10 Things to do with an expired Chromebox / Chromebook
What to do with an expired Chromebox / Chromebook?
Donât throw it out
There are a lot of Chromeboxes and Chromebooks reaching their Auto-Update Expiration dates, and for security reasons, no Internet connected device should be used if it stops receiving updates. But these machines donât need to become E-waste, now that most can have a âregularâ OS installed on them. Plus, due to their relatively small size and low power draw (compared to most computers), there are unique uses for them as far as repurposing old computers goes. Here are 10:
1. Keep using it like a Chromebox / Chromebook
Installing either Chrome OS Flex or Brunchbook will keep it a lightweight Internet-centered machine. Use it yourself or make it a starter, guest or loaner machine.
2. Use it as a Linux machine
If it doesnât meet the requirements for #1 or if you want to use Linux instead. It still makes for a great guest or loaner machine (especially if you use a distro that has a non-persistent guest option).
3. Hook it up to a TV
After doing #1 or #2, having it connected to your TV makes more streaming options available on your big screen. If doing #2, Kodi is a good addition.
(I donât advocate illegal activities / streaming. But I maintain that, writ large, piracy is more a service issue over a pricing oneâe.g. the confusing landscape of NFL broadcasts)
4. Make it a recipe machine in the kitchen (Chromebooks only)
After doing #1 or #2. Also good for any place where spills and splashes would be concerning with a more valuable machine.
5. Let nosy web services focus their tracking on it
After doing #1 or #2, for privacy-minded people, using only one machine for those nosy web services, and only using those services on that one machine will help contain the tracking. For extremely privacy-minded people, use Tails.
6. Play retro games on it
Installing Batocera and connecting a video game controller will effectively make it a retro game console, after some additional setup steps.
7. Make it a media server
After doing #2, installing Plex server software and connecting an external drive make for a nice personal media server, for watching your content on all your screens.
8. Make it a file server
I am firmly in the âNetwork Attached Storage should have ECC memoryâ-camp, but for non-critical files, either doing #2 and setting up an FTP server or installing Unraid make for a nice file storage / sharing setup.
9. Sell it
As they can continue to be used for many reasons listed above, I have seen enterprising folks selling ready-to-go Chromeboxes / Chromebooks on eBay which have reached their Auto-Update Expiration dates, and have had coreboot/UEFI Firmware installed.
10. Give it away
Good causes include: