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Define computer. Should Apple be required to make their phones with user replaceable RAM, storage, and power? How about their wristwatches?

• npunt 9y ago
  Yep, there's a lot of category error that gets introduced when using words like 'computer', likely far too much for legislation to handle correctly. We've got more form factors than ever, there's a lot of fluidity between them, and the traditional 'computer' market is stagnating anyways.
• tracker1 9y ago
  I would say any battery powered electronic device should be required to allow user replacement of said batteries. I would extend to say that any computing device costing over X amount (say $1000 USD) have user replacement ability to also include input device(s), memory and storage. Too many laptops are tossed because the keyboard wears out, or the drive dies.
  • dogma1138 9y ago
    I'll take water resistance over replaceable battery any day of the week.
    • tracker1 9y ago
      Have you never heard of a gasket?
      • com2kid 9y ago
        Gaskets are thick. With wrist worn devices, people are very sensitive to thickness. While those with larger hands don't care so much, people with smaller hands start caring about individual millimeters. I have seen consumer studies done where a 2mm difference in thickness results in a product having dramatically more negative customer response.
        • tracker1 9y ago
          Don't most water resistant/proof watches already have a user replaceable battery, and a gasket to seal the access point? The big thickness is needed more because of the depth desired for waterproof... even without a gasket/seal this would be an issue. But the difference for most devices is less than 2mm for decent water resistance, which is what the gp mentions.
          • com2kid 9y ago
            Smartwatches are already incredibly thick, too thick for many people in fact. Getting them thinner is a huge problem. A 2mm gasket when heroic efforts are undertaken for every mm shaved would make a product unpalatable next to a competitor that is 2mm thinner.
      • robotresearcher 9y ago
        Have you never had a leaky gasket?
      • dogma1138 9y ago
        Have you ever heard of physics? The pressure that the gasket can withstand is tied to the clamping pressure the circumference of the gasket and its cross section. It works ok with watches that have a very small area and can use double gaskets which are clamped very very strongly. The same thing will not work with a mm or thiner piece of plastic that is kept in place by its flex and a few hooks. If you can design a chassis with a replaceable battery which is waterproof and is not substantially thicker than modern smartphones a lot of companies would like to have a chat with you.
        • pwnna 9y ago
          Thinkpads have been water resistant for many many years now. Recently, this video[1] shows coffee, wine, water being poured on a T440s without problems. The thickness of that laptop is 0.8in. This laptop comes with 2 separate replaceable battery so you can even hot swap them. Recent thinkpad X1Cs are only 0.65in and have user serviceable batteries via just a couple screws. So it's definitely not a crazy hard feat to pull this off. Granted this is not a waterproof laptop, it is simply water resistant (no dropping into the pool). However, that seems to be what you're asking for in your original reply. The only question remains what you believe to be "substantially thicker than a modern smartphone". [1]: https://youtu.be/0U5n2WaMMHo?t=60 https://youtu.be/0U5n2WaMMHo?t=60
• Nullabillity 9y ago
  Yes, and yes.