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Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

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31–40 of 455 posts

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#31

This is an excellent step for protecting MacBook Pro users against hardware invasions (such as US and China border authorities). If you trust the user to replace hardware, you permit the user’s hardware to be altered by malicious actors. By restricting final approval of hardware replacement to a vetted subset of all humanity, you ensure that it’s vastly more difficult for the vast majority of malicious humanity. Yes,…

I highly doubt that’s Apple’s reason considering they didn’t give a comment when asked for one

Apple rarely comments on anything. You can't make assertions based on that.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#32

This is an excellent step for protecting MacBook Pro users against hardware invasions (such as US and China border authorities). If you trust the user to replace hardware, you permit the user’s hardware to be altered by malicious actors. By restricting final approval of hardware replacement to a vetted subset of all humanity, you ensure that it’s vastly more difficult for the vast majority of malicious humanity. Yes,…

"By restricting final approval of hardware replacement to a vetted subset of all humanity, you ensure that it’s vastly more difficult for the vast majority of malicious humanity."

This is a foolish statement.

Any bad actors with power can just add themselves to that subset of humanity - this is the same reason we dont add software special backdoors that only special sets of humanity can unlock.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#33
post #19

What would it take to reverse this? How about protests at one of their events? Changing Tim Cook's mind is all that's needed.

Speak with your wallet - stop buying Apple products. Tim + the shareholders would notice that.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#34
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The number of users who simply want/need cheaper repairs and upgrades dwarfs those who are at risk of getting their hardware bugged by state-sponsored actors. And considering these laptops are made in China in the first place, any assurances of security are already moot. If security was the primary concern, Apple would sell this as a separate model variant (manufactured in the USA) and charge a lot more for it.

I also used to believe that privacy was only for spys but I have very quickly changed my position. Gays, minorities, journalists, dissidents, whistleblowers etc are all being targeted and jailed in many countries in the world. And in China it's entire swathes of the general public. And so much of this is directly attributable to lax privacy and security. And I don't know believe that there is a huge market for cheape…

Why not sell to both markets?

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#35

I never understood Apple with this. They fight hard to make long lasting devices (iOS 12 can be installed all the way back on the 5s IIRC), but then fight back against repairability

It's a tradeoff between owner repairability and security.

And Apple is betting that the second is more important. This isn't a black/white issue. It's which shade of grey you prefer.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#36

This is an excellent step for protecting MacBook Pro users against hardware invasions (such as US and China border authorities). If you trust the user to replace hardware, you permit the user’s hardware to be altered by malicious actors. By restricting final approval of hardware replacement to a vetted subset of all humanity, you ensure that it’s vastly more difficult for the vast majority of malicious humanity. Yes,…

What about protecting our computers from Apple? I’m far more concerned about them dictating our future than China.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#37

This is an excellent step for protecting MacBook Pro users against hardware invasions (such as US and China border authorities). If you trust the user to replace hardware, you permit the user’s hardware to be altered by malicious actors. By restricting final approval of hardware replacement to a vetted subset of all humanity, you ensure that it’s vastly more difficult for the vast majority of malicious humanity. Yes,…

Prohibiting 3rd party repairs doesn't make you any safer than you are now. If you were concerned about hardware attacks you could continue to bring your computer to the apple store, and never have to worry. All this action does is remove options for those of us who do wanna fix their own machines. And this is assuming you trust apple to inspect their parts closely. Their computers are still made in china. Why couldn'…

> All this action does is remove options for those of us who do wanna fix their own machines.

I don't see how this removes any choices. It's still possible to buy other non-Apple hardware that doesn't have those restrictions.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#38
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The number of users who simply want/need cheaper repairs and upgrades dwarfs those who are at risk of getting their hardware bugged by state-sponsored actors. And considering these laptops are made in China in the first place, any assurances of security are already moot. If security was the primary concern, Apple would sell this as a separate model variant (manufactured in the USA) and charge a lot more for it.

I also used to believe that privacy was only for spys but I have very quickly changed my position. Gays, minorities, journalists, dissidents, whistleblowers etc are all being targeted and jailed in many countries in the world. And in China it's entire swathes of the general public. And so much of this is directly attributable to lax privacy and security. And I don't know believe that there is a huge market for cheape…

The repair market for Apple products isn't huge precisely because Apple has done everything it can to kill it.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#39
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The number of users who simply want/need cheaper repairs and upgrades dwarfs those who are at risk of getting their hardware bugged by state-sponsored actors. And considering these laptops are made in China in the first place, any assurances of security are already moot. If security was the primary concern, Apple would sell this as a separate model variant (manufactured in the USA) and charge a lot more for it.

I also used to believe that privacy was only for spys but I have very quickly changed my position. Gays, minorities, journalists, dissidents, whistleblowers etc are all being targeted and jailed in many countries in the world. And in China it's entire swathes of the general public. And so much of this is directly attributable to lax privacy and security. And I don't know believe that there is a huge market for cheape…

In Asia you can get an iMac sad upgrade done for $10. You just supply the ssd. If you buy the disk from the shop the margin is tiny.

You can get an iPhone screen repaired for peanuts. Apple quoted $190 to do it. Shop did it for $95.

Speakers replaced on a MacBook Pro? $45.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#40
So, with more of this happening, I have a bigger question for HN.

Why does used Apple hardware command a premium, even years later? Is this really come down to status?

I don't think I need to discuss the anti-user features that Apple does. This crowd is more than aware.

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