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submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by Dirt_Owl@hexbear.net to c/technology@hexbear.net

A laptop you can upgrade the parts of instead of buying a whole new laptop? Sounds pretty cool. Did I dream it up or is this a real thing?

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I have two (both sizes). They suck and they're magnificent:

Both are DIY editions. I love it. I lusted over some build your own laptop kit when I was young and these are basically that brought up to date. And that was in the days when you could get socketed mobile CPUs :D.

But back to the laptop.

Cons:

  • the frames aren't as stiff due to the way they are attached on the 13 (just 4 or 5 screws) or the modular deck system on the 16 despite fixing the previous issue.
  • Modular IO is wonderful but it could potentially not be enough in some use cases. Only 4 slots on the 13, and you lose one of the 6 on the 16 to an audio jack.
  • The interchangeable screen bezels are ugly and too fun to play with. I've broken two already playing with them. And they have a cheap looking and feeling texture.
  • Captive screws on the 13 aren't officially replaceable. When they strip (like one of mine catgirl-hiss ) the official solution is to BUY A NEW FUCKING CASE. As annoying as they can be to replace, stock replacements and use simple e clips on them or something goddamn. They're all the same size anyway mashallah. I gotta look into replacing them with non-captives.
  • The original 11th gen intel motherboard on the 13 (which I'm still on) came with an annoying bug where the RTC battery would only charge on AC. So when I left it off and unplugged for a few months it was seemingly bricked. Fortunately after a quick search I just had to reset the config memory ("clearing the cmos" as I've heard it).
  • THEY'RE EXPENSIVE. Go price one out and compare it to an Acer.
  • They give you tech bro street cred. I don't want tech bro street cred. catgirl-hiss
  • No open source firmware yet even though it was a commitment they made to the community to support years ago. The support amounted to I think 2 laptops sent to a pair of coreboot devs, however unsigned firmware hadn't been enabled and which apparently allowed the to get bricked. Also they didn't even offer to pay to the coreboot devs.

Pros: -They have stuck to their promise so far and offered upgrade motherboards for 2 or 3 gens of intel and now added AMD and plan to go forward with them.

  • Genuinely repairable
  • Just really cool, mostly cause I'm a nerd. But it's not even just computer nerds who think it's cool. But speaking of being a nerd:
  • Nerd street cred. Unlike tech bros, nerds are welcome to walk up to me (respectfully) and chat about my laptop.
  • Pretty damn good Linux support.
  • One of the best screens I've had on a laptop
  • One of the best trackpads outside Apple
  • Modular IO has proven useful. The connectors that get the most wear and tear can be replaced easily (looking at you 3.5mm)
  • Optional and upgradable GPU on the 16
  • DIY option was fun to build, there are video guides if you need them, and I could imagine it would take some intimidation out of upgrading it or replacing parts yourself in the future.
  • Speakers are pretty okay
  • If you like or need to be on up to date hardware but need a laptop, as long as they keep their upgradability promise this is better than other options if you can afford it.
[-] Edie@hexbear.net 2 points 11 hours ago

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE. Go price one out and compare it to an Acer

Holy fucking shit, I don't even need to compare it to see.

[-] SwitchyWitchyandBitchy@hexbear.net 2 points 10 hours ago

Yeah it's more than a bit much. Personally there's a lot of merit in just getting a rebadged clevo or similar. System76 has been using clevo platforms to pretty decent results and they put in the work to make them run perfectly with Pop! OS.

[-] Edie@hexbear.net 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

If I spec it out with basic cpu, 2.8k display, 8g ram, 500g disk, a few modules, it costs I think around my brothers gaming PC, that thing came with an RTX 2000. As cool as they are, and while I have been thinking about getting a 13 laptop, I don't need a new laptop that much, and its too expensive even if I did.

Edit: I guess things have also just gotten more expensive though.

[-] tactical_trans_karen@hexbear.net 3 points 16 hours ago

OMG, WHAT IS THE BRAND AND WHERE DO YOU GET THEM?!! LMAO!!

[-] SwitchyWitchyandBitchy@hexbear.net 2 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)
[-] Edie@hexbear.net 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Why am i getting hyperflush in a comment describing a laptop?

[-] SwitchyWitchyandBitchy@hexbear.net 3 points 17 hours ago

Xenia, the trans Linux mascot, has that effect.

[-] Edie@hexbear.net 2 points 16 hours ago

I think it's more the specific image you chose...

[-] SwitchyWitchyandBitchy@hexbear.net 2 points 12 hours ago

Yeah she's got the pretty and confident Tomgirl thing going on.

this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2024
42 points (100.0% liked)

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