Microsoft teams up with iFixit to bring official repairability tools to independent repairers

[poochyena]

Summary

Today, Microsoft and iFixit are announcing a partnership whereby iFixit's Pro independent repairers, Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers, and Microsoft Commercial customers can now purchase official Microsoft service tools for Surface devices directly from iFixit.com.

 

Quotes

Quote

 This program is launching with three tools, as well as weights and accessories, all designed by Microsoft and manufactured by iFixit. These tools enable precision debonding and rebonding of adhesive for select Microsoft Surface models and will undergo the same rigorous quality testing and attention to detail that we give to all of our products.
Successfully working with adhesive is one of the most challenging aspects of repairing the Surface line. Adhesive must be precisely loosened without damaging other components. During reassembly, achieving a strong bond requires precise application of force. While not necessary to complete a DIY repair, these new tools are designed to prevent damage and will help technicians performing a high volume of repairs, and assist in improving accuracy and matching factory-level adhesion.

 

My thoughts

 This is really neat I think. I wasn't expecting a collab like this.

 

Sources

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-teams-ifixit-bring-official-repairability-tools-pros

[Quackers101]

neat

*microsoft buys ifixit*

oh... jk.

 

and just for surface devices right now? I guess it might be in the early stages.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Quackers101

[RejZoR]

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability. Requiring a special colab to develop tools is not praise worthy, it's pathetic and sad.

 

How about everyone stops manufacturing products that are purposely hard to repair? Starting with basic things like not hiding screws under rubber feet that you have to peel off and ultimately destroy while doing it? Or miss screws and bend the chassis because you weren't accounting for the screw being there?

 

I have HP laptop that hides screws under long strips of rubber, I had ASUS routers that hid screws under rubber feet, I was servicing bunch of products that do this idiocy, like my Logitech G502 that I destroyed because I wanted to clean, but because some asshat decided to hide screws under the glide pads, I ruined them trying to peel them off. Why hide 8 screws out of 26. It can't be for looks because I can clearly still see remaining 18, so what gives!? Also who cares if I can see screws UNDERNEATH mouse. There is also absolutely no need to use plastic hooks that always break when taking crap apart and same goes for unnecessary use of adhesive.

 

I was literally shocked when I took apart my current new ACER Swift 1 to put new M.2 SSD in it and all it took was a phillips screwdriver and home made plastic pry tool made from thin sheet of plastic. No hidden screws, no hidden plastic hooks, no adhesive. Entire bottom simply pops off exposing ALL internals. Why can't all products be like this? Clearly it can be done.

[Franck]

13 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability. Requiring a special colab to develop tools is not praise worthy, it's pathetic and sad.

This is a very bad thing. I say only things that are meant to be taken apart with minimum knowledge should be openable with such drivers. Anything with possible injuries should never be easily accessible without proper tool or knowledge. Bottom line people are stupid and do stupid things.

[poochyena]

18 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability.

nah, torx/star screws are objectively better than philips/flat screws as far as i'm concerned.

6 minutes ago, Franck said:

This is a very bad thing. I say only things that are meant to be taken apart with minimum knowledge should be openable with such drivers. Anything with possible injuries should never be easily accessible without proper tool or knowledge. Bottom line people are stupid and do stupid things.

That risk is nearly non-existant for nearly all devices though. As long as its not powered on, risk of injury is incredibly low. No more risk than any power outlet in everyone's home that is only covered up with one or two screws.

[BuckGup]

16 minutes ago, poochyena said:

As long as its not powered on, risk of injury is incredibly low. No more risk than any power outlet in everyone's home that is only covered up with one or two screws.

That's not true. The iMacs had uncovered PSUs when taken apart and you can kill yourself a week after unplugging it. The same goes for many other electronic devices. Microwaves are notorious for killing people who take them apart and older models used barium insulators which are incredibly deadly. I don't think you could kill yourself on most mobile devices like a laptop or phone but you might want to kill yourself after destroying your new $1600 iPhone 

[Franck]

17 minutes ago, poochyena said:

That risk is nearly non-existant for nearly all devices though. As long as its not powered on, risk of injury is incredibly low. No more risk than any power outlet in everyone's home that is only covered up with one or two screws.

