Over the last few years, advocates of the right to repair electronics like laptops and mobile devices have gained big wins. California is the latest to pass legislation that requires manufacturers to grant access to repair documentation, tools, replacement parts and software for up to seven years for devices worth more than $100.
This prevents individuals and third-party repair services from jumping through hoops to carry out what should be simple fixes. It also places heavier weight on ownership rights.
New survey data reveals laptop owners show the most interest in the ability to repair and upgrade their systems. This comes after more than a decade of smaller, sleeker and thinner designs that have become more difficult to tinker with. Components like RAM and even the battery that was once easy to replace have been soldered down and “digitally locked” to conserve space and streamline performance.
Whether this is due to genuine demand or a cynical policy to force consumers to purchase the latest models, the result is a growing e-waste problem where the broken or outdated laptop gets thrown out to join the tons of hazardous junk left for disposal domestically, or worse, shipped off to developing nations with less regulatory oversight.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed want more freedom to prolong the life of their laptop. This is closely followed by 41 percent of desktop computer owners. Regarding tablets and smartphones, interest drops to just 3 percent combined, which is no surprise when you consider the quick turnaround in new models and retailers and manufacturers favoring in-house replacements and repairs.
Of course, the nature of desktops still makes them the easiest to repair and upgrade, but for every enthusiast, there’s a larger number of computer owners that would never even think to open the tower, let alone start pulling out and replacing components.
Another sticking point for the right to repair is the manufacturer’s warranty. In many instances, as soon as you unscrew a case, say goodbye to your rights. The right-to-repair movement aims to remove this hurdle and is slowly gaining ground with bills in California.
However, an even bigger hurdle is consumer awareness. While 42 percent of respondents agreed that environmental sustainability is essential and electronic waste counts toward that, 45 percent had never even heard of the right to repair. An additional 22 percent know the term but not how it applies to them. That’s 67 percent of people still likely to contribute to the environmental e-waste problem, even if many consider it a concern.
Nonetheless, with Apple doing the unthinkable and coming out in support of the latest bill, all is not lost. It could take the big brands openly promoting their support and informing their consumers to get things moving. Indeed, 80 percent of those polled said they would be more likely to purchase a laptop or computer from a manufacturer that explicitly supports the right to repair because it would reduce waste and costs and prolong the life of the device.
While we might not be at the stage where the big brands offer flagships with modules that can be easily replaced and upgraded, the break-it-and-bin-it mentality might not be around much longer.