Car analogies are quite popular on internet discussion forums, and ours is no exception. The problem with these analogies, however, is that they are usually quite flimsy, and a recent popular one is no exception. A number of people are now arguing that computer makers’ move towards closed platforms (Apple, Sony, and so on) is akin to people no longer being able to service cars on their own. This analogy, which looks sound on a superficial level, breaks down when you spend more than five minutes contemplating it.
As you are no doubt aware of, several computer manufacturers are trying to lock users out of their own devices. Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad are popular examples, but Sony’s recent dealings with the Linux option on the PlayStation 3 is probably an even better example. These policies are accompanied by terms stating that opening up the device will void its warranty.
A popular analogy has emerged – namely, that of cars decades ago, and cars today. It used to be the case that cars were relatively simple. You could service them yourself, and you were not dependent on trained professionals. Over the past few decades, this has changed; more and more electronics were added to not just peripheral components like windows, but also to the actual engines, which got covered behind plastic plates.
Over time, this has made it pretty much impossible for most people to self-service their cars beyond changing the oil and tires or filing up the wiper fluid reservoir. Upon first glance, it indeed seems as if these two development paths can be aligned. However, there are two crucial differences between them that are often overlooked. The fist one is a case of semantics, but the second one certainly isn’t.
The first thing that doesn’t make any sense is that computers have not changed all that much the past 20 years, meaning the computer world isn’t ‘becoming more like the car world’ at all. Your average computer still consists of the same basic set of components: motherboard, processor, RAM sticks, power supply, storage drives, expansion cards. This was true 20 years ago, and it is (mostly) true today. Of course, there are computers today with, for instance, soldered-on memory or without expansion slots (laptops, for instance) – but you had those two decades ago as well. Little seems to have changed here.
On top of that, there have always been computing devices that could not be serviced by most people. Phones were impossible to service ten years ago, and they still are today; everything is usually contained on a single tiny circuit board, and unless you have specialised tools, it’s pretty much impossible to do anything with them. This is true today, and this was true 20 years ago. Such devices have been with us for a long time.
However, that’s more or less semantics. You could argue that the non-serviceable (or harder-to-service) devices are becoming more popular, and you’d certainly have a point; smartphones and laptops have become very popular, with laptops even outselling desktops. Laptops are much harder to service than desktops, so while the computer world itself isn’t making it harder per device category to service them, the overall market does seem to move towards these types of devices.
Let’s get the second point, the point that actually matters.
Servicing and modifying cars
Cars have indeed become harder to service. You can see the difference quite clearly when you compare the engine in a 1925 Ford Model T to that of a modern Ford Focus (2010).
This is true across the board; cars are now controlled by all matter of electronic chips that monitor every aspect of the engine, brakes, and just about everything else. This has made it infinitely harder to service your car by yourself, forcing many people to have their cars serviced by professionals.
However, and this is the crucial difference between the automotive and computing world: car companies are not actively trying to prevent you from modifying your car, nor are they trying to make it a felony to modify your car. Two facts illustrate this.
First, even though I drive a Ford, my car is not serviced by a Ford mechanic. There are several car service shops in my small home town that handle all manner of cars – no matter the make, type, or age. You can buy a brand new car, flip the official dealer the bird, and shop around for a much cheaper company to help you service the car.
Due to EU law, these independent companies have access to the same types of training and information that authorised dealers have access to. The result of this is that you, as a customer, have the freedom to choose a car service that befits you – maybe the official dealer is too far away from home, maybe he’s too expensive, maybe you prefer to keep things local. Of course, you’re likely to lose your official warranty – but that’s your choice. It makes the most sense, therefore, to switch to such a cheaper company after your warranty runs out.
In the world of computing, this is impossible. If your iPad fails, you can only go to Apple for service. If your PlayStation 3 fails, you can only go to Sony for service. If they charge ten million dollars for fixing something, you have to either put up or shut up. Contrary to the automotive world, there are no laws that grant third parties access to the type of training and information required.
Imagine a computing and technology world where such laws did exist. Right now, if your device breaks down after warranty (which it inevitably will), you are pretty much forced to buy a new one, since the manufacturer’s repair costs are almost always (possibly intentionally) prohibitive. On top of that, it will more often than not require you to send your device to the other side of the country, and be without it for weeks on end.
