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Seriously, if I have the money to drop $1K+ on a smartphone, you think I would cheap out on trying to repair it myself? No way, i'd rather spend the money and have either Apple or Best Buy who have the proper tools to do the job right the first time and not make it look like an amateur did the repairs. And think about it. If you try and sell a phone back to Apple or anyone else and they see it has been visibly repaired, you think you're going to get top dollar for it?
Do you really believe that the technicians that Apple, Best Buy and other stores in the mall use to repair devices are top notch?
 
That's the thing, though. Who in their right mind would choose a device whose design was optimized for easier service?

Would you rather have a thin device, or a device designed to be secured with #2 phillips head screw drivers?

Would you rather have a waterproof device, or a device that didn't feature adhesive seals?

Would you rather have a device that's durable against fall damage or a device that leaves the battery loose in the compartment?

"Repairability" as an abstract engineering principle runs counter to principles we actually care about. The goal should be to make the devices as repairable as possible without evacuating those principles -- and I think Apple does a good job with room for improvement (break up them logic boards; ain't no reason storage, IO and processing need to be on the same physical PCB)
It depends what the device is. I bought an unnecessarily expensive drip coffee maker because it’s 100% repairable, and all replacement parts are available from the manufacturer. Instead of throwing out a dirty or old coffee maker when the seals go bad, I can take mine apart to clean and replace parts as necessary. I hope to never need to purchase another coffee maker in my entire life.

I do recognize that coffee makers are different than iPhones.
 
And all the tech nerds that want to fight for “right to repair“ can also claim a victory over Apple. Meanwhile no one really wants a third-party to work on their Apple device.
Exactly, even though Apple commands a premium for their genius work. I still trust Apple to repair my devices.

This right to repair I'm not opposed to at all. But it really only caters to such a small number of Apple users. It's funny how Apple users are branded as mindless tech consumers that have no idea how computers work yet when it comes to right to repair, we assume that most Apple users can fix their own devices..
 
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Do you really believe that the technicians that Apple, Best Buy and other stores in the mall use to repair devices are top notch?

How do you know if independent shops are top notch?

If anything, Apple and Best Buy definitely have the equipment to do so. Also, in Apples case, I'm sure the people actually repairing devices aren't one of the people at the Genius Bar...
 
Questions!

Does it void the warranty?

Is SIRI going to be available if you get stuck fixing the iPhone?

Let’s be real who plans on fixing their iPhone by themselves? This all sounds very scary.

Apple: How about lowering the Applecare prices? How about lowering the prices what technician will charge you. This will be more beneficial for the consumer. I don’t think this self-repair thing will work.
I don't think it's about every individual iPhone owner repairing, literally themselves, but rather using an independent person to repair it. Those third party repair services need the knowledge guides and tools to repair, along with a device that is repairable.
 
Headline: No kidding! Very few people care about this except small groups of obsessives. And as electronics get smaller, and even more complicated, having your cousin Bud, in his basement, 'fixing' things - it ain't going to happen anymore than NASA sends up Joe the plumber to fix the space station. It takes increasing expertise and for the vast majority of consumers they have no interest in home repairs. BUT for those that want it - go ahead. But please stop making this into a 'rights' issue. There is no 'right' to repair. Will cousin Bud in the basement also perform your next medical procedure because, you know, the 'right' to repair?
Anyone who compares fixing an iPhone to a medical procedure is an idiot.
 
This is not surprising. We've become such a disposable (and lazy) society. Ice maker in the fridge no longer working? Get a new one.

I mean, replacing an iPhone battery is not a case of sliding the back off and putting a new battery in. There is nothing lazy about not wanting to tackle such a difficult procedure as an average consumer.

And still, no mention of the price of these parts/tools yet. Apple is not going to give away their repair business to the consumer. I am 99.99% certain that the cost of parts/tools vs the cost of repair by Apple will not make it worthwhile to DIY.

Smoke and mirrors from Apple. Everyone applauds before the detail is given.
 
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I think where this really matters is not for brand new devices. It matters for older devices that have been passed down to someone else and could still serve someone quite well but if they break it’s not worth to have apple fix them because of the high cost.
 
There is also the issue of trust. How do I know that some independent repair center won’t quote me Apple OEM prices and than use aftermarket parts or another customers old battery?
 
How do you know if independent shops are top notch?

If anything, Apple and Best Buy definitely have the equipment to do so. Also, in Apples case, I'm sure the people actually repairing devices aren't one of the people at the Genius Bar...
None of them are top notch because you don’t have to be top notch to fix a mobile device or laptop. Technicians with real skills are going to get better jobs at companies working with design engineering teams or manufacturing teams. They aren’t going to be the ones in the mall doing your repair. It isn’t like you are sending it to the factory that built your device. It is just some relatively low skilled person in the mall fixing your device whether it is at the Apple store or a kiosk.
 
I hope most of us are intelligent enough to know that Apple will want to sell you an entire new motherboard for a LARGE amount of money than simply replace the one 10 cent component that has actually failed.
 
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Questions!

