from running out to buy that piece of plastic and turning it into a Chromebook. Thanks! Keep up the good work…

[@LenovoIdeapadLenovo]

Try refurbished laptop

[@jkadiravci]

BrunchOS is the best for now

[@SuperUbuntudude]

Windows updates are an embarrassment it should never take a day for update!

[@CesarPeron]

Chrome OS is not an operating system, it's more of a large browser 😂😂

[@shadowgunner69]

Generally you have good and interesting content, but, most of your shots focus on you and not on the device. Not really that fond of your always having to spin the device around to show us something. I don't find it useful. Showing your hands resting on the keyboard is a waste of time, as is profile shots of you. Most likely you have a tripod, place it over your shoulder, and cut to that view so we can watch what you're doing.

[@kibrankhan2727]

I found the video to be way too much time spent on the process / exploration rather than review or consolidated thoughts. This makes the 17 mins video seem much much longer.

[@Asstromech-R4-M1-VI]

Steam hack pls. Funds yay

[@ecwnikos]

3 days womdows update wow slow computer.

[@dralgon1752]

for me ChromeOS is rubbish as of now

[@protokol_223]

😁😁

[@NicholasColdingDK]

Yet another crappy windows pc... Why not just get a real Chrome OS machine?

[@ADIMM0]

Brunchframework would have been a better option

[@MarkasTZM]

As a non gamer I never buy a laptop/Chromebook with a fan. I love n4200, n50xx n6000 and m3-8100y processors.

[@D2G10]

You turned a usable machine into literal trash. Congrats. I did the opposite with Acer chromebook 715 it runs Tiny11 now. Super fast and reliable plus I get all of the security updates forever.

[@OledBurnInKing]

I wonder if it's possible to sideload the google play store and google play services on chrome os flex and download them when googling the google play store and google play services

[@ewalker1057]

E Walker not @ewalker1057 - I said I would never purchase another Chromebook. I purchased one when they first emerged. The update time period was very short. So after a few years it was useless. I recently let someone convince me to purchase another one. The time period to service and update is ; longer. Now it keeps losing internet service even though it's working on other devices in my home. Learned my lesson this time.