{"id":40682,"date":"2023-09-19T15:50:17","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T19:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=40682"},"modified":"2023-09-19T18:48:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T22:48:06","slug":"chromebooks-will-get-10-years-of-automatic-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/19\/chromebooks-will-get-10-years-of-automatic-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Chromebooks Will Get 10 Years of Automatic Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prajakta Gudadhe and Ashwini Varma<\/a> (via Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Security is our number one priority. Chromebooks get automatic updates every four weeks that make your laptop more secure and help it last longer. And starting next year, we’re extending those automatic updates so your Chromebook gets enhanced security, stability and features for 10 years after the platform was released.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

Starting in 2024, if you have Chromebooks that were released from 2021 onwards, you’ll automatically get 10 years of updates. For Chromebooks released before 2021 and already in use, users and IT admins will have the option to extend automatic updates to 10 years from the platform’s release (after they receive their last automatic update).<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

Our new repair flows allow authorized repair centers and school technicians to repair Chromebooks without a physical USB key. This reduces the time required for software repairs by over 50% and limits time away from the classroom.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

Chromebooks include lower upfront costs than other devices<\/a>: a 55% lower device cost and a 57% lower cost of operations. Over three years, Chromebooks save more than $800 in operating costs per device compared to others.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Lucas Gutterman<\/a>:<\/p>

Many schools are buying way more laptops than they used to, to ensure that every student has a device to use in class and at home. It would be one thing if kids could use the same laptop for their entire education. But currently, Chromebooks have a built-in “death date.” After as few as four years<\/a>, Google stops updating the software – rendering the laptop useless.<\/p>

To stop this Chromebook Churn<\/a>, over 10,000 supports signed a petition, joining a coalition of nonprofits, parents and teachers asking Google<\/a> for longer-lasting laptops. Thursday’s announcement is a victory for all of us. Once laptops have a lifespan of 10 years, fewer will “expire” and need to be disposed of.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Meanwhile, macOS Sonoma drops support<\/a> for Macs that Apple was selling in 2018<\/strike>2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n