Don't throw away your old Chromebook (even if you're getting a Googlebook)

The piece outlines a menu of practical upgrades for aging Chromebooks, starting with Duet’s subscription‑based screen‑sharing service that lets a Chromebook act as an extended monitor for Windows or macOS machines. It also suggests turning the device into a permanent photo slideshow by disabling auto‑sleep and running a fullscreen viewer. For home‑automation enthusiasts, the article recommends using the built‑in Google Home web interface or the Android app, and for deeper integration, installing Home Assistant either on a separate server or directly on the Chromebook after flashing a custom Linux build via Chrultrabook or MrChromebox. Once Linux runs, users can deploy Plex or Jellyfin for media streaming, or Batocera for emulated gaming, while ChromeOS’s native Crostini VM offers a lighter‑weight Linux layer for occasional apps.

These suggestions sit at the intersection of sustainability and the growing appetite for low‑cost, multi‑purpose devices. Chromebooks have long been marketed as affordable, cloud‑centric laptops, but their modest Intel Celeron or ARM processors and 4‑8 GB of RAM still leave headroom for lightweight server tasks. By leveraging open‑source ecosystems—Linux, Home Assistant, Plex—the hardware can compete with dedicated Raspberry Pi kits or cheap Android TV boxes, offering a single, familiar form factor that already includes a keyboard, trackpad, and often a touchscreen. The push to extract more value from legacy hardware reflects a broader industry shift toward extending device lifecycles and reducing e‑waste, while also catering to hobbyists who prefer a ready‑made chassis over building a new single‑board computer.

Looking ahead, the viability of these repurposing projects hinges on a few variables. Duet’s monthly fee may deter budget‑conscious users, and the performance hit of running a virtualized Linux environment (Crostini) on older chips could limit usability for media transcoding or newer emulators. Flashing custom firmware carries a risk of bricking the device, especially for non‑technical owners, and future ChromeOS updates might close loopholes that current hacks rely on. Consumers and IT departments should monitor Google’s support timeline for legacy Chromebooks and watch for emerging third‑party tools that simplify Linux installation, as those developments will dictate whether the “second‑life” market expands or stalls.