It looks like user and/or non-Apple repairs are now kaput on new MBPros

[pm-r]

Apple's New Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros.

Apple's New Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros
Failure to run Apple's proprietary diagnostic software after a repair "will result in an inoperative system and an incomplete repair."

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/...pro-software-locks-prevent-independent-repair

Another Apple restricted era I guess...



- Patrick
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[pigoo3]

Maybe we see how things develop. For those of us that deal with these things long term...and since Apple has the two categories of "Vintage" and "Obsolete". Maybe when a model gets to these categories...repairs may be more possible my DIYer's & 3rd party repair folks.

The first 1-3 years of a model would or could be covered by Applecare (if someone purchases it for the extended part). So maybe any sort of non-Apple repairs (for most users)...wouldn't happen until year 4.

Maybe we have to keep our eyes on ifixit.com...to see what gets posted there too.

- Nick

 

[chscag]

Actually Patrick this has been known for sometime as some disappointed iMac Pro buyers found out the hard way. The T2 proprietary chip and security built into those machines makes it so that they are only meant to be worked on by Apple techs and authorized Apple repair centers. Early iMac Pro buyers that had initial problems have complained that they were without their machines for weeks at a time when problems arose. The local genius bars at Apple Stores did not have the capability to repair those machines and instead they were sent off to depot repair. I believe Apple now has a handle on this and can do local repairs for the iMac Pro and MacBook Pros with the T2.

 

[pm-r]

Early iMac Pro buyers that had initial problems have complained that they were without their machines for weeks at a time when problems arose. The local genius bars at Apple Stores did not have the capability to repair those machines and instead they were sent off to depot repair. I believe Apple now has a handle on this and can do local repairs for the iMac Pro and MacBook Pros with the T2.

Ahhh… yes, that does sort of ring some sort of a bell thanks Charlie and I guess I just forgot about it.

I'm quite a bit more removed from the Mac repair scene than I used to be these days, and it's quite easy to lose track of what's going on in that area, so thanks for the info.





- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Apple is trying to turn the Mac line into appliances. That's not a bad thing, as long as there is a modular system for folks who want to play with the innards. Apple, and the other manufacturers, will eventually get to where the automotive industry has gotten--complexity so high that there are no more shade tree mechanics. But the convenience and reliability that goes with that appliance approach makes the difficulty of repair worth it for a lot of folks. The shade tree mechanics will hate it, but there it is.

 

[ferrarr]

What percent of Apple users would really want to repair/upgrade/work on their devices? Apple must have had to fix too many issues where the users screwed something up so badly, and it just wasn't economical for them to continue that. I don't understand why so many are upset about it, but they still buy Macs, AND complain about the loss of repairability?

 

[lclev]

From what I have read in the article Patrick posted 19 states are considering legislation called "Right to Repair" that would require Apple to make available their Apple Toolkit 2 app, tools and parts available for unauthorized repair shops and also DYI types. From the article:

"Currently, 19 states are considering so-called “Right to Repair” legislation that would require device manufacturers to make repair parts, tools, repair guides, and diagnostic software available to the public. Apple is fighting this legislation; public records show that Apple is lobbying against the bill in New York, where lobbying records must be disclosed to the public."

I hope they win as I just don't like being forced to pay someone to do something I can do if I so choose.

Lisa

 

[pm-r]

But the convenience and reliability that goes with that appliance approach makes the difficulty of repair worth it for a lot of folks. The shade tree mechanics will hate it, but there it is.

I dare say you don't have to go very far to find a lot of really P'd off farmers that are now disallowed to fix or repair their own John Deere tractors and machinery and all the other problem and disadvantages they have to endure, as though they don't have enough problems and extra costs to put up with already.

But really, it seems Apple has been heading in this direction for sometime now when one considers the various models that have no user serviceable or upgradable parts such as memory and storage drives, so I guess their "no temper" policy shouldn't be that much of a surprise to anyone.




