<story><title>There is now a European standard for measuring how easy it is to repair stuff</title><url>https://de.ifixit.com/News/35879/repairability-standard-en45554</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>_ph_</author><text>Whenever repairability of modern electronic devices is discussed, I have to look at my mechanical wristwatch. Yes, there is an enormeous amount of technology integrated into a smartphone or compact laptop, but my wristwatch contains over 100 moving parts in a tiny volume. And still, every trained watchmaker can open and service it. It requires specialized tools, but those have been avialable to watchmakers for hundreds of years. A time traveller could buy a current Rolex and have it serviced in 1950, possibly even in 1850. The watchmakers of those times wouldn&amp;#x27;t have access to the right spare parts - those are surprisingly high-tech, but basic service would be possible.&lt;p&gt;And that is why I cannot stand the current state of repairs in the electronic world. I am especially looking at Apple in this respect, because they have demonstrated a surprising skill at making things repairable, which they want to be serviceable. Just look at the brilliant mount for the USB ports in the new Air.&lt;p&gt;While end-user serviceability might not be desirable for something highly-integrated, the benchmark really should be whether someone trained like a watch-maker has the ability to service a device. Which would be great for the local economy wherever in the world a customer is, because traditionally most towns would have at least one watchmaker, a well paid professional who would keep the money local vs. creating more electronic waste and shipping a new device around the world.</text></comment>
<story><title>There is now a European standard for measuring how easy it is to repair stuff</title><url>https://de.ifixit.com/News/35879/repairability-standard-en45554</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>apexalpha</author><text>Let&amp;#x27;s hope this catches on just like the energy labels did. After the EU forced manufacturers to improve energy use in their devices it soon improved situations for everyone on this planet.&lt;p&gt;Many other countries follow EU regulations directly or indirectly so let&amp;#x27;s hope for some easily repairable products in the future!</text></comment>