My school has hundreds upon hundreds of Chromebooks:
Thousands of Chromebooks used in schools are being sent to the recycling bin due to built-in software "death dates." These inexpensive computers, which became popular during the pandemic for digital learning, have a software expiration date set three to six years after their release.
Despite functioning hardware, expired Chromebooks no longer receive necessary software updates, rendering them useless for basic web browsing and applications. The California Public Interest Research Group reported that global Chromebook sales were nearly 300% higher in 2020 compared to the previous year. However, thousands of these laptops have already expired, with more reaching their death dates each year.
School districts are left with the burden of disposing of these devices and purchasing new ones. Google claims that the expiration dates are necessary because older devices cannot support the required software updates for security and stability. However, critics argue that the practice is wasteful and costly. CALPIRG estimates that doubling the life of Chromebooks sold in California in 2020 alone could save the state's schools $225 million.
Textbooks don't expire after 3 years.
Incidentally, I have a very old personal Windows laptop that I'd like to repurpose as a Chromebook; the hardware is fine but it's running on Windows Vista (!), and a new streamlined OS would make this laptop useful again. I looked into the Cloudready software but my generic laptop was not on the list of compatible devices. Chrome OS Flex needs more RAM than this laptop has, so this laptop will continue to sit in the closet until I can find a way to breath some life into it.
Update: I've tried Zorin OS, but despite my best efforts in the BIOS, I cannot get the laptop to boot from the flash drive that was created and from which I would install Zorin OS. Grrr.
4 comments:
I routinely "refresh" old PC laptops with ChromeOS Flex. It's actually simple to do, once you get past the absolutely crazy way Google provides the software - as if you're a big enterprise.
1. Have a 8+ Gbyte USB memory stick that will be formatted with a ChromeOS Flex installation program you will download.
2. You will install a Chrome extension on your current computer called "Chromebook Recovery Utility."
3. Now the strangeness, when you click the grey icon with the wrench, Step one says select your Chromebook. Don't panic, just click "Select a model from the list" and scroll until you find Chrome OS Flex, chose that and the next steps are routine - EXCEPT IT CRASHES FREQUENTLY during the copying/verifying on the memory stick.
4. Keep installing until you get a good USB.
5. Place the stick in the old laptop, (you may have to change boot sequence which is usually F2 or F8 or something else). Wait a few minutes, all is well.
Since losing my reliable PC computer lab, I've had to rely on students bringing Chromebooks. In other words, I need 7 on hand and 10 or more chargers.
Currently, I have three converted ChromeOS Flex PCs and I used Donorschoose when matches were available for three Chromebooks.
The next match is 50% by the Gates Foundation on Aug 2. If you have yet to use Donorschoose. Join now. If you use my referral link, I can donate $25 to a project of yours (probably not in time for the match): http://share.donorschoose.org/3t79lS
so as a tech coach I will jump in and give my 2 cents. Chromebooks now have an update span of 8 years from release date up from the original 5. Secondly, Google is working to separate the browser from the OS. Meaning that after 8 years, the device won't get OS updates, but the browser can continue to get updates.
Finally, the devices still work. They are deemed "useless" because they won't work on the state's testing website. We keep expired Chromebooks around as spares. They still work for basic school stuff. The only issue we have run into is a music site and GoGuardian doesn't work 100% of the time. It is a hit or miss. But for what most students need to do, they work.
Also remember Chromebooks can't get viruses or anything like that so security updates are as big as they are for Windows & MacOS
Good info, thanks!
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