The actual cost to OpenAI is likely much less. The number in the article is calculating the API cost that a fully maxed out subscription would incur theoretically. The API token cost, however, is far above the actual computational cost.
To make a fresh install less painful: Most applications save all user data in your home folder under .config and .local. Some others make their own .folders, which you can see pressing ctrl+h (for hidden) in your file explorer. You might save these and carry them over whenever you wipe your OS. If you save a list of installed packages from your package manager as well, you can get up and running in just a few minutes on a fresh install.
I bought a Tuxedo Polaris (Clevo) in 2020 for work.
The display backlighting was somewhat uneven from the start. The keyboard print rubbed off quickly, the rest of the laptop kept being mostly ok for 5 years, except for a dent or two. It also encased the first SSD that I’ve ever had die, possibly due to excess heat. It’s not high quality, but not flimsy either. Most colleagues had macs or dells, and they were in a significantly better shape after that time. I’d say that the clevo, in terms of build quality, is a bit below Lenovo, even though it actually used a metal chassis instead of plastic.
That being said, I feel the software support for buying a new mainstream laptop is better than what I’ve gotten from Tuxedo. Of course, the nvidia card was a problem (no suspend for half a year, after that it worked… rarely), but even the RGB keyboard did not have a driver until a couple of years after launch. TuxedoOS was Ubuntu and highly opinionated in wanting KDE, but the custom tuxedo fixes were not readily available in any other distro. Given that the selling point was the Linux support, I’ve felt that even essential drivers were updated way too late. Tuxedoos switched to Debian recently, so maybe it will be better, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. In conclusion, I couldn’t really justify paying the premium for Linux support anymore. Community support of mainstream vendors seems way better than what these small companies can offer for niche products.
I now have a Lenovo with Cachy and it’s been working great from day one, only needed to reload the Bluetooth module at times. Also don’t need to wait months until driver updates arrive. Even suspend works fine now with Intel and Nvidia.