Built For The Long Term.
A BlackBook S-Pro 15. One Owner. More Than Eleven Years.
In May 2015, Haydn bought a Venom BlackBook S-Pro 15.
When we checked in with him in November 2026, eleven and a half years later, it was still his main computer.
Along the way he replaced the parts that wear: three batteries, two keyboards, a drive and a Wi-Fi module.
The BlackBook itself kept going.
This ownership story records Haydn’s experience when we spoke with him in 2026. Shared with permission. Haydn’s comments are his own words, lightly edited for readability.
The Machine
Haydn bought his BlackBook S-Pro 15 in May 2015.
His view of it has not changed since:
“This computer, when new, was built for long-term future use.”
More than eleven years later, he is still using it to prove the point.
Kept Going, Not Thrown Away
A laptop used as a main computer for more than a decade wears.
Batteries age. Keyboards take years of typing.
Haydn did not replace the computer. He replaced the parts.
Over eleven years: three batteries, two keyboards, a drive and a Wi-Fi module.
Those are the replacements Haydn reported. The rest is the BlackBook he bought in 2015.
The BlackBook After Eleven Years
Haydn’s BlackBook S-Pro 15, photographed in November 2026, more than eleven years after he bought it.
Owner photos, shared with permission.
Haydn’s Verdict
Asked how the S-Pro 15 was holding up, Haydn kept it short:
“It’s still going strong.”
And when he sent the photographs in November 2026:
“Still working perfectly fine.”
His one frustration is not with the BlackBook:
“It’s a shame Microsoft is trying to send it to the scrap heap for landfill.”
A computer reaching the end of its useful life is one thing. A working computer being ruled out by a software requirement is another.
Why We Recorded This Story
Long life is not only about nothing going wrong.
It is also about what happens when a part wears out: whether it can be replaced, and whether the rest of the machine is worth keeping.
Haydn’s S-Pro 15 answered both questions. Eleven and a half years on, it was still his main computer.
That is what serviceability looks like in practice.
Ownership Snapshot
Owner: Haydn W., Melbourne
BlackBook: S-Pro 15
Purchased: May 2015
Ownership check-in: November 2026
Time as main computer: 10 years, by Haydn’s count
Replacement components: Three batteries, two keyboards, a drive and a Wi-Fi module
Status at check-in: Still in use as Haydn’s main computer
