[neilv]

> By embedding telemetry capabilities directly within the firmware, we ensure that device health and usage data is captured the moment it is collected. This data is stored securely on HP SSD drives, leveraging hardware-based security measures to protect against unauthorized access or manipulation.

What I see are more technological affordances for closed firmware behavior of the device, increasing complexity, and providing additional opportunity for, and cover for, secret surveillance, backdoors, and other malware.

The used laptop market is very healthy already, and sellers already make money doing their own n-point tests before selling. Some use turn-key diagnostics software packages that work with the state of the laptop as it is (and drive SMART data). It's worked fine, AFAIK.

I've personally bought and used ~40 used laptops, mostly from random sellers on eBay, and not knowing the laptop's dating history hasn't been a barrier. The only significant, rare problems have been dirt and strange odors, which presumably aren't sensed and recorded in this "telemetry".

[dietr1ch]

> > What I see are more technological affordances for closed firmware behavior of the device, increasing complexity, and providing additional opportunity for, and cover for, secret surveillance, backdoors, and other malware.

All this surveillance just in case you want to have an easier time selling a laptop. I'd rather have this time spent building a better laptop that sells itself because it's a battery swap and a CPU re-paste away from feeling like new.

[kristopolous]

I think the reason is that, on laptops, the cosmetic has such a high correlation with what you can expect wrong with the device - people don't take their laptops in for "body work".

Also these devices in the second-hand market are probably 80+% < $1,000 and let's be real - getting a bad $400 computer is kinda whatever in the dramas of life. Just get another.

(I've sold about 5k things on ebay btw).

[bigfatkitten]

This is true for normal business and consumer laptops, but rugged machines (eg Panasonic Toughbooks) often go to the surplus market after living very hard lives. There is a thriving “refurbishment” industry putting lipstick on these pigs.

If you see a Toughbook on eBay that has been painted black, for example, that was done to hide the battle damage.

[rasz]

>and drive SMART data

SMART used to be one of those "data is stored securely on X, leveraging hardware-based security measures to protect against unauthorized access or manipulation". Nowadays its trivial to wipe and is the basis of "refurbished new old stock" Amazon HDD SCAM where product turns out to be pulls from server farms with over 20K hours on them with wiped SMART showing zero hours no defects. Its faster to wipe smart than scan the drive, and more lucrative to sell as new old stock than admit its a server pull.

[BrenBarn]

All my laptops have been used ThinkPads, and I'm on my. . . fifth? And yeah, they've all been fine. The exception is the battery, which can sometimes turn out to quickly become very weak.

[happymellon]

But unlike certain other manufacturers, I've never had an issue replacing parts of Thinkpads including batteries. Even newer models.

[captainregex]

you’re not the enterprise they’re going after. buying a used fleet is going to be a different exercise in risk mitigation

[hulitu]

They really need every piece of data they can gather. It sells well