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@mhoye @mcc it’s irresponsible to allow children’s information to be stored on network-connected devices that are years out of date on security patches.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 threadGlyphJul 24, 2023
@mhoye @mcc while searching the web for examples of RAT attacks on kids by way of example of the severity of the risk here, all I can find is lawsuits and enforcement actions against *school districts* violating students’ 4th amendment rights by secretly recording their webcams and screens with “legitimate” MDM access, so, just, fuck all of this, maybe the conclusion I should actually come to is that schools should not be allowed to have computers, just give kids cash to buy their own devices
Show threadSaftyKumaJul 25, 2023

@glyph @mhoye @mcc

I can understand the argument for school provided computers. At the dawn of the PC era, students from well off families did have a legitimate advantage by being able to afford a home PC.

At the same time, yes, the admins of these devices have abused their access and I don't like training students on devices that treat them like Serfs of Google.

Show threadCollette Lynner
@SaftyKuma It's hard not to snark at the thought of avoiding Google serfdom. Good luck to your kids
Jul 26, 2023 at 1:44amWeb