A swipe away: On a Chromebook, gestures can do a lot. Swipe up with three fingers to see open windows. Tap a link with three fingers to open it. Close a Chrome tab with a three-finger tap.
Don't get fooled into buying a useless Chromebook
When you think of expired items, your mind likely wanders to things like food, beauty and household products. However, computers can go bad, too … especially Google’s Chromebooks, and they’re not passing the sniff test.
Once a Chromebook reaches its Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date, it stops receiving important updates, like security patches and new features. This could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks and other issues.
Wondering just how big of a deal this is? Here are all the details and how to safeguard your family from expired devices.
Scammed at school
Who gets hit hard when computers and tech expire? School districts.
Take California’s Torrance Unified School District. An estimated 20,000 of its Chromebooks will expire by 2030. The state’s Oakland Unified School District expects roughly 40,000 to expire within the next five years.
Schools must shell out big bucks to replace outdated devices and ensure they have current ones. Schools also have unique security requirements, which get impacted when devices aren’t up-to-date. For example, access to online state testing could be affected, which is less than ideal.
Past their prime
What’s even more surprising is that retailers still sell expired Chromebooks. Consumers are often unaware that these devices don’t come with regular security updates or new features. Although they technically function just fine, the lack of support is a major issue.
For example, you can currently buy an Asus Chromebook Flip C302 on Amazon for $550. You can also get it for $820 on Walmart’s Marketplace. This particular Chromebook reached its AUE on June 1.
A total of 13 Chromebooks expired this summer. Here’s the full list:
- Acer Chromebook 11 (C771, C771T)
- Acer Chromebook 14 for Work (CP5-471)
- Acer Chromebook Tab 10 D651N
- AOpen Chromebook Commercial Tab
- Asus Chromebook Flip C302
- Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100
- Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA
- CTL Chromebook Tablet Tx1 for Education
- Dell Chromebook 13 (3380)
- HP Chromebook 13 G1
- Lenovo ThinkPad 13
- Samsung Chromebook Pro
- Samsung Chromebook Plus
Best way to do your financial work online
I was on Jean Chatzky’s podcast talking about scams and how to avoid getting taken. (She’s fabulous, by the way!) Jean asked me the best way to bank online.
I explained how you should have two laptops or computers. Use one for email, surfing the web, doing work, that sort of thing. The other should be your dedicated financial work computer. You can use an inexpensive Chromebook.
Your Chromebook has an expiration date
Your Chromebook has a “best by” date. Here’s why you can’t do anything about it, in 60 seconds.
🔑 Open sesame: An update to Google’s Password Manager lets you sync passkeys across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Previously, passkeys only worked on Android, and using them on other devices required scanning a QR code. Use a Chromebook or iPhone? Sit tight, you’re next to get the update.
Revive your old PC or Mac with this free download
Many computer users feel the need to keep their devices up to date with the latest hardware. After all, if you don’t have the latest components or accessories, your laptop or desktop computer might not be compatible. Tap or click here for seven laptop maintenance steps you should do regularly to keep yours happy.
Check this list before you buy a Chromebook
There are plenty of laptop models to choose from, so deciding which one is right for you can be challenging. But if you prefer a system that requires minimal maintenance and gets automatic updates, you should consider a Chromebook.
📦 Happy deal hunting: Amazon rebranded its used item marketplace to Amazon Resale (secret link there!), where you can snag deals on used, pre-owned or open-box products. I found a pretty sweet Chromebook for around $200 and an iPad for just $110. Every listing is inspected and covered by Amazon’s return policy. Check it out!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
A full wash: Just because Chromebooks use web apps doesn’t mean they don’t need resetting every once in a while. A reset is called a “Powerwash.” Sign out of ChromeOS, hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R, then choose Restart and Powerwash.
💻 Ctrl + Alt + Del for Chromebook: Press Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Scan the list of apps and webpages. If your machine is lagging and you spot one with high memory consumption, click it and select End Task.
⌨️ Custom keys: Change how the touchpad and keyboard work on your Chromebook. Go to Settings > Device > Touchpad/Keyboard. Sweet options: Changing what a right-click does and treating the top row of keys as function keys.
All the new features coming to your Android smartphone
Android fans rejoice! The recent Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona was held, where some major Android updates were announced. You’re going to love some of the new features.
Read on for new Android and Wear OS features that will change the game.
Here's how the kids are getting around your parental controls
There is an old saying that if you want to know how something works, give it to a child, and they’ll figure it out. Sometimes, something odd happens with technology, like when Alexa told a child to put a penny on exposed electrical prongs.
Dress up your phone! 6 sites to find great seasonal wallpapers
Are you ready for the holiday season? Ready or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Tap or click here for five sites to find Thanksgiving recipes to impress everyone at the table.
But if you haven’t tapped into the holiday spirit yet, why not let tech lend a hand? One fun idea is to add holiday-themed wallpaper to your phone.
If you use Chrome, you need to update your browser now
Protect yourself from cyberattacks and update your Google Chrome browser now. The tech giant pushed out another update last week, patching several security issues that can have devastating consequences.
This is the third browser update over the past few weeks, with the previous one fixing four high severity problems. Those unpatched issues left billions of browsers vulnerable to attacks from hackers. Through one flaw, hackers could give themselves access to secure buildings.
Update Chrome to get access to a bunch of time-saving new features
Storing online files and documents in Google Drive is incredibly helpful. Once uploaded, they are safe from accidental deletion, malware infection, or when you might run out of storage space. Tap or click here for nine things you didn’t know your Chromebook could do.
Update now - Emergency Google Chrome patch fixes serious zero-day flaw
Good computer maintenance is making sure that all your software is up to date. But we often forget that the browsers we use also need to be updated. In Google’s case, its Chrome browser gets regular improvements.
Even though a big update was pushed out recently, a rather severe issue has made an appearance. Google has been mum on what exactly the flaw is, so take that as a sign that you need to fix it as soon as possible. Tap or click here for the Chrome change that makes it easier to tell which sites can access your mic and camera.
9 things you didn't know your Chromebook could do
Chromebooks run on Google’s Chrome operating system. Compared to a traditional laptop running Windows or macOS, Chromebooks are typically easier to use and more friendly on your wallet. They rely heavily on a network connection rather than local storage, enabling shorter load and boot times.
4 programs that work like QuickBooks but aren't as frustrating
Keeping track of your finances is important no matter what you do for a living. From independent contractors to salaried employees to business owners, it all comes down to the books. When tax season comes, you don’t want to get caught unprepared.
Chromebook pros and cons
Chromebook sales are through the roof, a 75% increase in the number shipped over the past year. Here’s what you should know before you buy.
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