Back Market, the refurbished electronics marketplace, has launched a £99 laptop preloaded with ChromeOS Flex, directly challenging Microsoft’s decision to end free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The initiative, branded the "Obsolete Box," aims to keep aging PCs functional and secure without requiring a costly hardware upgrade, reviving a debate over planned obsolescence and the environmental toll of software-driven device retirement.
Back Market’s offer is not merely an environmental statement; it’s a concrete alternative for the millions of users whose Windows 10 computers won’t meet the strict hardware requirements for Windows 11. With free support sunsetting in just over five months, the clock is ticking for consumers to decide whether to upgrade, pay for extended security, or migrate to a different operating system entirely.
What’s actually happening on October 14
On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing free security updates, feature updates, and technical assistance for consumer versions of Windows 10. Devices will still boot and function, but any newly discovered vulnerability will remain unpatched, leaving machines increasingly exposed to malware and cyberattacks. Official lifecycle pages are unambiguous: there is no general extension.
Microsoft’s recommended path is to upgrade eligible hardware to Windows 11. But Windows 11’s baseline requires a TPM 2.0 security module and Secure Boot-capable UEFI firmware—features absent from many perfectly serviceable older processors and motherboards. Estimates vary, but advocacy group PIRG, cited by Back Market, puts the number of affected working devices at nearly 400 million. That’s a staggering volume of potential e‑waste if all those computers are simply replaced.
The alternative, first offered to consumers this year, is the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. For a one-time fee of $30 (roughly £24) per household account—covering up to ten devices—users can receive critical security patches until October 13, 2026. The program can also be obtained for free if you sync PC settings with a Microsoft account or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. It buys a year, but not a long‑term future.
Back Market’s Obsolete Box: what you really get for £99
Back Market’s response is both a product and a polemic. The company is publicly labeling Microsoft’s policy as planned obsolescence and has put a price tag on the alternative: £99 for a refurbished laptop preinstalled with ChromeOS Flex, Google’s cloud‑first operating system designed specifically to rehabilitate older hardware.
Key details verified from Back Market’s own product pages and help centre:
- The Obsolete Box is sold in limited markets—so far, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.
- Each unit is a refurbished laptop covered by Back Market’s standard warranty.
- The operating system is ChromeOS Flex, which receives automatic background updates from Google.
- Back Market’s partners also offer installation services for ChromeOS Flex or a modern Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) for users who prefer to repurpose their existing device rather than buy a new‑old one. Tutorials and do‑it‑yourself guides are available.
ChromeOS Flex itself is free for anyone to download and install. The novelty here is a turnkey, low‑cost device that removes the friction of self‑installation and testing—friction that often stops everyday users from giving an unfamiliar OS a chance.
What the switch actually means for different users
Home users and students
If your daily routine lives entirely in a browser—webmail, YouTube, Netflix, Google Docs, Microsoft 365 online—ChromeOS Flex will feel fast and familiar. The interface resembles a Chromebook, boots in seconds, and updates silently. For £99, you get a solid secondary laptop for the kitchen table or a hand‑me‑down for a family member.
The catch: you cannot install traditional Windows desktop apps. That means no iTunes, no Adobe Photoshop, no older versions of Microsoft Office. Workarounds exist (web‑based alternatives, Android apps on some Chromebooks—though Flex lacks the Play Store), but they require adaptation. You also lose support for certain hardware, like fingerprint readers, some Wi‑Fi chips, or touchscreens, if the specific refurbished model isn’t on Google’s certified list. On uncertified hardware, Flex still gets OS updates, but firmware‑level protections and seamless driver patches aren’t guaranteed.
Small business and IT admins
For organisations running line‑of‑business Windows software, a wholesale migration to Flex or Linux is rarely trivial. If your workflow depends on proprietary Windows applications, you’re better off paying the consumer ESU fee to buy a year of planning time, upgrading eligible hardware to Windows 11, or investing in cloud‑based virtual desktops (Windows 365, for example). The ESU program for enterprise carries significantly higher costs—$61 per device for the first year, rising sharply thereafter—so inventorying and prioritising mission‑critical endpoints is essential before the deadline.
Linux-curious power users and hobbyists
Back Market’s promotion of Linux as a second option opens a door that many technically inclined users already know: modern distributions like Ubuntu, Mint, or Fedora breathe new life into older hardware. Most run well on specs that would choke on Windows 11. The same caveat about Windows‑only apps applies, but the open‑source ecosystem offers capable alternatives for many tasks. Linux also provides full control over the system, which can be a security advantage if you’re willing to maintain it.
How we got to this cliff edge
Windows 10, released in July 2015, promised a decade of support. At the time, the industry assumed a relatively smooth hardware refresh cycle. But when Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 in 2021, it drew a hard line: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot became mandatory, instantly rendering millions of otherwise capable 2016‑era laptops and desktops ineligible. The company argued, with justification, that hardware‑backed security was essential for modern threats. Critics saw a revenue‑driven push to sell new PCs.
Since then, the extension of the ESU program to consumers—a first for a client Windows version—acknowledges the scale of the problem. Yet ESU is only a one‑year bridge, and many users remain unaware it exists or balk at paying for updates that were free for a decade. The refurbisher market, from Back Market to smaller players, sees an opportunity to fill the gap with low‑cost, sustainable solutions that circumvent Microsoft’s ecosystem lock‑in.
What to do now: a practical checklist
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Check your Windows 11 eligibility
Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool or consult your OEM’s support page. If the only missing piece is TPM 2.0, many motherboards have the chip but need it enabled in firmware—dig into the BIOS/UEFI settings and look for options labelled Platform Trust Technology or Security Device Support. -
Consider the consumer ESU
If your workflow must stay on Windows 10 and your hardware doesn’t qualify for Windows 11, enrolling in ESU gives you a year of breathing room. The $30 fee (or free route) covers security updates only, not new features or technical support. Enrollment will likely open via a Settings wizard on eligible Windows 10, version 22H2 devices in the months before the deadline. -
Test ChromeOS Flex without commitment
Download Flex and create a bootable USB drive. Boot from it and use the “Try it first” mode to see how your hardware handles wireless, audio, and essential peripherals. This low‑risk experiment can quickly tell you whether a £99 refurb or a self‑install makes sense for your needs. -
Back up everything now
Regardless of which path you choose, a full backup of your files, documents, and application settings is non‑negotiable. Cloud storage, external drives, or both—just do it before October 14, when the risk of attack rises. -
Read the warranty fine print
If you’re tempted by the Obsolete Box, confirm the exact device model, return policy, and warranty terms. Back Market’s service reputation has both satisfied and unhappy customers, so treat this as you would any refurbished purchase. Factor in the cost of a new charger or battery if those aren’t covered.
Outlook: a more sustainable second act for aging hardware
Microsoft isn’t backing down on Windows 11’s hardware requirements, and the ESU program explicitly expires next year. That means the refurbished‑device market will only grow as October approaches. Back Market’s campaign may be the most visible, but it signals a broader shift: circular‑economy actors are stepping in to provide supported, secure operating systems that vendors no longer want to maintain.
Expect more retailers, charities, and local shops to offer pre‑configured Flex or Linux machines at rock‑bottom prices. For everyday web users, the line between a Chromebook and a repurposed Windows laptop will blur further. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s own Windows 365 cloud service points toward a future where the OS matters less than the experience—but that future isn’t here yet.
The immediate takeaway is practical: between now and October 14, test your options, budget your dollars, and don’t let a perfectly good computer become e‑waste just because one company changed its update policy.