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sjs382 10 minutes ago [-]
Of course they are.
One more datapoint to reference in the future when evaluating Google's long term promises and commitments. "No, we mean it this time."
FloatArtifact 4 minutes ago [-]
There's simply no real reason that a mobile device can't function as a desktop from a technical level either in software or hardware. Simply dock your phone or it could be even wireless. Boom! Go from mobile experience to desktop experience. It seems they want to cram the mobile experience into our traditional desktop environment that is mouse and keyboard driven with windows paradigm. IOS and Android have not embraced either concept. We simply need a unified SDK to support both experiences and the store downloads the appropriate assets. We're beginning to see somewhat of these concepts with foldables phone coming into the market.
bryanlarsen 2 hours ago [-]
> it’s hard to imagine many Chromebooks currently in service or acquired in the next year or two will still be in service come 2034
While there won't be many there definitely will be some; I know of an ~8 year old Chromebook currently in active use.
shiandow 43 minutes ago [-]
You can't just expect things to last years! Building stuff to last only benefits society and customers, it does nothing for shareholders!
adrianmsmith 2 hours ago [-]
Exactly.
I know plenty of people who use Apple products such as iPhones and Macs and have to stop using them and throw them into landfill basically because there are no further security updates, although the device works fine and is fast enough for their needs.
Shortening security updates absolutely has an environmental impact.
torginus 8 minutes ago [-]
I still don't get the point of Chromebooks. You need the exact same hardware as a real laptop, you don't get to save on anything, in fact it's worse, since browsers are usually heavier than real apps.
But you get less functionality, and have to hack into it even if you can to make it your own.
They're even worse for browsing, as you can only install addons and adblockers allowed by Google, which are deliberately gimped.
At least we get to enjoy freedom on our PCs - the smartphone-ification of computers is a worrying trend (this applies to games consoles too).
broodbucket 2 hours ago [-]
Schools, sadly for the students.
bryanlarsen 1 hours ago [-]
Chromebooks don't last anywhere close to 10 years in school; they get far too much abuse.
theandrewbailey 23 minutes ago [-]
I work in e-waste recycling, and I can assure everyone that many schools issue Chromebooks to students.
eviks 22 minutes ago [-]
Indeed, a big failure of imagination
lightedman 47 minutes ago [-]
Yea my Thinkpad 11e is still going and running software. That's 12 years old, now.
PowerElectronix 8 minutes ago [-]
I guess we should just not trust tech companies for long term support of the stuff they make. How do they think they'll fare after squandering goodwill with shit like this?
sdcfgy 15 minutes ago [-]
Why the hell anyone bought into the Chromebook idea I don’t know. Possibly saw the price and thought they’d get away with it.
hnlmorg 5 minutes ago [-]
I nearly bought a Chromebook last month for my son to do homework on.
He already has a PS5 and so doesn’t need the laptop for anything more than running Chrome.
In the end I managed to repurpose an existing laptop. But a Chromebook was a serious consideration for a little while.
ChoosesBarbecue 56 minutes ago [-]
Are they planning on replacing ChromeOS Flex? It has been a fantastic choice for me to put onto older computers that some relatives own.
someperson 1 hours ago [-]
I stopped buying Chromebooks and switched to MacBooks after my fantastic Samsung Chromebook Plus ARM units stopped getting updates after a few years, around the same time the 10 year from release support commitment for new devices was made.
Unfortunately Samsung no longer make Chromebooks, they had some fantastic hardware.
Wowfunhappy 2 hours ago [-]
...Unless I'm misunderstanding, I don't think any promises were broken here. Google said they would provide ten years of software updates. Now they're saying existing ChromeOS devices will be upgraded to the new "GoogleOS" within that ten year window, they will continue to receive said updates.
This is annoying if you don't like GoogleOS, but also par for the course. You can't stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates, you have to upgrade to iOS 27.
adrianmsmith 2 hours ago [-]
I would agree but Google's wording is
> For qualifying devices purchased today whose 10-year support lifecycle extends beyond 2034, Google is committed to supporting your transition to Googlebook OS, with many devices offering direct migration paths
The word "many" feels like it's pretty much explicitly saying it's not "all". If it's not "all" then I'd say the promises were broken.
thenewnewguy 1 hours ago [-]
It's possible those devices will offer indirect migration paths (e.g. you have to reinstall the OS). While annoying/inconvenient, that would probably still qualify as keeping the promise in my book.
