This is a legitimate concern for me, but almost no part of my mother's life takes place online. She did have a mac, but lost that and there is no money for a new one. She also has an android phone, so the privacy argument applies here as well and is still very valid. Eventually I will get her on a mac or ubuntu laptop or something like that.

In terms of usability I have to tip my hat to Google. ChromeOS is very easy to use so far. Probably until chromebook vendors start adding all sorts of their own shitty tools and accounts like Huawei has done with their phones.

> Secure and inexpensive as long as you don't mind paying with your privacy.

There are obvious alternatives to ChromeOS that are just as secure and just as inexpensive (especially if you have some old hardware just laying around, or else you can just buy refurbished hardware - just about anything made in the last 10 years will do, if not more than that) - and not any less useful than a Chromebook. And they can be updated for as long as the hardware keeps going - they won't suddenly become "unsupported" after a mere five years.

Yeah, if you're technical enough, then for now you can still install and run Linux. That's probably not an option for OP's parents.

You can easily imagine that in the future hardware manufacturers will remove the ability to install a 3rd party operating system. It's already essentially impossible on a locked-down Apple iOS appliance.

Chrome wins on the mom, grandpa, etc. can easily use it... I've yet to see an OS that is less locked down that's easier to use in practice. Yes, privacy concerns. That said, it's still what I recommend for MOST people not interested in gaming.

Seems like the privacy situation isn't much better in Windows 10 tbh. At least Microsoft aren't an advertising company (for now) I suppose.

That's already the Android/iOS tradeoff, and that's assuming Android is considered secure now which it wasn't last time I was using it.

Umm, that's how economics work?

Privacy should not be a luxury good.