This is a very good thing. Thank you EU for forcing us dirty heathens in NA to have consumer protections.
Once again, the EU drags the rest of us into modernity kicking and screaming.
I hate the term consumer the only I consume is food . How about buyer or customer just anything but consumer
Consuming does not mean eating. Either you produce, sell or consume a product.
Tough. It is appropriate description for what you are doing. Every tangible thing you buy at some point gets discarded one way or another. You’ve consumed the energy and materials needed to make whatever it is.
Everything with a battery needs to have a replacable battery by 2027.
electric cars, phones, wireless mice, headphones etc etc etc
Some need to be “user replacable”
some needs to be replacable by a professional (electric car batteries, for example)
I think there should be a requirement for easily expandable storage as well.
Switch and Steam Deck seem to be OK for this, but I’d like to further piss on Apple’s chips.
I think it should be fully replaceable storage, not just expandable because a lot of companies throw out completely fine devices to get rid of sensitive information on the soldered drives
Isn’t pretty much everything replaceable in Steam Deck? Including official guides?
Yes, but ideally you can swap the battery without having to disassemble the entire thing.
You don’t disassemble the entire thing. You remove a few screws and remove the back cover. There are some plastic clips to be mindful of, but side from that, it’s not much harder than upgrading RAM in a laptop.
Compare this to something like an iPhone that is sealed shut with adhesive, and you have to peel off the fragile glass digitizer and screen off. Then remove every component, and the battery is bound to the back of the chassis with adhesive. And Apple wants to sue outlets that actually do this.
Totally different game.
That’s not what the EU law says, it says it needs to be user replaceable, which means:
- it mustn’t void warranty
- it must be doable using common tools
This is a fantastic change, every battery powered device should have self serviceable replaceable parts if it is safe for an untrained individual to do so.
During the early days of cell phones, replaceable batteries was the norm, not the exception, and it was as complicated to perform as your TV remote. No need for training. In these modern days, you may want to turn off your phone cleanly before proceeding, but that’s pretty much it!
Let’s not even talk about the early handheld game sets: the GameBoy (Nintendo) and GameGear (Sega), that were using regular disposable batteries (rechargeable ones were recommended though!).
Vendors have made our devices complicated to repair to lower costs and later to make our smartphones water resistant. They started off being easy to disassemble and re-assemble.
Really like the initiative by the EU to try and empower consumers again. I think generally the Switch and Steam Deck feature replaceable parts, but device manufacturers need to be held to a consumer-friendly standard.
Excellent, I like that I can replace batteries easily from my old handhelds, the only issue for that case is finding trusted ones.
Steam deck done. https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Steam_Deck
Isn’t the main issue whether or not there’s an ease to replace? There’s like 20 steps and a bunch of easily breakable cables involved with replacing it currently.
I mean I think you can replace the Switch’s battery too by that standard.
Same site even says it’s only 1 extra step in total, though instead of the cables being in the way, it sounds like the shields a bit more difficult.
But like either of these replacements would require a technical user to do it.
‘ease to replace’ to whom?
seems like an impossible to define standard, but I’d be interested to hear what the requirements are
if they supply the necessary tools and steps/videos, is that enough?
Steam deck done.
Not really. Look up the Linus Tech Tips teardown. The battery is glued in super hard. Linus said he spoke to Valve about that and according to him Valve said they’re looking into making it easier to replace at a later date. Since then I’ve not seen any reports about a change.
i think ‘user replaceable’ should involve no tools, and a minimum of time. if step one involves removing eight tiny screws, and it only gets more cumbersome from there, i don’t think it counts.
There’s something to be said for this as well certainly but I do think the deck is still much better overall than will be required since they actually offer spare parts for sale for pretty much everything and repair guides too.
Says 2-4 hours and “difficult” on the battery replacement page
And requires heating + prying.
If this is considered replaceable, I wonder what an non-replaceable battery would be. Soldered to the main board and trying to unsolder it causes a failsafe to short the CPU?
It’s a good thing Valve makes the official parts and tutorials available on ifixit for the deck
The battery is still unnecessarily glued in with permanent adhesive that requires a heat gun to melt it though.
I never understand why batteries need to be glued in at all, surely pure friction will keep them in place. If you really need them stuck down use pull tabs.
I have a 2012 asus s46c laptop. Replacing its battery is as easy as sliding a nitendo switch joycon into/out of the console. Other laptops from around that time have similarly easy to remove batteries. There’s no lack of know-how and I doubt making it easily replaceable is “more expensive” during production. Any company that solders or glues them must do it out of pure spite against the customers.
