CloudReady is excellent...if you know its limitations

Time doesn't stop which means everything ages, and for computers, age can have a pretty huge effect. Common sense would say to recycle the PC after it starts to slow considerably, and then, go buy another. For some, that is not exactly financially feasible, and thanks to NeverWare, that doesn't have to be the only option.

CloudReady makes most computers look like a Chromebook

But be aware of exactly what you are getting yourself in to before taking that route.

NeverWare, through their CloudReady software, is helping older computers stretch out a few more years of life. Based on ChromiumOS (the same basis for ChromeOS), CloudReady is a lightweight operating system that looks and acts like ChromeOS; it essentially turns any computer in to a Chromebook-like device.

My experience with CloudReady had been pretty great due to my limited use. I originally installed it on an old, beat-up Acer, and it was certainly a great companion machine for writing, bill paying, and social networking. It was centered around Google services (which I use for everything) and for my every day computing needs, it was excellent.

Because of my previous experience, I decided to try running it on my main machine (booted to a secondary drive) and see how it would fit my needs as a main driver. I booted to the flash drive, signed in to my account, and started to go.

That is when I realized it felt very empty.

Could I still do my every day tasks such as banking, email, browsing, etc? Of course I could; that is all browser-based. Unfortunately, something felt missing. Even though I wasn't using them at the time, I missed my programs. I longed to see those Photoshop and Premiere icons, and the lack of notification center like on Windows 10 was staring me in the face. It all just looked off; maybe it was my second monitor's black, unsupported screen that felt off.

CloudReady install screen

CloudReady is an excellent piece of software that can truly make a computer feel snappy again, and for the vast majority of users, it can fill every need. But to me, it just felt like something was missing. With ChromeOS, the addition of the Play Store as well as the ability to speak with the Assistant makes it feel more robust, and that is what makes CloudReady feel more empty in comparison.

If you have an old PC in need of a pick-me-up, and you are a Google-services-user (Chrome, Play Services, G Suite), CloudReady is an excellent option. It can perform all your basic tasks well, and it certainly performs admirably. However, if you need a little bit more, even Microsoft Office, think twice before making the plunge.

Side note, CloudReady can run from a flash drive (without overwriting your HDD) so definitely try it out before making the permanent decision.