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It’s another nail in the coffin of consumer hardware startups. In addition to CE and waste issues now comes a requirement for repairability. Only the big guys w

by lnsru 2y ago

It’s another nail in the coffin of consumer hardware startups. In addition to CE and waste issues now comes a requirement for repairability. Only the big guys with departments of clerks can launch a product nowadays.

flohofwoe 2y ago
The Framework laptop seems to be a counter example to your theory, the company seems to be just under 50 people which isn't all that big even for a startup, and repairability is one of their main selling points.
- lnsru 2y ago
  May I ask you what this company has to do with EU? If you could open the website you would find this information: Company: Framework Computer Inc Headquarters Address: 447 Sutter St, PMB 135, San Francisco, CA, 94108-4618, United States
  - flohofwoe 2y ago
    If they want to sell their products in the EU it doesn't matter where they are based. And Framework is in a very good position to do so since they designed their products with repairability in mind from the start, and all that without a "big department of clerks".
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
impossiblefork 2y ago
But repairing things can be a way to learn to build them, and usually happens closer to the end consumer, so I think if there is any burden imposed by this that could delay things, this other part is more than enough to compensate.
g15jv2dp 2y ago
I sincerely hope that hardware startup that are intent on producing e-waste that cannot be repaired fail thanks to this directive.
cowl 2y ago
The requirement comes because you have to go out of your normal flow to make things not repairable. Can you tell me one example on how this would make the life harder for startups? The mandate is to produce schematics which the startup obviusly would have and to make parts available. both things that any startup would need to consider as their part of the warranty/repair anayway but now they have to make this availble for third parties and not just themselves.

by lnsru 2y ago

flohofwoe 2y ago

The Framework laptop seems to be a counter example to your theory, the company seems to be just under 50 people which isn't all that big even for a startup, and repairability is one of their main selling points.

lnsru 2y ago
May I ask you what this company has to do with EU? If you could open the website you would find this information: Company: Framework Computer Inc Headquarters Address: 447 Sutter St, PMB 135, San Francisco, CA, 94108-4618, United States
- flohofwoe 2y ago
  If they want to sell their products in the EU it doesn't matter where they are based. And Framework is in a very good position to do so since they designed their products with repairability in mind from the start, and all that without a "big department of clerks".
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

impossiblefork 2y ago

But repairing things can be a way to learn to build them, and usually happens closer to the end consumer, so I think if there is any burden imposed by this that could delay things, this other part is more than enough to compensate.

g15jv2dp 2y ago

I sincerely hope that hardware startup that are intent on producing e-waste that cannot be repaired fail thanks to this directive.

cowl 2y ago

The requirement comes because you have to go out of your normal flow to make things not repairable. Can you tell me one example on how this would make the life harder for startups? The mandate is to produce schematics which the startup obviusly would have and to make parts available. both things that any startup would need to consider as their part of the warranty/repair anayway but now they have to make this availble for third parties and not just themselves.