When the district purchases Chromebooks we like to purchase devices with a minimum of 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The current model the district has purchased this year is the HP Chromebook 11 G8 EE. This is a slightly ruggedized edition that stands up better to student use.

As you add features like touch screens, the price will start to go up.

Chromebooks have a limited life. The are only guaranteed to receive updates from google for a set amount of time. If you find a Chromebook for under $150, chances are that the updates will only last for a year or two or may have already ended. Once a Chromebook stops receiving updates, it will no longer support new features and may stop support some existing Chrome extensions or apps. To check how long each model will receive updates, check this link:

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

All Chromebooks support Chrome Extensions/Apps. Many of the newer Chromebooks also support Android Apps through the Google Play Store.

If a Chromebook is managed by W-E Schools, the apps and extensions available are limited to what the school district has approved. If a new App/Extension is needed, a Willoughby-Eastlake teacher must request it through Computer Services.

The Willoughby-Eastlake School District cannot provide technical support for converting an old computer to Chrome/OS, but there is a free option available below:

From the CloudReady Website:

If students have older laptops at home, our free CloudReady Home Edition can turn those devices into fast, secure Chrome devices in just minutes.

The Home Edition is a full operating system designed to bring new life to older PCs and Macs. The only difference between the Home Edition and the Education Edition is management—the Education Edition enables centralized device management for administrators.

Cloud Ready Home Edition - Free