So you backed this super servicable and upgradeable computer… I’m curious how many years of personal computing you hope to cover with this device.
I got more than 10 useful years out of my old laptop - so hoping for 20 years or more with the Reform Next doesn’t seem too far fetched for me. I’m picturing grandpa me with a purple computer. What service life do you hope for?
I am typing this on an MNT classic Reform with A311D. Looking at the old shop.mntre.com emails, that device is from November 2021. So it already survived 5 of the 10 years you got out of your own laptop.
Before the Reform we had thinkpads from the Lenovo Thinkpad T-series. The T410, T420, T430 and T440s. None of them survived 10 years but I was able to use them to provide spare parts to each other. The things that failed first were usually the keyboard and the plastic housing. I’m not worried about that with the reform because the mechanical keyboard seems more durable and the body is made from aluminum not plastic.
The Thinkpad x230 that I am using to type this message as more than 13 years now. It have now its third battery its connectors are slowly dying. And I have backed for a Reform Next to replace it.
I am confident I will get the Next before the current one is completly dead.
And I hope it will last as long as the current one.
Anyway the Next seem both solid and easier to repair in case of problem.
Since the design is open it has the potential to last indefinitely. As long as replacement parts could be made. MNT is a heirloom worthy piece of tech.