The US PIRG (Public Curiosity Analysis Group) Training Fund lately issued a scathing assertion towards Google for its failure to replace 13 Chromebook fashions, leaving customers with outdated laptops. In June 2023, involved mother and father and environmentalists wrote a letter urging the tech big to supply important software program updates for Chromebooks. In 2020, as distant studying grew to become the norm because of the pandemic, college districts throughout the USA bought a major variety of Chromebooks and distributed them to college students. Initially, the whole lot appeared nice. Nonetheless, through the years, the shortage of technical assist from Google has brought about vital issues, regardless that the {hardware} stays useful. With out new updates, these laptops are extra vulnerable to safety breaches and are unable to entry sure web sites and purposes. A report from the Mercury Information reveals that expired Chromebooks might even block web sites and purposes involuntarily. It’s price noting that these inexpensive computer systems have a lifespan of three to 6 years from their launch, which Lucas Rockett Gutterman, director of the Design to Final initiative, describes as “absurd.”
What makes issues worse for People is that these laptops are usually not restricted to varsities. In truth, Amazon nonetheless presents most of those fashions on the market on its platform. It’s totally doable that you could be personal or have lately bought one in all these expired Chromebooks, pondering you bought an awesome deal. The Acer Chromebook 11, one of many affected fashions, at present prices $64.95. To make sure you aren’t affected, seek the advice of the complete record of expired fashions offered by the US PIRG on their web site.
The US PIRG is demanding that Google prolong the lifespan of Chromebooks by offering mandatory technical assist. This motion might save the US schooling system an estimated $1.8 billion and stop a major quantity of digital waste from ending up in landfills. Pictures on the US PIRG web site depict stacks of presumably unusable Chromebook 11s within the storage room of a college.
On the time of writing, Google has not addressed this challenge publicly. We have now reached out to Google for an official assertion concerning the expired Chromebooks. We have now additionally requested Gutterman and the US PIRG if they’re conscious of another affected units. We’ll present updates on this story sooner or later.
Whereas buying one in all these laptops at a low worth may be tempting, it’s important to think about the potential dangers and vulnerabilities they pose. As an alternative, we suggest exploring TechRadar’s record of the very best Chromebook offers for August 2023. Relaxation assured, you can see an appropriate choice with out compromising in your safety.
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