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Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

theregister.com

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Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#121

Post by autoexec »

unethical_ban wrote: post #112
rnk wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey chx, got a response to the details listed here?

Not chx, but note that none of the linked articles mention Thinkpads.

All of these links do though and they include examples of more hard coded passwords, more Lenovo spyware, and more insecure Lenovo software that exposed users to threats:

https://www.theregister.com/2018/01/26/lenovo_thinkpad_finge...

https://www.computerworld.com/article/2984889/lenovo-collect...

https://www.crn.com.au/news/thinkpad-vulnerable-in-latest-le...

https://www.pcworld.com/article/633410/up-to-100-lenovo-lapt...

https://www.itpro.com/security/vulnerability/369491/lenovo-p...

https://github.com/Cr4sh/ThinkPwn

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#122

Post by pmarreck »

freedomben wrote: post #68
pmarreck wrote: post #55

https://frame.work/ : Already exists

Prior to Framework I only bought Thinkpads (I'm a linux user), but framework has gotten really good. They've added a lot of fixes/polish from their first gen models, and I'm super excited for the future!

I have a Framework Laptop 16 on preorder.

Removable GPU = both battery savings AND prevention of gaming temptation when I need to work. >..<

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#123

Post by kevincox »

freedomben wrote: post #64
HumblyTossed wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Repairable means I can replace most major components in my laptop (wifi, ram, battery, SSD, BT, etc) with nothing more than a torx and screw driver. No soldering, or specialized equipment.

This is obviously somewhat subjective, but to me soldering does not disqualify something being "repairable", unless it requires a proprietary soldering machine or something. What you're describing sounds "modular"

I don't think it should be required that my grandma should be able to fix it for it to qualify as repairable. There are tons of phone repair shops that do battery and screen swaps. I'm sure if the devices were even moderately more repairable and parts existed they would be happy to do a lot more with expert knowledge. I wouldn't mind if I could take my device to these shops and get it fixed. Sure, doing it myself may be a nice bonus but I think we can let some people specialize. What I don't think is acceptable is if only the original manufacture can source parts or perform repairs (if they decide to at all)

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#124

Post by progval »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #92
itsoktocry wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> from a company that's demonstrated it can't be trusted to give you a secure device. Is there a single technology company that you can't say this about?

Really depends on your threat model; I think most companies stop short of shipping malware from their UEFI implementation. That said, I don't think Framework has yet done anything questionable?

At least the 12th gen is very vulnerable to hardware access as you can't disable unauthenticated DMA access through the USB ports (it's what https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/latitude/dem... calls SL0). I asked their support and they aren't planning to fix it in the forseeable future.

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#125

Post by RajT88 »

baz00 wrote: post #119
bityard wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to be a Thinkpad fanatic due to nice build quality and good Linux support. But in the past few years, I have taken to just buying Dell's midrange business laptops. The build quality can vary by model but they are cheaper, ubiquitous, have great support while in warranty, and Linux always runs just fine on them if you pay attention to the hardware you're buying.

Oh man fuck Dell. I get through one every 9 months at work. Absolutely the worst laptops I've ever used. Precision series.

What model? I've been pretty happy with Dell machines at work. Happy enough I bought an older model refurb for 200 dollars shipped, which fits the chargers and docks and such I had lying around from work.

Model: Precision 7520 Cpu: i7-6820HQ Memory: 32gb Gpu: Nvidia Quadro M2200 4GB Storage: 500gb SSD Display: 15" 1080p

Pretty good specs for the price. Serviceable for older/lower requirements games. Pretty bulky machine though.

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#126

Post by iteratethis »

Don't remember the model, but a Lenovo of a family member had a broken Wi-fi card, just when it was 2 weeks out of warranty. No goodwill from Lenovo, they estimated repair costs a significant fraction of the price of the whole laptop. Plus my family member would not have his laptop for 2 weeks, whilst he needs it for his business.

So I tried to do it myself. Studying official materials, repair videos, the like. The important thing I learned is to get exactly the correct Wi-fi card because the laptop (the BIOS I guess) rejects any other type not on the "allow list".

So I ordered it and connected it, which was easy enough. Still rejects it.

Also, the laptop shipped with a wrong keyboard layout. Which my family member reported directly after purchase but Lenovo refused a return.

At work I also have a company issues Lenovo. It keeps prompting for firmware updates. The last time I applied it, it crashed the entire machine and it took me days to get it in working order again.

Your mileage may vary but to me these are Russian roulette machines. Fragile, full of arbitrary limitations, shit software, worse support.

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#127

Post by pianoben »

nfriedly wrote: post #77

Probably 10 years ago, my brother installed some new RAM in his Lenovo laptop on Christmas day, after which point it refused to turn on - with either the new or old RAM. We contacted Lenovo and they sent someone out to our house about 2 days later to replace then entire motherboard. (They installed the new RAM, and the laptop worked great after that.) It left me with the impression that Lenovo had questionable qualit…

Levono service is the best I've experienced. Anecdotally of course - when my tower PC that I bought in 2019 started crapping out this year, they sent a repair person to my home several times, each time replacing parts without question, including a $4K graphics card (which turned out to be the fix). That warranty is worth its weight in gold and I happily extended it.

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#128

Post by d3w4s9 »

Well, maybe start with allowing users to swap RAM sticks first instead of continuing shipping those disgusting laptops with 8GB soldered RAM. For most of their consumer laptops (with the exception of gaming laptops), it's basically impossible to replace RAM sticks. Nowadays even ThinkPad lines are increasingly doing this.

I can get why this is done for thin and light laptops. But not everyone needs that. I am completely willing to have 200g added to the weight of a laptop to get replaceable RAM.

Re: Lenovo PC boss: 4 in 5 of our devices will be repairable by 2025

#129

Post by d3w4s9 »

isykt wrote: post #37

I always hear about how modern laptops and smartphones “aren’t repairable” and then I spent a week in Shenzhen.. where there were floors and floors of independent repair people doing specialized fixes to the most intricate parts. I had an old Apple Watch repair for about $20, only to discover that I got ripped off — I could have negotiated it down to much less.

Shenzhen isn't a good example here. In Shenzhen you can ask people to upgrade your laptop's RAM by unsoldering it, but usually those laptops are considered nonupgradable everywhere else in the world.
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