What They Say
Toms Hardware reported on action by As You Sow, a nonprofit investor advocacy group focusing on environmental advocacy that has seen Microsoft agree that it will will study, with a third-party, the environmental and social impacts of making devices easier to repair and “determine new mechanisms to increase access to repair, including for Surface devices and Xbox consoles,” as well as make some parts and repair documentation available to consumers, not just authorized service providers.
What We Think
Toms Hardware pointed out that the Xbox Series X and Series S aren’t designed to be opened by owners. Instead, Microsoft relies on specialized external drives. It also highlighted the Framework modular notebook, which I hadn’t spotted before, although I remember reporting on the Google Project Ara modular smartphones although that project was cancelled in 2016. ( LG had the G5 which had modules and so did Motorola – some of its modules are on clearance sale, now. Ooips, I’m getting away from repair.
It’s good to see Microsoft responding to this move, although its devices often seem to ‘push the envelope’ in various ways, and that may be harder if you have to allow for easier repair. (BR)
