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Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

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Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#51

Post by abdullahkhalids »

rvense wrote: post #34
fyfy18 wrote: post #32

Thinkpads are in the same boat. I have a T470s, which at it's thickest point is 1.8cm when closed (it tapers down to 1.6cm) and weighs 1.3kg. The other day I upgraded the NVMe drive, which involved unscrewing 5 screws on the back cover (they don't remove completely, so you can't lose them), pulling it off, then removing the screw securing the drive in place, pulling out the drive, then doing the same in reverse to pu…

How about the keyboard though? I have an X270 and last I looked replacing the keyboard involved a complete disassembly, including a heat source to loosen some glue.

The T470's keyboard can be replaced without even opening the backcover. You just unloosen two screw and detach two clips on the back and the keyboard comes off easily.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#52

Post by nine_k »

_emacsomancer_ wrote: post #36
fyfy18 wrote: post #32

Thinkpads are in the same boat. I have a T470s, which at it's thickest point is 1.8cm when closed (it tapers down to 1.6cm) and weighs 1.3kg. The other day I upgraded the NVMe drive, which involved unscrewing 5 screws on the back cover (they don't remove completely, so you can't lose them), pulling it off, then removing the screw securing the drive in place, pulling out the drive, then doing the same in reverse to pu…

The newer ThinkPads seem much less user-servicable than the older models though. I hope Lenovo returns to a user-servicability>thinness approach at some point.

It's not newer vs older. It's slick hipster-looking mac-like all-soldered X series vs thicker corporate all-serviceable bricks of T series. (I greatly prefer the latter, of course.)

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#53

Post by ygra »

gandalfian wrote: post #46

Whereas my sisters consumer hp 15" laptop requires removing the keyboard? to start opening it up. It required so much dismantling to replace the WiFi card I told her to buy a usb dongle. Lenovo equivalent you just unscrew a hatch and its there.

I replaced the WLAN card on my wife's Lenovo consumer laptop a few years ago and needed a hacked BIOS because the original one was the only one that was accepted for ... I don't know what reasons. Lenovo -- in that price bracket -- isn't really better in that respect.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#54

Post by rvense »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #51
rvense wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about the keyboard though? I have an X270 and last I looked replacing the keyboard involved a complete disassembly, including a heat source to loosen some glue.

The T470's keyboard can be replaced without even opening the backcover. You just unloosen two screw and detach two clips on the back and the keyboard comes off easily.

Ah, very nice.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#55

Post by eropple »

m3gatr0n wrote: post #37
eropple wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Spectre laptops are pretty dang nice and are Linux-friendly. The dark-and-copper one looks fantastic, too. I'd be using one right now, instead of a Thinkpad T480, if they didn't put Ctrl and Fn in the wrong places. (My hands just can't re-learn that one.)

You can easily swap the functionality of the two keyboard keys in the BIOS settings of your laptop (you must do something like this: https://www.geek.com/chips/how-to-swap-the-fn-and-ctrl-keys-... ). The funny thing is that I am the only one in our company that did this, meaning that when a colleague tries to use my keyboard, they fail in 95% of the case. It's always funny to see this happen, but my colleagues get of…

I tried this at the time. Mine lacked the option (the 2017 13" model). It was really frustrating.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#56

Post by wil421 »

I have a HP Zbook G3 for work that’s pretty nice compared to some company Dells I’ve had. The only downside is it’s massive. It’s so big and heavy I could use it as a weapon.

My personal 15” mid-2017 MPB is way too thin and I’ve dropped it because of it. My 2011 13” MBP could’ve been thinner but not as thin as they are now. I dread the day something breaks.

How do the Dell XPSs compared to the newer MBPs or HP Zbooks size wise?

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#57

Post by tonyedgecombe »

stallmanite wrote: post #47
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be a bit sad if they made them repairable because they fail so often. Being more serious I’m not sure this is considered in the debate about repairability. If Apple soldering memory to the motherboard is more reliable than using a socket is that better or worse for the life of the product.

Except then upgrades are impossible so when software moves on the device is useless anyway. Why defend this practice?

Yes, that needs to go into the calculation as well.

Note I’m not defending this practice, just wondering if it’s really the problem it’s made out to be.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#58

Post by sixothree »

el_benhameen wrote: post #17

Anyone use one of these for work and care to share their opinion? I got burned real bad (figuratively, though it did get very hot) by a garbage HP laptop in like 2006, so I’m curious if the build and general quality have improved.

We are a small business and we only buy HP laptops.

Developers typically get ProBooks with matte non-touch screens. Everyone else gets Envy or whichever they decide.

We usually get 15" laptops specced fairly minimally then immediately pop in a new NVME M.2 along with more RAM. Upgrading them usually only takes a few screws.

There is one laptop here from about 4 years ago that required no screws whatsoever to remove the bottom. That was pretty awesome.

edit: We've had such good luck with HP laptops that we decided to buy a small server. Mistake. Do not attempt. Dell servers, HP laptops.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#59

Post by equalunique »

This comment is being written from the ThinkPad A485 that's been assigned to me from my employer. It too is amazingly serviceable, as many ThinkPads have built a reputation for upholding. I have grown accustom to only considering ThinkPads when eyeing a new laptop.

Another corporate laptop I have had the joy of using is the HP EliteBook 840 G3, which is a predecessor of these devices inspected by iFixit. Like the ThinkPad's TrackPoint, it has a PointStick which is nearly as usable. Opening the device up reminds me a lot of my personal ThinkPad T460S.

Going forward, it's exciting to know that reparable laptops are not exclusive to one vendor.

Also, props to Dell, who's recent Latitude laptops are still compatible with old docks sporting a serial port - don't know of any other vendors making those.

Re: Thin yet Repairable Devices: HP Proves They Exist

#60

Post by robocat »

paranoidrobot wrote: post #45
robocat wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> awful soft-touch plastic of Dell's XPS line Which XPS line are you referencing? I have last year's XPS 15: metal lid and metal frame. "Color Choice: Silver machined aluminum", "Cut with precision from a single block of aluminum for a sturdy, durable chassis in a beautiful design", "The palm rest is made from carbon fiber". From: https://www.dell.com/en-au/work/shop/business-laptops-ultrab...

Unless they've changed things in the last year or so, their XPS 15 and 13 have a soft-touch plastic that's probably got carbon fiber in it, or at least patterned that way - but it's got some sort of coating that is a rubber/polymer of some kind that's soft and almost sticky. It's sort of like the buttons on some TV remotes.

2017, 2018, 2019 models (XPS 13" and 15") are aluminium alloy top and bottom from my quick check on the Dell website.

Did you make any effort to check the facts?

Disclaimer: I have last year's XPS 15: although I am not a fan of Dell, I chose the XPS for fast i9 and good Linux support and I haven't been disappointed.

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