Apple backing right to repair is an important U-turn for the tech world

[cbabe]

https://9to5mac.com/2023/08/24/apple-backing-right-to-repair/

Apple backing right to repair is an important U-turn for the tech world

Ben Lovejoy
| Aug 24 2023 - 6:09 am PT

A few years ago, the idea of Apple backing right to repair legislation would have been almost unimaginable – even if the company’s co-founder did urge it to do so.

The company has spent literally years fighting it, spending money to lobby against it at both state and federal level, either trying to block it altogether or – if it couldn’t manage that – to weaken the legislation as much as possible …

But yesterday, we learned that it had happened. Apple not only made a U-turn, supporting a Californian right to repair law it had previously opposed, but even went as far as actively endorsing it.

Although Apple was initially against this bill, the company surprisingly decided to support the bill in California for the first time […]
iFixit’s CEO Kyle Wiens said, “Apple’s endorsement of the Right to Repair Bill in California is a watershed moment for consumer rights. It feels like the Berlin Wall of tech repair monopolies is starting to crumble, brick by brick.”

…more…

[ItsjustMe]

1. .

?si=ZuzLg5p7EM99EbLV

[haele]

2. They probably are looking to dump their Apple stores.

Right to repair enables them to significantly reduce the number of higher paid technicians and Apple repair facilities, basically directing customers to go to local third party repair facilities.

That's a cost reduction.

Haele

[MagickMuffin]

4. My laptop got to go to Austin, TX

Just last week. New battery and whatever else needed replacing.

[MagickMuffin]

3. I've always supported Apple, but have my issues

This being one of them.

I have a 17” laptop, I still use it today, the monitor is getting wonky but it still works just fine. Hubs has changed the battery on it several times, took out my cd drive and installed another hard drive instead (I have an external cd player if needed) and several other little tweaks.

I then purchased a newer laptop only 16” available. I bought AppleCare and good thing I did. I just had it serviced for a new battery and anything else that needed replacing. It would have cost me $700 to have it repaired without AppleCare.


However, if their products were still accessible for Hubs to open it up to do whatever needs done wouldn’t have cost $700 without AppleCare.


I’m glad Apple has come to its senses!

[Initech]

5. I've been building my own desktops for years.

Don't miss Apple one bit.

[cbabe]

6. You got skills!

[Initech]

9. It is definitely not a cheap hobby, I will admit.

[cbabe]

10. More than fishing, less than golf. Cheers!

[Prairie_Seagull]

7. This is not just an issue in tech. It's an issue with newer cars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Vehicle_Owners%27_Right_to_Repair_Act

[cbabe]

8. Yes. And farm equipment.

https://www.npr.org › 2023 › 01 › 10 › 1147934682 › john-deere-right-to-repair-farmers-tractors

'Right-to-repair' advocates skeptical of John Deere agreement - NPR

Jan 10, 2023An agreement by John Deere may finally give farmers a greater hand in repairing the company's products. The American Farm Bureau Federation announced Sunday that it had reached a memorandum of...