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 threadmhoyeJul 24, 2023
@mcc this should be illegal.
Show threadGlyphJul 24, 2023
@mhoye @mcc it’s irresponsible to allow children’s information to be stored on network-connected devices that are years out of date on security patches. while one could argue that we should mandate longer lifespans, that the software should be maintained for 10 years instead of 3, the idea that we should allow arbitrarily decrepit computing devices to be used indefinitely is intuitive but also dangerous.
Show threadGlitch (over count 1999)
@glyph @mhoye @mcc a regular computer made as recent as 2016 can run Windows 11.

all computers made in the 2010s and most of the ones in the late 2000s can run Windows 10 which still receives security patches.

if you are willing to include most conventional Linux distros (too far for most devices used by kids but hey, why not), all computers made since pretty much the turn of the millennium are still supported and get security patches.

even the otherwise undisputed king of "we broke shit, give us money for new shit", apple, still gives all major updates to its devices for at least seven years (and for desktop iirc only kills support if a chipset gets unused in any main devices).

Googles deprecation period of 6 years is stupid and should be put to scrutiny.
Jul 25, 2023 at 11:35pmWeb
Show threadGlitch (over count 1999)Jul 25, 2023
@glyph @mcc @mhoye and mind you, 6 years is the upper bound, the lower bound is 3, which is just far too short by any reasonable metric.
Show threadmhoyeJul 26, 2023
@glitch @glyph @mcc unfortunately, given what kids put Chromebooks through 6 years is a pretty happy life for a piece of consumer hardware.
Show threadGlitch (over count 1999)Jul 26, 2023
@mhoye @glyph @mcc you underestimate how careful kids can be when they actually have a reason to respect those devices.

a lot of the reason why kids tend to be careless with their computers in this case is because they're already seen as disposable and a part of that is Google here - that attitude gets send down towards schools and ends up in teacher attitudes when handing out the devices.

at least in my experience, the amount of care i saw my fellow classmates have back in the day (...about a decade ago) for computers did go down the more the devices started being seen as disposable. first with smartphones and their ludicrously short lifespans, and near the very end with computers when chromebooks started to enter general availability.
Show threadGlyphJul 26, 2023
@glitch @mcc @mhoye You can absolutely provide incentives to shift behaviors at the margins, but consider this story: https://www.masslive.com/news/2021/12/springfield-schools-see-increase-in-laptop-tablet-loss-damage.html — at least in that district, 30% of devices are lost or destroyed and need to be replaced every year. I don't have solid stats on this, but I believe this is roughly 3x the average rate at which corporate laptops need to be replaced. I don't think you can make kids 200% more careful by just implying that they're not disposable
Springfield schools see increase in laptop, tablet loss, damage

Springfield students each have access to a laptop or tablet which they can take home with them each day during the school year and summer.

masslive