Insurance companies around the world have reported marked increases in claims for accidental damage of laptops, with liquid spillages the most common. Admiral, for example, reported a 31 per cent rise in claims for damaged laptops between March 2020 and March 2021, compared with the year before.
But, even setting aside the machines nuked by fizzy drinks or hot tea, there has been a huge amount of general wear and tear.
Pre-Covid, laptops were valued in terms of their portability: size, weight and battery life. If we could easily pop them into a bag and take them on our travels, we were happy.