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“Absurd”: Google, Amazon rebuked over unsupported Chromebooks still for sale
- benguild 3y agoThe Chromebook death date is absurd in general. I bought my mom one a while ago and then she had to basically get rid of it when it was perfectly fine.
- cosmojg 3y agoWas it locked down enough that you couldn't replace the OS?
- riku_iki 3y agowhat happened exactly after end of life date? Was it just no update arrived but device being fully functional?
- mh- 3y agoThey stop receiving security updates, too.
- specto 3y agoThis is one of the reasons I suggested a friend get the Framework chromebook. Even if they stop supporting ChromeOS, they can move to another OS.
- mixmastamyk 3y agoFriends don't let friends use Chrome/books/OS, for this and many other reasons.
- specto 3y agoAgreed, though in this case it was for an older person who had already had a non-supported chromebook.
- mdwalters 3y agoCan confirm, my parents bought me a Chromebook off of Amazon, and looking at the ChromeOS version, it apparently was out of support for a year. We had to return it, along with all of the three other Chromebooks my parents bought, due to defects on all of them (scratched screen, dead battery, etc.)
- chasil 3y agoI bought a reconditioned Lenovo Chromebook for my parents last Christmas, and I kid you not that black plastic sheets had been applied to conceal the scratches on the case. Of course, the software was entirely out of support when I brought the device up and logged in. Avoid used Chromebooks at all costs.
- CodeCompost 3y agoCan you put a Linux distro on it?
- outofpaper 3y agoYes. N if they are running on Intel they can run just about anything. On ARM you can baked your own or use one of the handfull of distros designed specifically for this.
- ricktdotorg 3y agogreat discussion on this exact topic from yesterday at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36989569 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36989569
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- riku_iki 3y agoyou could check eol date for that chromebook in advance?..
- tedunangst 3y agoIs this different from any other used laptop whose condition is misrepresented?
- rejectfinite 3y agoA used real Thinkpad T480 that runs full Windows/Linux is like 2-300$ and much better to use, eg https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/15i9ucc/back_to_school_t480_set_up/ https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/15i9ucc/back_to_s...
- LeoPanthera 3y agoI thought the whole point of Chromebooks was that they were essentially thin clients for the web, or Google services in general. That they have such short expiry dates seems absurd. iPads are supported for longer. (And at <$500, not much more expensive.)
- preommr 3y ago> (And at <$500, not much more expensive.) It's even worse. From the article: > But right now, you can buy a "new," unused Flip C302 for $550 from Amazon or $820 via Walmart's Marketplace So it's actually cheaper to buy an ipad than an unsupported chromebook.
- darkclouds 3y agoBuyer beware.
- bushbaba 3y agoShows how apples iPads for education might come out ahead in the long run.
- HenryBemis 3y agoPerhaps an institution may go for the iPad as it is harder to bypass the security and root/jailbreak and install apps (APKs) from a PC. On the other if you are like me and prefer to read from a 10" or a 12.4" (Samsung) tablet, for which I don't mind the 'no updates', as I use it only as a reader that is always on Airplane mode and never connects to the internet. But I have no idea how many people go to that extreme (use a tablet only for reading and zero online connection).
- btown 3y agohttps://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en is the program in question. > These updates depend on many device specific non-Google hardware and software providers that work with Google to provide the highest level of security and stability support. For this reason, older Chrome devices cannot receive updates indefinitely to enable new OS and browser features. For this reason, older Chrome devices cannot receive updates indefinitely to enable new OS and browser features. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9367166?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9367166?hl=en confirms that security updates are also discontinued after the AUE date. By contrast, Microsoft supported security updates for Windows 7, across all the hardware supporting it, from its release in 2009 all the way through early 2020. A five-year AUE, less than many students' times in post-secondary education, is comparatively user-hostile - and downright dangerous from a security perspective.
- dyingkneepad 3y agoMeanwhile, I'm still sitting on my unsupported Google Pixel 3 without absolutely any reason to upgrade it besides "Google decided to not give it any more security updates". There's nothing on newer phones that I want, this one works just fine, even its battery levels! Why, oh why!?
- tgflynn 3y agoYes, and you can still buy those new on Amazon with no mention that they're unsupported, just like the chromebooks.
- mixmastamyk 3y agoWho is building brand-new obsolete hardware? Or is it really refurbished?
- tgflynn 3y agoI assume it's just old inventory. It's not supposed to be refurbished because I enabled the "New" filter.
- mixmastamyk 3y agoBut don't they stop building it a year before it goes unsupported? I can imagine bad planning but ... "you had one job."
- thaumasiotes 3y agoThey eventually got LineageOS working on the Pixels.
- mciancia 3y ago> "Google decided to not give it any more security updates" I mean, this sounds like pretty good reason to me
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- _ea1k 3y agoTBH, I've never understood why they don't just decouple the browser from the OS and keep providing browser updates for as long as possible. They wouldn't update the base kernel, but they'd be no less secure than the average windows box.
- rkeene2 3y agoThey have started doing just that with "LaCros" [0]. [0] https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/lacros.md https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/l...
