Tavares, FL May 21, 2018
by Vance Jochim, FiscalRangers.com
This is my personal opinion based upon the research and links provided below. VJ
The short URL to this article is: http://www.fiscalrangers.com/Chromebook_Short_Lifes.html
DON'T buy Chromebooks, new or used, without reading and researching this. Chromebooks are a good, simple alternative to a Windows laptop, but their support expires in a VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD.
Chromebooks are made by different manufacturers using Google developed Chrome as an operating system.
However, most have a policy to NOT support long term use requiring updates to the operating system and security, so they DISABLE them about five years from the FIRST date of manufacture (not data of sale).
I had this happen to me after I bought a used education model ( Acer AC-700 2GB) of a Chromebook from eBay for $125. After a year, I started getting messages that their "Auto Update Policy" specified an end of life. In my case, the wifi stopped working after a few notices.
I have since researched this, and here are other sources confirming this short lifetime for Chromebooks. They basically treat it as a short lived cell phone where support stops in only five years. You could buy a NEW model which was first sold four years earlier, and it may only last a year according to their expire policy below. So, if you do buy one, make sure it was launched very recently.
Check your Chromebook "Auto Update Policy" expiration date here:
https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
Here is a screenshot taken May 21, 2018 of the Google "Auto Update Policy" showing the expiration date for Acer Chromebooks. Notice how I was lucky enough to buy my Acer AC700 in 2015 just before it's Aug. 2016 expire date.
Chromebook expire warning and short End of Life (EOL)
Update Apr. 9, 2018: Lon.tv had a post and linked to it: lon.tv/chrome5years
Here is link to liliputing.com Article about it:
Here is another article about the short five year auto update period from 2016 when early Chromebooks were nearing their five year anniversary.
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Posted on Newegg Sept 12, 2107
My Acer Chromebook AC700 series - Model No.: ZGB
Mfd date: 2011/10/25
SN/ID: 14300184425
Per "Auto Update Expiration" list for this Acer model, it expired Aug 2016, or under FIVE years of service.
Don't ever buy used Chromebooks. They have a SHORT "Auto Update Policy" and will expire in about 5-6 years after initial date of manufacture.
This happened to me after buying a used ACER Chromebook. It doesn't matter the brand. Google controls the Chromebook operating system and they discontinue support only five years after the Chromebook model was LAUNCHED. Thus if this is four years old, it will shut off aLL SUPPORT IN ONE MORE YEAR. Don't buy used chrome books - they don't warn you what the launch date was or how soon before the expire date arrives. Newegg or Amazon or eBay should not be selling these without CLEAR warnings about the hidden expire policy. I consider this Google policy to be unethical and should be clearly disclosed for new and used Chromebooks when sold.
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Below is more correspondence I had with suppliers:
Here is 11/14/2017 response from Google rep David Harrington regarding my complaint to the head of IT at my local School District who was getting ready to buy thousands of Chromebooks, and warned him about this practice.
Greetings Vance,
I was provided your name from Creed. He mentioned that you had some questions regarding our Auto Update Policy. As you probably know, this is different than EoL, therefore the device should continue working.
(Not true - the wifi stopped working, but why continue to use it if no security or product updates? - I am unable to connect to the internet since there is no RJ-45 Ethernet cable or wifi. vj)
Let me know if you have any questions.....
David
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Here is complaint I posted on Newegg and their vacuous response:
Hello Vance Jochim,
Thank you for contacting Newegg.
I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience, if you are within the time frame for a return or replacement I would recommend contacting the MFG or seller. Thank you for your feedback
If you still require any assistance, please feel free to reply directly to this email or you can visit our Customer Help Center to check our Help Topics and use our Self-Help tools.
Please click here to rate my service. We value your feedback!
Sincerely,
Rashelle R.
Confidentiality Notice: This communication is only for the person(s) named above. Unless otherwise indicated, it contains information that is confidential, privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the person(s) named above, or responsible for delivering it to that person(s), be aware that disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of this communication is strictly PROHIBITED. If you have received this communication in error, or are uncertain as to its proper handling, please immediately notify us by telephone and mail the original to us at the above address.
--- Original Message ---
From: automated@newegg.com
Received: 9/25/17 12:27:59 PM PDT
Subject: Please Help this customer
Customer ID: vjtraveler@comcast.net
Item#: 34-131-484
Please Help this customer
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Pros:
Chromebooks are quite useful but Newegg and the seller don't warn you that Chrome support for them expires 6.5 years after the model was first produced, and they did not disclose that. Thus a two year old unit of a 6 year old model would lose support for Chrome in just six months, but that is not disclosed.
