Dell has announced a new laptop design concept that is durable, easy to disassemble and repair, and is more environmentally friendly. The Luna Notebook has a number of unusual features designed to make it easier to repair and maintain.
So, disassembling it does not require screwdrivers or glue solvents to replace a broken keyboard or cracked screen; both components are simply removed after opening a pair of locks.
The entire system contains far fewer screws than a typical Dell laptop, reducing the time it takes to replace components. There is no need to worry about replacing a broken fan, because there is none: a compact motherboard housed in the top cover allows the laptop to be passively cooled.
Dell design strategist Drew Tosh described Luna as an "interface concept" designed to "address some of the bigger challenges of the future," namely e-waste and climate change. A laptop that is easy to repair and upgrade is less likely to be replaced, he said. When the computer eventually stops working, its parts can be used in other machines, rather than thrown away.
That being said, the design that Dell is showcasing is as sleek and portable as the look of any laptop in the company's current lineup.
Taylor Dixon, a disassembly engineer at the repair manual site iFixit, says that overall, Dell laptops tend to be “easy to repair” compared to competitors like the MacBook. The latest XPS 13 and 15 models have common screw types like Phillips, batteries that snap in place rather than glue, and screens that are relatively easy to disassemble. Unlike Apple, Dell regularly publishes laptop repair manuals on its website.
However, the manufacturer claims the Luna has ten times fewer screws than the Latitude 7300 AE.
The elements of the Luna concept are made from aluminum smelted using hydropower to reduce the environmental damage from one of the dirtiest manufacturing stages. The motherboard is only one-fourth the size of the motherboard in the Latitude 7300 AE, and according to Dell, its carbon footprint could be 50% less. Reducing the size of the motherboard, however, complicates the maintainability challenge: Smaller motherboards tend to have less space for individual components and connectors. Integrated components such as Apple's M1 chip, which includes the CPU, GPU, and RAM in one place, work well for small boards, but repair experts say the memory and storage on M1 devices cannot be upgraded independently. Dell says the Luna board has "no more soldered or integrated components than the typical laptop sold today."
Another key factor that determines the lifespan of any laptop is the availability of replacement parts for repair - primarily displays and batteries. Paige Motes, who leads Dell's global sustainability business, says customers can already order "tens of thousands" of replacement parts from the company, including replacement screens and batteries, but those parts are often not available online. The manufacturer is working to increase its online sales of parts.
Finally, if the Luna components are to be adapted for the future. Otherwise, the models will simply become outdated.
Dell has no plans to release a repairable laptop next year. It takes a company time to make sure concepts are robust enough to be mass produced. But by 2030, the manufacturer “expects” many of them to be implemented.
Users in the comments appreciated Dell's efforts, but noted that it would be better for buyers if all manufacturers agreed on uniform standards for components for seamless replacement and compatibility. There is also the possibility that Dell will sell parts for repairs for more than their actual price, commentators admit.
In 2021, the Framework modular laptop is already on sale. The developers have promised that it can be upgraded almost entirely. The creators of the project launched a special marketplace for laptop modules.
Apple, meanwhile, has finally unveiled the Self Service Repair program. Users will now be able to order genuine parts on Apple's website and repair their Macs themselves.
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