It looks like Framework lit a fire at Lenovo.
Called Project Aurora, it remains in the concept phase, but is Lenovo exploring methods of execution.
Nothing tangible for consumers yet, but for the past decade Lenovo has been on this march towards consumer-hostility. First with DRM on batteries; then with keyboards built into the topcase, followed by integrated batteries; and now with some series soldered memory, network cards, and only a USB-C option.
As more traditional ThinkPad enthusiasts look at Framework and other brands, it looks like Lenovo is having second thoughts about their road towards planned obsolescence.
Even if Lenovo can get back to where they were in 2011 with repairability, it would be great.
Going a step further – allowing us to upgrade parts and motherboards over the years, would be amazing but I wouldn’t count on it.
Makes me wonder about the size of the market for enthusiasts/companies running open-source OSs on Thinkpads. I’ve personally been running OpenBSD on old Thinkpads for years. Maybe there’s more of us than I realised…?