Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#131

Post by volkl48 » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 3:56 AM UTC

encom wrote: post #52

egsmi wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can understand the battery but admit the case is weaker for screen and other components. If someone gets hurt using an Apple product it’s international news [1] and everyone ignores the reports 5 days later when it shown they were using a counterfeit. So I can understand why Apple would care. Keep in mind this article is about bringing repairs to Mac. The 16” MBP has a 100WHr Lithium-Polymer battery. That thing is…

If Apple is so worried about people using crappy Chinese parts, they could sell original spare parts themselves, like proper hardware vendors do. PS: Don't post AMP links, they cause cancer. De-AMP'ed link follows: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/iphone-5-owner-ma-a...

Eh...they don't really.

Dell doesn't sell most parts to the public.

HP and Lenovo theoretically do, but you've got probably 50%+ odds of the part you want either being perpetually unavailable/OOS or priced insanely if you try to buy direct.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#132

Post by unishark » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:12 AM UTC

abawany wrote: post #98

somehnguy wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could have also done it yourself in about 15 minutes. I've done my 2015 MBP twice now, it's not hard at all. I'm not sure why people in tech bother paying inflated prices for easy repairs. Just because you work with software doesn't mean you have to be afraid to turn a screwdriver ;)

After my futile efforts to get it repaired at the independent shop and the Apple Store (they never came for me even with my appointment and I wasted an hour sitting in that place for no reason), I bought a third party battery and a set of guitar strings to replace it myself. I was successful but the battery was garbage so I had to return it and go back to the original swelled battery to be able to use the laptop albe…

> In contrast, replacing the battery in my HP Elite x360 was a piece of cake - no nasty glue, no proprietary screws, and oem batteries available everywhere.

Replacing the battery for my Surface Pro was a different story. The shop told me there's a high probability that removing the screen will break it. Warrant repairs from Microsoft consist of them taking your surface and shipping you a refurbished machine in exchange.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#133

Post by stephenr » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:21 AM UTC

harry8 wrote: post #109

egsmi wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually do support the right to repair. I even donated at the link you provided. But, as a hardware designer myself, the devil is in the details for something like this and people need to be really careful. https://repair.org/policy "Unlocking: Legalize unlocking, adapting, and modifying any part of the machine, including software." The backdoor tools the FBI is asking for could easily fall into that category. I'm…

nonono. This is not the right place for that restriction at all. You should have the right to install backdoor tools on a technical level. If you install backdoor tools on equipment without permission from the owner or a properly executed warrant that is the crime and what must be prevented. Don't conflate restraining the FBI with being allowed to treat the device you paid for and own exactly as a device you paid for…

Right because everyone knows that rootkits and other malware are just a hypothetical issue - no one ever deploys them against unsuspecting victims because that would be against the law.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#134

Post by p1necone » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:26 AM UTC

ComputerGuru wrote: post #70

Just for some perspective, I can call up my Dell small business sales rep (who reached out to me after I bought just three or four machines over a period of some years) and give him an obscure part number. He says he needs a minute to look up the part, etc and asks if I’m taking this to a Dell-authorized technician; I say no. He takes advantage of how long it takes for the likely instantaneous result to pop up on the…

This is the difference between actual professional equipment, and "pro" aspirational marketing for consumer devices.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#135

Post by tommymachine » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:26 AM UTC

grugagag wrote: post #122

tommymachine wrote: post #119

Every repair to my iPhone that has been done outside of Apple certified channels has ended in needing a replacement device. Have heard/ read some horror stories of Apple Store repairs, although have yet to experience any myself. Personally I haven’t had a single repair from a third party that has actually been passable. All this to say that I’m not really seeing a huge benefit of right to repair for consumers. A race…

I didnt have the same experience. I repaired a few Iphones at an indy repair shop and the repair was solid and way cheaper than with apple.

I’ve used independent shops that were Apple certified that have been fantastic

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#136

Post by jjnoakes » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:42 AM UTC

sumedh wrote: post #89

jjnoakes wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The injuries usually have different causes though. For car accidents there is usually human action or inaction at fault. It is possible for parts to be at fault but that's the minority of cases. For phone injuries it is usually a faulty part at fault. If someone sharpened their iPhone and went on a killing spree I don't think anyone would be asking which parts are inside. Note that I support the right to repair. I ju…

> For phone injuries it is usually a faulty part at fault. Then Apple should have no issues selling good parts for repair but they are not doing that as well.

I fully agree. I support the right to repair, I just disagreed with the specific analogy.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#137

Post by shaan7 » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 4:45 AM UTC

somehnguy wrote: post #113

xhruso00 wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because people want a genuine part (reliable battery). I would pay the price if the battery was max 200eur. Nope, Apple is greedy. In my case they wanted 400Eur (together with top case)

So buy a genuine battery then? They aren't hard to find and are under $100.

Wait, it is possible to get a genuine* battery replacement for an Apple device? And no, I'm not being sarcastic, my friend was told by an Apple Store that even an attempt to open the Macbook chassis voids warranty. They refused to replace the battery EVEN WHEN HE WAS READY TO PAY "because there was an unauthorized attempt to open the device". He finally had to go to a repair shop and get it done under an hour (because now the warranty was void anyway).

genuine = guaranteed by Apple to not break your warranty

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#138

Post by Marsymars » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 5:17 AM UTC

css wrote: post #43

kevindong wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal information I trust Apple far more than any independent repair shop with my personal information. But also, what personal information is on a battery / screen? Additionally I use full disk encryption via FileVault on my Mac and keep the passcode enabled on my iOS devices which is known to be secure. No one, not even Apple, knows my password/passcode.

If you have to do any serious repairs they will ask you to make a second admin account so they can login and test things.

The one time I brought my laptop to an Apple Store for a serious repair, they asked for the password to my primary account. I told them to just wipe the drive if they needed access.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#139

Post by xhruso00 » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 5:19 AM UTC

somehnguy wrote: post #113

xhruso00 wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because people want a genuine part (reliable battery). I would pay the price if the battery was max 200eur. Nope, Apple is greedy. In my case they wanted 400Eur (together with top case)

So buy a genuine battery then? They aren't hard to find and are under $100.

There is no genuine original battery on the market. Only option to get it is from Apple for 400eur. Every seller is lying about originality.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#140

Post by xhruso00 » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 5:23 AM UTC

zubiaur wrote: post #115

xhruso00 wrote: post #104

Recently my MBP 2015 couldn’t boot because of the dead battery. I asked authorized repair centre and they quoted 400EUR as they need to order whole topcase. This is such a ripoff from Apple. Almost no one ships batteries cross border now. Finding a good replacement is almost an impossible task. The only thing I want the battery to be safe (not catching on fire or damaging my MBP)

I got mine replaced under a recall, maybe yours is eligible too?

Unfortunately not. I was hoping for it.