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Oregon governor signs nation’s first right-to-repair bill that bans parts pairing (arstechnica.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (14 children)

Even HVAC, WTF?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (12 children)

I mean, I don't want the thing supplying the air I'm breathing to accidentally not burn all the gas and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning etc.... Things like the ductwork and shit, for sure, but not like, a burner.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (9 children)

So you want to be stuck with the same thermostat forever? Imagine it comes with one of those Amazon ones with a persistent camera and microphone in it that you can't opt out of.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Firstly, I said this one was iffy to me.

Second, the subtopic was HVAC and thermostats are like, the electronics that control the HVAC which I wouldn't even really necessarily bucket into HVAC. It's like HVAC adjacent.

Third, this whole topic is about right to repair, not right to replace. So the on topic argument is "you want to be able to repair the same thermostat with off brand parts", to which I say, yes? Probably? I don't see how that's a problem.

And fourth, who the fuck would buy an Amazon thermostat, lmao.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's about parts pairing. HVAC companies could pair the thermostat to the system and you wouldn't be able to replace it with one of your choosing. People are buying smart TVs with Amazon and Google crap in them that came be removed or even bypassed in certain cases. Google owns nest, the most popular smart thermostat brand. Amazon has their own smart thermostat. People wouldn't think twice about having that included with their new HVAC system. It would be a selling point, just like smart TVs and all the other crap out there that will stop getting updates in 5 years.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That's more "device" pairing than "parts" pairing. The thermostat to HVAC communication is a standard. Sure, if someone started forcing that, that'd be bad. But that's more akin to Apple's "iOS only works with MacBooks" type shit with Airdrop and such than it is to their "you can't replace the camera in your phone unless it's from us". They're both problems, but the one you're describing is both not happening and a different issue. I'm not saying it won't happen but it's a different topic.