iFixit is an apt name for a company making do-it-yourself electronic gadget repair accessible, cool, and maybe even fun. Repairing stuff is green.
Electronic gadgets like computers, e-readers, smartphones, tablets, and game consoles often appear to be mysterious devices that cannot be opened to replace a battery or taken apart and repaired. Manufacturers seem to make non-battery replacement and non-repair friendly devices on purpose and then encourage us to buy “new and improved” versions even before the old ones wear out or break.
iFixit is out to change the paradigm by empowering people to fix their own electronic gadgets and other equipment.
iFixit Background
It all started back in 2003, in a dorm room at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. With no repair manual available, iFixit founders Luke Soules and Kyle Wiens used the trial and error method to fix an iBook.
They moved on to other computers and bought broken computers to use for parts. iFixit was launched when they decided to sell parts themselves.
Next, they started writing repair guides for electronic gadgets and posting them online for free. People started using the guides and saving money.
The business grew and their mission expanded.
iFixit Self-Repair Manifesto
Repair is Better than Recycling- Repair Saves the Planet
- Repair Saves You Money
- Repair Teaches Engineering
- If You Can’t Fix It, You Don’t Own It
What Does iFixit Do?
“We think it should be easy for people to learn how to fix things”.
iFixit is like Wikipedia for the repair world. iFixit provides a platform and website to make it easy for people to share and collaborate. Users can create a teardown or repair guide, ask or answer a troubleshooting question, submit a story, edit content, earn badges, or join a team. The information is available to everyone, for free.
Repair Manuals – provide step-by-step instructions and photos on how to install, replace, and repair components and devices.- Teardowns – show and explain the process of disassembling a device or piece of equipment.
- Troubleshooting – people share knowledge by asking and answering questions.
- Parts & Tools – Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and game console parts provide an income stream. As do repair tools. My favorite is the spudger, a pencil-like, antistatic tool, used for tinkering around inside electronic components.
- Services – for a fee, iFixit will assist companies with teardowns, technical documentation, and converting existing documentation.
- Blog – DIY repair and related topics at iFixit.org.
Orange Teardown
Geeks and non-geeks alike will enjoy the easy-to-read Orange Teardown complete with photos. I challenge you to not laugh.
Fix the Planet
For iFixit, do-it-yourself repair is more than just a business.
“Repair is recycling! The best way to keep hardware out of landfills is to keep it working longer. Toxic electronic waste is a global problem that we all need to pitch in to solve. Self repair saves you money and helps the environment!”
In the short video below Kyle Wiens explains what e-waste is and shows us that there is no “away”.
Non-Geeky Repair
As kids, my children liked to take stuff apart. My spouse is good at repair. I am mechanical ability challenged. However, I have been known to fix things. For instance, apparently, I am the only person in the family able to sew a button on a pair of shorts or a shirt.
For fun, I searched the iFixit website for “how to sew on a button.” The list of results mostly referred to electronic gadget buttons. However, I did run across “How do I patch a hole in a pair of jeans?” and a sewing glossary.
Perhaps I will create a “Sewing on a Button” repair guide.
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It is amazing what shows up on “You tube”. I have never seen any photos from Africa showing what was on the video you shared on the blog. It is mind boggling and very scary. We seem to be a society of throw away’s with no thought to where all our “stuff” will end up. Saving the planet from our inability to think beyond the moment has got to stop.
I almost bought a Barnes and Noble’s “Nook” to treat myself for Mother’s Day but now I am glad I did not succumb to my temptation. Recycling paper books is one way I can help not add to the heap of damaging materials I saw in that video.