Don’t throw away your out-of-date Chromebook just yet as newly found evidence suggests Google may expand the availability of ChromeOS Flex to the old laptops.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
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      9 months 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
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        9 months 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
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          9 months 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
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            9 months 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
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                9 months 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
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  ·
                  9 months 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
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    9 months 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.