One of the most common suggestions on the web for recovering or reusing old computers is to install some flavor of Linux, and there are definitely distros that get along very well with modest hardware. However, it's also possible to follow the ChromeOS/ChromiumOS route, and that brings us to FydeOS. This operating system offers a very pleasant environment on PCs that already have a few years on their shoulders, but it also comes with Android support, so we can install APK applications on slightly more powerful machines.
Microsoft insists on being the 'lord and master' that determines the lifespan of hardware cycles, and Windows 11 is the latest proof. Fortunately, many users maintain their acts of rebellion, either by modifying that operating system or seeking alternatives that are not so annoying, but there are cases where a relatively modern computer suffers from Windows 10 and 11, and has no upgrade path (for example, laptops with 4 GB of soldered RAM and no SODIMM slots).
Recommending Linux at this point is easy, but we should not forget ChromeOS and its variant ChromiumOS. Google officially offers ChromeOS Flex, the heir to Neverware's CloudReady that is gaining ground little by little, and I also want to mention FydeOS, which follows the ChromiumOS line and incorporates some very interesting details.
FydeOS: ChromiumOS with Android support and local accounts
The official FydeOS website has a download section divided into three parts. The first focuses on Intel and AMD PCs with Intel or Radeon graphics, the second is for VMWare users who want to evaluate the operating system in virtual environments, and the third offers images for dedicated devices such as the Microsoft Surface and the Raspberry Pi 4.
BalenaEtcher works very well when it comes to writing FydeOS to a USB drive, and besides creating an installation medium, this also allows us to do 'live' tests using a guest profile. Another very interesting option is to create a local account instead of an online one, which also includes the configuration of a PIN.
Once we reach the FydeOS desktop, we can go to its store to install Open GApps and enable access to the Play Store. However, nothing stops us from installing F-Droid and Aurora to download APKs without using Google accounts. The only requirement of FydeOS is the activation of the Android subsystem, and the process is reduced to a couple of clicks.
I won't deny it: using an operating system like FydeOS requires us to accept certain compromises, and hardware compatibility must help us in advance, but so far it has proven to be an option with good performance and minimal maintenance, without sacrificing more advanced aspects like access to the Android ecosystem or the Linux terminal. Download a copy!
Official site and downloads: Click here
