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Comment by ultra_nick | Hacker News Reader

Why are hardware companies like this?

The mainboard on my Framework died, randomly. They replaced it, (almost) no questions asked. Shipped me a replacement, and I was able to replace it myself in fifteen minutes.

Speak with your dollars. Even though I was unhappy that the device was broken, my next laptop will probably be a framework. Although I would love if they started selling replacement chassis, mine is bent (that was my own fault).

Which part of your chassis is bent? They sell both top[0] and bottom[1] cover portions, as well as the input cover[2], which I think covers all the chassis

[0]https://frame.work/products/top-cover-cnc

[1]https://frame.work/products/bottom-cover-kit

[2]https://frame.work/products/input-cover-kit?v=FRANHC0001

Race to the bottom. No reputation of quality => can’t raise price => cutting costs beyond the red line => mishaps => no reputation of quality => …

Cf Apple who charge an arm and a leg for anything above the base config (which admittedly is tight but still usable) because people trust them to not pull such dumb moves.

What's funny is that HP consumer business had started out with reputation of quality from their top of the shelf professional electronic products.

I would prefer to call this tragic actually.

This.

I buy Apple mainly for reliability (not just that but that's an important factor), and HP is polar opposite of reliable in my view as a consumer.

Apple does not charge an arm and a leg. Their prices are quite competitive with similarly performing alternatives

For the lower end, you can get a refurbished from various resellers all over the internet.

Unless you want a reasonably sized disk or enough memory, that is. The charge for disk storage is particularly egregious.

They really do for extras. The base config is IMHO on the contrary best price/experience ratio available on the market even including the subpar macOS.

It's not like software companies are any better. It's just plain ol' incompetency.

I've worked with many engineers from HP. They were NOT incompetent. What they did describe though was a culture of firefighting and micromanagement complaining there was no opportunity to drive systemic improvement.

Ok if incompetence is not to blame how do you describe bricking customer laptops with a BIOS update?

Lack of adequate testing probably due to rushed schedules, insufficient infrastructure, and perhaps poor release practices because management celebrates firefighting as it's the easiest way to show "business impact."

Without a vertically integrated environment, it's a race to the bottom.

I cannot recommend any non-Apple laptop these days. They are all total shit for run-of-the-mill consumers.

If you're tech inclined you can probably wipe and reinstall windows on a Lenovo thinkpad and come out _okay_, _maybe_.

Framework laptops are great if you need Windows/Linux, even if a bit more expensive

Dell business machines are great. I have had nothing but great luck with them.

They do not even come with much crapware. Most of what is there is from the base Windows OS.

Macs are still on a different level.

You can even wipe the entire SSD on a mac and STILL you have the ability to reinstall macOS without putting in any disc or USB stick. It's just always there waiting

This is almost correct. For the new Apple silicon machines you do need a second working Apple computer and cable in order to do a DFU if you completely wipe the SSD.

You can also waltz into an Apple store to have it done if you don’t have access to any other machines.

Framework.

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