Chromebooks come with an expiration date, after which they no longer have security or feature updates. But that doesn’t stop Amazon from selling expired devices as “new”, misleading consumers.
With the popularization of distance education, largely due to the pandemic, many pupils and students are purchasing entry-level models such as Chromebooks: $200 laptops offering a good price/performance ratio while by perfectly integrating Google services – including the Workspace office suite. However, there is a flip side, because Google devices have a limited lifespan due to their planned obsolescence. Indeed, the tech giant has set expiration dates for these devices. When they pass their expiration date, they no longer receive automatic ChromeOS operating system updates. In theory, the devices are guaranteed with eight years of updates. However, and this is where buyers are fooled, this period officially begins when Google certifies a Chromebook, and not at the time of the first purchase.
Also, those who buy a used or refurbished one thinking they’re getting a good deal can end up with an unusable laptop – not only is it vulnerable to cyberattacks, but it also becomes unable to access certain websites. However, as pointed out in his report NGO Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), several retailers like Amazon continue to list expired Chromebooks on their digital shelves. Attracted by bargain prices, many consumers are unaware of the existence of the expiry date and are fooled.
Outdated Chromebooks: devices sold as new
The NGO highlights the fact that, since June 1, thirteen new Chromebook models have reached their expiry date. Yet they are still on sale on Amazon and, above all, at the same price as before. And that’s the problem, because if you can actually find these used or refurbished devices on Back Market, Rue du commerce or Rakuten, Amazon sells them “new” and the platform does not inform buyers. that devices will not receive updates from Google. Thus, at the time of writing the NGO’s report, eight of the thirteen Chromebooks were still available for purchase on the e-commerce site, with two of the laptops listed as “new” and five eligible for the Amazon Prime shipping. Ditto for the Walmart distributor.
This is the case of the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 which, released in 2018, reaches its automatic update expiration date (AUE) about five years later. Now, it’s still possible to buy a “new” unused Flip C302 for $550 on Amazon or $820 through Walmart’s marketplace. “Parents and teachers buying laptops for back to school don’t expect them to have a ‘death date’. Especially since sellers don’t advertise the lack of support. It’s Absurd that a new laptop, with all the features students need to do basic schoolwork, should be deprived of support”, criticizes Lucas Rockett Gutterman of the PIRG. Here is the list of the thirteen obsolete Chromebooks since this summer:
Chromebook: planned obsolescence to pay a high price
This is not the first time that the NGO has raised this problem. Already in April, she denounced the fact that, since remote teaching had been necessary during the pandemic, many schools and students had obtained an entry-level Chromebook. Problem: American schools and other Chromebook owners have begun to see their devices fail one after another. They have therefore been forced to replace them, which generates significant costs and electronic waste, in a context of inflation and ecological crisis (see our article).
In addition to the financial aspect that impacts consumers, this expiry date system has a catastrophic ecological impact. According to PIRG, the information technology sector is responsible for as many greenhouse gas emissions as the airline industry. To get a better idea, the more than 31 million Chromebooks sold worldwide in the first year of the pandemic represent approximately 8.9 million tons of CO2 emissions. Remember that the production of a device is the most polluting phase of its existence, because of the extraction of raw materials. Therefore, the longer a piece of equipment will be used, the lower its environmental impact will be. Suffice to say that this is not the case for Chromebooks… Also, the association urges Google to quickly take on its responsibilities and to “double the lifespan of Chromebooks” by providing essential technical support – a bit like what Microsoft does with Windows – because no less than 51 models will expire next summer. In the meantime, it is better to be informed and to be very careful when buying a Chromebook, especially if the price is attractive.