- Patrick
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[chscag]

In case anyone want to read the article referred to above and that Apple is now essentially forcing everyone to buy Apple Care.

Read this Macworld Article.

 

[MacInWin]

Fearless prediction: If Apple cannot stop the legislation, future MBPs will be full of glue, bonding everything to everything. Apple Care will go up because the only "fix" will be to take out the glued mass and replace it entirely. How do we all "win" in that scenario?

And just in case you don't think it's happening now, I had a GE refrigerator that leaked water from a drain pipe that got clogged. The pipe was embedded in styrofoam insulation that had been poured in place. Removing the foam removed a major portion of the insulating of the refrigerator. The pipe was formed with many twists and turns, so a generic one would not do. The part was not available from anywhere. Basically, a fully functioning refrigerator was useless to me because it could not be repaired and leaked water at random times. I bought a new one (not a GE) and the old one is now in somebody's garage, leaking away. I think repairability is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

 

[pm-r]

Basically, a fully functioning refrigerator was useless to me because it could not be repaired and leaked water at random times. I bought a new one (not a GE) and the old one is now in somebody's garage, leaking away. I think repairability is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

So true! We just had an appliance repairman here on Wednesday to fix our usually excellent performing 21 year old kitchen Aid dishwasher when my wife suggested that maybe we should purchase new one rather than spending money on the repairs. (Unfortunately, my body no longer allows me to do such repairs that I was famous for.)

The repairman interjected with the suggestion of "don't even think about it", especially if you want a dishwasher that will do a good job in a reasonable amount of time and be reasonably quiet and that can be repaired again in the future.

Total cost to replace pump impeller and macerator while removing the broken dish part that got past the filter screen somehow and did all the damage, and reassemble everything was $202.23cdn. Not bad I'd say and still ready for another repair if needed some other day.


PS:

I had a GE refrigerator that leaked water from a drain pipe that got clogged. The pipe was embedded in styrofoam insulation that had been poured in place. Removing the foam removed a major portion of the insulating of the refrigerator.

I dare say a good experienced repair guy should have been able to unplug that drain with a mini drain-auger or even insert a smaller drain up and inside the original.
But I say should but maybe not possible or could.






- Patrick
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[chscag]

Don't get me started on the repairability of newer autos. A friend of mine stated that it would cost him $3000.00 to replace a computer module in his auto. It's almost a must nowadays to purchase an auto that has a good extended warranty. Most American and Euopean built cars do not. That's why the Asian foreign built autos are so popular as most of them come with extended warranties that do not cost extra.

 

[MacInWin]

I dare say a good experienced repair guy should have been able to unplug that drain with a mini drain-auger or even insert a smaller drain up and inside the original.

I had two different crews of tech guys, from two different repair shops give it a whack. The pipe makes a pair of 90 degree turns in a very short distance, which is probably where the plug is, but that configuration also prevented any mini-auger from getting around the corner or any smaller pipe to be threaded through. One set of guys even tried blowing boiling water into the pipe to see if the plug would melt, if it was ice, and only succeeded in getting very hot water all over the kitchen (and themselves). Where the lemon is now, if it leaks, it will only dampen a concrete pad in the garage, not on my hardwood floors. I suggested to the second crew that if I could find the part in a junkyard somewhere, would they put it in and they flatly said that they would not because taking the back off and the foam out would destroy the cooling insulation beyond usefulness and I'd be paying for them to basically destroy the machine. They were too honest to take my money that way. (I live in a small town where reputation still matters.)

 

[XJ-linux]

Auto manufacturers are required to make available for purchase by mechanics the same tools/diagnostics/parts/etc their dealerships use. Tesla gets around this by simply not having dealerships. I'd consider an AppleStore that can fix Apple computers to be a dealership equivalent, so I don't see the Tesla run around holding water. Would be nice to see this applied to consumer electronics as they are becoming as important to life and livelihood as vehicles...