Cons:
Newegg and the seller should be ashamed for selling this used unit without disclosing how old the model (not this unit) is, since Google shuts off support after only 6.5 years. I bought a used Acer Chromebook awhile back and after only a year, got the discontinuation notice from Chrome. DON'T buy any new or used Chromebooks from Newegg unless they disclose the original date of production and how many days or months are left on the operating system before Chrome support expires. This also affects models sold via education and business accounts and also Android tablets. GOOGLE sucks because of that practice and it not being disclosed to buyers. Thus, if you bought a Chromebook model that was introduced 6 years ago, even if it was made two years ago, the OS support will expire in six months. Google does this because they don't want to support older technology. At least with Windows 7, the expiration date is known, but with Chrome it is not disclosed.
Other Thoughts:
I would not buy any used Chromebook, or even a new one, without being able to determine exactly how much longer support for Chrome exists on that model.
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Dennis
Product Support
------ Please do not remove your unique tracking number! ------
<<#17152-2054910-2519521#>>
Here is another Newegg response:
Hello Vance Jochim,
Thank you for contacting Newegg,
Item#:34-315-903
Customer#39513514
Order#N/A
We appreciate you taking time to provide feedback regarding the item number referenced above.
I certainly understand your concern and wish we were able to inform you of all information regarding the extended services provided by manufacturers or vendors, sadly we are not. Refurbished products come with a vendor return policy of 90 days. There are few vendors that offer 1 year warranty's or if the manufacturer happens to refurbish the product (rare cases) then they may offer 1 year. Refurbished products are not guaranteed to have any manufacturer warranty or services as a New product would have.
Anything additional it provided directly from the manufacturer or vendor. If Google is offering support for your product, then that is offered directly through them and is outside their normal warranty offered. Those are details we would not be providing as that is a service provided separate from the warranty details. Only the manufacturer or vendor would have the details on how long they provide the extended service.
Refurbished products in many cases may come with lesser warranty's and service as the product could as old as 4 years when it was refurbished and resold.
I hope you have a wonderful wee
Jessica W
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Pros:
Light and easy to use but unethical policy of turning off support after only 5 years, and maybe only one year for used Chromebooks SUCKS.
Cons:
Don't ever buy used Chromebooks. They have a SHORT "End of life" and will expire
This happened to me after buying a used ACER Chromebook. It doesn't matter the brand. Google controls the Chromebook operating system and they discontinue support only five years after the Chromebook model was LAUNCHED. Thus if this is four years old, it will shut off aLL SUPPORT IN ONE MORE YEAR. Don't buy used chrome books - they don't warn you what the launch date was or how soon before the expire date arrives.
Other Thoughts:
Newegg should not be selling these without CLEAR warnings about the hidden expire policy. I consider this Google policy to be unethical and should be clearly disclosed for new and used Chromebooks when sold.
-------
------ Please do not remove your unique tracking number! ------
<<#17152-2038654-2497899#>>
Link to Auto Update policy and copy of it at Dec. 2017 - the link also lists "Google Approved Chrome Devices" where you can verify end of auto update
Auto Update policy
Overview
Chrome devices and Android tablets for education receive automatic updates regularly that enhance both the device itself and the software on the device. However, advances in hardware and technology eventually make devices out-of-date; and as time goes by, we cannot indefinitely ensure that older Chrome devices will receive updates to leverage new OS features or that older tablets will continue to support device setup or the ability to receive content from Google Play for Education.
This document provides advanced notice of the Auto Update policy for:
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Specific Google approved Chrome devices—Applicable to Chrome devices for business and education customers, Chrome devices for meetings customers, and consumer Chrome device usersNote that only the Chromebox (or Chrome device) is covered under the Auto Update policy; the peripherals for the Chrome devices for meetings solution are not covered.
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Specific Google Play for Education approved tablets—Applicable to Android tablets for education customers
General policy
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When a device reaches Auto Update Expiration (AUE), it means that the product model is considered obsolete and automatic software updates from Google are no longer guaranteed.
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Business and education customers using devices that have passed their AUE date will no longer receive full support(1) from the Google Cloud and Google for Education teams.
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Business and education customers using devices that have passed their AUE date may find that they cannot manage their devices as expected using the Google Admin console or leverage new management features released.
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For Android tablets for education, the ability to receive content sent from Google Play for Education and a new user account through device setup is not guaranteed on models which have passed their AUE date.
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Google will provide advanced notice of a model’s AUE Date on this page as soon as it is launched, giving our customers time to make purchase decisions.
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New software updates may be received later than the AUE date published, but will never be stopped sooner than listed
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For Chrome devices this will be at least 6.5 years from launch of the hardware platform(2) (or in some legacy cases at least 5 years launch of the device itself).
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For Android tablets for Education this will be at least 3 years from launch of the hardware for Android tablets for education
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Chrome device models that have not reached their AUE date will continue to receive OS updates and function with the business and education management service.
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Android tablets for education models that have not reached their AUE date will continue to be able to be set up and receive content pushed from the Google Play for Education site, as well as be managed with the business and education management service.
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The End of Sale date is controlled by the OEM (manufacturer) of the device model and has no relation to model’s AUE date. Therefore, the End of Sale date will not be shown in the table.
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Vance Jochim
FiscalRangers@comcast.net
YouTube Channel "FiscalRangersFlorida"
