It's addressed in the article and elsewhere in these comments, several times. They donate them after a year in order to upgrade. Seems a perfectly reasonable and responsible use case if you want a new laptop every year.
Why the hell would you want a new laptop every year? Doesn't seem very "reasonable and responsible" to me.
Literally just click the link and read it. He answered it there.
Having read the article, I don't think he really does. He buys a new one, refurbishes it and gives it away. Why that's a reasonable idea isn't explained (or at least it's not to my satisfaction).
Buying himself a new laptop every year was his motivation for quitting smoking, as he realized 17 years ago he spent about two laptops worth on cigarettes every year. It’s in the article, near the end.
I guess I don't understand why it's a continuing thing :)
Why do some people buy sport cars? Why do some people buy flowers? Why do people buy insert thing that isn't completely necessary