HP is making a ‘Carfax’ for used PCs
In the event you’ve ever tried to purchase a used automotive in America, you recognize about Carfax. It’s a service that provides you a breakdown of a selected car’s historical past, together with necessary stuff like confirmed mileage, providers, and any accidents. HP needs to make one thing comparable for used computer systems. It’s calling it PCFax. No factors for originality.
In a report from the IEEE (through Tom’s {Hardware}), HP lays out a plan for a system that may analyze a used laptop’s {hardware} and spit out a historical past and well being report primarily based on telemetry collected by the firmware. The mandatory information is saved on the SSD and unable to be altered by the consumer (at the very least in idea). The report consists of essential information like the pc’s mannequin, {hardware} stats, manufacturing date, guarantee data, a historical past of each software program and {hardware} service, and possession historical past.
In fact, a number of that data depends on human enter and documentation—which is the place the opposite shoe on this story drops. PCFax is a proprietary system counting on HP {hardware} and software program, and at the very least for the time being it’s solely being made out there to HP’s enterprise and industrial shoppers. So, not like the Carfax system that HP invoked in its description, it’s not precisely common data. You’ll be able to’t simply say “present me the PCFax” for those who’re shopping for a laptop computer on eBay or Fb Market.
HP
Nonetheless, there’s indication that HP is planning to deliver this method to extra than simply the button-down brigade after it launches in 2026. “For enterprises and customers buying second-life PCs, it supplies detailed visibility into the whole service and help historical past of every system, together with any repairs, upgrades, or efficiency points encountered throughout its preliminary deployment.”
It could be good if HP opened up this method to different producers with a extra standardized strategy. Ifs and buts, sweet and nuts, and so on. However cynicism apart, it’s good to see an organization dedicated to squeezing some extra life out of its {hardware} and opening up extra economical choices to cut back e-waste.