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Comment by xandrius | Hacker News Reader

If being able to replace a part requires me to have a screwdriver (literally a Philips one should do), the component, and no additional PhD or bravery coming from youth, inexperience or both, I will welcome it with open arms.

Right now, having devices which require both expertise and expensive machinery means that the cost of going to someone to repair it will increase over 10 folds, making a full replacement a financial and sound choice.

If my CPU doesn't last for 10 years but I can change it myself in minutes, I would rather that than throwing away everything else I still love and is still functional just for promised extended reliability (which is just a matter of statistics and profit margins at the end of the day).

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> If being able to replace a part requires me to have a screwdriver (literally a Philips one should do), the component, and no additional PhD or bravery coming from youth, inexperience or both, I will welcome it with open arms.

You have to understand though that people like us are a tiny minority.

Increasingly I hate creating waste, especially e-waste, and so I'll tinker with things to get them working or upgrade them, but most people don't want the hassle.

I have taught at least three people how to do simple repairs and upgrades on laptops.

Anyone that can read and use their brain can strip a laptop down to components and reassemble it.

Ok, but you’re missing the point and reassuring OPs. Three people might as well be zero.

It doesn't matter how many people do it as a hobby. Making a repair easier makes professional repair/upgrade cheaper, enabling poorer people to do it, thus decreasing the overall waste dramatically.

I am not. If we continue to sit on our hands talk down about "most people" aren't interested in XYZ, we are the problem.

Armchair dipshits like to slag on Louis Rossmann, but did lead repair sessions where he would teach people how to do hot air pcb rework. Dude walks the talk and empowers people.

You are missing my point.

You’re venting, not arguing. Teaching three people doesn’t scale, and anecdotes aren’t data.

No one’s dismissing Rossmann or the value of empowerment. The problem is acting like isolated efforts equal systemic change. If this were as easy as you claim, the landscape would reflect that.

So yes, you’re missing the point. Passion is fine, but without policy, infrastructure, and incentives, it goes nowhere.

> without policy, infrastructure, and incentives, it goes nowhere.

So how do we start?

How do you think policy of any sort gets it's origin?

Same token, sounds like you're arguing, not doing.

I don't think many throw away their remote controller when the batteries run out. So why do we do that for laptops? Because it makes them 2cm thinner?

I believe this change benefits 100% the companies imposing them, consumers always have a tech-enthusiast around to ask if needs be.

Rechargeable remotes like the Samsung one, yes. My dad tried to fix it and I had to get him a new one lol.

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