[nextos]

In the US, cheap ThinkPads like E14 sometimes sell for a bit less when you factor in all typical discounts. They are good machines that run Linux well and can be repaired.

In EU, and I imagine other markets, there's nothing remotely close. I hope this puts some pressure on Lenovo and the rest of manufacturers to be more competitive.

[moffkalast]

In the EU it costs $200 more so it's more like a low to mid range laptop.

I have a feeling these are aimed at the same sector as the Framework 12, school provided laptops for kids meant to be bought in bulk by institutions. But there they're competing against $150 Chromebooks and neither is even close.

[GeekyBear]

In the EU, you don't need to buy an extended warranty, since existing consumer protection laws require the sort of extended repair coverage Americans have to pay extra for.

Taxes are also included in the EU price, but not the US price.

[devilbunny]

The lack of reflection indicated by "US prices are so much cheaper! Why are our electronics so expensive?" vs "What do you mean, you can't take it back to the store where you got it for an on-the-spot replacement a year and a half after purchase if it breaks?" has amused me for quite some time. Not that both come from the same person, but don't they ever talk to each other?

[wolvoleo]

Yes but be aware this only goes where Apple is the actual seller. If you buy it in another shop you only have Apple warranty for one year and the shop has to sort out the second one. So buying from Apple directly is better.

[rngfnby]

But sales taxes are significantly lower and easily lowered or even avoided by driving a half hour.

No one does this, because they're low enough to begin with.

[moffkalast]

I always wondered why nobody's ever tried to reach me about an extended warranty despite it being such a meme. I guess that's why, pretty fucked up ngl.

[Dylan16807]

After factoring in sales tax, paying 25% extra for a moderately nice two year warranty sounds like it would be an awful deal for me.

[porphyra]

> and can be repaired

The Macbook Neo is highly repairable too [1]. Not _quite_ as repairable as some Thinkpads with a 10/10 score, but still pretty respectable at a 6/10 with easily replaceable batteries and stuff.

[1] https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-r...

[sourcegrift]

8 GB RAM and 6/10 "respectable" repairability.

[nar001]

RAM has no bearing on repairability? And yes, sure stuff is soldered to the motherboard, but everything is basically modular outside of it, you can replace every big part pretty easily, and no glue, even for the battery

[mylies43]

The RAM being soldered is a hit against repair ability, you can't expand it or if the ram has issues you can't replace it, you will just be forced to throw out the entire machine. What else is modular here anyways? Can I swap out the CPU, the screen, the keyboard, ports...anything?

[wtallis]

Repairability and upgradability aren't quite the same concept.

[philistine]

Why are the Thinkpads getting 10/10 when the math coprocessor can’t be replaced and the N2 cache is inside the CPU as well?

We culturally decide what parts can or cannot be replaced. Apple solders their RAM on the CPU for performance reasons. It’s coming to PCs at some point, if they ever decide to compete on performance ever again.

[bean469]

> Apple solders their RAM on the CPU for performance reasons. It’s coming to PCs at some point, if they ever decide to compete on performance ever again.

Are you assuming that the PCs do not compete with Macs for performance? People built Hackintoshes that are more powerful than the highest spec Mac Pro - and for cheaper, too

[colechristensen]

Soldering RAM isn't for compact size or cost or to keep you from upgrading, it's for speed. Soldered RAM can be physically closer with a faster bus than removable RAM.

[okanat]

With old style DIMMs I can understand this excuse, with LPCAMM though, it doesn't fly.

[heavyset_go]

It's for power efficiency

[nolist_policy]

Neo's RAM is Package on Package, it is literally soldered on top of the A18.

In fact, Neo's Mainboard is in the same ballpark as a Desktop RAM DIMM, which means replacing the whole Mainboard is in the same as replacing the RAM on a Desktop from an environmental perspective.

[philistine]

That Neo board is so tiny!

[jxdxbx]

I have a Neo and 16GB Thinkpad and the Neo smokes it.

[nextos]

What configuration on the ThinkPad?

[DauntingPear7]

Have you owned an M-series MacBook?

[pjmlp]

For those that feel like paying 700 to 800 euros for Neo, not all EU countries are living the life.

And then there is the rest of the globe.