So I was thinking about buying a laptop. I’ve already chosen the model. It weighs about 3 kg, if not more. But it’s armored and durable. I hope it will last for about 8-9 years.
Just considering the AI bubble is going to burst, I was worried that there might be a shortage of parts for repairs, and the new devices, as I heard, will have some kind of improved wiretapping at the hardware level.
I’m just going to learn how to repair it, even though I’m a complete noob for now.
Any advice on what to do?
A fine start, but I think the plan could be made a bit more sustainable.
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Make a threat model. Hardware that is impenetrable today might not be as secure five years later as new security vulnerabilities are found. Who or what do you want to defend against?
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If you don’t use an OS that phones home, options without AI-enhanced wiretapping will still be around for years to come. There’s also several existing layers of hardware-related wiretapping to consider: the Intel ME, AMD PSP, BIOS, embedded controller firmware, SSD firmware, input peripherals, etc.
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I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but what you have sounds like specialty hardware, for which parts will become increasingly rare and expensive over 8 to 9 years. Ironically, common business-class laptops could be more future-proof by this metric, unless perhaps you plan on using one out in the field or in a metal foundry.
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Laptops are fundamentally like desktop computers, just in a portable form factor. Any security measure on a laptop can be more or less replicated on a desktop computer.
Quite a good and useful answer, thank you.
Yes, in the future there will be a serious problem with spare parts, so it really is worth choosing something for which I can at least find parts.
If anything, I’m just going to buy a laptop with a durable shell like this – dell Latitude 5430 Rugged.
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If this is your first one, it’s a lot easier to build a desktop computer than laptop computer.
I really must stress though that they both are computers and subject to the same concerns about parts and AI.
Buy a second hand laptop or computer. Lots of companies sell off their tech shit after 3 years, and they have at least a good decade of use in them.
Look at what models are super popular second hand like ThinkPads; you’ll be able to find replacement parts pretty easily.
Most laptops or other portable computers are not repairable. Heck, even desktops these days are highly integrated with often just three chips and maybe a graphics card inserted into a motherboard.
If you really want reduced telemetry, switch to Linux NOW and only use systems that F/OSS folk approve of.
If you don’t need a PC for gaming, consider something like a raspberry pi.
Learn about the concept of threat modelling.
buy a desktop. much easier to repair yourself
Hmm, yes, but moving it from one place to another will be a problem. And it looks like happy times await us…
You can build a smaller form factor, like mini or micro ATX, but you might have a harder time to switch motherboards.
Do you actually need to move it often? Or is it just the occasional lanparty?
Assuming you mean a desktop when you say computer.
Safer is a complex thing.
Laptops are more likely to be stolen, lost, dropped and crushed than a desktop.
Laptops are much more difficult to upgrade and or repair.
Is it a ThinkPad?
No, it’s like he’s wearing a bulletproof vest.
If you want to repair your computer, look at the specs of RAM first. If it’s LPDDR then you know it’s not gonna be repairable because it would be soldered. If it’s DDR the computer might be good to repair and upgrade.
Laptop tends to be harder to repair in general. Those who can be repaired tend to be costly.
If you want to know if it can be repaired and to what extent, connect to a VPN in France and browse the models. They are required by law to display a repairability index so you know how much of your laptop can be replaced and how easily. The higher the number, the better.
My recommendation would be to buy a Dell or a Thinkpad. Those things perform well and tend to last longer, even when they tend to be costly when new. MSI is a shitshow, don’t fall for their laptop scam.
If you want to limit or stop the wiretapping go for a Linux distro (Zorin for anything or Nobara for gaming) rather than Windows.
I’ve had a surface tablet since 2017. I had to take it to a repair shop to replace the battery but it’s surprisingly still doing pretty good. It’s light , does most of what I need day to day, and more durable than expected.
At one point I had a beefy gaming laptop with upgradeable everything and it was good for what it was but honestly, the surface was cheaper and has lasted longer which is shocking to me.
Yes Linux rules and Microsoft sucks. Just saying the armored upgradeable computers are still limited by motherboards and necessarily integrated systems. Not to mention they aren’t at all convenient for day to day use
I think you’d better ditch the laptop and go outside instead, it sounds like you’ve been on the internet too much.
