Google extends support to 10 years! was:Chromebooks == ewaste, due to Google's "drop dead" software update / device EOL policies.

[VirtualLarry]

Chromebook churn is becoming a big problem for schools, but who is to blame?

According to a recent report from the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund, schools are now starting to see these Chromebooks fail and create piles...

www.techspot.com

"Friends don't let friends buy a Chromebook!"

 

[misuspita]

wow, that's a less marketed "feature".... Never knew Chromebooks have an expiration date

 

[sdifox]

There are alternatives OS you can put on them

 

[jpiniero]

wow, that's a less marketed "feature".... Never knew Chromebooks have an expiration date

You can still use the Chromebook... it just won't get updates. Which (as the article mentions) is an issue with state tests, which usually mandate that they are using the latest version of the browser.

You should be able to also install ChromeOS Flex or Linux on the laptops.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You can still use the Chromebook... it just won't get updates. Which (as the article mentions) is an issue with state tests, which usually mandate that they are using the latest version of the browser.

You should be able to also install ChromeOS Flex or Linux on the laptops.

You can't sign in to your google account fresh after the drop-dead date for the unit, either, making it possible to surf the web in "guest mode" only, or as long as the SSL certs last. (Problem with that idea is, they expire too.)

Chromebooks without lifetime updates, are a garbage idea that enlarges only Google's pocketbooks and landfills.

 

[dainthomas]

I had no idea. That doesn't make any sense. They should be given updates as long as the hardware can run the OS.

 

[jpiniero]

I had no idea. That doesn't make any sense. They should be given updates as long as the hardware can run the OS.

It looks like the current policy is 6-8 years from when the product first launched. It was less than that earlier though and if you buy a Chromebook that's been on the market for awhile, you won't get as long.

 

[TheELF]

I had no idea. That doesn't make any sense. They should be given updates as long as the hardware can run the OS.

Even windows came out with a version that isn't hardware compatible with older hardware anymore and phones/tablets have been doing that for years, it sucks but it's not really shocking news.

 

[manly]

Lifetime updates? LOL no such thing.

Installing ChromeOS Flex onto a Chromebook is pretty hilarious too. 6-8 years from "first customer ship" isn't bad. That's roughly on par with iPhoneOS.

Even windows came out with a version that isn't hardware compatible with older hardware anymore and phones/tablets have been doing that for years, it sucks but it's not really shocking news.

It's a massive problem with smartphones IMO. Approx 1B phones are sold globally every year, and many undoubtedly end up in landfills. Outside of a small number of "flagship" models with up to 5 years of security updates, Android software updates are still a messy situation.

 

[jpiniero]

That's roughly on par with iPhoneOS.

That wasn't the policy originally. That's what the schools are complaining about.

 

[WelshBloke]

That wasn't the policy originally. That's what the schools are complaining about.

I'd be shocked if any laptop in day to day use in a school lasted more than 2 years before it was irretrievably broken.

 

[manly]

With all the money Alphabet is saving by shrinking its workforce, they've decided to extend support for Chromebooks:

Google Extends Lifespan of Chromebooks With 10-Year Update Policy - Slashdot

Google is working to push back the expiration date of Chromebooks, addressing concerns held by school administrators that the laptops are too short-lived to be cost effective. From a report: The Alphabet-owned company -- which develops the Chrome operating system running on computers made mostly...

tech.slashdot.org

 

[Fanatical Meat]

As above with different link. Seems like google did the right thing and all moderately new chromebooks now have 10 year support

Chromebooks will get 10 years of automatic updates

Chromebooks are getting 10 years of automatic updates, plus new features to help devices last longer.

blog.google

 

[A///]

Doesn't answer for the waste of old units now does it?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Doesn't answer for the waste of old units now does it?

Ok so they should have kept the short support cycle. Got it.
Christ googles trying to fix a wrong give them credit for doing so.

 

[Mopetar]

I don't see why they couldn't extend support to indefinitely. A Chromebook is mostly just a front end to Google's webapps. They don't need much beyond security updates.

The hardware isn't great and the build quality is usually similarly low, but it's not meant to be a Ferrari. Don't make crappy, bloated JavaScript and there's no need for new hardware until a device breaks.

Google doesn't really care about selling new devices. They get their value of getting people hooked on the service and the service can run on old devices much the same as new ones.

Really Google should use the backside of Moore's law to pick a particular performance target and let newer Chromebooks become less expensive over time as it's cheaper to get the same performance over time.