Tag Archive for: Chromebook

Jamf bolsters student security with web protection now on Chromebook

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Jamf has announced that Jamf Safe Internet, a comprehensive content filtering and web security solution optimised for education, is now available on Chromebook.

Jamf Safe Internet is designed to help schools protect students from harmful content on the internet, inappropriate websites and phishing attacks, while also allowing admins to enforce acceptable-use policies in a seamless way, according to the company.

Keeping students safe

Jamf Safe Internet is designed to ensure that students have a safe and secure online learning environment from the moment they unbox their device, the company states.

With Jamf Safe Internet, admins are able to enforce acceptable-use policies without sacrificing the learning experience by offering:

  • Content Control in One Click: Jamf Safe Internet allows teachers and IT admins to customise and create the level of content control that fits each class and can prevent harmful and inappropriate content from reaching student devices. This protection is powered by Jamf’s content filtering and web-based threat prevention technologies.

  • Support for Google Services: Jamf Safe Internet can now enforce Google SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode, ideal for schools leveraging Google products for learning experiences.

  • Streamlined Console: Jamf Safe Internet delivers a streamlined administrative console with workflows built specifically for schools. When Jamf Safe Internet is enabled, students log in to a Chromebook with their Google Workspace for Education account and immediately have group or age group specific browsing policies applied.

  • A Continued Commitment to Protecting Privacy: Jamf’s privacy-friendly approach provides a safe online environment for students of all ages while offering schools enough information to protect students. Jamf is committed to maintaining compliance with all applicable privacy regulations and has signed the Student Privacy Pledge, highlighting its commitment to protecting the information of students, parents and teachers in schools.

Continued partnership with Google

Jamf Safe Internet for Chromebook is just the latest in security innovations brought to market by Jamf and Google. As part of the Google…

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Before You Buy a Chromebook, Check the Expiration Date

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Like food and medication, our gadgets are only good for so long. Unfortunately, in the ever-expanding universe of online retail, many devices are sold past their “best by” dates.

Chromebooks—the Google-powered laptops from popular PC brands which gained popularity during the pandemic, when lockdowns created unprecedented demand for computers at home—can lose critical functionality.

Sue Nielsen

of Hurricane, Utah, was perplexed when suddenly, in December, the website she always used to sign up for volunteering stopped loading properly. Her son,

Jim Nielsen,

drove over to inspect the browser on her

Acer

Chromebox, the desktop version of a Chromebook. He noticed that the computer’s software didn’t appear to be current. “I hit the update button and found out it couldn’t update,” Mr. Nielsen said. 

The Nielsens weren’t aware that Chrome OS devices have a limited shelf life. Google’s Auto Update policy guarantees software updates and security support for a certain number of years. The Chromebox, which the Nielsens purchased in 2014, was past its August 2019 expiration date.

Once a Chrome OS device expires, the device might continue to function as expected, a Google spokesman said, but over time “there could be incompatibilities with some websites, applications or management policies with no ability to fix them.” 

Earlier devices receive updates from Google for five years. Devices released in 2020 and later will be supported for up to 8 ½ years, depending on the model.

People who swap their smartphones for new ones every two to three years might think even five years is a long-enough lifespan for a reliable and relatively cheap Chromebook. The problem is that many Chromebooks stay on the market for years, so the lifespan can be much shorter when the buyer takes off the plastic wrap. It can be frustrating to turn a device in good condition into e-waste. And unlike old Mac or PC computers, which can be repurposed at the end of their supported lives, there isn’t much you can do with an…

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Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 Review: The Flex 5 is a solid mid-range Chromebook for those on a tight budget – Notebooks

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US$389 / AU$625.82 at Amazon

Those looking for an inexpensive Chromebook are certainly spoiled for choice but, as mentioned in my guide to buying a laptop without getting screwed, buying the right Chromebook can be tricky. Many budget models have lackluster processors, minimal RAM, and sub-par displays.

Lenovo’s Chromebook Flex 5 is a 13-inch, 2-in-1 Chromebook that tries to outpace the most inexpensive systems without inflating the price. It’s mostly successful in its effort, but owners must tolerate occasional reminders of the system’s budget roots.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 specs and features

I reviewed the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13ITL5. It’s similar to the most basic model available through Lenovo’s own web store but bumps up the processor to an Intel Pentium Gold dual-core with two cores, four threads, and a maximum clock speed of 3.5GHz. 

  • CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 7505 @ 2GHz
  • Memory: 4GB DDR4
  • Graphics/GPU: Intel UHD
  • Display: 13.3-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen
  • Storage: 32GB eMMC
  • Webcam: 720p
  • Connectivity: 2x USB-C with DisplayPort, 1x USB-A, 3.5mm audio jack
  • Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
  • Biometrics: None
  • Battery capacity: 51 watt-hour
  • Dimensions: 0.67 x 8.43 x 12.2 inches
  • Weight: 2.97 pounds

Buyers should note that a similarly priced configuration is available through Amazon with an Intel Core i3-10110U processor and twice as much storage. I expect that model to perform better than my review unit, making it a better value overall.

Design and build quality

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a surprisingly attractive and confident laptop. I particularly like the look of Best Buy’s exclusive configuration which is a deep navy blue. I’m always a sucker for alternative laptop colorways and I especially like how the Flex 5’s gray keycaps compliment the subdued blue chassis.

It feels substantial in-hand as well thanks to the metal display lid and the textured plastic of the laptop’s lower half. A bit of flex is noticeable when handling the laptop roughly, but it’s not obvious in normal day-to-day use. The display lid is especially rigid for a budget laptop, showing only the slightest hint of give.

That’s a good thing because, as mentioned, the Chromebook Flex 5 is a 2-in-1. You can…

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A Guide to the Best Chromebook Laptops, All Under $700

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I wrote most of this column on a $379 laptop. It’s good for surfing the web and composing Google docs—as long as there aren’t too many tabs open.

Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 3 is inexpensive because it’s a Chromebook, a minimalist laptop best at running web apps in Google’s Chrome browser. Like Lenovo, all the other big PC makers have them in their lineups. Do you use cloud-based services for work or school? Live in Google’s ecosystem? At the risk of me sounding like Geico, you could save money by switching to Chrome OS for your next computer.

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