If random Chinese companies got a hold of Apple parts it would make Apple sell the parts cheaper than they would if there was no competition. When you fix your car you can get dealer parts or you can get parts from AutoZone. I've worked on iPhones myself. Some repairs are straightforward others would have been made simpler by having some schematics. Let's face facts that Apple isn't concerned with customer safety as much as how this law would affect their bottom line. If you could buy new screen panels from Apple would you be less inclined to buy AppleCare?
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Apple Planning to Fight Proposed 'Right to Repair' Legislation
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You can stop giving Apple money for a start.
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Why is that a shame? You buy what you want. Who cares about Apple? If they were not doing the right thing, then they will fall. Simple as that. Stop caring about any company and just get the stuff you need.
"Right to repair" legislation is a terrible intrusion on the free market. In many cases, it will make products worse.
Note, though, that while legislation is a terrible vehicle for fostering repairability, we as consumers should vote with our feet when companies unduly restrict repairability.
Note, though, that while legislation is a terrible vehicle for fostering repairability, we as consumers should vote with our feet when companies unduly restrict repairability.
This is a classic example of a joke that writes itself.
Apple's original parts... some of which are probably (sort of joking here) manufactured in the same factories as the stuff from random Chinese companies.Bigger question. Why would these Chinese companies want Apple's OEM parts anyway? I assume you're talking about companies making fake Apple products. OEM is no advantage to them. They're making fakes and it's not like an average consumer can tell the difference between Gorilla Glass and a replacement panel. Same goes for any other part.
Tell that to the tractor operators in Iowa who, while being able to physically replace a part on John Deere tractors, find that the tractor refuses to be functional because of a simple software lock.
https://www.wired.com/2015/04/dmca-ownership-john-deere/
I think we're more on the same page than we are not. I realize (and you seem to acknowledge I do) that this proposed legislation is not about making products simpler to repair but rather about exposing service information and making OEM replacement parts available to the general public. It seems many of those in support of this concept think it goes further though. My comment is in line with yours that this will NOT address use of glue or solder in construction. Anyone cheerleading this in the hopes that they'll be able to easily open and replace components on their Apple devices should it pass is mistaken.
Seems I misremembered the iFixit scores of late though, perhaps it's Apple Watch I'm remembering with a 0 score?
Personally I don't buy second hand items (well electronics anyway) and I would have no problem paying Apple's rates if I ever had an item needing a chargeable repair. I'm going to border on FUD here but I would think that those who DO rely on the second hand market would see this a one more potential pitfall to buying used though. Not only do you have to be concerned about condition/prior damage but now you have to worry about the quality of installation for any replacement parts. I'd expect the people on this board who would self repair are more skilled than the general populace but I wouldn't want a pre-owned iPhone on which some random person wanting to save some money had replaced the main board, likely not even possessing the correct tools and equipment (because the purchase of them would have evaporated the savings by self repair) to do the job correctly.
One final thought (and likewise this isn't in response to you 69mustang but rather other comments I've seen while scanning) having a partner channel requires an investment by the organization maintaining it as well and it provides them with benefit in the form of extending their reach and protecting their brand. Those that view certification of partners and restriction on component distribution as purely a cash grab aren't seeing the full picture.
edit: just to clarify, my original statement "iFixit laughs at your legislation" was meant in the sense that there's already an independent repair community for Apple products out there.
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See it from Apple's perspective. They maintain a strict control and secrecy in their supply chain. Anytime an "unauthorized" party can get into the chain, it breaks the control. I'm not blaming Apple for wanting to keep things closed. It's their stuff, so it's up to them how they want to sell/distribute, not the government.This is a classic example of a joke that writes itself.
Bigger question. Why would these Chinese companies want Apple's OEM parts anyway? I assume you're talking about companies making fake Apple products. OEM is no advantage to them. They're making fakes and it's not like an average consumer can tell the difference between Gorilla Glass and a replacement panel. Same goes for any other part.
We can bash or make jokes as much as we want, but I see it as a government forcing a company to sell their things to others. That's not really a good idea IMHO.
Fake argument after fake argument. Apple is monopolizing parts sales to wring millions of dollars in unecessary expenses from customers. Besides national defense, the government's responsibility is preventing monopolies like this. Any number of Louis Rossman's video's highlight Apple's utter disdain for customers. $750 repairs for computers that aren't worth that much, $750 repairs when a independent service center can do it for a fraction of that:
I'm struggling to understand what you mean. Can you help please? Thank you. For instance:
Apple's parts are leaked all the time, and certainly available to clone by simply buying an Apple product and taking it apart.
Or do you mean, what if a Chinese company could buy a bunch of (x official part) and use it in their own device? My first thought is that would be an expensive way to go, since replacement parts would likely not be cheap. My second thought is that many parts are available already and I don't think anyone does this.
