OCTOBER 2020 PCWorld 89N
ot everyone needs a computer
with a full set of bells and
whistles. A Chromebook’s
simplified interface makes it
popular with schools—and those of us who
serve as IT support for less tech-savvy
relatives. You don’t need to worry aboutmanaging irritating updates or avoiding
malware on a Chromebook, like you do if you
simply install Chrome on an old Windows
laptop, and the lightweight operating system
feels much snappier than Windows on
modest hardware. Chromebooks can cost
less than a budget PC, too.IMAGE: ROB SCHULTZHow to turn an old laptop
into a Chromebook
Not only will you save money, but some older laptops have better hardware
than cheap Chromebooks—making this project a double win. BY ALAINA YEEHere’s How
HOW TO BUILD, MAINTAIN,
AND FIX YOUR TECH GEAR