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posted by janrinok on Monday January 29 2018, @02:35AM   Printer-friendly
from the and-so-it-begins dept.

A number of states are considering right to repair bills, legislation which if passed would make it easier for individuals and repair shops to replace or repair electronics parts. Repair.org reports that 17 states have already introduced bills this year and while most aim to make repair parts and manuals accessible, Washington's proposed legislation would straight up ban electronics that prevent easy repair. "Original manufacturers of digital electronic products sold on or after January 1, 2019, in Washington state are prohibited from designing or manufacturing digital electronic products in such a way as to prevent reasonable diagnostic or repair functions by an independent repair provider," says the bill. "Preventing reasonable diagnostic or repair functions includes permanently affixing a battery in a manner that makes it difficult or impossible to remove."

[...] Naturally, tech groups have jumped to make their opposition clear. In a letter to Morris, groups such as the Consumer Technology Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Computer Technology Industry Association said the bill was "unwarranted" and added, "With access to technical information, criminals can more easily circumvent security protections, harming not only the product owner but also everyone who shares their network."

Source: Engadget


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Sulla on Monday January 29 2018, @04:11AM (6 children)

    by Sulla (5173) on Monday January 29 2018, @04:11AM (#629692) Journal

    I would consider paying extra (as bullshit as that is) for the "no hidden screws or tabs" version of laptops. Nothing pisses me off more than removing 8 screws to pull off a keyboard and almost breaking it because there was a 9th hidden under a plastic tab that looked like it was part of the surrounding molding.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @04:27AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @04:27AM (#629698)

    And all that, just to replace a battery.

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday January 29 2018, @06:06AM (2 children)

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 29 2018, @06:06AM (#629715) Journal

      Nothing pisses me off more than removing 8 screws to pull off a keyboard and almost breaking it because there was a 9th hidden under a plastic tab that looked like it was part of the surrounding molding.

      And all that, just to replace a battery.

      Which battery turns out to be soldered on the motherboard and you can't do anything anyway.

      (grin)

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @04:20PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @04:20PM (#629853)

        (grin)

        What part of this do you find funny, mr. smiley? Maybe wipe that smirk off your face for a post once in awhile

        • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday January 29 2018, @09:37PM

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 29 2018, @09:37PM (#630039) Journal

          Cynics don't smile.
          Things going worse is just a confirmation that everything is in the expected SNAFU state, no worries.
          Cheers, mate.

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @07:33AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 29 2018, @07:33AM (#629737)

    I'll raise you cheap laser printers... from annoying to dismantle to impossible to dismantle without destroying.

  • (Score: 1) by Gertlex on Monday January 29 2018, @04:31PM

    by Gertlex (3966) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 29 2018, @04:31PM (#629860)

    Worse might be the screws hidden under rubber feet, which don't stay put if you try to reattach them after pulling them off (carefully, even!). Albeit, more of an issue with mice and keyboards than laptops.

    I should just buy some VHB tape and resign myself to fixing those I suppose...