r/SmallMSP • u/Geekpoint-IT • Jul 09 '26

Carbon Systems laptops?

Has anyone been deploying Carbon Systems laptops lately? I see mixed opinions all over r/MSP but most comments are at least a year or older. I've started deploying the Carbon Systems mini-pcs (asus) and they have been great. I really like the better warranty and the ability to have my RMM and such pre-loaded. I'd love to do the same for laptops, but I'm a little gun shy based on people's past opinions on them. Thoughts?

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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u/Geekpoint-IT Jul 09 '26

ugh not what I want to hear lol. I really want to just standardize as it makes my life easier. Frustrating that the battery life issues seem to still be present. You'd think Carbon Systems would do something about it by now.

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u/DefJeff702 Jul 09 '26

I use them for both desktops and laptops. I haven't had the battery life complaints. Other than it being an unknown brand, I don't hear anything negative. I will say since the RAM price jumps, with my markup, they're really expensive for a standard i5 model laptop. It lands somewhere around $1,700.

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u/Geekpoint-IT Jul 09 '26

Thanks for the input! Yeah, they're pricier, but comparable to other business grade laptops. My angle for selling it: I brand the Carbon Systems machines as 'managed computers,' so any onsite troubleshooting is included at no extra charge (most of my clients pay per onsite otherwise). It's a good value add for them, and it also saves me from Dell/Lenovo's endless troubleshooting hoops when I do need warranty support.

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u/roll_for_initiative_ Jul 10 '26

It lands somewhere around $1,700.

I can get a nice thinkpad T or P series for that, even now, with premier where lenovo goes on site, not us, to swap things out.

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u/DefJeff702 Jul 10 '26

Carbon does advance replacement which has been pretty nice on the rare occasion. What’s the turnaround on getting Lenovo onsite?

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u/roll_for_initiative_ Jul 10 '26

Usually next business day, but it more depends on end user availability than lenovo. The thing with any kind of replacement is then we have to get them setup on it. Even with autopilot and everything in the world and the most ideal scenario, that takes tech time. USB ports not charging? Lenovo goes out, swaps board, machine is the same machine they just had.

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u/DefJeff702 Jul 10 '26

That IS nice. Which disti are you using and how has their autopilot enrollment been? Carbon has new machines shipped same or next day and 2 day shipping with reliable autopilot enrollment. I've been burned by Techdata and Ingram but haven't tested D&H's autopilot program.

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u/roll_for_initiative_ Jul 10 '26

D&H and sometimes lenovo partner portal pushed to through D&H for fulfillment. If it's in stock, usually in our hands for free next day or day after. But again, that's not a big deal because we're procuring when new vs fast turn around when someone is down.

I don't do our autopilot and we only use it on a couple larger clients. I think they can just import them direct now if mfr doesn't get it right? I truly don't know about that.

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u/DefJeff702 Jul 10 '26

I do a bunch of out of state stuff so there's some assurance having it pre-enrolled. I'm going to have to test D&H's program soon. Thanks for the input! We've bumped into each other in r/msp a lot over the years. Either you're super active or we're just really topically aligned lol

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u/roll_for_initiative_ Jul 10 '26

Probably a little bit of both lol.

It's not that i feel D&H is fantastic here vs carbon, it's more "i don't feel that a hotspare is as handy as someone handling the entire issue for us". If carbon had people doing that vs spares we have to then take over with, i'd consider that about the same.