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What's the real reason that laptop batteries are made not-accessible?
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cortex_m0:

--- Quote from: Ben321 on December 03, 2021, 02:40:02 am ---Planned obsolescence means what exactly?
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Batteries wear out with charge and discharge cycles. If the battery isn't easily replaceable, a device with a weak battery becomes obsolete to most customers.

In the more general case, we generally have a pretty good idea how to build truly durable things. But building a refrigerator that lasts 25 years isn't necessarily the optimal business strategy for Maytag or Samsung because customers tend to value low price over durability.


--- Quote ---Also I don't know if it's considered planned obsolescence if it can still be replaced by a technician. Planned obsolescence is usually only if it's absolutely impossible to replace, forcing the person to buy a completely new computer.

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Planned obsolescence succeeds when the consumer perceives an object is more economical to replace than repair. Technicians are expensive, especially if you want them to travel to you. So even if the repair ends up being something simple like a failed diode or swollen cap, the economical budget for a 3 year old $400 TV is pretty low.
Ben321:

--- Quote from: cortex_m0 on December 03, 2021, 03:36:30 am ---In the more general case, we generally have a pretty good idea how to build truly durable things.

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Like things build to military specifications, designed not only to last a long time but also withstand harsh operating environments. There's even documented MIL-STD (military standards) that define exactly how things need to be built so that they are acceptable for military use. Part of me wishes everything (even consumer goods) was built to that standard, but then I also realize that if it was there would be so many people who wouldn't be able to afford it.
BrokenYugo:
The explanation with the fewest assumptions is usually correct, IDK why people want a laptop that doubles as a cake knife, but they clearly do and packaging a LiPo in a user safe and serviceable package certainly hampers that, which people also seem fine with. If that weren't the case used ThinkPads and other enterprise grade laptops one can easily service wouldn't be such a great bargain. I've personally tried talking ordinary people down that path, their eyes glaze over and they go buy some consumer trash that's junk in 3 years for the same money.
james_s:

--- Quote from: cortex_m0 on December 03, 2021, 03:36:30 am ---Batteries wear out with charge and discharge cycles. If the battery isn't easily replaceable, a device with a weak battery becomes obsolete to most customers.

In the more general case, we generally have a pretty good idea how to build truly durable things. But building a refrigerator that lasts 25 years isn't necessarily the optimal business strategy for Maytag or Samsung because customers tend to value low price over durability.

--- End quote ---

That is not planned obsolescence, that is cost engineering. Planned obsolescence is engineering that has no other function than to deliberately limit lifespan, for example a timer that bricks something after a specified number of uses, or a system that is tied to a remote server for no reason than to be able to disable it.

You have said it yourself, customers tend to value low price over durability. Cutting corners to align with what customers value is not planned obsolescence. They are not making these things fail so people have to buy another one, they're making them as cheap as they can while still lasting long enough.
james_s:

--- Quote from: Ben321 on December 03, 2021, 03:55:58 am ---Like things build to military specifications, designed not only to last a long time but also withstand harsh operating environments. There's even documented MIL-STD (military standards) that define exactly how things need to be built so that they are acceptable for military use. Part of me wishes everything (even consumer goods) was built to that standard, but then I also realize that if it was there would be so many people who wouldn't be able to afford it.

--- End quote ---

That is an understatement. I don't know exactly what a military grade laptop would cost but I would guess at least $20k.
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