mccJul 24, 2023

"With a software death date baked into each model, older versions of these inexpensive computers are set to expire three to six years after their release. Despite having fully functioning hardware, an expired Chromebook will no longer receive the software updates it needs, blocking basic websites and applications from use…

[Pictured] A pile of Chromebooks with expired software sit in a classroom at Montera Middle School in Oakland, Calif"

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/07/24/built-in-software-death-dates-are-sending-thousands-of-schools-chromebooks-to-the-recycling-bin/

Built-in software ‘death dates’ are sending thousands of schools’ Chromebooks to the recycling bin

Doubling the lifespan of older Chromebooks would save California’s schools $225 million, according to advocacy group CALPIRG.

The Mercury News
Show threadFuture Sprog

@mcc
This is starting to bite at the local library where I teach Code Club (Scratch for kids).

Most of the Chromebooks were purchased about 3 years ago and they’re showing “final update” alerts. Now websites are no longer validating because the Let’s Encrypt certificates are signed by an expired root and they don’t have the new root.

Perfectly serviceable laptops but Google just needed to kill something and so they killed working Chromebooks.

Jul 25, 2023 at 12:23amWeb
Show threadocdtrekkieJul 25, 2023
@futuresprog Ironically, the best way to ensure you have a long Chrome support life is buying a Windows PC.
Show threadFuture SprogJul 25, 2023

@ocdtrekkie

What a frightening thought!

Show threadRuss KnizeJul 25, 2023
@futuresprog @mcc CloudReady OS not an option for these?
Show threadFuture SprogJul 25, 2023

@rknize

Thanks for the name. I will need to check against the list of models it supports.

Show threadJesus Castagnetto 🇵🇪Jul 25, 2023

@futuresprog @rknize

Those might also work with Chrome Flex (the successor of the CloudReady OS), or better, after unlocking developer mode, use https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton (there's an old tutorial at https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-on-chromebook#1-overview)

GitHub - dnschneid/crouton: Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment (EOL)

Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment (EOL). Contribute to dnschneid/crouton development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadFuture SprogJul 25, 2023

@jmcastagnetto @rknize

I’m spoiled for choice!

Crouton has also gone into “maintenance mode”.

I was unsure of the relationship between CloudReady and Flex. I’ll see what looks most like the ChromeOS we’re familiar with. Only requirements are WiFi, USB mouse, a web browser, and wipe user profile on shutdown.

Show threadRuss KnizeJul 25, 2023
@futuresprog @jmcastagnetto I think CloudReady has been replaced by Flex. Indeed, my very old Dell Chromebook migrated itself over from CloudReady to Flex at one point, IIRC.
Show threadIan TindaleJul 25, 2023
@futuresprog @mcc I installed GalliumOS on my old tiny spare Chromebook that had expired a few years ago (I only set it up to for messing about with arduinos, so it lives in a parts box)

https://galliumos.org/
GalliumOS – A fast and lightweight Linux distro for ChromeOS devices

Show threadFuture SprogJul 25, 2023

@u0421793

Thanks for the name. I know there are one or two replacements to try instead. This will give me something to work with. Thanks.

Show threadJoe Steinbring Jul 25, 2023

@futuresprog @mcc Yeah, the thing that really hurts is that the number of years that a Chromebook is supported starts on the date then it is released. If the model is being supported for 5 years and it sat on a shelf at Best Buy for 2 years, you are only getting 3 years worth of support out of it.

You can get this screaming deal on a Chromebook that is less than a year away from not being supported and a lot of people bite at that.