While the age of the desktop dominating the computing space might be behind us, the laptop remains a powerful tool many of us can't do without. These systems are too versatile in both home and work use to ignore, but they're not without weaknesses. One of the biggest of these issues which has only been growing in recent years is the issue of repairability.
Attacks on right-to-repair are becoming increasingly common, as big businesses exert more control over the technology already sold to you to further their profit margins. This has happened in smartphones, it's happened in laptops, it's happened in farming equipment, in cars, and it’s been a real blight on consumer rights.
Without the right to repair, you can't repair or replace parts yourself, and you can't go to a cheap but effective store to fix what you already paid for. Instead, you have to go to a registered store that can artificially increase prices, and which can stop carrying the parts you need with no other options available. This can leave you with no choice but to pay huge fees to fix simple problems, and it's not a welcome development.
"240 Volts directory into a 19 Volt Sony" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by @richardstubbs
If you've ever owned an Apple laptop, you know how much of a double-edged sword the repair process can be. Apple is notoriously against the right to repair, which is one of the reasons why their repairs can be so expensive. Since Apple hates the idea of replacement parts or outside repairs cutting into their ability to sell new systems, they can cause issues when even the simplest fix is needed. Similar issues can be found on Samsung devices, with other manufacturers following suit.
Apple might be a standout in problems with the right to repair, but they're far from the only company taking this route. Instead, a better solution can be to invest in systems like the Framework series of laptops, which are built from the ground up with repairability in mind.
Framework systems, as the name suggests, are highly customizable laptop systems that emphasize flexibility and repairability for the sake of the user. This has helped the company and those like it find great success as businesses that are fighting against the grain, in delivering to users today what was once the status quo.
These kinds of laptops can manage the same feats that traditional laptops can too, no matter what you enjoy. If you’re a fan of real-money slots, for example, services like 888 Casino and bet365 work just as well on a repairable system as they do on a more locked-down device. Whether collecting bonuses like free spins or playing games, performance, looks, and reliability are never a concern.
Even better, the components on these laptops can easily be repaired, replaced, or upgraded as needed. Instead of needing to buy an entirely new Chromebook, for example, you could invest in a new CPU or graphics chip, which costs less and creates less waste.
With all that said, we don't mean to imply that modern repairable and modular laptops are always the superior choice. If you dislike messing around with technology or don't mind the risk of device breakage every now and then, then platforms like MacBook Airs can still be an amazing choice. Still, if you are frustrated with the way the wind is blowing, and would like a little more control over what you buy, consider taking this new route with your next upgrade, and you might find it impossible to go back from.
