Which Windows laptops are easy to repair?

[altecsole]

I've been asked to get a quote for ten laptops by our SEN department. These will given out at the start of the day, to SEN students, who will use them in lessons. My experience is that keys will get damaged, and they will likely get dropped and the screen broken. So, can anybody recommend models where the keyboard is easy to replace? Ideally not one where you have to take out everything to get to it, and then find that it's secured with plastic pegs that have been melted to hold it in place. Fairly easy screen replacement would be a bonus, but keyboard replacement is the most important.

 

Many thanks.

[6Foot2]

We found that our Dell laptops were easy to repair in both respects (screen and keyboard)

 

Part availability was good too.

 

I can't say how this compares with the ease of the same operation(s) or parts availability for other makes of laptops.

[dhicks]

So, can anybody recommend models where the keyboard is easy to replace?

 

Seemingly, Lenovo's latest laptop models are all designed with easy repair / component replacement in mind - the T Series in particular, not sure if that extends downwards to the lower-end devices yet. We've gotten on okay with their Chromebooks over the past few years, I'd guess there would be the Windows equivilent school-orientated devices - quite robust, with rubber bumpers around the outside to prtect a bit more against knocks.

 

VeryPC or Stone might also be worth a try - I think they build their own latops from generic carcases, which I assume means parts are quite easily available to swap in. We've found VeryPC's fix-me-quick support to be very good in the past, too.

[LeMarchand]

Other ideas here: https://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/236730-repairable-laptops-2023-a.html

[altecsole]

We found that our Dell laptops were easy to repair in both respects (screen and keyboard)

 

Thanks. I've had good experience with Dell in the past, but I think it probably depends on the model whether it's easy to fit replacements.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Seemingly, Lenovo's latest laptop models are all designed with easy repair / component replacement in mind - the T Series in particular, not sure if that extends downwards to the lower-end devices yet. We've gotten on okay with their Chromebooks over the past few years, I'd guess there would be the Windows equivilent school-orientated devices - quite robust, with rubber bumpers around the outside to prtect a bit more against knocks.

 

VeryPC or Stone might also be worth a try - I think they build their own latops from generic carcases, which I assume means parts are quite easily available to swap in. We've found VeryPC's fix-me-quick support to be very good in the past, too.

 

I've a meeting with Stone later this week, so I'll be asking this question. VeryPC and Lenovo are options I hadn't considered, so I'll take a look at those. Many thanks.

[altecsole]

Other ideas here: https://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/236730-repairable-laptops-2023-a.html

Thank you. Don't know how my search missed this.

[DalekSec]

We have Lenovo T480s, easy to fix and repair most of it!

[bald_pig]

Panasonic toughbook? Try and eliminate the need to repair them by getting something that can withstand abuse?

[6Foot2]

Panasonic toughbook? Try and eliminate the need to repair them by getting something that can withstand abuse?

 

I feel sure that our less cooperative students would have seen this as a "challenge to be overcome"

 

😖

[Fazza]

I feel sure that our less cooperative students would have seen this as a "challenge to be overcome"

 

😖

 

Rather than actual damage/wear to the keyboards I'd assume (from personal experience at our Academy) that they will prise off the keys and eat them (no idea what they do with them) so having a toughbook wouldnt stop that issue. A cheap laptop with a removable keyboard. Might have to look at older refurb laptops as a large proportion of modern laptops are all held in place with plastic rivets.

[altecsole]

Many thanks for the replies. It looks like refurbished may be the only option, so I'll keep loooking.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Hi @altecsole our @VeryPC laptops are a cynch to repair and spares don't cost the earth. Happy to arrange a trial unit if interested?

Best,

Col

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Hp EliteBooks and Dell Latitudes are a doddle to repair. They're built to military standards for durability and are pretty modular.

I've swapped out most parts on both the 840 g5/6 and dell 5490. Our premium refurb options are both cheap AND in gorgeous condition too!

[altecsole]

Hi @altecsole our @VeryPC laptops are a cynch to repair and spares don't cost the earth. Happy to arrange a trial unit if interested?

Best,

Col

Thanks Colin. I've had a quote from for Thinbook and Flexbook.

[altecsole]

Hp EliteBooks and Dell Latitudes are a doddle to repair. They're built to military standards for durability and are pretty modular.

I've swapped out most parts on both the 840 g5/6 and dell 5490. Our premium refurb options are both cheap AND in gorgeous condition too!

 

Thanks Dave. Would you like to let me have a quote for 10? These will be used for Internet, Word, and not much else.