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This article outlines the various anti-consumer measures used in the Lenovo X1 Carbon series of laptops. Some concepts may overlap with Lenovo's general practices.
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=== Hardware Vendor Lockout (BIOS Whitelist) ===
This article outlines the various anti-consumer measures used in the Lenovo X1 Carbon series of laptops. Some concepts may overlap with [[Lenovo]]'s general practices, a Chinese-American multinational technology company.
Some (most) models of the Lenovo X1 Carbon will fail to POST if the user changes their WWAN broadband card to a WWAN card that is not on the Lenovo Vendor Whitelist<ref>https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/ThinkPad_mobile_Internet</ref>. If a user intends to use a WWAN card manufactured by another company, which are typically cheaper than the Lenovo factory-installed WWAN cards, the computer will not boot until the user removes the card. Evasion of these whitelists has been outlined in the ArchLinux wiki, but success is very limited. The intent behind this vendor-lockout is ambiguous, and not well-documented officially by Lenovo. Lenovo currently charges $298 USD to install a Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub6 from the factory<ref>[[File:Lenovo store screenshot.png|thumb]]
 
</ref>. Some used options of similar modems can be purchased for $150 USD<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/itm/296886818084?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Zmer97QERgG&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/296886818084]</ref>. 4G modems can be purchased for even less<ref>https://www.ebay.com/itm/196914042141</ref>.
===Hardware-vendor lockout (BIOS whitelist)===
Most models of the Lenovo X1 Carbon will fail to post if the user changes their WWAN broadband card to a WWAN card that is not on the Lenovo Vendor Whitelist.<ref name=":1">[https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/ThinkPad_mobile_Internet "ThinkPad mobile Internet"] - wiki.archlinux.org</ref> If a user intends to use a WWAN card manufactured by another company, which are typically cheaper than the Lenovo factory-installed WWAN cards, the computer will not boot until the user removes the card. Evasion of these whitelists has been outlined in the Arch Linux wiki,<ref name=":1" /> but success is very limited.  
 
====Resulting cost for the consumer====
Lenovo currently charges $298 USD to install a Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub6 from the factory.<ref name=":0" />  
[[File:Lenovo store screenshot.png|thumb|right| Pricing options for WWAN card (Lenovo X1 Carbon gen2) <ref name=":0"> [[:File:Lenovo store screenshot.png|Screenshot or pricing options for WWAN card of Lenovo Laptop]]</ref>]]
 
Some used options of similar modems can, at the time of writing, be purchased for $150 USD.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/itm/296886818084 "Quectel RM520N-GL"] - ebay.com - 17 Jan 2025 - Archived Page: https://archive.is/IkmZV</ref> 4G modems can be purchased for less.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/itm/196914042141 "NEW Dell V8KN6 Sierra Wireless AirPrime EM7455 DW5811e LTE 4G WWAN Card"] - ebay.com - 17 Jan 2025 - Archived Page: https://archive.is/uSubr</ref>
 
==Hardware==
==Thinkpad x1 carbon sub series==
===Hinge problems===
Contrary to the company's reputation, the laptop has a number of hinge issues that are generally not found elsewhere in the company. source: salem techsperts, ifixit <!-- Citation needs fixing. --> 
 
====Hinge problem - Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga====
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x380yoga_hmm_en.pdf see page 94 - Removal steps of the LCD hinges 
 
https://laptopmedia.com/highlights/inside-lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-10th-gen-disassembly-and-upgrade-options/
 
====Glued lid and LCD durability on 10th gen Thinkpad x1 laptops====
There are reports of the display panel being held to the lid by glue.<ref>https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/772580/How+to+replace+the+LCD+screen+without+replacing+the+whole+lid</ref>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Lenovo X1 Carbon]]

Latest revision as of 19:41, 2 March 2025

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This article outlines the various anti-consumer measures used in the Lenovo X1 Carbon series of laptops. Some concepts may overlap with Lenovo's general practices, a Chinese-American multinational technology company.

Hardware-vendor lockout (BIOS whitelist)[edit | edit source]

Most models of the Lenovo X1 Carbon will fail to post if the user changes their WWAN broadband card to a WWAN card that is not on the Lenovo Vendor Whitelist.[1] If a user intends to use a WWAN card manufactured by another company, which are typically cheaper than the Lenovo factory-installed WWAN cards, the computer will not boot until the user removes the card. Evasion of these whitelists has been outlined in the Arch Linux wiki,[1] but success is very limited.

Resulting cost for the consumer[edit | edit source]

Lenovo currently charges $298 USD to install a Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub6 from the factory.[2]

Pricing options for WWAN card (Lenovo X1 Carbon gen2) [2]

Some used options of similar modems can, at the time of writing, be purchased for $150 USD.[3] 4G modems can be purchased for less.[4]

Hardware[edit | edit source]

Thinkpad x1 carbon sub series[edit | edit source]

Hinge problems[edit | edit source]

Contrary to the company's reputation, the laptop has a number of hinge issues that are generally not found elsewhere in the company. source: salem techsperts, ifixit

Hinge problem - Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga[edit | edit source]

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x380yoga_hmm_en.pdf see page 94 - Removal steps of the LCD hinges

https://laptopmedia.com/highlights/inside-lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-10th-gen-disassembly-and-upgrade-options/

Glued lid and LCD durability on 10th gen Thinkpad x1 laptops[edit | edit source]

There are reports of the display panel being held to the lid by glue.[5]

References[edit | edit source]