Meet Manus, an AI that thinks on its own. What it means for your job and the future of work. Plus, futuristic laptops, Millennials’ biggest parenting regrets, and a message sent 15 billion miles into the unknown.
Tractors, TVs and tyranny
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Picture this. A farmer is out in the fields when his $300,000 John Deere tractor shuts off with an error code. He knows what’s wrong. But he can’t touch it. An authorized (pricey) technician must come to his farm, unlock the tractor’s operating system and fix it.
You see, the farmer doesn’t own the right to repair something he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for. That’s not just a farmer’s problem. It’s yours and mine, too.
🚜 Why this matters
This isn’t limited to tractors. The same issue affects our phone, TV, car, smart fridge, laptop, home automation system and more.
If a part breaks, the manufacturer can decide whether or not you’re allowed to fix it. Companies use proprietary screws, secret tool kits and software locks to trap us in their repair quicksand. They can make parts and tools unavailable. They can lock you out of the software. Even worse, they can void your warranty if you dare take it to anyone outside their little repair club.
John Deere now faces a major lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and several states for blocking farmers from fixing their own machines. The courts recently ruled the case can move forward, and that’s a big win.
Right to repair laws would force companies to make parts, tools and manuals available. They would stop manufacturers from using software to block you from changing a battery, replacing a screen or updating a component without their say-so.
📈 How tech companies rate
I took a look at The Public Interest Network’s “Failing the Fix” report that graded various tech companies:
- Smartphones: Apple and Google top the list with B– grades; Motorola trails at C+ and Samsung lags with C–.
- Laptops: ASUS leads with an A–; Acer follows with B+; Dell, Samsung and Microsoft tie at B–; HP scores C; Apple earns C–; and Lenovo falls to F, due to no repair data on most models.
You can see the entire report here. I thought it was interesting.
🕺 What you can do
Our favorite laptops at every budget (PC, Mac and Chromebook)
© Sebastian Czapnik | Dreamstime.com
Most people have one or two gadgets running simultaneously and can do fine keeping them charged with a couple of cables and a wall outlet. But for those who have multiple devices, that’s simply not enough. Tap or click here for the top charging stations for all your devices.
Go ahead, take my money: Apple is upgrading its 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with its zippy M4 line of processors. The basic 14-inch M4 MacBook starts at $1,599 with 16GB of RAM, and the 16-inch M4 Max is $3,999. Preorders are open, with shipping slated to start on Nov. 8. Psst, this means the older models are on sale.
7.3 out of 10
What Lenovo laptops got for repairability, according to PIRG’s annual report, considered an F rating. The catch? They only submitted one model, so they were slapped with a failing grade for not providing enough data. Other brands sent in nine or 10 models. I guess they didn’t read the terms and conditions.
🗑️ Trashing your tech? Don’t just toss it. Check out Earth911’s recycling database. They’ve got over 100,000 places to drop off over 350 kinds of materials, from old laptops to regular paper and plastic. Type it in the search bar and plug in your ZIP code. Boom, you’ll see where to go.
3 smoking computer and server deals from Dell's Semi-Annual Sale
Here at the Komando HQ, we use the best computers for business. In other words, we use Dell setups. If you’re a fan who wants a similar setup to our resident pros, you’re in luck.
Right now, our sponsor Dell is throwing its semi-annual sale, which slashes prices on some of its best computers. You can even snatch up to 45% off the desktop we use around the office. We searched the sale and pulled out three of the best deals you can get for a limited time.
Tape over your webcam? Hackers can hijack your webcam, spy on you and use the footage for blackmail. But tape leaves a sticky mess. Grab a webcam cover. This two-pack ($7) fits most laptops and tablets. Pro tip: You can’t always trust that little green light to tell you if your camera is on or off.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
10%
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