The Latitude 5000 series crisis

[NTWKS40A]

I'm sure some, if not most of you have encountered constant issues with the more recent entries into the Latitude 5000 series (5410, 5420, 5430 just to name examples) including the silver paint layer chipping away, keyboard keys wearing away, batteries not holding up, and in my most recent experience ports breaking.
 

My most recent refurbished batch have barely held up 2 years of use. I'm now having to buy a new batch of laptops for our SEN department (for students to take back and forth between lessons) because the cost in replacing components is outweighing their value massively. Therfore, I'm in the market for an alternative. Does anyone have any recommendations (i3 16gb or equivalent, 8hr battery)?

[FN-GM]

I think your expectations around the battery are a bit off. The 5410 and 5420 laptops are 5-6 years old so the batteries won't perform well.

[NTWKS40A]

5 hours ago, FN-GM said:

I think your expectations around the battery are a bit off. The 5410 and 5420 laptops are 5-6 years old so the batteries won't perform well.

It's hard to say, because I've had E5470s & E7470s run right up until the W11 cut off, with batteries still holding a decent enough charge. But I suppose I had lost perspective on the age of these devices now! Either way, they're due for a replacement.

[DrCheese]

It's the silver paint thing that annoys me the most, makes our devices look like cheap bargain basement aldi style laptops before we've even had them a year...

 

[Homer]

Some of our harder worked 5420s are showing paint chipping and a lot of wear but most of them are holding up OK. Bought them new in 2022, and just bought some recon ones too.

 

Also rocking 5410 recons, 5430/5440 new and no issues 

 

They are for staff mind, students have 3000 series 

[Fazza]

We've got just under two dozen 5000 series laptops around the same age and the silver paint is coming off of most of them!

[jthompson]

I find the silver paint comes off most on the ones that are assigned to staff who take them in and out of cases or bags with a zip (especially metal zips). Or where they've stickered them up.

 

Other than that, the silver 5000s have worked really well for us over time. The hinges on the earlier black 5000s always worked loose and needed regular retightening, but the silver ones seem better in that regard.

[Fazza]

We purchased them as refurbished so they all have the silver peeling off them!! 🤣🤣