What do you think?
Why arent all installations like this?
The Q-Latch is nothing more than a rotating plastic latch on a metal shaft.
Asus
It comes as standard in Asuslatest AI motherboards, but could it point the way to more repairable gadgets?
The screw might be more reliable."
It couldnt really be any simpler.
So why arent more user-installable parts this easy?
And what about the various assemblies inside phones?
The answer is money, and space.
Glue
If you open up a modern smartphone, youll find a lot of glue inside.
It also can be a structural component, if used right.
But glue is a terrible choice if you ever need to open up a unit to repair it.
One compromise is a kind of glue that breaks when stretched.
Making a phone more repairable is expensive, in terms of assembly, but also in terms of space.
Every last millimeter inside a smartphone is used, preferable for adding extra batteries.
Making parts removable wastes this space.
If asked, many people might say they prefer a repairable phone.
Computer Space
The inside of a computer is much less space-constrained.
Apples latest M1 Macs have precisely zero user-replaceable parts inside, but it doesnt have to be that way.
And, in fact, plenty of parts have, historically, been easy to swap.
Old iMacs have user-upgradeable RAM, which is accessed through a hatch on the bottom edge.
Old sticks are ejected by pulling on a plastic ribbon, and new sticks slot into place.
And screws, however fiddly they may be, are more or less standard.
“I buy 100-packs of those screws for MacBooks,” says Bumstead.
“They are proprietary, but you’ve got the option to get them cheap.”
Could other PC makers standardize on internal fixings?
Sure, but what would be their advantage?
Right now, Asus has its Q-Latch, which might prove to be a competitive advantage.
But I wouldnt bet on it.