Sure but i mean power outlet most people know it is dangerous. If you were to ask 100 people if a power outlet is dangerous I'm pretty sure everyone would say yes. For example i do know quite a lot of people that could not name a power supply in a computer if they saw one and if he would open it there is risk of death even when unplug. That is what i meant when saying the part about without proper knowledge.

[Derangel]

27 minutes ago, Franck said:

Sure but i mean power outlet most people know it is dangerous. If you were to ask 100 people if a power outlet is dangerous I'm pretty sure everyone would say yes. For example i do know quite a lot of people that could not name a power supply in a computer if they saw one and if he would open it there is risk of death even when unplug. That is what i meant when saying the part about without proper knowledge.

Let’s be real here: The vast majority of people, stupid or not, are not going to take apart their devices. The whole “it could be dangerous” argument really doesn’t work in this situation.

[tikker]

That's pretty neat. It's a bit sudden, Apple a while back and now Microsoft, but I'm happy to see companies finally take steps in these directions.

56 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability. Requiring a special colab to develop tools is not praise worthy, it's pathetic and sad

The actual tools seem to simply be spacers/sizers to ensure you are not cutting beyond the screen's adhesive or applying pressure correctly/more consistently, assisting bulk repairs. That's perfectly fine to release in my opinion and will always happen unless every single tablet and laptop out there uses exactly the same dimensions and screen design.

 

Slotted screws are a horrible idea for electroncis in my opinion. Pain in the ass to align the screwdriver on and large risk of slipping. I prefer torx bits as they spread the pressure more and the screws on e.g. my Dell XPS are so frail that they strip in no time with even the slightest wrong bit or pressure when using philips heads. I don't consider electronics something like machinery that you need quick access to with a random piece of metal you found in your workshop if something breaks either.

1 hour ago, RejZoR said:

How about everyone stops manufacturing products that are purposely hard to repair? Starting with basic things like not hiding screws under rubber feet that you have to peel off and ultimately destroy while doing it? Or miss screws and bend the chassis because you weren't accounting for the screw being there?

I do completely agree with this. I also semi-ruined the feet on my G502 because of this. It's not even necessarily the aesthetic hiding of screws, but not disclosing it and hiding them under adhesive. It's built-in self-destruct "functionality".

[poochyena]

33 minutes ago, Franck said:

For example i do know quite a lot of people that could not name a power supply in a computer if they saw one and if he would open it there is risk of death even when unplug.

35 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

The iMacs had uncovered PSUs when taken apart and you can kill yourself a week after unplugging it.

They have giant warning labels all over them saying not to open them and the risk they pose. If you can unscrew something, you can probably read the "danger" labels too.

[BuckGup]

15 minutes ago, poochyena said:

They have giant warning labels all over them saying not to open them and the risk they pose. 

No they don't and that's why people were angry at Apple. Here is ifixits teardown 

I don't see any warnings, bright stickers, or even an enclosure over the PSU if your screwdriver or hands slip while working on something else. 

The only indication I see is a small electrical hazard symbol and that's it. 

 

I'm all for the right to repair but not spreading misinformation 

[poochyena]

6 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

No they don't and that's why people were angry at Apple. Here is ifixits teardown 

I don't see any warnings, bright stickers, or even an enclosure over the PSU if your screwdriver or hands slip while working on something else. 

The only indication I see is a small electrical hazard symbol and that's it. 

 

I'm all for the right to repair but not spreading misinformation 

oh, thats crazy. Well, like I said "nearly all devices". This is definitely an exception and not the norm.

[Arika]

In b4 some idiot tries to claim this this Microsoft's EEE.

[RejZoR]

Arguing about Apple's open PSU that is INSIDE device is a bit stupid. If you're opening the device it's assumed you know what you're doing. Device is easy to open just so you don't destroy it while opening even when you in fact know what you're doing. I've had monitors open and I fixed them by replacing capacitors because they were leaking and they had exposed electronics, including PSU because they had internal one. I also fixed 2 PSU's and I didn't get electrocuted. One had fan replacement and one I filled the coils with hot glue because of coil whine when used with RTX 3000 series.

