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IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

9to5mac.com

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Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#111

Post by tpmoney »

josephcsible wrote: post #44
tpmoney wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anyone who’s ever repaired a car has encountered one form or another of a fastener or hose that breaks or drops and can’t be easily removed because it’s in a bad place, and leaving it where it is won’t cause any harm. Does it really surprise us that small space computers would have their own version of this?

> leaving it where it is won’t cause any harm But that's apparently not the case here: > If you can’t retrieve the rest of the strip, replace the top case

Ah misunderstood the context here, I thought it was referring to cleaning up the adhesive after repair. Even still, there are plenty of bolts on a car that if you don’t do the right things to remove them, you can shear them off. Fasteners of all kinds can be broken, if you break them beyond the ability of your tools, the manual is going to tell you to take it to a shop. You can break out the screw extractor from harbor freight, or weld a new head onto the stub. But it’s unlikely the official repair manual is going to suggest that to you.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#112

Post by tpmoney »

alistairSH wrote: post #91
tpmoney wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anyone who’s ever repaired a car has encountered one form or another of a fastener or hose that breaks or drops and can’t be easily removed because it’s in a bad place, and leaving it where it is won’t cause any harm. Does it really surprise us that small space computers would have their own version of this?

Sure, but rarely does the stuck fastener require the replacement of a car's major subsystem. Stuck bolt = replace engine? That's so rare it's hardly worth discussing. But with a Mac, stuck glue strip = replace half the laptop.

Depends on the car. There’s an infamous bolt on the transmission of 6 speed 2nd gen Miata’s. If you remove that bolt accidentally instead of the fill plug near it when replacing your transmission fluid, you will need a transmission rebuild/replacement. Likewise I would imagine if you shear off the crank bolt on a car while removing the crank pulley to do replace a water pump or a seal, you’re probably in for a heck of a tear down, and depending on how bad it is to get it removed, maybe a bottom end rebuild to replace damaged parts.

Heck we still live in a world where some cars with interference engines use timing belts instead of chains. Repair that 20 belt wrong and you will indeed need a whole engine, and that assumes your got to it before it broke and ruined your engine for you.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#113

Post by wildzzz »

rocket_surgeron wrote: post #19

>This time, along with the manuals, Apple is presenting DIY repairers with a excruciating gauntlet of hurdles: read 162 pages of documentation without getting intimidated I read the PDF. https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/2000/MA2083/en_US/mac... It seems highly likely to me that anyone claiming this document is intimidating either has not read it or is lying for some reason. In many respects, the Apple document…

I looked up Apple's "black stick" because I was curious what it was. Turns out I use these all the time at work. We call them green sticks for some reason despite being black. "Plastic/nylon soldering tool" is a common name from vendors but I'm not exactly sure how useful it is for soldering since it's made out of plastic and would quickly melt. We mostly use them as a spudger or pry bar, anywhere you'd normally use a screwdriver to pry something off but don't want to mar any delicate surfaces. We also have "orange sticks" which aren't really orange but are just thin wooden dowels with an angled cut at the end you can use for situations where plastic can scratch a surface.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#114

Post by lttlrck »

suetoniusp91 wrote: post #82
reaperducer wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems highly likely to me that anyone claiming this document is intimidating either has not read it or is lying for some reason. I used to be a fan of iFixIt, and have even bought one of its larger tool kits, but have lost respect for it in the last few years. In part, because any time Apple does anything , iFixIt is there with a snarky criticism. Like it just really really really needs the clicks. I don't mind pe…

Every single person related to repairing devices hates apple. For decades they have been at the forefront "you should not be able to fix/change your device". The have created billions of lbs of trash and psyop'd millions of people through these policies, and yet their unpaid shills still come out to defend them. Disgusting

It's dishonest to ignore the longevity of well made products. Even if they are hard to repair.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#115

Post by josephcsible »

alphabettsy wrote: post #87
josephcsible wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If a car service manual said "replace the engine" (along with detailed instructions on how to do so) when a spark plug went bad, would you consider that acceptable just because the manual were released?

A more apt analogy is the spark plug is stuck, stripped or broken. In that case should they provided detailed instructions on removal where that risks destroying the engine or at least the heads?

I'd definitely risk destroying an engine if the alternative were throwing it away and replacing it while there was still a chance it was fixable. Who wouldn't?

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#116

Post by rainbowzootsuit »

vimy wrote: post #81
pilgrimfff wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iFixit praises the M1 MacBook Air service manuals by saying “they’re in-depth, mostly logical, and well worth an additional repairability point,” This is the service manual you're referencing. The one they're complaining about it is the M1 MacBook Pro. Here's the actual manual referenced: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/2000/MA2085/en_US/mac... And here's iFixIt's actual complaint: > it’s not 162 pages becau…

It’s always been like that. Bring your macbook to an Apple store for a battery replacement and they will replace the top case.

It's similar to the "Replace Engine Soon" light in a BMW.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#117

Post by kube-system »

josephcsible wrote: post #115
alphabettsy wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more apt analogy is the spark plug is stuck, stripped or broken. In that case should they provided detailed instructions on removal where that risks destroying the engine or at least the heads?

I'd definitely risk destroying an engine if the alternative were throwing it away and replacing it while there was still a chance it was fixable. Who wouldn't?

Businesses often wouldn’t. They have additional costs that you don’t have when you’re repairing your own stuff. Labor, liability, capacity, brand image, etc.

Automakers have been known to replace entire engines for recalls involving only one part of the engine, when they have concerns about one of the above factors.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#118

Post by vimy »

jagger27 wrote: post #97
vimy wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s always been like that. Bring your macbook to an Apple store for a battery replacement and they will replace the top case.

Well, it wasn’t _always_ like this. Apple used to have unibody MacBooks with user replaceable batteries without even needing a screw driver.

You're right. It started with the 2016 redesign. The reason is that the battery is glued to the case. Trying to remove it is dangerous.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#119

Post by bioemerl »

Spooky23 wrote: post #99
pilgrimfff wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iFixit praises the M1 MacBook Air service manuals by saying “they’re in-depth, mostly logical, and well worth an additional repairability point,” This is the service manual you're referencing. The one they're complaining about it is the M1 MacBook Pro. Here's the actual manual referenced: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/2000/MA2085/en_US/mac... And here's iFixIt's actual complaint: > it’s not 162 pages becau…

Modern flat lithium batteries are fairly hazardous and Apple is very conservative in their approach to handing them. They never want a Samsung like situation where the airport announcer says “No MacBook Pro 14” on the plane”. Additionally, because it’s Apple, there would be a media shitstorm if that happened.

The Samsung situation was because they shipped batteries that exploded without being modified in any way. I don't think that's a fair comparison.

Re: IFixit: Self Repair Program makes M1 MacBooks less repairable

#120

Post by overgard »

vimy wrote: post #118
jagger27 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it wasn’t _always_ like this. Apple used to have unibody MacBooks with user replaceable batteries without even needing a screw driver.

You're right. It started with the 2016 redesign. The reason is that the battery is glued to the case. Trying to remove it is dangerous.

They're glued in the 2013 retina models also (I know -- I've replaced the battery twice). To do it "properly" you pretty much have to take apart the entire thing, remove the logic board, etc., although if you're willing to cut corners you can sneak it out without too much fuss. In theory you can use a light amount of acetone to loosen the glue, but that always made me incredibly nervous so I just prodded it with a plastic spudger until I could get it free.

I would gladly trade a fancy unibody for a battery that's easily replaceable :-/

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