From 0/10 to 8/10: Microsoft Puts Repair Front and Center

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Perception of Microsoft and Motives

  • Many see the improved Surface repairability as driven by regulation (especially EU) and enterprise market expectations rather than a moral shift.
  • There’s disagreement over whether “modern Microsoft” is less malicious than in the past; several argue it has simply shifted from classic monopoly abuse to surveillance, lock‑in, and ads.
  • Some note that Microsoft’s enterprise behavior and support can be quite good, in contrast to its consumer practices.

Online Accounts, Ads, and User Hostility

  • Strong criticism of Windows 10/11 for:
    • Aggressive promotion of Microsoft accounts and cloud services.
    • Dark patterns around upgrades, reset privacy settings, and OS‑level ads.
  • Debate over how this compares to iOS/Android/macOS:
    • Some say phones also effectively force cloud accounts; others counter you can skip accounts and still use core features, while Windows 11 increasingly hides local‑account paths.
    • Various “tricks” to create local accounts in Windows 11 are shared, with complaints that Microsoft keeps trying to close them.

Right to Repair and Regulation

  • Many commenters see the 8/10 score as a win for Right to Repair pressure and EU ecodesign rules, citing the broader “Brussels effect” where EU regulation sets global norms.
  • Others stress that legislation, not market forces, is what drags manufacturers toward repairability, despite corporate lobbying against it.

iFixit Scoring and Actual Repairability

  • Discussion on how iFixit scores work:
    • Said to be criteria‑based and sometimes revised later (e.g., for parts pairing).
    • 8/10 is controversial because CPU and RAM are soldered; defenders note the score reflects how easy it is to service replaceable parts, not upgrade every component.
  • Some argue soldered RAM/CPU are acceptable if they rarely fail; critics say it still undercuts long‑term repair and reuse.

Surface Hardware Details and Linux

  • New Surface models reportedly have a user‑replaceable SSD behind a small access door, and improved access to battery and other common failure parts.
  • Skeptics still see them as effectively disposable if any soldered core component dies.
  • Linux support on the newest ARM Surface is currently shaky; WSL2 works but is rejected by some as not a true alternative to native Linux.