4 ms·

I don't think it's even covering just the last few years but goes back further than that: > For Chromebooks released before 2021 and already in use, users and

by jsnell 3y ago

I don't think it's even covering just the last few years but goes back further than that: > For Chromebooks released before 2021 and already in use, users and IT admins will have the option to extend automatic updates to 10 years from the platform’s release (after they receive their last automatic update). I don't entirely understand why the 2021 cutoff for it being opt-in vs. opt-out is there. Maybe it's about the "already in use" bit somehow, and making sure that pre-2021 models don't continue being manufactured and sold as as new.

wrs 3y ago
I’m wondering if that will be a paid option. That’s how the last stage of support for commercial OSes often works.
- ewoodrich 3y ago
  I have an original Pixelbook (late 2017 release date) and the auto update support page [1] has been updated from June 2024 to June 2027 (with an asterisk saying it is user opt in but that's all I can see). So at first glance it doesn't seem to be paid. My Pixelbook doesn't get much use anymore vs my M1 MacBook but it's nice to know it will still be supported. It can be a handy thin client and I don't have to worry as much about it getting stolen/abusing at this point in its life. [1] https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?visit_id=638303129716857329-825486087&p=auto-update-policy&rd=1#zippy=%2Cgoogle https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?visit_id=...
highwaylights 3y ago
My guess is that they’ve received commitments since 2021 on parts and drivers for 10 years, and don’t have those commitments prior to that date, so they’re only offering opt-in OS updates that will be under subtly different terms for liability indemnity purposes.
- silvestrov 3y ago
  Might also be a case of minimal RAM/SSD requirement and OS build using reasonable new compiler. HW might also be more standarized today, e.g. using USB internally for webcam and keyboard.
yencabulator 3y ago
The footnote says > For devices prior to 2021 that will receive extended updates, some features and services may not be supported. So.. they might need to rip out some problematic drivers, maybe? Like, imagine the bluetooth chip vendor not being cooperative, you get to choose to continue updates but losing bluetooth as a feature. The footnote continues > See our Help Center for details. So kudos to first one dig out the exact page they're referring to (there's no link).
- Zenst 3y ago
  https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en That one, had link for me.
  - yencabulator 3y ago
    Except that also just ends with > ** For devices prior to 2021 that will receive extended updates, some features and services might not be supported. which doesn't really say anything...
- redeeman 3y ago
  > imagine the bluetooth chip vendor not being cooperative no, then you tell them that if they dont play ball, they will NEVER sell a single chip to anything google ever again, and then you hire some people to reverse engineer the shit, and make it work anyway. And then you publish all about how company X is being stupid and trying to work against efforts to save the environment, how they are trying very hard to make money on peoples hardware being obsoleted before time etc. But then we realize that google themselves have bummed out to large extents with what they have permitted on android and chromebooks, so anything like this would not happen
  - eru 3y ago
    Good luck with that, in case the company goes out of business?
fma 3y ago
There was an article from the WSJ that wrecks Google for e-waste due to not supporting Chromebooks past 5 years. A lot of chromebooks were purchased from 2020 due to the pandemic. It's not the date of purchase that determines obsolescence, so many were coming up to be thrown away. It would be better if Google defaults to supporting 2020, 2019 (Many purchased in 2020 were manufactured in 2019).
- nolist_policy 3y ago
  If you where cheaping out an bought Windows 10 devices in 2020, you'd also only get 5 years of support.

by jsnell 3y ago

wrs 3y ago

I’m wondering if that will be a paid option. That’s how the last stage of support for commercial OSes often works.

ewoodrich 3y ago
I have an original Pixelbook (late 2017 release date) and the auto update support page [1] has been updated from June 2024 to June 2027 (with an asterisk saying it is user opt in but that's all I can see). So at first glance it doesn't seem to be paid. My Pixelbook doesn't get much use anymore vs my M1 MacBook but it's nice to know it will still be supported. It can be a handy thin client and I don't have to worry as much about it getting stolen/abusing at this point in its life. [1] https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?visit_id=638303129716857329-825486087&p=auto-update-policy&rd=1#zippy=%2Cgoogle https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?visit_id=...

highwaylights 3y ago

My guess is that they’ve received commitments since 2021 on parts and drivers for 10 years, and don’t have those commitments prior to that date, so they’re only offering opt-in OS updates that will be under subtly different terms for liability indemnity purposes.

silvestrov 3y ago
Might also be a case of minimal RAM/SSD requirement and OS build using reasonable new compiler. HW might also be more standarized today, e.g. using USB internally for webcam and keyboard.

yencabulator 3y ago

The footnote says > For devices prior to 2021 that will receive extended updates, some features and services may not be supported. So.. they might need to rip out some problematic drivers, maybe? Like, imagine the bluetooth chip vendor not being cooperative, you get to choose to continue updates but losing bluetooth as a feature. The footnote continues > See our Help Center for details. So kudos to first one dig out the exact page they're referring to (there's no link).

Zenst 3y ago
https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en That one, had link for me.
- yencabulator 3y ago
  Except that also just ends with > ** For devices prior to 2021 that will receive extended updates, some features and services might not be supported. which doesn't really say anything...
redeeman 3y ago
> imagine the bluetooth chip vendor not being cooperative no, then you tell them that if they dont play ball, they will NEVER sell a single chip to anything google ever again, and then you hire some people to reverse engineer the shit, and make it work anyway. And then you publish all about how company X is being stupid and trying to work against efforts to save the environment, how they are trying very hard to make money on peoples hardware being obsoleted before time etc. But then we realize that google themselves have bummed out to large extents with what they have permitted on android and chromebooks, so anything like this would not happen
- eru 3y ago
  Good luck with that, in case the company goes out of business?

fma 3y ago

There was an article from the WSJ that wrecks Google for e-waste due to not supporting Chromebooks past 5 years. A lot of chromebooks were purchased from 2020 due to the pandemic. It's not the date of purchase that determines obsolescence, so many were coming up to be thrown away. It would be better if Google defaults to supporting 2020, 2019 (Many purchased in 2020 were manufactured in 2019).

nolist_policy 3y ago
If you where cheaping out an bought Windows 10 devices in 2020, you'd also only get 5 years of support.