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I've suggested that in the past here. But it was (I think correctly) pointed to me, that in most areas there are a monopoly or oligopoly (smartphones, for examp
by f1shy 3y ago
I've suggested that in the past here. But it was (I think correctly) pointed to me, that in most areas there are a monopoly or oligopoly (smartphones, for example) where there is no real option. I do try to squish as much life of my phone, and I changed the make, for a make that gives more updates over longer time. But soon I will have to switch, from a perfectly working 6 yo phone, when Meta or something stops being supported.
- randomdata 3y agoBarring impossible regulatory barriers, which isn't really a problem for smartphones, options appear when consumer sentiment is there. In fact, at one time smartphones didn't exist at all. They emerged as a viable product because the consumer saw value in them. Someone will try to build a repairable smartphone as soon as they believe that is what consumers want, and if they got that notion right, it will become the dominate smartphone and everyone else will quickly follow suit to maintain their own profitability. But so long as people don't truly value repairable smartphones (see the other comment about someone wanting a repairable smartphone for practically free – that's not valuing something), there is no realistic avenue for someone to create a repairable one, just as there would have been no realistic avenue to creating smartphones in the first place if the consumer did not see value in them.