Google Says Chromebook Updates End In 2034, 'Many' Models Move to Googlebook OS (9to5google.com) 19
Google says ChromeOS will keep receiving regular updates and security patches through mid-2034, after which qualifying newer Chromebooks will be able to migrate to the new Googlebook OS. 9to5Google reports: Starting with Chromebook updates, Google says that "Chromebooks you have today will continue to receive updates through their supported lifetime," with all Enterprise and Education management capabilities remaining in place as well: "We will maintain support for current Chromebook devices running ChromeOS as outlined in our Auto Update policy and the Chromebooks you have today will continue to receive updates through their supported lifetime..."
Google adds that similar management tools will be coming to Googlebook, but they're not available yet. Apparently they're planned for the second half of 2027. Meanwhile, Google says that "many" existing Chromebook models will be eligible to transition from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS. More details are coming "soon." A later note specifies that Google is referring to "newer commercial Chromebook models."
Notably, Google specifies a year when ChromeOS updates will come to an end in a later note -- 2034. Chromebooks with a 10-year update policy that extends past 2034 will be eligible to move to Googlebook OS. [...] Finally, in regards to apps, Google says that it is "committed" to web developers despite an increased focus on Android apps on Googlebooks.
Google adds that similar management tools will be coming to Googlebook, but they're not available yet. Apparently they're planned for the second half of 2027. Meanwhile, Google says that "many" existing Chromebook models will be eligible to transition from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS. More details are coming "soon." A later note specifies that Google is referring to "newer commercial Chromebook models."
Notably, Google specifies a year when ChromeOS updates will come to an end in a later note -- 2034. Chromebooks with a 10-year update policy that extends past 2034 will be eligible to move to Googlebook OS. [...] Finally, in regards to apps, Google says that it is "committed" to web developers despite an increased focus on Android apps on Googlebooks.
7-8 years of updates for a chromebook .... (Score:5, Insightful)
And if a particular chromebook model allows a 'developer mode' or something to install Linux its kind of hard to complain at all.
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You have to crack open the case and set a jumper to unlock the device to not deal with Developer Mode's bothersome prompts.
Developer Mode is a pain in the ass--just set the jumper and install a conventional OS on it.
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Re: 7-8 years of updates for a chromebook .... (Score:2)
That's hardly practical. I recently had to crack open a Lenovo Thinkpad to replace the CMOS battery, and I ended up accidentally breaking off one of the plastic bits at the back.
But I guess that's better than something that's glued shut. Still, room for improvement?
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Yeah, the cheap Lenovo models use plastic rivets, too.
The high-end models use screws.
It's annoying. I guess you get what you pay for after all.
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just set the jumper and install a conventional OS on it.
Installing a conventional OS on it would be a good use of old hardware, but it would move away from two of the big advantages of a Chromebook, which are low maintenance and speed. Hear me out...
I don't mean to simply that any conventional OS is not fast. I just mean that having an OS which doesn't store and manage things locally makes for very swift boot and wake times. If you use the Chromebook much as a tablet (gmail, browsing, media viewing, video conferencing, etc.) then after installing a conventional
Re: 7-8 years of updates for a chromebook .... (Score:2)
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I used ChromeOS Flex back when it was called Neverware CloudReady.
It was fine. I guess we get what we pay for.
They were underpowered and underfeatured (Score:2)
I have a box full of these to bring to the e-waste dump.
They were underpowered and underfeatured. Even when I hacked the jumper to install regular operating systems on them, they were terrible. Netbooks were SO much better.
I don't really understand what Google was thinking when the market already had perfectly good Netbooks that weren't tied to the Google ecosystem.
Re:They were underpowered and underfeatured (Score:5, Insightful)
They were thinking, "We need people on PCs that are tied to the Google ecosystem."
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They were thinking that the web is their platform. The whole reason they created Chrome was because they wanted the web to be the platform, not the underlying OS. Chomebooks are mostly just a web browser.
Googlebooks are abandoning that to have proper apps. They seem to be hoping that it can become as much as a gaming platform as Android.
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What do they sell for on Ebay? (Score:2)
It might be worth selling them as a group.
I never bought one as better used notebooks abound, but a buyer may want the group. (Not worth selling individually.)
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They are worth less than the cost to ship them (unless you find a gullible rube on eBay).
Just send them to your local e-waste dump.
Re: They were underpowered and underfeatured (Score:2)
Being tied to an online ecosystem is what made these convenient for most people.
I would like the open source equivalent. Where is a Ubuntu touch or Firefox Mobile (or netbook equivalent) that lets any group of people host the backend infrastructure for free or for a fee.
What I want is best of both offline ownership and online convenience. Fully managed laptops where I am also the administrator and policy master for the entire household.
Clown shit (Score:2)
"Google adds that similar management tools will be coming to Googlebook, but they're not available yet."
This is the biggest clown shit ever. Are they trying to hand education back to Apple?