Jason Koebler, Motherboard:
Apple has introduced software locks that will effectively prevent independent and third-party repair on 2018 MacBook Pro computers, according to internal Apple documents obtained by Motherboard. The new system will render the computer “inoperative” unless a proprietary Apple “system configuration” software is run after parts of the system are replaced.
According to the document, which was distributed to Apple’s Authorized Service Providers late last month, this policy will apply to all Apple computers with the “T2” security chip, which is present in 2018 MacBook Pros as well as the iMac Pro.
I’m looking forward to reading a response from Apple on this issue. I can’t imagine, if true, that this is an effort from Apple to keep all those sweet, sweet repair dollars all to themselves. I’d expect this has something to do with protecting the chain of security, preventing malware from somehow gaining a foothold.
Grain of salt.
I support third-party repair options, but I understand that they’re being increasingly restricted by companies like Apple and John Deere.
Even if restricting such repairs wasn’t one of the primary purposes of the T2, I’m willing to guess that Apple’s fairly pleased with this ancillary effect.
It’s not about “repair dollars being compromised.” It’s about fewer choices for consumers to keep broken devices running at lower cost.
2 issues come to mind immediately.
1. Apple doesn’t do repairs everywhere. Or, at the very least, not without a fair degree of hassle on the part of the customer. Here in South Africa, for example, there aren’t any actual Apple Stores. “iStore,” the local but non-affiliated equivalent, apparently will send items to Apple SA for repair, but it’s not a simple process. And “weFix” (formerly “iFix”) is probably more common than iStore, and as far as I know they do everything in house.
2. What happens when they age out? When Apple declares them vintage or obsolete, someone still has to be able to repair them for the customer that wants to hold onto his gear.
I see this as Apple proactively getting out in front of the pack in combating various cyber-security situations. It falls right in line with Apple’s philosophy of protecting its customers’ privacy and security.
I couldn’t care less about third party “repair dollars” being compromised. They’ll just have to find others ways to make a buck.
It’s not about that, it’s about ME repairing my OWN PROPERTY. If you cannot repair it, you’re only renting it.
Then you should be up in arms over chrome books, most modern TVs, etc. But hey, sloganeering vs thought works for some.
If I can find the parts I can repair chromebooks or modern TVs.
I’m not arguing about ease of repair, or even that the parts or specs should be published.
However arbitrarily making it so that a repair bricks the device is wrong, as much as John Deere attempting to use the DMCA to prevent people from repairing their tractors.
A few months ago, the FTC smacked down several companies for their illegal “Warranty Void if Removed” stickers, pointing out that in order to void a warranty the company must prove that the user’s actions actually caused damage.
Apple has been getting away with breaking the law on AppleCare honoring for years because there hasn’t been anyone powerful enough to take them on about. Then they started turning of all their products into tiny little all-soldered fully enclosed boxes, under the apparent impression that all of their users are weaklings who can’t carry anything heavier than a grape. Now this crap.
Wanting to pay for a service is one thing. But forcing people to be dependent upon someone else is infantilization. If you can’t, or are not allowed, to take care of yourself, you’re not fully an adult.
I don’t see Apple using the DMCA for this. This is clearly about security tampering.
Apple gets sued all the time. There are plenty of lawyers willing to take on Apple, and they love class action law suits.
Yeah, it’d be great if everything was repairable, but I’d rather have better product design.
“If you can’t, or are not allowed, to take care of yourself, you’re not fully an adult.”
Reminder, we’re talking about a product that you are not forced to buy here. Not paying your bills, eating, or tending to your personal hygiene.
I wonder what will happen when these products hit vintage status.
A few years ago, my dad tried to get his (still-useful, but recently “vintage”) MacBook Pro fixed and the Apple Store wouldn’t help him. IIRC, they actually recommended he go to a third party dealer.
Wrong. Just because people don’t know how to take care of their sophisticated stuff, they expect Apple to let them mess with it even further. Apple has to draw the line against this incompetence and carelessness.
Wrong. Only Apple has the ways and means to repair its ever-increasingly sophisticated products—especially in light of the relentless trend toward more and more miniaturization and component integration. For example, do you seriously expect to tear into your $700 Apple Watch to replace its battery, or something?!!! That’s sooo ’80s! Total pretense. Get over it and move on!
In other words, “I don’t care about this issue because I never break anything, therefore it should be of no importance to anyone.”
Would you feel the same way, for example, about farmers who own John Deere trucks?