Talks to Watch

Apple botches Macbook board design: again!

280K views · Dec 7, 2018 · 18:27 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2020–2021

Louis Rossmann, an independent repair shop owner, explains a recurring MacBook logic board design problem that leads to failures such as a black screen. The video is part of his right-to-repair advocacy.

Why Hacker News points people here: Mostly used as an example in repair debates, with commenters calling the design an oversight or an anti-repair tactic.

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itrrmoelkerMar 2020

“new age Macbook pro's dying from little water ingress (design oversight)”

Example of liquid damage design oversight fixed by chip replacement.

Full comment

Scrape off rust, replace chips that have been shorted. Does depend on chips being available and some knowledge on how to diagnose the damages (e.g.: board schematics). Here's an example of new age Macbook pro's dying from little water ingress (design oversight). And a combination of knowledge and a simple chip can fix your nearly write off Macbook. this video

in “Europe Wants a ‘Right to Repair’ Smartphones and Gadgets” · view on HN
CriticalRicoElectricoApr 2021

“stupid design on Apple part that compromises longevity and resilience”

Full comment

The style of issues he has to deal with are stupid design on Apple part that compromises longevity and resilience. Like really retarded, easily avoidable crap. And sheer spite. e.g. this video link link

in “Merge tag 'arm-Apple-M1-5.13' of Linux” · view on HN
CriticalGreek0May 2021

“Either this is an embarrassing, junior-level oversight or a deliberate anti-repair-buy-new-hardware tactic.”

Full comment

The repairability Rossmann is talking about is not user-replaceable components. His repairs usually require soldering to replace components. One of his main critique points is that Apple makes it hard to repair their products, even for electronics professionals. In the past, Apple has also altered designs so that small electrical problems suddenly fry the most expensive component on the board, the CPU. Either this is an embarrassing, junior-level oversight or a deliberate anti-repair-buy-new-hardware tactic. See, for example, this video As such, it seems you are arguing against an idea that no one is suggesting.

in “One man’s fight for the right to repair broken MacBooks” · view on HN