iFixIt Gives Surface Laptop Lowest-Possible Score (0 of 10)

[TheReal1980]

Quote

 

The teardown specialists at iFixIt have rendered a damning indictment against Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop. It’s not repairable in any way, and it will have a limited lifespan thanks to the design of its battery.

“The Surface Laptop is not a laptop,” the site concludes. “It’s a glue-filled monstrosity. There is nothing about it that is upgradable or long-lasting, and it literally can’t be opened without destroying it.”

 

https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/microsoft-surface/118538/ifixit-gives-surface-laptop-lowest-possible-score

 

Teardown video

 

Louis Rossmanns views on the matter

 

So Microsoft one upped Apple, copying what is bad thinking it would sell better?

[Brennan Price]

This is planned obsolescence in its raw form  Good job failing your customers Microsoft!

[CommandMan7]

If this was some cheapo laptop it would be horrendous, but the severity of this really is blunted by the fact that it's a premium device and very unlikely to break (barring mistreatment of course). And at a starting price of $1000 for fairly low specs, the kind of people who buy this probably will be able to replace it before it breaks anyways.

 

*HOWEVER*

 

None of those points are an excuse. I believe it is morally wrong to have a device that's completely non-repairable unless it absolutely has to be, and Microsoft clearly didn't try whatsoever, in typical disregard for the consumer.

[Dash Lambda]

That's actually hilarious.

I mean, it's way easier to make something at least partially accessible than it is to make it a brick. That's some impressive dickery.

[Jerped]

Microsoft: "Hey let's put glue around the screen instead of small screws so that people break their screen while attempting a repair!! "

 

 

[You_are_a_cunt]

IF they gave  5-year no-matter-what warranty, it would have been just fine, but with the 1-year limited hardware warranty, this is complete BS

[Bsmith]

the laptop is all what people want, it's light, it's ergonomics are great, it's thin, it's multi purpose. But that of course comes at a cost.
If you want to repair things yourself you can't have crazy small compact solutions since you can't access all of the different components.

[TroubleKlef]

Isn't this the same laptop with alcantara on the keyboard area? What idiot green lighted that idea?

 

Just another product by Microsoft which focuses on fancy spec sheet and marketing words rather than focusing on a proper user experience.

[NinerL]

Yup, you can't even replace the battery without completely destroying the laptop. What were they thinking? 

[JAKEBAB]

Ok? People want super thin and portable devices and they got it.... I don't really see how microsoft had any other choice besides maybe getting rid of that dumb alcantara keyboard for an aluminum one, even then it's not like anyone but a proper repair shop could fix this since everything is solder anyway....

[LAwLz]

13 minutes ago, JAKEBAB said:

Ok? People want super thin and portable devices and they got it.... I don't really see how microsoft had any other choice besides maybe getting rid of that dumb alcantara keyboard for an aluminum one, even then it's not like anyone but a proper repair shop could fix this since everything is solder anyway....

Things like the battery is always a big plus if it can be replaced, since those tend to get worn out from regular use.

 

As for what Microsoft could have done, I mean... Ever heard of screws? Or not using that dumb felt keyboard? Or made hatches on the bottom of the laptop? There are a lot of things they could have done differently, but it was clearly not their priority.

 

 

Anyhow, the laptop is a massive piece of shit anyway, so this does not really change my opinion. This is like hearing that a fly landed on a turd. I was not going to taste that turd anyway so it does not matter. 

[Mihle]

Good thing that in Norway you have the right to get something repaired for free for 5 years on laptops after you did buy it as long as you didn't cause the damage.

 

But being repairable means in 90% of cases that it would be slightly worse build quality OR ticker, OR more expensive to design. So I understand why. Doesn't mean I like it.

[suicidalfranco]

MICROSFT TASK FORCE UNITE!

[cj09beira]

23 minutes ago, Mihle said:

Good thing that in Norway you have the right to get something repaired for free for 5 years on laptops after you did buy it as long as you didn't cause the damage.

