Will We Ever Be Able To Build Our Own Laptops?

I recall the days when a visit to Newegg typically resulted in a shopping spree that even women would have thought was outrageous. It is a fun and empowering experience; not to mention that there is something special about booting up your own computer that you dedicated the time to build. However, when you cut the cord, the fun ends. So why have computer builders been denied the same experience for laptops?

Hardcore geeks have appreciated the fact that consumers could purchase computer components and end up with a completely customized system that fit the user's needs. Do you need 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage in your 64-bit number-crunching workstation? It's no problem, at least for desktops.

For years, the idea has been that users would be able to mix and match components easily with notebooks, as is done with desktops.

Unfortunately, consumers are not seeing any progress. Even more disappointing is the fact that those working in the industry don't either: "When that phase will happen, I couldn't tell you," David Forster, director of channel relations for Antec (which creates parts for individual computer builders), told ExtremeTech in an interview about this very issue.

But why is that? Is interest dropping from the DIYers? Well, considering that the number of tech-savvy people in the world is constantly growing, it is doubtful. Perhaps the PC manufacturers are afraid that they would lose profits if people went to third parties for their laptop needs, which is certainly more likely. But even then, companies should be willing to step up and offer these swappable components if people are willing to pay.

Admittedly, there have been attempts at this. For example, Asus introduced a heavily customizable, upgradeable notebook in the past with the C90. But not much has become of it, and that is, in a word, perplexing.

So what is it about fully customizable laptops that isn't working? Unfortunately, there is no definite answer in sight.

Is the dream of the home-built laptop dead? It might be coming to that point — especially with companies like Apple and Google locking down their hardware. People these days have been flocking towards closed and integrated systems, which, admittedly, can be more reliable, but the lack of control is disappointing.

Instead of upgrading a computer every year, we are urged to purchase a new laptop every year or two instead. Is this a lost opportunity for the tech industry?

Then again, the majority are satisfied with what they have and don't feel the need to upgrade — they probably don't even know the difference between the RAM and the CPU. And maybe most people prefer to buy new laptops every few years. But I am not one of them.

At the very least, the option to swap out parts for improved performance (like the CPU, graphics card, or motherboard) would be nice, right? It certainly couldn't hurt.

To the initial question — if we will ever be able to build our own laptop computers — the answer is an unconvincing maybe, with more doubt than hope. There has to be more demand from consumers. But I don't see this happening, at least not any time in the near future.

Technology — mobile tech in particular — continues to get smaller and more complex on a monthly basis, which makes the hope of fully customizable, modifiable, and upgradeable laptops seem like a pipe dream.

Regardless, when all is said and done, maybe we will have a revolution of customization in mobile technology, just as we have had with Apple products that are fairly closed systems. It is a cycle of control and freedom. Things have gotten so out of hand with viruses, bugs, hardware incompatibilities, and numerous other issues, that it is no longer worth the hassle to deal with certain systems.

But it is almost certain that if or when companies continue to take away too much control away from their users, they will look to open solutions.