There’s been significant progress, but many popular consumer electronics brands are still building hardware that’s often impossible to repair despite a flood in new state “right t…

  • The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) examined 21 different mainstream tech devices subject to New York’s recently passed electronics Right to Repair law, and found mixed results:

    • 9 devices earned A’s or B’s (including all smartphones)
    • 3 products received D’s
    • 6 popular mainstream devices earned F’s

  • The devices that fared poorly, like the HP Spectre Fold laptop, Canon EOS r100 camera, and Apple Vision Pro/Meta Quest 3 VR headsets, usually lacked spare parts or useful repair manuals.

  • While New York’s law requires manufacturers to provide tools, manuals, and parts for affordable, easy repair, PIRG says the law has been watered down with loopholes, and there has been no enforcement action taken despite numerous companies failing to comply.

  • The cellphone sector has made significant strides in repairability, but other sectors like VR headsets and cameras still have major issues.

  • 30 states are considering “right to repair” legislation in 2024, but these bills are at risk of being weakened by industry lobbyists.

  • jwiggler@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    12·
    3 months ago

    If you aren’t comfortable doing that then you aren’t comfortable “working on” your car.

    You’ve written a whole lotta junk to essentially end on, “if you can’t jack up your car and remove the wheel, you shouldn’t be changing your headlight in the first place.”

    Which is quite a dumb take.