 

But being repairable means in 90% of cases that it would be slightly worse build quality OR ticker, OR more expensive to design. So I understand why. Doesn't mean I like it.

Screws would nothave made t thicker or more expensive or have a worse build quality. My s4uses screws and its less thick than that laptop

[mr moose]

What ever,  I don't think I've ever cared about repairing tablets/laptops ever.  Just throw it out and buy another, they usually last long enough to be mostly obsolete by the time they give up the ghost anyway. 

[suicidalfranco]

4 hours ago, TheReal1980 said:

 

 

b-b-but louis is an apple hater, why is hating on MS now??? di he become an iSheep  now?

 

/s

kek

[Doobeedoo]

Well the motherboard looks nicely assembled

[Jito463]

It's bad enough that they design laptops so you have to disassemble them just to replace the battery.  This is beyond the pale.  I would never buy a laptop that I couldn't repair or upgrade.  Battery goes bad?  Tough luck.  Want more RAM?  Do without.  Want a bigger SSD or the SSD goes bad?  Oh well, deal with it.

[NumLock21]

Ifixit should put a big red X on the tools they used for this teardown.

 

[NvidiaIntelAMDLoveTriangle]

When are people going to understand that sometimes, some products are not meant to be opened and repaired?

As much as I want to yell "I need to open my device in order to repair it or upgrade, why won't you people understand this......", the truth is sometimes that's the way it was designed in the first place. Not to be opened.

It's the cost of having lightweight and slim tech.

[Unhelpful]

Calling @GoodBytes and @AluminiumTech! Let's see the senseless defense of bullshit  

[79wjd]

4 minutes ago, NvidiaIntelAMDLoveTriangle said:

When are people going to understand that sometimes, some products are not meant to be opened and repaired?

As much as I want to yell "I need to open my device in order to repair it or upgrade, why won't you people understand this......", the truth is sometimes that's the way it was designed in the first place. Not to be opened.

It's the cost of having lightweight and slim tech.

I'm sure they could've found a way to attach the palmrest and keyboard so that you could remove them without shredding them while maintaining the same thickness. 

[GoodBytes]

Real shame, but not surprised. It follows the rest of the Surface line. In terms of price for what you get, the sweet spot (that is, IF you really want a Surface wtv model, that is), is the mid range model. Higher-end are laughing over priced, and base model is too expensive for what you get.

[NvidiaIntelAMDLoveTriangle]

6 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

I'm sure they could've found a way to attach the palmrest and keyboard so that you could remove them without shredding them while maintaining the same thickness. 

Most likely, but they took the route of having something "cool" looking and really lightweight. When it comes to this sometimes you have to sacrifice something else in order to get the result you wanted.

Don't think I'm saying we shouldn't be able to open our devices, I'm just saying that in some cases we should expect these devices to not be user friendly when it comes to opening it in order to either repair it or upgrade it.

 

[Jito463]

21 minutes ago, NvidiaIntelAMDLoveTriangle said:

When are people going to understand that sometimes, some products are not meant to be opened and repaired?

As much as I want to yell "I need to open my device in order to repair it or upgrade, why won't you people understand this......", the truth is sometimes that's the way it was designed in the first place. Not to be opened.

It's the cost of having lightweight and slim tech.

I might accept your argument if these were $300-$500 laptops, but the minimum price on these is $1,000, all the way up to $3,000!  For that price, I expect to be able to repair or upgrade it.  Instead of soldered SSD, they could have gone for m.2.  And there's enough space for an actual RAM slot without it being soldered in place.  Though I can accept the CPU being soldered (even if I personally don't prefer it).  And it's definitely possible to make a replaceable battery.

 

I'd even argue that they could have made it external and removable (from the bottom), while still maintaining the existing thin form.  While it may not look as aesthetically pleasing (a gap for the battery, instead of a solid bottom panel), it would certainly be functional and doable.  It's even possible to put a seal around the outside edge of the battery to make it water resistant.