 

You can lose fingers if you put hand into a running belt inside car's engine bay. Should we blame manufacturers that opening the engine bay is "too easy" or should we blame clueless user sticking fingers where they don't belong? Easy access does't mean it's meant to be worked on by clueless person. It just means those who know what they are doing have an easier job doing it.

[Avocado Diaboli]

I thought the entire point behind iFixit is that I can fix it, as implied by the name. Way to miss the point there, iFixit.

 

Also, I love how they expect high volume repairs when they cite that as a reason for the partnership. Tacit admission that Surface devices are junk or prone to breaking? Never mind that it only further highlights that using glue in these devices is an all around terrible practice. Instead of partnering with repair workshops, they should just design their devices to not require professional repairs in the first place. 

 

Don't mistake this for an act of altruism. Microsoft are probably getting paid by iFixit for access to the schematics of those tools. So in essence, if you buy the tools, you're still paying Microsoft to fix your stuff. A real commitment to right to repair would mean manufacturing devices with standard parts and offering any type of jig like the one pictured as a free downloadable STL file for 3D printing. 

[mr moose]

I'm not really a fan of the surface stuff (pretty much for the same reason I haven't been a fan of the macs, over priced shit dressed up to look premium).  But if they are willing to sell the tools to at least make the repair job possible then that has to account for something, especially when many other devices on the market are made specifically to make repair as hard as possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

[DoctorNick]

18 hours ago, RejZoR said:

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability. Requiring a special colab to develop tools is not praise worthy, it's pathetic and sad.

 

Hex and torx is the way to go. Nobody uses phillips these days because of good resons like design and reliability.

[suicidalfranco]

37 minutes ago, mr moose said:

macs, over priced shit dressed up to look premium

 

[DoctorNick]

21 minutes ago, suicidalfranco said:

 

I must agree with this. (the thing about Apple in generel, that is)

[tikker]

1 hour ago, Avocado Diaboli said:

Also, I love how they expect high volume repairs when they cite that as a reason for the partnership. Tacit admission that Surface devices are junk or prone to breaking?

Or, you know, it's simply about giving repair shops that will naturally see a high volume due to statistics, accidents etc. tools that will streamline their work. What is so weird about expecting repairs? Should we ban replacement parts for cars as well then? Stop selling spanners and other tools? Close garages? Their existence would also just be indirectly admitting automotive build quality is terrible, because parts of them can or will eventually break and/or need replacement.

1 hour ago, Avocado Diaboli said:

Never mind that it only further highlights that using glue in these devices is an all around terrible practice. Instead of partnering with repair workshops, they should just design their devices to not require professional repairs in the first place. 

What do you consider professional repair? Machines, devices, whatever are complicated nowadays and there will be a lot of repaird you are not able to do unless you have the knowledge required to do so. There's nothing wrong with professional repair.

1 hour ago, Avocado Diaboli said:

Don't mistake this for an act of altruism. Microsoft are probably getting paid by iFixit for access to the schematics of those tools. So in essence, if you buy the tools, you're still paying Microsoft to fix your stuff. A real commitment to right to repair would mean manufacturing devices with standard parts and offering any type of jig like the one pictured as a free downloadable STL file for 3D printing. 

Oh no a business doing business to make money. This is why we can't have nice things. We're giving companies shit for not allowing any repair or repair outside themselves whatsoever, now they're finally doing things to make it (in this case) easier for third party repair shops and what do people do? They give them shit again. I'll bet the majority doesn't want to repair their devices themselves literally. They want to be able to walk into an arbitrary repair shop to get it fixed.

 

Sure it'll be a long road and the situation could use improvements on many fronts. It would also be great if they would offer this to enthusiasts that do want to attempt it themselves, but can we at least also acknowledge when the take a step in the right direction? We're shitting that the house isn't built yet while ingoring that the foundation is finally being started.

[fUnDaMeNtAl_knobhead]

It's like right to repair is making a dent I thought I may not have seen this in my life time. JK side even Dell DELL who makes awful things as testified by Gamers Nexus, makes a step admittedly a baby step but a step nonetheless.  Also do you think dell copied framework or DELL was actually working on this concept

[Avocado Diaboli]

1 hour ago, tikker said:

Or, you know, it's simply about giving repair shops that will naturally see a high volume due to statistics, accidents etc. tools that will streamline their work. What is so weird about expecting repairs?