5G_activated 1 hours ago [-]
It's not just security updates, there's also whether all the device management tools and techniques, training and institutional knowledge, and customer acceptance will carry over to the new OS. Whether the devices that are within AUE and receive the update are going to run the new operating system well, or they're going to languish with poor performance or broken drivers that will never get another look from the manufacturer because they're 2 generations behind in a vast sea of models and individual configurations.
I also can't find anything online to do with what they're going to do to Chrome OS Flex, so thank goodness I didn't set it up for my mum who was sick to death of Windows 11.
reaperducer 45 minutes ago [-]
You can't stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates, you have to upgrade to iOS 27.
Not a great comparison, since iOS 16 (not 26) received a security update just a few months ago.
ltbarcly3 1 hours ago [-]
Intentionally misleading title.
They are changing the support horizon for new sales only, not ending anything early.
seabrookmx 53 minutes ago [-]
It also sounds like these devices _will be supported_ but not by updating ChromeOS, instead by upgrading to Googlebook OS.
jackb4040 31 minutes ago [-]
Huh. Apparently if you Google "GoogleBook", the first 2 results aren't for GoogleBook but for Google Books.
5G_activated 1 hours ago [-]
Yet another market that is never going to trust Google with long term support for a product again!
dmitrygr 44 minutes ago [-]
And this is why when Pixel phones started promising 7 years of support, everyone with a brain said “uh huh, suuuure” and kept buying iPhones which DO deliver that.
thevillagechief 22 minutes ago [-]
So far so good for the rest of us without brains. Pixel 6 got it's full 5 years of promised support. We're hoping it's cheaper to provide the full promised 7 years of support than to pay the class action lawyers.
Cider9986 24 minutes ago [-]
I guess we will see by October 2030. They'd be getting a class action lawsuit for clear fake marketing.
It doesn't seem like they are ending support for updated software on these devices before 10 years, it will just be different software.
techteach00 56 minutes ago [-]
My students Chromebooks can't run python online. 1 tab. Ad riddled. IT won't install ad blocker. The misery so many of us deal with. I'm happy has to know. Depressing.
One more datapoint to reference in the future when evaluating Google's long term promises and commitments. "No, we mean it this time."
While there won't be many there definitely will be some; I know of an ~8 year old Chromebook currently in active use.
I know plenty of people who use Apple products such as iPhones and Macs and have to stop using them and throw them into landfill basically because there are no further security updates, although the device works fine and is fast enough for their needs.
Shortening security updates absolutely has an environmental impact.
But you get less functionality, and have to hack into it even if you can to make it your own.
They're even worse for browsing, as you can only install addons and adblockers allowed by Google, which are deliberately gimped.
At least we get to enjoy freedom on our PCs - the smartphone-ification of computers is a worrying trend (this applies to games consoles too).
He already has a PS5 and so doesn’t need the laptop for anything more than running Chrome.
In the end I managed to repurpose an existing laptop. But a Chromebook was a serious consideration for a little while.
Unfortunately Samsung no longer make Chromebooks, they had some fantastic hardware.
This is annoying if you don't like GoogleOS, but also par for the course. You can't stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates, you have to upgrade to iOS 27.
> For qualifying devices purchased today whose 10-year support lifecycle extends beyond 2034, Google is committed to supporting your transition to Googlebook OS, with many devices offering direct migration paths
The word "many" feels like it's pretty much explicitly saying it's not "all". If it's not "all" then I'd say the promises were broken.
I also can't find anything online to do with what they're going to do to Chrome OS Flex, so thank goodness I didn't set it up for my mum who was sick to death of Windows 11.
Not a great comparison, since iOS 16 (not 26) received a security update just a few months ago.
They are changing the support horizon for new sales only, not ending anything early.
https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime
It doesn't seem like they are ending support for updated software on these devices before 10 years, it will just be different software.
I might just make my own html editor with GitHub
What are you using?