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this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2024
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The firmware is locked down with typically either a screw (older devices) or a CR50 security chip (newer devices): https://wiki.mrchromebox.tech/Firmware_Write_Protect#How_Does_Firmware_Write_Protect_Work.3F
The problems with loading a different distro on them would be:
If you know you will reconfigure devices. You set up a system to make it easy for yourself.
There are already so many systems one can employ to track devices that doesn't rely on google.
Non issue. You already have costs for the students current machines when things go wrong, including IT. And you can also BIOS lock the hardware to prevent alternative boot methods. Which will stop most students.
There are PLENTY of other software to externally manage computers.
We're talking about a government here. They have resources to create it. It's a high initial cost. Like everything. And then it shifts into maintenance.
Normal companies already do this. It's nothing new. Just a question of infrastructure.
There's still a lot of labor costs to reconfigure the Chromebooks into something else. Or to just set up a computer with Linux, even with imaging. ChromeOS is fast to wipe back to a usable state.
True, but it's another system to setup and manage instead of the one that's integrated into the ChromeOS tooling.
I'm not sure you can BIOS lock a Chromebook that has been reflashed with one of those alternate firmwares that allow it to boot another OS. I believe they tend to be all about freedom and not restricting the user.
Governments, especially education, can be quite underfunded. I am doubtful they will be able to set up the same level of monitoring and management at a similar cost, even if that cost is high initially and lower over time.
The danish government is not underfunded.
It's a a question of will and wants. They don't HAVE to buy chromebooks. They can buy hardware like everyone else. It's a government so they probably have to open it up for all suppliersto bid. But it can still be done.
And a lot of the cost will go back into their people and create jobs.
And price isn't even the main question. It's the fact that Googles data collection on students might make their chromebooks illegal to use.
Doesn't matter if it's free. It's not legal.