right to repair

[id10t]

Not an issue for us pre-electric-everything folks, but for more modern cars, this could be an issue.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/17/10/25/0245223/why-we-must-fight-for-the-right-to-repair-our-electronics

[sc_rufctr]

I knew this was coming.

[john70t]

This is a freight train arriving.
Overdue since the BUSH 'patriot act'.
And all the "proud and independent cottage industry" types are eagerly lining up along the tracks for self-driving cars to take over their basic brain function.

Gotta join the next guy in line?
No.
Don't buy it.
And don't let your family members buy it.

Find a better company and support them instead.
Better business and karma that way.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by john70t

This is a freight train arriving.
Overdue since the BUSH 'patriot act'.
And all the "proud and independent cottage industry" types are eagerly lining up along the tracks for self-driving cars to take over their basic brain function.

Gotta join the next guy in line?
No.
Don't buy it.
And don't let your family members buy it.

Find a better company and support them instead.
Better business and karma that way.

Not even Patriot Act. It is an effect of copyright law and the DMCA. Got to protect those media business interests!

Here's the effect for farmers with John Deere equipment - https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/07/19/1415209/farmers-demand-right-to-fix-their-own-dang-tractors

And another on Deere - https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/04/10/0340232/american-farmers-are-still-fighting-tractor-software-locks

[wdfifteen]

Another reason not to buy a John Deere. I have a friend who began switching from Deere tractors to Kubota 10 years ago, sick and tired of John Deere arrogance and indifference to customers.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by john70t

And don't let your family members buy it.

This undying allegiance to accept "X" is what i still don't understand.

They say "This is a normal thing because everyone else is doing it"
"It is the proven norm".
I say "No it is not, lemming".

[rockfan4]

The library of congress saves the day

The Library of Congress issued new rules (PDF) Friday outlining when it's legal to circumvent copy-protection systems. Among the activities blessed by the Librarian: unlocking cell phones to move from one network to another, repairing cars and tractors, performing security research, and pulling data from medical devices. The agency also expanded an existing jailbreaking exemption to cover voice assistant devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/feds-say-its-ok-to-jailbreak-alexa/