Snap Decision

Most laptops today are sealed shut. When one part wears out, like the battery or a port, the whole laptop often gets replaced. In January 2026, Lenovo showed off a different idea at CES, a giant tech show in Las Vegas where companies reveal their newest gadgets. The top of its new ThinkPad X1 Carbon pops off with magnets, with no screws at all.

Inside, the battery comes out for repairs, and the ports you plug things into are built into the frame so they can be swapped on their own. Some fixes still need an IT expert, but others are simple enough for end users (aka the everyday people who actually use the laptop). PCMag says those take "a blink of an eye." The laptop is not fully modular, which would mean every part snaps in and out. Still, it is a big step toward tech that gets fixed instead of thrown away.

Your Task: Imagine Lenovo hired you as a teen advisor to help more teens learn about laptops built to be fixed.

1. Be Honest
Think about the last time you or your family picked out a laptop, tablet, or phone. Say what mattered most and whether anyone thought about fixing it later. Would knowing it could be fixed have changed your choice? (3 sentences.)

2. Note to Lenovo
Write a short note to Lenovo. Describe one idea for getting teens to notice these laptops, like an ad, a school event, or a change to Lenovo's website. Explain why teens would care. Then ask Lenovo one question you still have. (5 sentences.)

Want to win up to $5,000? Check out the current KnoPro Challenge: Second Life, Smarter Tech. It runs from Nov. 2nd through Nov. 6th.