Does it void the warranty?
Why would anyone want to fix an iPhone themselves if it's still under warranty?? It's much easier to have Apple do the work?...for free.? This is more of an out of warranty, do it at your own risk endeavor.

Back on topic, it's seems pretty obvious that only a few, almost insignificant number of people would repair their own phone. Not everyone has the necessary technical skills. Some are the Trust me, I'm an engineer type person.
 
Why would anyone want to fix an iPhone themselves if it's still under warranty?? It's much easier to have Apple do the work?...for free.? This is more of an out of warranty, do it at your own risk endeavor.

Back on topic, it's seems pretty obvious that only a few, almost insignificant number of people would repair their own phone. Not everyone has the necessary technical skills. Some are the Trust me, I'm an engineer type person.
Because I need to drive at least 30 minutes to an Apple store, drop by phone off for repair, then come back later to pick it up. That takes hours of my time and leaves me without a working phone until repaired. If I order parts myself I can do the repair on a Saturday night after the baby goes to bed. Trust me, I'm an engineer ;)
 
This is not surprising. We've become such a disposable (and lazy) society. Ice maker in the fridge no longer working? Get a new one. Still, I firmly sit in the camp that would gladly tackle - and have - some of these more frequent repairs. I'm all for easing the repair process and remain interested to learn more about pricing and other program details.


Opportunity cost. I make more money an hour than the cost of the ice maker. I could just work an hour and get something brand new. I can spend time learning about the ice maker, getting parts, doing the labor, or I can spend time with my family.
 
Earlier in the year I had to retrieve my lost ID from a TSA office at the airport, and I noticed a huge bin of full of phones and tablets off to the side. I commented about the number of devices in the bin and the agent commented that the vast majority won't be recovered - people insure against loss/theft and with the cloud making it trivial to restore from a backup, it's become easier to just get another one.

And if it is TSA in Miami and you just flew into NY or San Diego, you won't be going back to the other airport to pick it up. (Whatever airports are involved).
 
Do you really believe that the technicians that Apple, Best Buy and other stores in the mall use to repair devices are top notch?
Maybe but if they mess up I get a new iPhone if its Apple or Best Buy. If its some tiny shop good luck maybe getting your money back. I can see how this might appeal to some but the majority won't use this.
 
Questions!

Does it void the warranty?

Is SIRI going to be available if you get stuck fixing the iPhone?

Let’s be real who plans on fixing their iPhone by themselves? This all sounds very scary.

Apple: How about lowering the Applecare prices? How about lowering the prices what technician will charge you. This will be more beneficial for the consumer. I don’t think this self-repair thing will work.
Based on the cost of replacement screens from eBay. The Apple cost to replace one is more than reasonable b
 
Seems like a pretty stipupid survey. Maybe people who got a cracked screen that‘s unuseable got their phones repaired. It‘s easier to live with a weak battery. Apart from that. If it‘s like computers, then it‘s maybe only 5% doing their own repairs/upgrading. But not only for them but for at least another 50%. Personally I don‘t know anybody with a computer with upgradeable RAM who had not upgraded it over the course of the lifetime of the computer. But most of them were to lazy or scared to do it themselves, so they had a friend come over who knows how to use a screwdriver and put in some RAM modules that only fit one way.
 
I can do basic car stuff. Oil, brakes, spark plugs, alternator….most stuff I can see. I could do basic phone stuff like display and battery.
 
But that's not the point. If a person can do the repairs without having it look like someone has visibly repaired it, fine because i'm all for that. However that group is rather small because they don't have the equipment Apple uses to properly break apart an iPhone. If I trade in a device back to Apple they ask you if the device has a cracked screen and looks good. If not they have the right to give you less on the trade in. Some people are willing to take that chance, others not so.

This user repairability is just the first step. It only will only benefit most end users when Apple decides to design and engineer their devices for much easier service.
Fair, but it’s also worth noting that apples special fixtures are just so sloppy people can do repairs. I followed iFixit’s guide and used common sense as someone that works on electronics and I didn’t have any issues. You would never guess anyone opened up the device or worked on it at any point.
 
Seriously, if I have the money to drop $1K+ on a smartphone, you think I would cheap out on trying to repair it myself? No way, i'd rather spend the money and have either Apple or Best Buy who have the proper tools to do the job right the first time and not make it look like an amateur did the repairs. And think about it. If you try and sell a phone back to Apple or anyone else and they see it has been visibly repaired, you think you're going to get top dollar for it?
How is that ^ any different than this:

Seriously, if I have the money to drop $40K+ on a car, you think I would cheap out on trying to repair it myself? No way, i'd rather spend the money and have either the dealer or a mechanic who have the proper tools to do the job right the first time and not make it look like an amateur did the repairs. And think about it. If you try and sell a car back to the dealer or anyone else and they see it has been visibly repaired, you think you're going to get top dollar for it?


FYI, many people (myself included) work on, fix, and modify our own cars. Not everything requires going to a mechanic, or in this case to Apple.

But for those too afraid or incapable of doing the work themselves, then yes, have someone else do it.
 
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