Imagine if you could just walk into your local electronics store, where they have mechanics working with access to the same training and information as manufacturers’ own people. It would result in healthy competition that currently does not exist. It would bring down repair costs considerably, it would increase the longevity of devices, which would in turn decrease the TOC of the device even further.
The second fact that illustrates that car companies are not like computer companies is that they do not prevent you from modifying or upgrading your car. There is an incredibly large and healthy market for after-market car parts, which you can use to make your car your own (or make them really ugly, if you wish). The internet is filled to the brim with instructions on how to modify your car to your liking.
Even modifying modern engines is everything but frowned upon. There are hundreds if not thousands of “tuners” out there that modify engines or mess with the car’s software just to get the most performance out of it. Some tuners even go as far as to replace entire engines or braking systems. This is perfectly normal, and in fact, many of these companies have garnered a lot of fame and prestige due to their technical expertise.
And yes, even coach builders still exist.
Many people today think that AMG is nothing more than a badge given to the very top performing Mercedes cars. Reality is different; AMG was a company separate from Mercedes that built custom engines and specialised in modifying Mercedes cars. In 1990, AMG entered into a special cooperation with Mercedes, and overtime, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes.
The history or Fiat’s racing department, Abarth, is similar. Abarth, founded in 1949, built cars of their own, mostly in cooperation with other car makers (Porsche, Simca, Fiat), but specialised mostly in heavily modifying Fiats. In 1971, they were bought by Fiat, and now they are the Italian car maker’s racing department, similar to AMG’s status at Mercedes.
This illustrates that if you do a really good job of modifying cars, improving their performance, you might eventually end up being bought by those whose cars you modify. This means that there is a very healthy market.
Why are hardware and software special?
The difference between the automotive and computing world couldn’t be more obvious. While cars have indeed become more difficult to service, car companies are not at all trying to actively prevent you from doing so. You can have your services wherever you want without breaking the law (in fact, laws exist specifically to promote it!), and even upgrading and modifying your car is a perfectly normal practice that can lead to considerable success and prestige.
So no, the original analogy does not stand. Computing devices are not becoming more like cars; quite the contrary, actually. Where the automotive world is relatively open and you, as a consumer, have a lot of freedom to choose (in other words, you actually own your car), this is not the case in many modern computing devices.
I’d love to see the computing world adopt the automotive model – give specialists access, by law, to the same type of training and information that manufacturers give to their own people, and it would kick-start some much-needed competition that currently simply doesn’t exist. Consumers would be able to have their devices repaired easier and cheaper, giving them much longer life spans. It would also be good for local economies since repair shops would spring up all over the place – I’m not just talking about iPads or PlayStations, but also televisions, HiFi sets, whatever.
Many people have this crazy idea that we should treat computer hardware and software differently from any other product, that they’re somehow special. We allow hardware and software companies to do all sorts of crazy things that we would never accept from any other type of company, and I still haven’t a clue as to why.
Hardware and software are products like any other, and they should be treated as such. If car makers are not allowed to force customers into accepting their own expensive repair programs – then why do we allow hardware companies to do so?
If you want to make a true analogy with cars, you can compare Apple with a chain of Gas Stations which forces you to buy lazy, expensive cars from them (cars) if you want to buy gas (Mac Os X).
You can even compare Apple with a car maker that sells lazy, expensive but well designed cars (iPod, iPhone, Ipad) that forces you to buy expensive gas from them (AppStore, iTunes).
You can compare Sony with a car maker that advertises and sells nice cars(PS3) equipped with hifi stereo(boot other OS), but for some weird reason, after you buy the car from them, sends it’s employees overnight to steal your stereo .
wat
What? iTunes expensive? That’s new 😀
It’s their hardware that is expensive.
I’m surprised you put so much effort into such a ridiculous topic.
You have an iPhone, right?
Nope. Nokia E51.
Cars have been sold to consumers for over a century, computers have been sold to consumers for about 40 years. We aren’t even at the point where our lawmakers (rich, old, white guys) have a chance in hell of understanding the issues, let alone properly regulating an industry.
