I absolutely love this. It would be easy enough for Valve to say "do not open the Steam Deck" and leave it at that. Instead they present clear, sensible reasons for recommending against opening the device while acknowledging that this advice won't stop anyone who really wants to open one up.
> The company cautions that they are completely custom, but says that it will offer a source for “replacement parts, thumbsticks, SSDs, and possibly more” in the coming months.
There you go. that's how you do right to repair.
Of course in an ideal world they'd also design the device to be easy to repair, but this is a massive leap in the right direction IMO.
Exactly that. I get the impression that some commenters here didn't even bother to watch the video or read the description / article. Valve will provide spare parts, and from what I saw so far, it seems repairable. If they don't "dongle" things (looking at you, Apple!), it will still be servable.
People are curious what it looks inside and you don’t want them to open it? Just show them what’s inside and take their reason to open it.
It’s similar to warnings. “Don’t do x” is easy to not take seriously since people can say it for all kinds of reasons, “... because it would kill you” is pretty convincing.
Remember. Right to repair isn't necessarily about having repairs or upgrades be super easy and anyone can do it. But to make the parts, schematics and information accessible by those that are trained to repair and upgrade them.
You can repair a car. Doesn't mean you should repair your own car. Making a mistake can be dangerous. But professionals who know what they are doing have easy access to components and information about the layout of your cars internals if they need them.
I think this is a fair enough position. I don't expect every device to be easily repairable, especially a gen 1 device. They already have enough trouble getting it to fit into a size that is usable. They give clear reasons for you not to do repairs yourself, but they don't impose any arbitrary restrictions. If you want to void your warranty, they give you the full freedom and knowledge to do so.
I'm not necessarily a fan of the complicated design but I accept that it might've been necessary for miniaturisation.
Other than that, to me the message of this video is that if anything goes people will have replacement parts available and a repair shop can take care of it. Assuming that's the intention it's still pretty good.
In general, Valve is really consumer-friendly when it comes to hardware.
I recently destroyed my Index's tether cable, mostly my fault, and their tech support sent me a new one for free with very little hassle, and with instructions on how to replace it.
How is this even remotely true? The only similarity is that they are both portable, or what am I missing in your argument here?
> What happened to everyone talking up the “customization” aspects?
This video proves that it'll be dirty easy to customize the components that are being removed. Want your own thumbsticks? Go ahead, here is a instruction video for how to change them. Not sure what's missing for you here?
You can’t have tiny surface mount components packed onto the PCBs in phones without trade offs in repaiability. No one[a] is going to buy a game console made of discrete logic and through hole passives when the PS5, X Box, and Switch do a much better job at giving consumers what they want with 0402 (or smaller) passives.
I applaud Valve for doing this video. They’re admitting that the device is too complex for the average user and that they shouldn’t mess with it, but they also are going to provide replacement parts and a teardown guide should you know what you’re doing. That’s a step in the right direction.
[a]: yes, I’m sure some would want this (especially if you asked on here), but I’d bet that the majority of non-tech people don’t care
Well, the video does mention that you should "stay tuned" for official vendors for replacement parts for the SSD and thumbsticks.
I think I disagree that this is gaslighting. It's kind of cheeky, in a way, but maybe I'm missing something. There's an inherent tension between "design something that is easy to repair" and "give me a form factor that I actually like for hours of hand held gaming".
Not here. "Difficult to take apart" are the finicky plastic latches all around the seam between the 2 halves of the case. The ones that you can sort of open by sliding the credit card around the seam for half an hour. Or give up, pry them with a screwdriver, and scratch the whole thing in numerous places. I would give Valve credit here for the sole act of not putting them.
That said, I would call BS on SSD vs Wi-Fi interference and semi-BS on the ESD gloves and anchoring. Unless you are handling 100 devices per day while wearing your comfy sweater and sitting on a carpet, just make sure you touch any grounded object beforehand, and you will be fine in most of the cases.
How is this anything but good for right to repair? The average user is unequipped to repair modern electronics. I wouldn't advise the average consumer to try and repair even the framework laptop. But that's not the point of right to repair. The point of right to repair is that manufacturers are required to release parts and schematics/instructions on how to repair their product. Advanced users or independent repair shops can then fix it.
I dont think there was a way to make a device this small and powerful without making it this tight and difficult to open. Your point is valid for laptops who try this or promote thin and light to have an excuse to do this.
skeoh|4 years ago
lmilcin|4 years ago
But they are not going out of their way to make it hard.
Doxin|4 years ago
There you go. that's how you do right to repair.
Of course in an ideal world they'd also design the device to be easy to repair, but this is a massive leap in the right direction IMO.
MrGilbert|4 years ago
solarkraft|4 years ago
People are curious what it looks inside and you don’t want them to open it? Just show them what’s inside and take their reason to open it.
It’s similar to warnings. “Don’t do x” is easy to not take seriously since people can say it for all kinds of reasons, “... because it would kill you” is pretty convincing.
conradludgate|4 years ago
You can repair a car. Doesn't mean you should repair your own car. Making a mistake can be dangerous. But professionals who know what they are doing have easy access to components and information about the layout of your cars internals if they need them.
rPlayer6554|4 years ago
beezischillin|4 years ago
Other than that, to me the message of this video is that if anything goes people will have replacement parts available and a repair shop can take care of it. Assuming that's the intention it's still pretty good.
PoignardAzur|4 years ago
I recently destroyed my Index's tether cable, mostly my fault, and their tech support sent me a new one for free with very little hassle, and with instructions on how to replace it.
mastrsushi|4 years ago
capableweb|4 years ago
How is this even remotely true? The only similarity is that they are both portable, or what am I missing in your argument here?
> What happened to everyone talking up the “customization” aspects?
This video proves that it'll be dirty easy to customize the components that are being removed. Want your own thumbsticks? Go ahead, here is a instruction video for how to change them. Not sure what's missing for you here?
tediousdemise|4 years ago
The pervasive practice of designing hardware that is difficult to take apart or service needs to end, full stop.
colejohnson66|4 years ago
I applaud Valve for doing this video. They’re admitting that the device is too complex for the average user and that they shouldn’t mess with it, but they also are going to provide replacement parts and a teardown guide should you know what you’re doing. That’s a step in the right direction.
[a]: yes, I’m sure some would want this (especially if you asked on here), but I’d bet that the majority of non-tech people don’t care
remarkEon|4 years ago
I think I disagree that this is gaslighting. It's kind of cheeky, in a way, but maybe I'm missing something. There's an inherent tension between "design something that is easy to repair" and "give me a form factor that I actually like for hours of hand held gaming".
bspammer|4 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxnr2FAADAs
I haven't seen anything so pro-consumer from a major electronics manufacturer in years. It's so refreshing being talked to like an adult with agency.
john_moscow|4 years ago
That said, I would call BS on SSD vs Wi-Fi interference and semi-BS on the ESD gloves and anchoring. Unless you are handling 100 devices per day while wearing your comfy sweater and sitting on a carpet, just make sure you touch any grounded object beforehand, and you will be fine in most of the cases.
rowanG077|4 years ago
spoonjim|4 years ago
shephardjhon|4 years ago
ecf|4 years ago
It’s choose two situation, no?