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Google breaks promise to provide 10 years of updates to Chromebooks

355 points · 156 comments · speckx

  1. invader · · focus · HN ↗
    My 2015 Chromebook Pixel didn't even live that long.

    First, it looked amazing - solid aluminum body, powerful i7 inside, 16G RAM, high-resolution touch-sensitive screen. And that amazing Google-styled LED strip that showed the charge when double-tapped.

    Then the hardware started to fail. First, the shiny chrome letters saying "Chromebook" slid aside, revealing a glue-filled depression. I struggled to properly glue it back ever since. Then, the hinge mechanism seal failed, and a sticky substance started to leak from the back. Then the battery started to fail even though it was maybe 2 or 3 years old. And finally, the screen backlight started to fail, and bright spots started to appear from the edges to the point that it can no longer be used. Dead in 3 or 4 years.

    For comparison, my also 2015 MacBook Pro 13 still works perfectly, except for the software - Apple also stopped updating macOS, and I'm considering just installing Linux on that otherwise fully functional hardware.

    It should be illegal to force software obsolescence on otherwise functioning hardware, increasing the global e-waste footprint.

    1. undersuit · · focus · HN ↗
      My Core i3 Pixelbook Go is still a peppy little web browser like it's always been. I'm going to replace the battery and see how the Linux install goes when the ChromeOS updates stop coming.
    2. coredog64 · · focus · HN ↗
      I also have a MBP from 2015 and have a recent OS install via OCLP. With only an i5 and 8GB it's slow to start, but once everything is going it's a reasonable UX if I stick to Safari.
    3. NorthSouthNorth · · focus · HN ↗
      I installed EndeavourOS on my 2015 MBP 13 and it's pretty great. Machine feels awesome. Had to have Codex patch a few small things (e.g. the fan thresholds, some power management stuff) and the speakers sound atrocious but it's super fast and extremely usable.

      Replaced the battery with a $50 replacement one from Amazon myself, and I get like 5-6 hours of usage.

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