Dell’s Luna laptop concept is all about repairability

[GURPS]

On Tuesday, Dell announced a new design concept for a laptop that’s long lived, easy to take apart and fix, and takes a smaller toll on the climate. It’s a collection of ideas that could go a long way toward making the tech giant’s products more sustainable — depending on whether, and how, Dell decides to implement them.


Called “Concept Luna,” the proof-of-concept laptop dreamed up by Dell’s design team has a number of unusual features that are intended to make repair and maintenance easy. No screwdrivers or glue solvents are needed to pry loose a broken keyboard or peel off a cracked screen; both components simply pop free after a pair of keystones holding them in place are removed. The entire system contains far fewer screws than a typical Dell laptop, reducing the time needed to replace components. And you’ll never have to worry about replacing a broken fan, because there isn’t one: a shrunken-down motherboard placed in the top cover allows the laptop to passively cool itself.

Dell’s Luna laptop concept is all about repairability

The keyboard and screen pop right off, no screwdrivers needed.

www.theverge.com

Nice to see Big OEMs stepping up but Framework already got started

Fix Consumer Electronics

We know consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment. Unlike most products, ours are open for you to repair and upgrade

frame.work

 

[black dog]

But yet its so serviceable it still has a motherboard...

 

[GURPS]

well what would you suggest replace the motherboard ?


even if some of the items were moved off onto daughter cards .. there would still be a motherboard

 

[black dog]

well what would you suggest replace the motherboard ?


even if some of the items were moved off onto daughter cards .. there would still be a motherboard

It could be separate boards full of chips, anything that has easy access and as many separate parts that are easily accessed, serviced and replaced if needed.

 

[PrchJrkr]

On Tuesday, Dell announced a new design concept for a laptop that’s long lived, easy to take apart and fix, and takes a smaller toll on the climate. It’s a collection of ideas that could go a long way toward making the tech giant’s products more sustainable — depending on whether, and how, Dell decides to implement them.


Called “Concept Luna,” the proof-of-concept laptop dreamed up by Dell’s design team has a number of unusual features that are intended to make repair and maintenance easy. No screwdrivers or glue solvents are needed to pry loose a broken keyboard or peel off a cracked screen; both components simply pop free after a pair of keystones holding them in place are removed. The entire system contains far fewer screws than a typical Dell laptop, reducing the time needed to replace components. And you’ll never have to worry about replacing a broken fan, because there isn’t one: a shrunken-down motherboard placed in the top cover allows the laptop to passively cool itself.

Dell’s Luna laptop concept is all about repairability

The keyboard and screen pop right off, no screwdrivers needed.

www.theverge.com

Nice to see Big OEMs stepping up but Framework already got started

Fix Consumer Electronics

We know consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment. Unlike most products, ours are open for you to repair and upgrade

frame.work

Although it's been a few years since I serviced laptops, they didn't seem all that difficult at the time. Some are a PITA to get into, but once opened up, everything was right there. What am I missing?

 

[GURPS]

Some are a PITA to get into, but once opened up, everything was right there. What am I missing?

I've been doing IT work as a profession since 2000 ... along the way some laptops have been very easy to access the internals, most have had varying degrees of difficulty ... usually the cheaper the dumber the design

including a Dell Insprion where you had to completely disassemble the entire unit to get to the hard drive

I'm talking pull the motherboard because the HD was between the case and the Mobo

 

[Sneakers]

Too little, too late. People are using phones and tablets more and more.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm guessing they make laptops hard to access so SFUs won't open them up and start digging around.

 

[Sneakers]

I'm guessing they make laptops hard to access so SFUs won't open them up and start digging around.

I was a certified tech for Dell, HP and Lenovo. I was cussing up a blue streak trying to work on a laptop last night.

 

[stgislander]

3/4 of the battle is just getting the damn things open.

 

[GURPS]

HP Elite Book 87X0 Series were great

 

[OccamsRazor]

3/4 of the battle is just getting the damn things open.

And knowing is half the battle. That just leaves 2/5 of the battle to go

 

[Clem72]

Although it's been a few years since I serviced laptops, they didn't seem all that difficult at the time. Some are a PITA to get into, but once opened up, everything was right there. What am I missing?

Soldered on components (CPU/Memory/GPU), structural cooling that can't be replaced once removed, difficult to access components, unnecessary integration of controllers.

Honestly if the MB was a standard form factor like they are for full-sized computers and the components not soldered, that would solve 90% of the serviceability issue.