No one is lobbying/paying for those “issues” and if there is no money to be made “our” lawmakers in the US won’t do shit.
There is money in software/gene patents and “IP” etc, that is why those things are tightly regulated against consumers.
Actually, specialists are allowed to service Apple computers where I live. They’re even called “authorized specialists” and can display the Apple logo on their advertisements, despite not being part of Apple.
I don’t know if they service iPads, iPods, or iPhones, though; I know only that they service the usual Mac equipment. There isn’t an Apple Store for quite a ways in any direction where I live, so I reckon they must make a lot of good money.
Or have I misunderstood what you’re getting at?
Oh, come on, I’ve had enough with those guys from Apple … wherever I turn – Apple is behind the corner, come on people, get out of the shell, there are other interesting things in our virtual lives. And yes, I drive modified V6, it’s quite straightforward though and anyone can service it – the same with the computers – I own only hand-built pieces with Linux on them, why would I want to be stuck with only one vendor and have no control over MY machinery ?
Edited 2010-04-08 13:34 UTC
Normal users don’t want to do this, member?
They just want it to work.
What makes you think that the majority of the people care about that? You haven’t been able to even update your phone since the first mobile phones. Go update your Nokia n70’s symbian. Not close to possible (and if possible, not nearly really useful).
Why is a “PC†different? People have had no trouble using their phones for the past 15 years. If you could, for example, add MEMORY to a smartphone, how many people would do it on their own and how many people would simple take it to the store and say: more memory. pay. Go.
Users -normally- don’t care about that. You do. I’d like to (but I don’t care, have other things to do). But most people doesn’t.
There aren’t any statistics that I have, but all my co-workers, friends, family members, etc. that use any sort of computer, couldn’t care less about servicing their computers (on the contrary!). Some of them are professional software developers, not the “typical†user.
It’s not because you’re too dumb or because you don’t care that devices (cars, computers, etc.) have to be so closed.
Wha?
If you spend 5 min contemplating this you need to get a life! It’s an analogy! they are never perfect and usually only meant to convey meaning on a superficial level.
Get a life bud!
KRR
Edited 2010-04-08 13:45 UTC
Your second part is also incorrect.
A mechanic has to be authorized by the manufacturer to be able to service your ford. if YOU do it, you void the car’s warranty.
If you’re going to compare cars with computers (ridiculous but acceptable I guess), make sure you OWN a car.
I have THREE ford FOCUS, so I am entitled to comment on that. I am in Europe, so this is no “weird country lawâ€. You CAN take your car anywhere, but only authorized mechanics can do your service (and preserve the warranty).
There are Apple Authorized centers (where I live, in Madrid, we have *NO* Apple Store, but a lot of Apple Authorized Centers), who can honor your warranty, order authorized apple parts and sell them. My Mac Pro had a faulty video card last month and THEY replaced it (and ordered the replacement card for me).
WIth the Focus, when I did the service I took it to Ford. It was expensive. The next time I went to another less expensive mechanic that was FORD Authorized and that meant that my warranty is still ok.
Before you ask, I have three cars because they belong to my company. I had other fords in the past (and hopefully never have another one).
The point is, tho devices seem to be heading in that direction (less serviceable), I don’t think that’s bad, even if you don’t have other choice but to take it to your manufacturer. Computer and Devices are less prone to require maintenance than 10 or 20 years ago also. The iPad as an example, there are less things that can fail in there than on any other Apple computer.
I understand your point, but don’t use bad analogies.
Edited 2010-04-08 13:44 UTC
Our fair trading in Australia we have many mechanics who can do the service work and preserve warranty. For warranty to be void they have to prove that what was done by the other mechanics was not to book. This includes failing to sign off what was done or record what was done.
Also they have to prove that the other machanics work is also releated to the problem. A while back a few tried voiding warranty due to road side assist having had bonnet up. Reason why the road side assist was there in the first place was that the car had already failed.
Issue with were I am there are no Apple Authorized Centers near by so you are very much on your own so apple warnity is basically worth jack. Why no Apple Authorized Centers your techs have to sit apple exams. No where to sit the exams near by.
Did I say anything different? Of course you’ll lose your official warranty, I said so quite clearly (I wonder how you missed that).
