Don’t throw away your out-of-date Chromebook just yet as newly found evidence suggests Google may expand the availability of ChromeOS Flex to the old laptops.

  • holo_nexus@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    That’s a potential solution but the problem is that IT departments in schools are replacing them when they reach EOL in regards to security patches (since testing software isn’t supported). While there may be people interested, I can’t see many wanting to buy chromebooks that won’t be getting security patches and are sluggish.

    • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      The batteries are usually trash on these too because they’re constantly cycling the battery. Sometimes multiple times a day. Anything that potentially keeps them out of a landfill is a win in my book.

      • holo_nexus@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Agreed. This and Googles announcement last month of supporting new chromebooks for 10 years is a step in the right direction.

        • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 year ago

          My Chromebook went EOL this summer. I can’t decide if I want to get another Chromebook or a Windows laptop. Chromebooks are not as cheap as they used to be but I’ve been hearing Windows is considering a subscription model. In the vein of Adobe’s subscription suite I imagine. 10 years of updates plus some kind of post-EOL Linux path might push me over the edge.

            • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
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              1 year ago

              In another comment I said that I tried putting Linux on a different EOL Chromebook and something went wrong, it’s entirely possible I did something wrong, but it won’t work now. I don’t want to take the chance of killing this Chromebook too.

              • sir_reginald@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                well you were considering buying a windows laptop. just do that and put Linux on it. better and more varied hardware than Chromebooks, a OS with no EOL, no spyware, and if you’ve been using Chromebook you probably don’t need nothing windows specific so it’s a win.

                • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
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                  1 year ago

                  I’m not a Linux aficionado. I’ve been using Windows machines for a long time and I feel confident doing basic things like navigating control panel and updating drivers but I’ve never used a fully functional Linux OS. I wouldn’t know how to do anything and while I might consider trying it on a backup netbook or something I don’t want to spend money on something with a learning curve. Years ago I put OS/2 Warp on my machine and it was a nightmare trying to figure out how to do anything. I’m not interested in doing that all over again.