VMware App Runs Windows Programs on a Chromebook. Previously, Chromebooks could not run regular desktop Mac or PC applications. Credit: HP. A new virtual desktop program aims to make Chromebooks better business machines. Google has partnered with VMware, a provider of cloud virtualization software, to let users run full Windows applications on Chromebook computers, which could help Chromebooks overcome their biggest limitation: Chrome OS. Chrome OS, the operating system Chromebooks run on, does not run regular desktop applications the way PCs or Macs do. Instead, the platform is based on a souped- up version of Google's Chrome Web browser. Instead of running desktop programs such as Microsoft Office, business users have been limited to Web applications such as the Google Docs productivity suite. But the new VMware software for Chromebooks allows users to run a virtual Windows desktop from within the Chrome browser. Once your Windows desktop is up and running, you can access and run Windows programs the same way you would on a Windows machine. Is it possible to install Windows on Google's Chrome notebook? Yes, and no. Confused? We explain, and start you on the process. 'When it comes to browsers and installed applications working well together, they aren't quite on the same page. To change that, today we're launching a new extension. Love your Chromebook, but want to run Linux programs too? Here’s how to run Linux and Chrome OS on your Chromebook simultaneously. Run any application on Chrome OS. Google's idea of an operating system that consists of only a web browser sounds interesting, and unfortunately, very restrictive. Previously, Chromebooks could not run regular desktop Mac or PC applications. / Credit: HP. A new virtual desktop program aims to make Chromebooks better business. Armed with rising Chromebook sales, Google and VMWare have partnered up to allow legacy Windows software to run on Chrome OS, the companies announced on. So, if you rely on a particular piece of accounting software designed for PCs, for example, you can now run that software on a Chromebook, in a virtualized Windows desktop environment. Google says the new VMware software will soon be available for download in the Chrome Web Store. Chrome OS has other drawbacks for business users, such as a relatively limited file- management system. But for small business owners on a budget, Chromebooks have one big advantage: They're generally much cheaper than Mac or Windows laptops. And if you need an affordable device for basic business tasks such as email, Web browsing and document editing, a Chromebook could be a good tablet alternative. How to Install Windows on Google's Chrome OS Notebook | News & Opinion. The fact that the Google CR- 4. Notebook runs on an Intel processor implies that it can run Windows or some other full blown operating system. But how would you install Windows in the first place? That's not exactly clear. But we have the answer, or at least part of it. Apparently, every Cr- 4. Chrome OS setup. That's no big deal, since all the Web Store apps and browser settings reside in the cloud and syncing it all back into your notebook shouldn't take long. The actual point of this exercise is to show you that if you ever decide to hack your Chrome- equipped notebook and install another operating system, switching to developer's mode is the way to do it. First off, before you make the switch, Google recommends turning off the system. It also warns you that switching to this mode exposes the system to malware and virus attacks, since what you're doing is turning off verified boot (the ROM chip) on the motherboard. The rest is pretty simple: Look for the piece of black tape underneath the battery, next to the power connector, and remove it to reveal a white switch. Flip the switch the other way, and voila, you're in developer's mode. Then start up the notebook. Boot up to a USB thumbdrive; we tried plugging in this USB drive, but nothing happened. At any point, if you f, you're presented with two options: You can hit the space bar and proceed to recovery mode. This will allow you to restore the notebook back to its original condition, provided you download the recovery software. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, you can flip the switch back and resume where you left off in Chrome OS. If you let the system sit in the "sad face" mode for too long, the system will automatically erase and repartition your drive. It takes about five to 1. I presume that the partition it's creating is the one where Windows or any other operating system will reside, but that's all I can gather at this point. The thing is, the USB port isn't recognizing any of my peripherals or a network, so how one would install Windows on this laptop is unclear and most likely a work in progress. One thing's for sure, though: the mere existence of a developer's switch means that Google isn't averse to outside development of programs for Chrome- equipped systems, say, one that can dual- boot Windows and Chrome OS. Check out our slideshow for a look at how we tried to install Windows in the Google notebook. For more, see PCMag's hands on with the Cr- 4. Chrome OS on the Cr- 4. PCMag's look at the 1. Google Chrome OS extensions.
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March 2019
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