Just as I was getting ready to toss the old Chromebook, it received a reprieve in the form of a series of application updates and the latest Chrome OS update.
The previously reliable performer had become a non-performer.
I clicked on icons, and things would take forever to load.
The little Chromebook gem supports Chrome OS updates until June 2022.
Perhaps it was not going to make it as it has struggled mightily to do most anything, and like old tech hardware, there comes a time when the old is succeeded by new.
People who know me understand I like to get the most life possible out of machines. Whether desktop computers, laptops, or mobile devices, I don’t often treat myself to brand spanking new hardware; I may occasionally plunk down funds on a more recent computer, but I don’t buy the latest and greatest.
Being on the cutting edge is overrated and an exercise in beta testing hardware and software for manufacturers when consumers purchase shiny new hardware.
So what made the most significant difference for my Chromebook?
Well, 11 applications needed updating. So I waited and waited before all of them were finally downloaded and installed.
One of them was for Firefox, which I never use on the Chromebook. I completely forgot it was there in the first place.
After all of the updates thankfully were done, I uninstalled Firefox.
When I received the notification that a new version of Chrome OS was available, I clicked on it. The machine dutifully rebooted, applying its medicinal magic while restarting.
When I got to the desktop, the Wi-Fi was connecting, and once it did, I fired up the Chrome browser (which, before the updates, Firefox uninstall and reboot, was essentially listless).
Chrome browser came up quickly, and I went here to attempt blogging.
The jury is no longer out, and I can say the machine is performing as well as new again.
I am very impressed with it and would certainly purchase one again once next June comes. It’s already more than paid for itself many times over since I’ve had it.
It was interesting to see the amount and length of support that Google gives Chrome OS. A refurbished product on sale for a song several years ago, I want to say I bought it at the end of 2012.
That’s right, 2012. Any hardware supported for that duration is a rarity in and of itself.
Apple does not typically support its hardware for that long. Sometimes nine-year-old Macs may receive security updates in years 7 or 8, but the ability for any given Mac to run Apple’s latest and greatest wanes in the sweet spot that is 5 to 6 years.
Microsoft has supported Windows 10 for a very long time on outdated hardware. I have a PC running it decently that is 13 years old, but the machine has gotten slower and required maxing the memory out to 8 GB. Additionally, it is not eligible to run Windows 11 as it does not meet hardware criteria.
Depending on the distribution or “distro,” Linux long-term releases are supported in the neighborhood of five to six years with security updates.
So, if you are okay running on the low end, consider a Chromebook for your next computer purchase.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised as I am.