- _ea1k 3y agoI know they haven't talked about using this to extend updates, but I hope that they do consider that. It'd make these devices much safer. I guess alternatively, one could run Chromium under their Linux instances on a lot of them.
- esperkin39 3y agoNone of those benefits are coming with LaCrOS[0]. I don't know why people keep repeating that when Google has never stated there will be more updates. [0] https://blog.crosexperts.com/google-is-taking-chrome-out-of-chromeos-8213e410a78b https://blog.crosexperts.com/google-is-taking-chrome-out-of-...
- rkeene2 3y agoWhile it's possible that Google hasn't said they'll be doing the updates separately for the browser there's no reason to suspect they wouldn't do that once LaCrOS was fully implemented -- after all, it works under Linux. The comment I submitted only went so far as to say they started doing "that", referring to the parent's post about decoupling and providing separate updates.
- esperkin39 3y agoIf "that" is referring to both, it's incorrect. Google has said they will be "well into 2024" without any benefits brought by LaCrOS. That includes any theoretical extending of the expiration dates.
- TazeTSchnitzel 3y agoThat some of these cost as little as $69 brand new is alarming to me. Tech that cheap is usually destined to become e-waste. Used models that were more expensive than that when new are better for the planet and the user.
- zdragnar 3y agoThis is very much a "let them eat cake" comment.
- dragonwriter 3y ago> Tech that cheap is usually destined to become e-waste. All tech is destined to become e-waste.
- squarefoot 3y agoDon't throw away your unsupported Chromebook/box, you can unlock it and install whichever OS would be compatible with similar architecture PCs, making them a lot more versatile and powerful compared to those running ChromeOS. More information here: https://mrchromebox.tech/ https://mrchromebox.tech/
- jolan 3y agoWould be great if EOL models could be officially transitioned to ChromeOS Flex in some way.
- supernova87a 3y agoThe Chromebooks no longer get updates, but how long can they keep on working usably? The article doesn't convey enough detail about this difference, or the story is making it sound like the laptops will die on that day.
- causality0 3y agoCloud-dependent goods should be required to carry an expiration date right on the package.
- krabizzwainch 3y agoHonest question, don’t we see this constantly with Amazon AND news sites that constantly post “deals” on computers? “Buy this MacBook Air for $500 off!” But they never mention its from 2015 and will be not supported by MacOS much longer. Or you’ll constantly see deals like this on Windows laptops with 4th gen intel processors or refurbished business laptops. In general nothing is changing for me. I still have to babysit EVERYONE I know through the computer buying process so that they don’t get screwed over.
- cunidev 3y agoThis is a disastrous situation in terms of e-waste, if we consider how long laptops can survive when using a reasonable software stack. With most Linux setups, web browsing on extremely JS-heavy websites is the only area where you might feel considerable differences between a new laptop and one from 7-10 years ago.
- synack 3y agoI've spent a fair amount of time messing with the ChromiumOS source tree and I think Google's EOL dates mostly coincide with dropping support for older kernels. Hardware vendors only ship drivers and patches for the LTS kernel at the time the device is built, they don't test or port those patches to newer kernels. OEMs don't want to spend time/money on kernel updates for old devices. They'd rather sell you a new one.
- RetroTechie 3y agoRegardless of Android or other devices like Chromebooks discussed here, I think history has proven conclusively: Vendor's interest to sell new devices as quickly as possible, by definition does not align with users' interest to keep using a device as long as practical - or until the hardware breaks. If devices' hardware improves fast enough, users will replace old with new by themselves. Which makes both "pure hw company" or "Apple style vertical integration" viable business models. But in more mature market, 'old' device = good enough. Vendor wants to sell new device, user wants to keep using old device longer. Community developed OS (with or without vendor support) fits that situation better.
- syntaxing 3y agoShit like this is why I went full Apple after using android for 10 years or so. You pay a premium for Apple products but at least you get the proper support and build quality. I have an iPhone 12 Pro that’s coming up on 3 years. I have zero desire to upgrade it and I have feeling it’ll last at least another 3 years.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- neilv 3y agoDoes the accounting math on the value of having those Chromebooks still running include the value of retaining that user of you're-the-product advertising and general stickiness? Or does the math say they'd probably keep that user, no matter what device that user uses (at least for now, though over time Apple or MS could edge out Google services with their own), and that turning old Chromebooks into insecure/irresponsible bricks helps generate revenue from sales of new Chromebooks, and keeps manufacturing partners happy?
- prepend 3y agoThis makes me think that Google is going to kill the ChromeBook project. It’s not making them much money (if any). Since it’s just a marketing spend for the small laptop market, they should care about PR. But they don’t care about PR as evidenced by this stupidity that makes Google look like stupid engineers who can’t support their product. And the prices are high. $500 for a “new” Chromebook mode from 5 years ago is madness. I give them 5 years until they just kill it all. If we’re lucky they’ll make some bogus foundation that will give it a few years to limp on.
- riku_iki 3y ago> And the prices are high. $500 for a “new” Chromebook mode from 5 years ago is madness. its not google's fault that resellers sell them on amazon for $500. also, google increased support term, I think it is now 8 years for new chromebooks.