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iFixit Moves Into Console Repair
sk8pmp writes with news that iFixit, a website known for Apple gadget teardowns and repair guides, is expanding into the game console market, launching a series of troubleshooting and repair guides to help gamers fix their own machines. They're also starting to sell replacement parts and the tools necessary to work on them.
"Right now there are repair guides for 24 gaming consoles, including 206 repairs and upgrades. Some of these fixes deal with major issues, such as the infamous Red Ring of Death from the Xbox 360, but others are simpler. For instance, right now there is no easy way to clean out the fans inside your console. 'I think this is probably the number one cause of overheating these days now that manufacturers have mostly gotten their act together,' Wiens said. 'This is routine maintenance, and it's mind-boggling that the manufacturers don't provide people with an easy way to open the case up and blow it out.' You'll also learn how to replace broken LCD screens on your portables, replace the motherboard on your PlayStation 3, and do just about anything else you might want to do to these systems, from the simple to the harrowing."
It's the sound of continuity/anti-tamper sensors being added to the external housings of the next generation of consoles...
Maybe its mind boggling to those of us who expect a quality long lasting product for a reasonable price... An idea that seems fairly obsolete these days. :(
Modern electronics are so miniaturized that everything is pretty packed in. And people want it that way, they want "slim" devices. Your "easy to service" products are going to be a lot bigger and cost a lot more. People want cheap and small.
Also, having the average person open up their devices is ultimately going to result in screw-ups and an increased volume of customer support requests, which is expensive.
I don't think it's some kind of conspiracy to make your products break. It's just the result of economics and demands of modern technology. If you want long-lasting quality products, you'll usually pay more. But when has that ever not been true for most things?
... and then they built the supercollider.
Not as packaged as iFixit sounds, but I've found the Badcaps Forums a great place to learn about LCD monitor repair and electronics operation.
I must have been absent the day it was put to a vote that we want "slim" devices that cannot be serviced.
you were there, you were simply outvoted.
I would far prefer sealed slab style electronics (heat-conductive epoxy FTW) that don't have so many problems, but we're not there yet for most devices.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Don't change the subject.
I'd rather a box with 4 screws that I could open up and service instead of one that's glued shut.
This story is about servicing game consoles that have been designed specifically not to be serviced, not whether or not those consoles should use microchips or vacuum tubes.
You are welcome on my lawn.
...one reason it's cheap is it's disposable.
Me lubs MilSpec equipment, but would hate to pay that much for rugged repairability when not required.
"This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
I like the idea of putting all this info in one place. I see this more as being a place to put info about repairing older hardware, though. Since not everyone has the know-how and tools to work on today's super-small electronics. If I find the time, I shall endeavor to consolidate all my NEO-GEO arcade hardware repair knowledge and add it to the wiki. It'd be cool to see them including usability mods too, if they haven't already. Like RGB video mods for older consoles, to compliment the regular repair info.
Friend: "The NIC is misconfigured..." Me: "No prob, I'll just telnet in and fix it." *Silence*
This doesn't make sense for consoles as they sell them at a loss hoping to make up the money in software sales. So every new console a user would ahve to buy would mean another $100 or so the company would be in the hole. It is far more likely the case that they do this to make modding more difficult. Granted, it's not going to stop someone dedicated to modding their console, but it'll stop a lot of curious kids that just want to try cheating or pirate some games (Yes, the "omg I just want to make some backups because I have a version of Terrets where I uncontrollably break game discs over my knee" people get screwed in the process). Small inconveniences often prove to be very effective psychological barriers. Like all that plastic wrap over the leftovers in your fridge. Who wants to mess with that shit when you can just throw something new together? You'll throw it out when it gets moldy.
Fantastic question! You own it. This information is *never* going behind a paywall. Everything is CC-licensed, and original authors retain ownership of their own stuff. We are a free, open repair manual wiki. We're finalizing an XML schema for the manuals, and we are going to do regular data dumps to archive.org. If you want to take all the manuals + PDFs and post them on your site, please do. This is too important to risk someone locking it down-- the world needs an open repair manual. We're doing our darndest to make that happen, but we can't do it alone!