The problem with Chromebooks and most smartphones is that the vendors only make money by selling new models. That's why Samsung squits out about 50 smartphone m

The problem with Chromebooks and most smartphones is that the vendors only make money by selling new models. That's why Samsung squits out about 50 smartphone models per year -- they've basically got about a weeks worth of "new" life in them, and then they're already obsolete. When you're buying bottom-of-the-barrel junk, it's going to be functionally obsolete much faster than better quality equipment that will cost a lot more money. Officially, they might have support for longer than that, but practically the answer is going to be "well, you could solve this problem by buying one of our newer models". Same goes true for cars. If you buy a junker car, it's not going to last so long. Welcome to the modern disposable world. Throw it away and buy a newer one.