iFixit: Welcome to Repair 2.0
Posted by admin on Saturday Sep 4, 2010 Under ChicksYou know us as the folks who take apart new hardware and show people how to fix Apple products. We’re not going to stop doing any of that, but starting today we are going to massively expand our scope: We are relaunching iFixit as the free repair manual that anyone can edit.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
September 4th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
What about the people that make a living from our trash … Why not fixing our “stuff ” and then donate them to them.
September 4th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Its cute how he is trying hard to be inspirational!
=)
September 4th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
This is fantastic!! I’ve always believed in trying to fix things. We have to stop our throw-away society, empowering people with the ability to fix, and even the ability to fix other peoples stuff (because most people couldn’t be bothered) is truly inspiring.
September 4th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
This is fantastic!! I’ve always believed in trying to fix things. We have to stop our throw-away society, empowering people with the ability to fix, and even the ability to fix other peoples stuff (because most people couldn’t be bothered) is truly inspiring.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Screw the planet, this is about common sense, home economy and prudence. Wastefulness isn’t bad because it hurts the planet or 3rdWorld nations, it’s bad because it’s a sin, period. I am ROTFL that this self-repair philosophy has to be taught so soon again only twenty years after the last generation forgot it, as if it’s something the tree-huggers have only just discovered for the rest of us. Sounds like a Brian Aldiss story.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
does anyone knows what is the name of the music?
September 4th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Excellent idea. Love this initiative.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Thank you very much I fix my computer and save some money!! txs a lot! From Mexico City
September 4th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
@cdcline1 i used to toss things that failed but i refuse to now
its like my 97 ps1
i may try a refow
September 4th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It is a necessity to repair product rather then trowing them away. This planet simply can’t cope with an increasing amount of rubbish being produced. Nor does it have the means to let us keep using up its natural resources. Alas, a lot of people are greatly effected by all the waist we make by living the irresponsible life we lead. All will benefit from waist management and through less of a “buy-use-trow away” lifestyle. We will save money in the process and most important: We will save lives.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
@envigopcrepairs I’m confused. iFixit is trying to reduce E-Waste by telling people to repair their gadgets instead of throw them away. They traveled to Africa to get first hand footage of how e-waste is handled and why it is bad. They are trying to educate people about simple repairs they can do to save their electronics. A brief look on their forums shows that they have helped thousands of non-repair-tech people fix their gadgets instead of throwing them away. How is this wrong?
September 4th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
@envigopcrepairs This mainly addresses folks who would just simply toss it out, and not even consider going to a repair technician, because in this day and age, we’re taught that it costs more to repair it than to replace it. And the simple fact is, if this video helps reduce or stop even one of those African land-fills (through the reduction of waste, in general), it will have been worth “promoting his company.”
September 4th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
This Video is wrong.. Using suffering africans to promote your own company i wish you guys would refund me all the money i spend at your store. As a repair tech i garantee your first DIY repair (Depending on the repair)will somehow be faulty it has happen to every repair tech nothing to be ashamed about. Then when you give it to a pro to finish the repair he not might be able to because it was altready tampered or altered to much… Conclusion more E-Waste..
September 4th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
someone has probably had & mentioned the idea, but I feel the need to repeat it. I believe a modular system [lap & desk tops] could be designed & maintained [via subscription]. everything about the system would be interchangeable/upgradeable: an annual subscription fee would pay for the modular parts which slide into a modular case which with minimal effort can be upgraded change ram, cpu, case, laptop display… Manufacturer(s) would be responsible for recycling modular parts
September 4th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Nice work – I see the world the way you do. I’m no genius but with your help manuals have fixed two laptop screens on machines that are still providing value.
A fixit wikipedia combined with responsible recycling is the way to solve these 3rd world salvage dumps.
September 4th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
@AGeekForever
I’d definitely agree that visible screws make things pretty easy. So why aren’t there visible screws on the Mac Mini? The Apple TV? The Macbook Air? Or the iPhone/iPod/iPad?
Gently discouraging folks from opening their machines reduces the number of newbs getting in over their heads, and reduces customer support costs for mass-market devices. That make sense from Apple’s perspective.
But those of us that *want* to tinker inside these devices need to look elsewhere for guidance.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:01 am
@moquiti Only really difficult repairs violate the warranty.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:23 am
@SFRWood I really disagree with that. Besides the Mac Mini, every other product has directions on how to open it, and it is REALLY easy. On the iMac, you remove 4 screws from the bottom and take off the back…
September 5th, 2010 at 12:49 am
@AGeekForever : That’s not the point. The point is access — is the repair process presented clearly by the manufacturer, or is it obscured by language like “fixing simple things violates the warranty” and by sleek design with hidden fasteners.
September 5th, 2010 at 1:38 am
Here’s two:
Powerbook G4, Macbook Pro Aluminum
I have opened both, the PBG4 to the chassis, and Apple was no help at all in the process. Without iFix, it would have been a doorstop. It is still going strong.
Thank you, Kyle!
September 5th, 2010 at 2:11 am
@AGeekForever
Page 68 of the MDD manual is headed “Opening the Computer”. No such instructions are included in the Mini’s manual, or on “the official website”.
The point is that the techniques aren’t obvious. There are other ways of hiding access, such as recessing screws and then cover them with stickers or rubberized feet. None of these are particularly challenging once you know which trick is being used, but neither are they evident to a beginner.
Apple doesn’t want consumers to tinker.
September 5th, 2010 at 2:52 am
@SFRWood Yep, you need to have a credit card, to slide it around the edges. Gosh, where do they expect you to come up with these type of tools?
September 5th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Great Idea. I hope you can earn enough money to pay for all of the bandwidth without raising your prices for parts.
September 5th, 2010 at 3:54 am
Why don’t we just quit improving technology while we’re at it? Maybe if they stopped making newer, better video cards, processors, cell phones, mp3 players and computers every couple of months or years. I wouldn’t want to buy a new one.
September 5th, 2010 at 4:13 am
@AGeekForever
Early macs were about as difficult to open as most similar products; a few screws and it was open. Later tower computers became even easier: the G4 tower could be opened with a simple latch, for example.
But Apple’s consumer products are explicitly designed to make opening less than obvious — even difficult. The Mac Mini isn’t too difficult once you know the trick and have the correct tools, but is *far* from obvious. But the latest ipods and ipads? Definitely “hard to open”.