My Chromebook has reached it's end-of-life update expiration. All the searches on the topic basically suggest that if that is in some way bothersome; one simply should buy a new laptop that is likely more energy efficient as new models tend to be; and come with a fresh set of years of updates. My question is why? It's one thing to routinely buy a cellphone. Cellphones break; freezeup or suffer some sort of issue that requires a person to go not too far to the local store and buy a new one. Which I've done a number of times throughout the years. But a laptop for me is a big deal. Besides the one I'm using; I've only bought one other new laptop and that was 30 years ago. Used; second hand; off the scrap heap. I've gotten laptops every which way from all types of people. But buying a new laptop is a unique experience; particularly since I'm one that's never had the money to buy laptops new. I've gotten attached to it. It helped me get a job after all the time I spent unemployed. I went through an issue with a disappearing cursor making my laptop somewhat unusable until an auto-update magically fixed it. Another issue when I tried installing an app that I normally have on my phone; created a problem that quickly went away after deleting it from the system. After that I realized so long as I kept my laptop clean; it would last forever. Clean meaning only using it for social media; web browsing; e-commerce; watching movies on Google Play or writing posts on this website. 

Why doesn't Google enable chromebook users a way to keep their systems up-to-date on their own; regardless of any automatic feature? Because that's too "Microsoftish"?   Microsoft Windows for all it's flaws has no user end-of-life issue where the only way you can get new updates to software and security features is by buying a new machine. Or has that changed too?   

Seems weird to me but whatever. It is what it is. What would the world of commerce really be if people weren't forced in some way (implictitly or explicitly) to buy something new.  Even if what you have you like and still works.  My doctrine on my laptop is simple. Cross the bridge when you come to it. Now and then I use my computer to do various tasks; the rest of the time; it stays relatively dust free inside my backpack. Along with my other sensitive items. Birth Certificate; social security and COVID-19 vaccination record card.