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Apple trying to take down Ifixit?
- Thread starter Silver78
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"He fixes things that Apple’s repair Geniuses couldn’t in their wildest dreams."
That says it all really. he reckons he's smarter than Apple geniuses... Is this guy for real ?
Apple designs their own Mac's... They know what is wrong. Unless u take into account specific component Apple can't point the finger too, but if its on the logic board who really cares,, it can't be replaced anyway individually since Apple doesn't socket their chips etc ..
If it turns out to be software, Apple will get you to re-install OS. if it's hardware, then either screen or logic board would be replaced.... Seems simple.
That says it all really. he reckons he's smarter than Apple geniuses... Is this guy for real ?
Apple designs their own Mac's... They know what is wrong. Unless u take into account specific component Apple can't point the finger too, but if its on the logic board who really cares,, it can't be replaced anyway individually since Apple doesn't socket their chips etc ..
If it turns out to be software, Apple will get you to re-install OS. if it's hardware, then either screen or logic board would be replaced.... Seems simple.
He never really claims he's smarter he will just replace specific things on the motherboard that Apple won't.
The smaller companies are almost always more knowledgeable than an Apple genius. When I worked for Apple years ago all service people were very knowledgeable as they were industry veterans or self taught. Now a days Apple will train anyone to be a Genius, and that training is not as good as it was back in the day. Basically Apple runs its service and support under the idea that "we tell you only what you need to know and nothing more". Laptops are not fixed in store and haven't been since 2005ish. iPads, iPhones, & Watches are no fixed in store. So really the Genius is not interacting with the hardware on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of really smart people in that position....but most are just "specialists" upgraded. It is not like the early days. Look at the early service source documents and you will see what I mean. They are all "do this, try that, replace/reinstall." There really isn't an emphasis on figuring out the problem, more how can we quickly solve it. Reinstall the OS is usually the first place they go.
Like I said, there are some really good Geniuses, but that is not because of their Apple training.
I guess that you need to learn a bit more about this guy. He IS* smarter or at least more versed in the guts of Apple hardware and their repair. Glad others here have schooled you on the fact that Apple Store staff are not equipped to do the things this guy does nor do most have the experience/ability. If that is the measure of "smarter" than he certainly is smarter than the Apple geniuses.
His notion of right to repair speaks volumes to many of us. Nothing sadder than someone with an Apple product that has some "could be repaired" problem and the Apple Store insists on simply replacing the item with a cleaned up 2nd hand replacement. This goes on all the time with iPhones and iPads. Typical problems might be found in the port/jacks that if some time was spent and a couple of dollars, people could keep their original investment. The list goes on.
Folks like iFixIt and OWC in the past made it possible to upgrade systems that Apple wont. Whether it was a larger SSD offering or adding (back then) a 2nd hard drive where the disc read/writer went.
Apple once again furthers the point -
OSX is held hostage by the hardware
and
PCs are held hostage by Windows (Linux of course excluded)
In my business, we write and publish about a different very large company that is also very protective of its image and IP. One of the things we learned quickly is the things they care about are not necessarily the things that we or the public might imagine they'd care about. The few "concerns" they expressed to us over the years turned out to be easy for us to fix, with no violation of editorial integrity.
The follow-up report suggests something similar may be happening here. I hope I'm right.
This is not likely about who knows more about repairing Apple products, or whether independent experts and journalists have the right to develop and present their own coverage of a topic. They do. What's more likely at play here is the intersection with copyrighted publications (schematics) and trademarks. Did he show too much of the schematics for the company's taste (what constitutes Fair Use is always arguable)? Is the company's name, logo, or other trademarks used in such a way that the company believes the public may think it's an official company production? Those tend to be things that can be tweaked, rather than grounds for a total take-down.
The follow-up report suggests something similar may be happening here. I hope I'm right.
This is not likely about who knows more about repairing Apple products, or whether independent experts and journalists have the right to develop and present their own coverage of a topic. They do. What's more likely at play here is the intersection with copyrighted publications (schematics) and trademarks. Did he show too much of the schematics for the company's taste (what constitutes Fair Use is always arguable)? Is the company's name, logo, or other trademarks used in such a way that the company believes the public may think it's an official company production? Those tend to be things that can be tweaked, rather than grounds for a total take-down.
That's the problem. Finding someone who can repair a Mac without expensive wholesale experimental part replacements. OK if it's in warranty, not if user is paying. Sometimes can be a simple connector fix.
Apple's MO is to replace the logic board and not look to repair the defective component on the logic board. I think for the most part, they want to streamline the process, to easily process all repairs that come through their facility, instead of taking time to individually repair each laptop.
Sure but Apple shouldn't try to stop him either.
There's more to the story but you have to follow his videos to try to get to the bottom of it.
Years ago (90's-2003ish) they used to send the defective parts to a handful of 3rd party remanufacturing companies to refurbish them. For example Preowned Electronics was one of them. Back when they were around it was very easy to get parts. I am not sure what Apple does now...but they may just toss them.
ok,,, the small things. Third part repairer can afford to do components because they have nowhere near the number of users Apple themselves as a a company must serve for repairs.
It's still about "trust" You can make a good business saying "Your a third party that will replace components" but what the user actually gets back is a busted phone with no speaker..
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Well, if Apple indeed doesn't have the number of proper repair folks available, then that is on Apple and no one else. So please tell me, is both IfixIt and OWC returning to their customers a busted phone with no speaker?
Louis Rossman is not IFIXIT.. he is an independent computer board repair specialist that is mentioned in IFIXIT's blog.
Rossman is definitely *more educated* in repair than most, as he does board level repairs for all computers including macs. *Apple geniuses* don't even come close.
ironically just watched a youtube on him calling the "reballing fix" of Apple graphic cards, complete fallacy.. -it's the quality of the card (or lack thereof) and the bad cooling design of MBPs... accoprding to him.
Maybe the issue is more with his tone..he criticizes Apple's horribly cheap hardware all the time, thinks they are made of junk(timed obsolescence junk) - but likes the software... he rants furiously on youtube at how Apple has always cut corners in the hardware dept.. Perhaps the lawyers while fans...gave him a friendly hint..
Rossman is definitely *more educated* in repair than most, as he does board level repairs for all computers including macs. *Apple geniuses* don't even come close.
ironically just watched a youtube on him calling the "reballing fix" of Apple graphic cards, complete fallacy.. -it's the quality of the card (or lack thereof) and the bad cooling design of MBPs... accoprding to him.
Maybe the issue is more with his tone..he criticizes Apple's horribly cheap hardware all the time, thinks they are made of junk(timed obsolescence junk) - but likes the software... he rants furiously on youtube at how Apple has always cut corners in the hardware dept.. Perhaps the lawyers while fans...gave him a friendly hint..