I learned to crack open my laptop shell and replace the battery, which saved me 30 bucks when capacity was dead and I was getting a spicy pillow in the works.
My model had an easily searchable servicing guide, and I’d followed it to replace the thermal paste as well. That being said, I am looking for a future replacement as it no longer runs some indie games I have and there’s no way to upgrade its internals to newer standards. My dear laptop is future e-waste, as it pains me to say.
This industry needs to go back to focus on repairability. It would push for more sustainable part and product designs, which has become a big factor in purchase consideration lately.
Framework is doing some very cool stuff if you haven’t heard of them! Their upcoming 16 inch laptop will support modular, upgradeable graphics cards.
I have been following the developments for Framework, and really hope the modular design for laptops will go the way of the usb in adoption throughout the industry. We could benefit from less becoming e-waste.
Waiting for them to ship to my country. I really like what they are doing. You can upgrade your laptop and then use the old internals as a mini pc for example…
I wish the EU would just stop getting their grubby hands ibto everything they possibly can
Gotta love the reddit-tier “downvote anyone who disagrees” mindset here. It’s like I never even left reddit!
Maybe you should go back to r/conservative. I’m sure you’d fit in great there…
How dare they make things better for us!
Just because something it better for you, it doesn’t mean it’s better for everyone
It only has to be better for most people for this to be a net gain. Nintendo won’t otherwise provide us with a choice of whether or not the battery is replaceable.
What most people want should have exactly fucking zero bearing on what I am able to purchase for myself
Now try that again and explain why it’s not better.
If you’re completely incapable of seeing how different people have different priorities in devices they want, i don’t see any purpose in bothering with you further.
Again, you aren’t specific, you just throw random stuff around.
Don’t bother then, since you haven’t bothered to say why this is bad for consumers/everyone and instead spent the past two posts avoiding it completely.
I’ve provided just as much to this conversation as your meaningless nay-saying has. Enjoy a block, shitcan
Lmao. Are you 12 or something? Dude asked for your reasoning so he could better understand why you don’t want it.
How does replaceable batteries affect your consumption in a negative way? I think we’re all curious on this one.
Genuinely curious why you are against pro consumer legislation?
I’m against regulations that get between parties and enforce terms onto voluntary agreement. Why is it the position of government to tell me what products I should and shouldn’t want to buy? If you want shit with removable batteries, cool, go out and make your demands heard. But why should your demands be pushed onto everyone else as “pro-consumer” when it ignores the demands of literally any consumers who have different preferences than you? What about the consumer that doesn’t give a fuck about usb-c or removable batteries? Why should they be made to buy products designed around standards that aren’t important to them?
Good god you’ve missed the point haven’t you?
If you want shit with removable batteries, cool, go out and make your demands heard. But why should your demands be pushed onto everyone else
Because companies are not providing products with removable batteries so the consumers refusing to buy products with non-removable batteries doesn’t work because there’s no alternative product to purchase. Manufacturers know they have consumers in monopoly so they have no reason to change.
What about the consumer that doesn’t give a fuck about usb-c or removable batteries?
The USB c-thing is not just about user friendliness it’s also about the environment. Constantly having to throw old charges away because their incompatible with new products produces an enormous amount of e-waste, everyone using the same charger reduces it, which is only a good thing. Also the Apple charger which is what I’m assuming you’re going on about is actually less safe than the usb-c standard. I think we can all agree that manufacturers should use safer options when they become available.
Why should they be made to buy products designed around standards that aren’t important to them?
If a product has a feature you don’t care about, why do you care, just don’t use it and you’re fine.
Because companies are not providing products with removable batteries so the consumers refusing to buy products with non-removable batteries doesn’t work because there’s no alternative product to purchase
There are plenty of products with removable batteries. Not my problem if you don’t want them. You’re objectively incorrect in saying no alternative products are available.
The USB c-thing is not just about user friendliness it’s also about the environment
Cool, don’t give a damn
Also the Apple charger which is what I’m assuming you’re going on about is actually less safe than the usb-c standard
I’m talking more generally about any cable anywhere with superior elements to usb c. But yeah, the lightning port apple made was a massive improvement over micro USB, the standard at the time for everyone else, and is still a significantly more durable charger port than usb c given its external connectors.
I have plenty of issues with apple, but they’re a perfect example of making good products that don’t conform to these crappy legal standards.