My point is this: whereas tech companies are trying to lock you out of their devices, and force you to take service from them and them alone, this is not the case in the automotive world, since you can have your car serviced wherever you want – all the information and training required MUST be made available to ALL shops; official dealer or no. This is LAW.
Despite that clear difference, people are saying that it’s okay for tech companies to close their devices like this “because car companies do it too” – which is patently untrue. I’m arguing that the automotive model (one supplier, but many places to go for parts and service) is a superior model that leads to more competition, lower prices, and better longevity.
Perhaps this is true where you live, but not here in the US. My car’s warranty is valid no matter who does the work as long as OEM replacement parts are used. I’ve confirmed this more than once on in-warranty vehicles I’ve owned.
…then it is the fuel that it uses that is the OS, not the engine, and there are very real emission and performance laws as well as operational limitations for using different types of fuels in any given engine. Granted you can purchase approved fuels from any number of suppliers, but the reality is that if a car manufacturer wanted to produce a vehicle that met all required emissions, safety and performance laws, and they built that car to work with only fuel that they manufacture, legally there would be nothing to stop them. It would be up to the public to determine whether they believed there was sufficient value in the whole package to justify their purchase, just like it is with Apple’s devices.
When it comes to servicing, again there are significant differences that prevent one servicing model from being effective in the other arena. An internal combustion engine is an internal combustion engine. If it’s a four-stroke it’s a suck, squeeze, bang, blow principal and there are common types of components used in engine design; pistons, cranks, valves, cams, etc, so effectively if you’ve seen one four-stroke internal combustion engine you’ve seen them all. Same for rotary engines, diesel engines, etc. So while there are variations between manufacturers the basics are the same.
With computer systems that isn’t the case. The entire system is integrated in many cases so many repairs require complete component replacements. In a car it would be like having the whole drivetrain as a single unit and if a valve stem seal went you’d have to replace the entire drivetrain. In a car, something with large components making up the drivetrain, that model would be stupid. But with computer systems where everything is integrated on one board that might be 5cm x 7cm in size that model works well.
With Apple the channel through which these parts can be purchased is certainly controlled, but it’s a fairly easy process to become accredited – my son is a certified Apple tech and doesn’t even work in the industry – and repairs can be carried out in numerous authorised places – at least that’s the case in Australia. There is also nothing to stop a company manufacturing after-market upgrades. The RAM upgrades I have in all my Macs were purchased from the same component supplier I purchase my PC components from, as were the standard 500Gb 3.5″ SATA drive and 250Gb 2.5″ drive I personally installed in one of my iMacs and Mac Mini respectively, using take-apart notes I found on the ‘net.
There are a plethora of after-market components and upgrades available for various Apple models and there always has been – one Australian company specialises in touch screen upgrades and they’re just as capable of providing it on a Mac as anything else. And there is also nothing other than financial considerations stopping manufacturer’s of things like LCD panels, optical drives, etc from making after-market replacement components for Apple devices.
you should do an article on those Operating System – Air Plane analogies…. those are awesome
Now, if anyone cares to make an computing analogy with porn, Apple will be BDSM, MS just mainstream, straight boring porn, PS3 foot fetish, and open source systems like Linux will be amateurs posting their homemade videos on some sites.
Damn funny analogy, made me laugh because it is so close.
Ha ha! That’s great!
Dealer: Are you interested in purchasing our insanely great iCar?
Prospect: Maybe. This is best looking car I have ever seen. It almost looks hand-crafted. The lines are gorgeous. I see this white one is a 4-cylinder. Can I get an 8-cylinder in white?
Dealer: No, no, the 8-cylinder is titanium silver. The 6-cylinder is red.
Prospect: I guess I could just get it painted after I buy it.
Dealer: I’m sorry, but that would void the warranty.
Prospect: Ummm..OK. Well, I was noticing that there was no hood on the front. How do I get to the engine, the battery, etc?
Dealer: There are no user-serviceable components on the iCar. We make it easy. If anything goes wrong, just bring it in to our service center.
Prospect: I see. I noticed there is no gas cap.
Dealer: That’s our patented “Magno-cap”. Just bring your car to our service center and we’ll fill ‘er up!
