So says a new report Chromebooks are not designed to last and unless alphabet inc GOOD Google Google amplified, the failure of these devices burdens many schools with additional costs and e-waste

What happened: Chromebook sales grew 287% year over year in the last quarter of 2020, but now, three years later, many schools are saddled with additional costs and e-waste due to the failure of these devices, according to a new report titled Chromebook Churn. the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund or PIR.

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“Schools have mountains of working Chromebooks that have become e-waste because they expired,” it says Lucas Guttermanthe leader of US PIRG’s “Designed to Last” campaign.

He added: “Google could significantly increase the lifespan of all Chromebooks in use by extending the automatic update expiration date (AUE). Our technology should last longer and Google can lead the industry.”

According to the report, these devices are designed to be inexpensive, which means that if they fail, they will break beyond repair. Chromebooks have hidden costs that aren’t reflected in their price tags.

One such expense is the difficulty in obtaining replacement parts, which can be quite a challenge even with seemingly similar models.

Google didn’t respond immediately gasoline gas Request for comments.

To address these concerns, US PIRG suggests that Google take action by extending the duration of its automatic updates to 10 years and asking manufacturers to increase access to standardization and shared hardware.

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Photo: Courtesy of Luis Roca on Flickr