If a product has a feature you don’t care about, why do you care, just don’t use it and you’re fine
You understand the irony in saying this given that you’re of the position that the government should force your preferred features into products regardless, no? I care because I’m stuck with all the downsides of features you want, and companies are literally prohibited from selling me other options.
If you want shit with removable batteries, cool, go out and make your demands heard.
They have. That’s why the regulators are making these laws.
But why should your demands be pushed onto everyone else as “pro-consumer”
It’s pro consumer because it benefits consumers. As of right now, most portable electronics have a built in expiration date. Most people lack the skills to replace a built-in battery and official stores rarely do replacements, so it’s down to a 3rd party shop which is difficult for less knowledgeable consumer to find.
It’s the same reason why we have any regulations against anti-consumer practices. It’s because these practices often rely on deceptive practices and consumers ignorance. In this case, the consumers are not informed that the device they are buying is built to expire after a few years.
I don’t see any argument you could make about usb-c or removable batteries hindering your usage of the device.
Most countries mandate that products come with a warranty. I haven’t heard anyone saying “what if I want to buy a product without a warranty?” Because why would you?
They have. That’s why the regulators are making these laws.
You’re aware that not every personal preference has to be enforced by law, correct? You can express your preferences without calling for any form of government action whatsoever.
It’s pro consumer because it benefits consumers
No, it benefits some consumers. I, for one, very much would not benefit from this. Batteries replaceable to the standard the EU wants absolutely have downsides, primarily concerning space, meaning either larger devices, or smaller batteries, and in some cases, likely both. For example, if you open up a modern iPhone, you’ll find that the battery takes up every nook and cranny it could be fit into. And the phones still maintain a slim design. That shit is basically outright impossible to make under this standard of idiot-serviceability. And because I’m perfectly fine with having to use big scary tools like a soldering iron and heat gun, I have exactly zero problems with buying devices that would require them for service, especially so considering the benefits.
Most people lack the skills to replace a built-in battery and official stores rarely do replacements, so it’s down to a 3rd party shop which is difficult for less knowledgeable consumer to find.
Which doesn’t fucking impact me at all. I’m not a less knowledgeable consumer. So why should I be stuck playing by rules for their benefit?
I don’t see any argument you could make about usb-c or removable batteries hindering your usage of the device
USB c isn’t some pinnacle of design. You seriously find it unthinkable that any cable could ever be superior in any way? And I already covered downsides to the idiot-servicable batteries.
Most countries mandate that products come with a warranty. I haven’t heard anyone saying “what if I want to buy a product without a warranty?” Because why would you?
More examples of regulations isn’t an argument for further regulations because law is not inherently self justifying.
Are you being paid to take every single bad take possible or what?
Lol says the big government simp
Lol says apple simp. See how that’s not actually a counter argument see how you actually have to explain your points in order for them to be valid and see how you failed to do so because every single point you come up with lacks evidence.
You have said that it is impossible to make efficient batteries that a user replaceable, but you have failed to demonstrate why this is the case. Phones have historically had use of replaceable batteries for years it’s been fine. Manufacturers just realized they could force people to buy new phones more easily if they didn’t make the batteries replaceable, it’s got nothing to do with efficiency, and everything to do with anti-consumer capitalism.
Try not talking like this, you’ll have more meaningful interactions in your everyday life which aren’t immediately hostile to everyone actually engaging with you, resulting in mutually beneficial discussions rather than the arguments you’re clearly constantly looking for.
Products with non-removable batteries are bad for the environment in a number of ways. They hurt even the ones not interested in the product.
OK and?
And the ones getting hurt don’t want to.
Corpo account detected
This guy’s whole comment history section is about arguing and being a contrarian. I’ve tagged him as such.
I wish the EU would just stop getting their grubby hands ibto everything they possibly can
its for the environment… EU has set carbon emission goals etc by 2030, and 2050 ?
batteries are terrible for the environment…
but one thing that is worse is… throwing away a used phone because the battery is terrible, because replacing the battery is gonna cost the same as a new phone.
my last 3 phones, for example, where all replaced because the battery was shit. unable to replace it without paying the same as a new phone…
making products having a replacable battery (available to purchase as well) will cause fewer products to be produced, meaning fewer emissions.
also the old batteries have to be recycled 100%.
OK and? The EU can still go fuck itself. Having a shitty plan doesn’t make every shitty step somehow not shit.
Ok
if
downvote anyone who disagreesonly applies to opinions like this, the i guess im gonna keep doing it