Yes sir, that's FUD for sure
I'd much rather buy a second hand device (or car or whatever) that was repaired by someone using stock parts and an official manual, than unknown parts and guessing how to do it.
Now you are taking it to the ridiculous level. Repairing a chip is far different from opening a phone and replacing the whole main board. Or the battery. Or the screen. I am not talking about component level repair on a circuit board. No one is. No one is saying change what's in the phone. Innovation is not going to be stifled. The OEM's are making the parts anyway. They are making the service manuals anyway. Just make them available to the public so if someone wants to try to fix it themselves, they can. They don't have to educate anyone. There would be no additional costs to them.
Sorry to hear about your car. Choose more wisely next time. But at least you HAD a choice.
And what do you say to those of us who own products Apple has arbitrarily declared "obsolete"? THEY won't repair it and they want to prevent me from either doing it myself or hiring a qualified Third-party. The car analogy fits perfectly here. Imagine going to [Car Manufacturer X] and being told: "That model is too old. We don't repair it any more. And no, we won't allow you to have someone else fix it or for you to fix it yourself. Buy a new car." How well would you take that?
I'm glad for you you've had such great experiences. But I can ell you numerous horror stories where Apple basically told the customer: "Tough luck. We won't repair that or provide you with a replacement. Your only option is to buy a new one." It has happened to me and to many people I know.
What is there left in an Apple product that's even serviceable? Unless somebody has a ball grid array machine in their garage there's not much point. I expect pretty soon the rest of the Macs will lose their accessibility for upgrades too. In fact if the rumor about the iphone-like coprocessor comes to fruition I expect the entire line (since they will likely drop the Mac pro, let's face it) to go to unserviceable form factors.
I did it at the Genius' own suggestion, after I balked at their ridiculous $80 price (for a battery that was only 14 months old.)
If I had been lucky like you, Apple would have simply replaced the battery no questions asked...
So I guess when Apple's legal team got together to formulate a BS plan to stop 'right to repair' and protect their bacon, someone said why not scare them with the possibility of the battery catching on fire during the repair. Should work given all of the negative publicity associated with battery fires, courtesy of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7. At that point I guess Tim and everyone clapped their rear ends off and said well done. Fear works if you use the right words.
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I oppose many companies, the only real option I have is to live in a shack in the woods, I'll pass on that though and prefer people to use their democratic options to set the rules that companies just like anyone else ought to respect and abide by.
Just like Apple has a right to object this proposed law you have a right to support and push for it.
Maybe it's time I put it in my signature, but I'll come right back to Apple after considering Android and Windows as primary drivers and having yelled and cried there.
Case in point is as a customer you have zero obligation to suck it up and buy OR shop alternatives. You can communicate your discontent AND shop "the least bad" option, because no, not always is there a "best good" option if you understand what I'm trying to say here.
Glassed Silver:win
I've got the same machine. It's faster than many of the supported Macs, and since it's made from server parts, it's really built to last. And now they declare it too old to run their OS that's basically the same as the past 3 versions. They really want me to switch to Linux, don't they? Ironically, BSD and Linux will support my Mac for decades.
If that authorized service center was backed by a company I trust (Apple), and the cost wasn't really any greater, I say fantastic.
And that's what we currently have with Apple.
You trust Apple and that's good. This proposal wouldn't affect you. You could continue to get repairs at Apple or their authorized partners... contingent, as you say, on the cost not being really any greater. That's typically not the case though. Often there is a substantial difference in cost; both from Apple and in my analogy about Ford.
Apple will replace screens, batteries and some other components in store.
Right to repair is not just about iPhones but laptops too.
Its also not about consumers doing repairs themselves but allowing service centers the service manuals to be able to perform the work.
If you bring the car in for a repair and the third party repair facility bungles the repair and breaks something!that is under warranty, ford is not obligated to provide a warranty repair on what was broken. This should be the case with Apple and third party repair.
Nothing wrong with third party repair, but don't expect Apple to fix another's "mess".
The fact that they have monopolized it this long is already crazy. Imagine if you couldn't go buy your own oil filter from the dealership you bought your car from?
Seems absurd right? If someone wants to repair their own stuff or bring it to someone else, they should be able to. Not all of the devices that need work are under warranty. Give the consumer options.
Seems absurd right? If someone wants to repair their own stuff or bring it to someone else, they should be able to. Not all of the devices that need work are under warranty. Give the consumer options.
Not sure of the point of your argument. No one is saying Apple should be responsible for another company's faulty repair. Least of all me. The proposed law doesn't say that either.
I guess so?Right, so we agree.
No snark, I still have no idea what point you were trying to make.