4 ms·

I have a Purism laptop, over 2 years old now so out of warranty. The USB system had a problem last month. Purism shipped me a new motherboard at cost within a f

I have a Purism laptop, over 2 years old now so out of warranty. The USB system had a problem last month. Purism shipped me a new motherboard at cost within a few days. I happily swapped out the old motherboard (a bit fiddly in places, but perfectly straightforward). Laptop is fine, I'm typing this on it now. I've had problems with Dells before - if it's out of warranty then tough, nothing we can do. I had a screen fail on my 2014 Macbook - luckily in warranty so I got a new screen, but it took a week for them to do it. And, of course, I can upgrade the memory and/or drive any time I like - they're easily accessible and stock parts that I can buy from anywhere. I think the trade-off on price for this repairability is well worth it. If I'd bought a Dell instead of a Purism I'd be SOL and looking at the cost of a whole new laptop now.

kiba 5y ago
But replacing a whole motherboard just to fix a few usb ports?
- marcus_holmes 5y ago
  I'm no hardware expert, but I gather the USB2 subsystem had failed, and that required the motherboard replacement. Made sense to me.
- admax88qqq 5y ago
  That's the downside of such integrated components. The upside is cheaper manufacturing, cheaper less assembly, less power draw, and less physical space.
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    Good quality integrated components might have a higher MTBF to begin with.
    - admax88qqq 5y ago
      Also true
      - marcus_holmes 5y ago
        MeanTBF - I got unlucky, I think
  - wott 5y ago
    USB hubs and similar I/O peripherals are not integrated.
abnercoimbre 5y ago
Yes. And also wouldn't pricing get better over time? I think the GP is funding it knowing full well it's expensive for now - that's the point of taking the risk.
ksec 5y ago
>Purism shipped me a new motherboard at cost within a few days. I wonder why they don't at least mark up the replacement? Or at cost means normal consumer cost and not BOM cost? In the other end of spectrum Apple do these part swap with exact same margin as they do on a new devices + their labour.

kiba 5y ago

But replacing a whole motherboard just to fix a few usb ports?

marcus_holmes 5y ago
I'm no hardware expert, but I gather the USB2 subsystem had failed, and that required the motherboard replacement. Made sense to me.
admax88qqq 5y ago
That's the downside of such integrated components. The upside is cheaper manufacturing, cheaper less assembly, less power draw, and less physical space.
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  Good quality integrated components might have a higher MTBF to begin with.
  - admax88qqq 5y ago
    Also true
    - marcus_holmes 5y ago
      MeanTBF - I got unlucky, I think
- wott 5y ago
  USB hubs and similar I/O peripherals are not integrated.

abnercoimbre 5y ago

Yes. And also wouldn't pricing get better over time? I think the GP is funding it knowing full well it's expensive for now - that's the point of taking the risk.

ksec 5y ago

>Purism shipped me a new motherboard at cost within a few days. I wonder why they don't at least mark up the replacement? Or at cost means normal consumer cost and not BOM cost? In the other end of spectrum Apple do these part swap with exact same margin as they do on a new devices + their labour.