After some development delays due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of Chrome v82 by Google, Chrome OS v83 is finally rolling out to district devices starting on 7/24. Updates will become available in a staggered manner over the following week. Some notable changes between these versions includes new navigation touch-screen gestures and a redesigned Files app.

There have been some reports of Google Meet Grid View acting a little crazy for some users over the past few days. The culprit is one of two extensions in the Chrome webstore with the exact same name. They were being developed using very similar code, but have since diverged a bit.

This would be a great time to mention that Google Meet now has grid view functionality built right in ⁠— no extensions required. You should give it a try and see if you like it. One drawback is that it is limited to a 4x4 grid, or 16 faces on the screen at a time. The reason that Google limited this is for system performance. Rendering 30 video streams in real time is an enormous load on your device CPU, and often leads to stability issues. If you still need a bigger grid then you should make sure you are using the correct Google Meet Grid View extension.

Due to a high volume of accidental Chrome OS device enrollments into cps.edu during remote learning, new device enrollments are being suspended for school-based staff and student users. Moving forward, all CPS users will still be able to wipe and re-enroll Chromebooks that are already under CPS management; no change there. But, users will no longer be able to claim licenses for new, unmanaged devices. This will not affect any contract Chromebook purchases via procurement as they are enrolled by our vendors. However, if your school secures donated Chromebooks, you will need to open a ticket to have new device enrollment permissions opened temporarily. Once you're finished enrolling the new devices, the ability to enroll will be closed back down again. ​Thanks for helping us keep device licensing in our management console in good working order!

Chrome OS is being released to the district on 4/23. The version release was delayed while compatibility issues with the F5 Access VPN were being addressed. The new version of F5 Access (1.0.6) has been released to the Chrome Webstore. No intervention is required by staff users to obtain the newer version of F5 Access; update will occur automatically.

In order to provide better management capability and improve security on Chrome OS devices across the district, ITS is migrating all devices currently utilizing legacy guest mode to the newer managed guest mode by April 1st, 2020. Managed guest mode provides several management benefits over legacy guest mode, including the ability to apply web content filtering when the device is off premises.

While the managed guest mode user experience is nearly identical to that of legacy guest mode, there is a notable difference in how the user logs in.

Old legacy guest login method:
​1. Click Browse as Guest in lower-left corner of the login screen.​​

New managed guest login method:
​1. Click login arrow → under CPS Guest in the user menu of the login screen.

Dell 3100
Designed with the classroom in mind, the 3100 is the successor model to the Chromebook 3180 with some great performance updates! This similarly rugged device offers an estimated 14 hours of battery life (one charge per day) and has moved to universal USB-C charging. Super-fast boot-up means less waiting and more time for instruction in the classroom.

For Students and Staff
Chromebooks provide excellent support for testing, and are recommended students who are able to manage their usernames and passwords.
We also recommend Chromebooks for staff members who prefer lightning-fast boot times, a long battery life, and the peace of mind that comes with cloud-based storage. Chromebooks are fully Aspen compatible.

Cost Savings
If you spend all your time working in a web browser, consider a Chromebook. Aside from their low price-point, Chromebooks can play a major roll in your overall cost savings program, as they help promote paperless classrooms.
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​Main Features
Intel Celeron N4000 Processor
4GB memory and 16GB storage
11.6” Gorilla Glass screen
Spill-resistant keyboard
Rubberized edges
Ports: 1 combo headphone microphone jack, 1 USB Type-C, 1 USB 3.1, 1 noble wedge lock slot
Height: 0.82" (20.8 mm) | 2. Width: 11.96" (303.9 mm) | 3. Depth: 8.19" (207.9 mm)  
Weight: 2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)  
Octane Score: 16,191
Octane Per Dollar: 64
AUE Date: June 2025