Why weren't they expected until now then?

 

1 hour ago, tikker said:

Should we ban replacement parts for cars as well then? Stop selling spanners and other tools? Close garages? Their existence would also just be indirectly admitting automotive build quality is terrible, because parts of them can or will eventually break and/or need replacement.

Except I don't need to run to Volkswagen for their specific spanner if something inside my Skoda breaks. And I don't need to go to Kawasaki for their spanner if something in my Kawasaki breaks. I can use the same tools to repair both. 

 

1 hour ago, tikker said:

What do you consider professional repair? Machines, devices, whatever are complicated nowadays and there will be a lot of repaird you are not able to do unless you have the knowledge required to do so. There's nothing wrong with professional repair.

I said "require". You can offer professional repair. But to extend your example of cars from above: I can fix or replace anything in my car myself. I don't outright need professional repair. Can't do that with most electronic gadgets these days.

 

1 hour ago, tikker said:

Oh no a business doing business to make money. This is why we can't have nice things. We're giving companies shit for not allowing any repair or repair outside themselves whatsoever, now they're finally doing things to make it (in this case) easier for third party repair shops and what do people do? They give them shit again.

I'll give them shit for pretending that this is a "right to repair" move when it isn't. Why stop at making it easier for third party repair shops and not everyone? The tools already exist, sell them to everybody who wants them. Which leads me nicely to:

 

1 hour ago, tikker said:

I'll bet the majority doesn't want to repair their devices themselves literally. They want to be able to walk into an arbitrary repair shop to get it fixed.

I don't care what the majority wants. I'm not going to pretend I have a majority behind my sentiments here to fake a convincing argument, that's bad argumentative practice. I'll be honest, I don't care if 99% don't want to repair something themselves. I want to. That's all the justification I need to not break out in celebration because I can pay someone else to repair something. The expensive part of the repairs aren't the parts and tools, it's the time invested by the technician. That's what I want to save. And I like tinkering with stuff myself.

 

1 hour ago, tikker said:

Sure it'll be a long road and the situation could use improvements on many fronts. It would also be great if they would offer this to enthusiasts that do want to attempt it themselves, but can we at least also acknowledge when the take a step in the right direction? We're shitting that the house isn't built yet while ingoring that the foundation is finally being started.

I'm outlining simple demands here: Make the tools available to everybody instead of just certified partners and release the design files for stuff like jigs pictured in the article freely to the public. I'm not in the business of handing out participation awards for stuff that barely qualifies as a step in the right direction when they're still only doing it in a way that guarantees it makes them money somehow. 

[Kisai]

20 hours ago, RejZoR said:

If product cannot be taken apart with a set of phillips/flat screwdrivers and some generic plastic pry tools, your product is trash and has garbage repairability. Requiring a special colab to develop tools is not praise worthy, it's pathetic and sad.

 

Nah.

 

If this results in iFixit being the "standard" toolset, we'll be fine. Security/pentalobe screws are a consequence of tooling assembly machinery to make it easier to assemble (not disassemble) by machine.

 

What needs to change is a move to a single-length, threading and screw-head for specific parts so that screws are known as "heatsink screws", "chassis screws" "m.2 PCIe retaining screws" "battery screws" rather than an assortment of screws that are not only different between manufacturers, but different between models from the same manufacturer. We may never get there, and techies everywhere will continue to have a 1Kg box of assorted screws they collected over the years.

 

Case-in-point, to open a Dell Precision 5520/5530, you need security screwdrivers/bits that are more commonly found in "smartphone" repair kits, not laptop repair kits, let alone regular screwdrivers you could find at Wallmart (though I did find this smartphone kit at walmart.) The Dell technicians I talked to said they only get about 10 uses out of securtity screwdrivers before the bit is worn out, because the screws are often too tight if the laptop is ever opened. So you better not have to fix it a second time.

 

 

[Doobeedoo]

Cool. Really hoping to see better repairability in general in tech.

[Heliian]

This is just marketing and they'll try and sell the special tools at ridiculous prices.

 

Ifixit has become so popular now that they're moving into the hype beast category.