YOU BOUGHT THAT GADGET, AND DAMMIT, YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX IT by KYLE WIENS
Wiens notes:
“Not long ago, anyone
with the time, tools, and patience could repair damn near anything. That
changed as computers and processors took on a greater role in just about
everything you own. The mobile revolution exacerbated the problem. Packing
increasingly sophisticated technology into smaller, sleeker devices led
manufacturers to adopt new manufacturing techniques. That made it far more
difficult for home tinkerers to fix a laptop, a television, or smartphone—let
alone a car or farm tractor—making independent repair outfits essential. Then
manufacturers started using copyright laws to keep their repair manuals
offline, proprietary fasteners to seal their products, and in some cases,
digital rights management to protect their software.