The quiet comeback of boring computing: why ports, keyboards, and repairability matter again
Up until fairly recently, laptop design followed a similar pattern, no matter whether you were picking a new Windows laptop or a MacBook.
Machines became thinner, many premium models shed ports, keyboards lost travel, and more components were soldered or glued into place.
Some companies presented these updates couched in the language of progress, even if they made computers less useful, less comfortable to use, and harder to keep alive over multiple years.
In 2026, the mood seems to be beginning to shift. HDMI and card slots have returned to premium laptops, and many manufacturers are paying closer attention to keyboards, batteries, and repair access.
Leading the way, Framework has turned replaceable hardware into its defining idea, and even Apple is showing signs that a modern laptop does not need to be an entirely sealed unit.
None of this is glamorous, which is part of the appeal: the next...
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