Prospect: Yikes! Well, one last thing. Where’s the trunk?
Dealer: No need for extra storage. We provide the “Car-Go” service. For a small fee, will transfer any items to where you are going. It easy!
The prospect finds this all very strange, but is overcome by the absolute beauty of the vehicle. Besides, all the other executives at the company are getting one. He buys.
You forgot to add:
Prospect: How much will the winter tires cost me?
Dealer: Winter tires? Sir, we have a separate iCar coming out just before the winter tire season, I would suggest coming down then to buy your winter version.
I love it! So my Hackintosh I’m typing this on would be what…a basic everyday sports car that I secretly fuel up at iCar fuel depots?
This is why you have to CAREFULLY choose your hardware.
A car is a open object. Every one can modify things on a car. Certain modifications are voiding the guarantee but most modifications don’t.
Computers are as well open. It’s normal that you can modify your computer (add new hardware, exchange hardware) and that you can use your computer the way you like it (install software, remove software, develop software, etc). A computer is seen by the average user as an open platform.
The new approach to close down computers and have them as a closed platform separates the user base of computers in 3 user campuses.
1) The one that don’t care if computers are open/closed.
2) The one that prefer the computers to be open.
3) The one that prefer the computers to be closed.
I would say that most users don’t care if a computer is open or closed. But what most of those users care is the price. Closing down a platform automatically leads to controlled prices (the one closing down the platform has control over the price for hardware/software/services of the platform). And this is where most users start to care if something is closed or open. So I would say that most users don’t care if a computer platform is closed or open but they care if the price for a platform (closed/open) is higher then for a comparable other computer platform. If the closed computer platform offers benefits that can outweigh the open computer platform then the price does not play a role. The same goes for features. If a closed computer platform offers +/- the same features then a open platform then users don’t care if it is open or closed.
The whole discussion about open or closed is starting to be boring. A producer can close down his platform when ever he likes. And if the product and price and features and and and is competitive and customers are buying it then who cares?
Why all this talk for something that is normal business tactics? If one does not like a closed platform then there are enough other open platforms to choose.
If the consumers are following that closed computer platform trend then individuals that would like to have a open platform are the one that must swallow the bitter pill. The mass is deciding and if the mass is happy with the closed platform and many or all platform producers/sellers are following that closed platform trend then there is not much one can do against it.
It’s a free market.
I disagree with practically everything that Thom writes, but this time, I totally agree with him. Very good article!
The EU may be different but one easy example over this side of the pond; Smartcars. If you buy the desile which is available in Canada, you can not have it serviced by anyone in the US. Smart sells different computer codes to the two different geographic locations and those codes are required to connect into the diagnostics computers. I believe they are trying to make it illegal to maintain and mod your own car through the DMCA also. Even getting what codes are available is a very expensive proposition for auto shops so it’s not like the corner carage is going to be able to service your car; usually, you gotta go back to the dealership.
The SmartCar example is frequently discussed on the Off The Hook radio show as it’s primary host is a US citizen that has to drive up to Canada to get a desil Smart serviced. A regular guest host has discussed accessing the diagnostics computer and how auto companies are trying to lock small garages and owners out of cars by lobbying for DMCA protection of the computer access codes and command sets. Car manufacturers would love nothing more than locking you out of your car and into there dealership support contracts.
Hi,
If a “closed computer device” breaks (and it’s not still under warranty); someone tells you the cost of labour plus the cost of parts adds up to more than the price of a new one; so you throw it in the bin and replace it with something twice as fast.
If it is still under warranty; you send it back and they take out any storage device/s. Then they throw it in the bin and send back a new one with your old storage device/s.
Cars are different – they actually are worth fixing.
-Brendan
…more akin to a theme park and the rides therein. You get to go and enjoy the rides, but they sure as heck won’t let you see the machinery or change anything to do with the operation of a ride. And every once in awhile they add a new ride, and take away an old one.
“The engineers think that the device is the ‘car’ and software is the ‘fuel’ that powers it. When in fact it is the other way around: Software is the car and devices are the fuel.”
from http://www.fastcompany.com/1610991/is-apple-really-committed-to-the…