I bought a ASUS CXB170CKA-212.BCLN6 Chromebook in March 2022 (for USD150; it's not a high-end model). According to ASUS, "The Chrome OS AUE(Auto Update Expiration) date [for this model] is June 2029."[0]

I consider 7 years to be many more than "a few years".

[0] https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/asus-17-3-chromebook-...

I guess it depends on how you define "few". These days, Chromebooks get 7 years from the day of release. Google seems to be fairly generous with some models and extends support beyond that.

This page lists all the models and their expiration dates:

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

I personally have the original Lenovo Duet as a cheap tablet / laptop. Paid ~$200 in 2020 and support will officially end in 2028. Not bad. As good as Apple or Windows 11.

Once official support ends, there's still a couple of options left. Some old Chromebooks can use Chrome OS Flex. Some of the newer Chromebooks have the option of updating Chrome independently of the OS. Thus allowing full security updates in the browser even after the OS is no longer updated for that machine.

They are, but for this one, that date is pretty far in the future. From the Q&A section of the product listing ( https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/lenovo-chromebook-3-1... )

> This Lenovo Chromebook 3 11 model number 82BA001FUS, will continue to receive Google Automatic updates through June 2027.

> Answered by Lenovo Product Expert 2 months ago

You can easily unlock them and install a real operating system. I don't have any Chromebooks but plenty of 1st/2nd generation Chromeboxes -the hardware and specs are pretty much the same- and after "liberating" them they became pretty good platforms for many tasks. One of them in fact displaced permanently my Raspberry PI 4 as Kodi media player.

For more information: https://mrchromebox.tech/

They have guaranteed support longer than Apple devices. And unlocked bootloaders so you can extend support yourself, unlike Apple devices.

My C302 flip chromebook was released in 2017 and is currently downloading the 4th OS update this year (rebooting after I post this).

And unlike almost every other device I've owned, it's still as snappy as the day I bought it. Plus now it also runs Android and Linux apps to boot. I use it mainly for golang and python development in VS code.

I've had two over relatively few years. Both became paperweights. Cheap chromebooks are not worth wasting money.

You can't just run normal linux on them?

On many you can - see my answer elsewhere on this thread.

With some tinkering, yes you can.

Assuming the machine still works, unscrew the bootloader screw, wipe and put regular Linux on.

Can this be done for all models? My impression was that this is no longer possible in many cases.

Just like Chromeboxes, some models require the removal of a screw or a jumper while others need a special USB cable (cheap and easy to diy). I don't know about other models preventing the unlock, but if they do exist I would avoid them at any cost.

You can find here if your model is supported: https://mrchromebox.tech/#devices

You do not need the special cable.

Just disconnect the battery. Connect power adapter. Power ON. Follow https://mrchromebox.tech

Most laptops become e-waste after a few years. Want an example? Macbooks before 2017 which no longer get any more major system updates and run as slow as turtle compared to the latest ones.

Not really. I’m still using 2013 MBAs daily, and they’re pretty snappy. I do keep them on a cool, old Yosemite, though.

macOS Catalina is still receiving security updates and supports devices from 2012 and later. Not receiving new features after 5 years hardly makes a device e-waste.

I'm still using my mid-2012 11-inch macbook air. My new M2 air is shipping this week, but my old one is still good for a lot of things.

Amazingly, I herd a couple of 2013 Asus T-100 that run Win10 OK, on 2GB RAM I think. Mostly they only stand and wait nowadays.

I'm using a 2015 Macbook which is still totally adequate for every task I use it for, other than intense DAW stuff.