Consumers Starting To Realize Gadgets Can Be Fixed

An anonymous reader writes "Consumers seem to be paying more attention to the possibility of fixing gadgets instead of sending them to the landfill. It may be because 10gb in your iPod is more than enough for any normal person, it may be a deep, abiding love for the environment or it may just be the price. A New York Times article explores how new sites like FixYa and old standbys like Macintouch can aid the average user in restoring their 'slightly used' gear. Practically every gadget has their own website devoted to helping owners help each other deal with problems that arise. I personally like AVS Forum for my living room needs. From the article: 'Most other gadgets come with batteries that are easy to replace without custom tools. Replacement batteries for cellphones are often marked up by the devices' manufacturers, while third-party replacements are often available for 60 percent to 80 percent less. Companies offering replacement batteries for iPods often offer better batteries with higher capacities and longer lifetimes. Ipodjuice.com, for instance, sells a 1,200-milliamp-hour battery that will replace the 600-milliamp-hour battery that shipped with a fourth-generation iPod -- an improvement that lets the Web site claim that the repaired iPod will "last 100 percent longer."'"

Comments

it's all i got

[User 956]

From the article: 'Most other gadgets come with batteries that are easy to replace without custom tools.

When i'm working on a piece of electronic equipment and I see "custom tools", my brain responds with "hammer". But then, that might be part of the problem in the first place.

Batteries

[badasscat]

Replacement batteries for cellphones are often marked up by the devices' manufacturers, while third-party replacements are often available for 60 percent to 80 percent less.

Ummmm... You sure you want to recommend that?

Re:Mostly thanks to the Internet

[magical_mystery_meat]

Thanks to the internet, you can also publicly announce the brand names of the things you own. That way fellow brand owners will validate you for owning them or non-owners will be duly impressed with your wealth.

Re:Go PS2!

[Mursk]

Yep, the PS2 is a good example of something that is not too hard to open up and troubleshoot a little. Also comes in handy when/if you want to modify it to use Swap Magic (which I've done both with an older fat PS2 and a newer slim one) or, I suppose, install a mod chip (haven't done this since Swap Magic seemed easier/cheaper/less risky).

One of the things keeping me from buying a PS3 is the fact that I feel like I'll be less comfortable taking a look under the hood. I'm a ME, not and EE, and I've learned that it's REALLY important to limit the dollar-amount of damage I can do when it comes to the more complex gadgets. I can never figure out how to get the magic smoke back in those little chips...

10gb iPod?

[faloi]

I didn't know we were measuring capacity based on the weight of the bits these days. Are more poignant songs heavier?

Re:Basic philosophy there:

[ACDChook]

Reminds me of the time I got a free laser printer because a local business was closing. A friend of mine had worked there, and they gave it to him and said it didn't work. I found it sitting in the corner at his place a year or so later, and he hadn't touched it, so gave it to me to have a look at. When I plugged it in and turned it on, a red light came on.

I put some paper in it, the red light went off, and it's worked fine ever since. :D

Re:To a man who only has a hammer...

[Tackhead]

> ...everything looks like a nail.

...or a cheap alternative to therapy!

Re:Ink Jet Cartridges

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"Planned obsolescence should be punishable by some sort of recursive punishment."

rm -f -r?

Re:Taking things apart for fun

[discord5]

just to see what's inside and made them tick (no, not animals!)

Just so we're absolutely clear about this, animals in general don't tick. If they do you might want to go looking for your wristwatch. ;)