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Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by jhanschoo on Sunday August 30, 2020 @06:29AM (#24322525)
It's no different if you replace it yourself, that's tangential to my point. You'd be sourcing a specialized replacement battery online and there's a risk that the battery you get is an unsafe knockoff.
Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by jacquesm on Sunday August 30, 2020 @08:15AM (#24322814)
That is a different problem.

I've also been able to buy non-knock off batteries for just about all electronics up to a few years ago when companies decided that soldered in batteries shorten the time-to-landfill of their products improving their revenues.

Seriously: there is no reason why there could not be a standard form factor for battery cells. If we can do hard drives, CPUs and RAM I'm sure we can do batteries too.

Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by jhanschoo on Sunday August 30, 2020 @10:59AM (#24323328)
You're still talking past me. A standard form factor won't solve the trust problem.

Most people don't know how to choose a proper hard drive compatible with their M.2 adapter or cable for their USB device. Many people also buy counterfeit USB sticks and SSDs that don't have near the capacity they advertise. You and other tech-literate people aren't the only consumers manufacturers are selling to. Nor are people always sufficiently educated, or living among stores with sufficient reputation to source from a reputable aftermarket vendor for their replacements.

Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by jacquesm on Sunday August 30, 2020 @03:04PM (#24325062)
Look, I'm really not sure where you are coming from. Batteries are solved problem since 1920. It's just gadget and computer manufacturers that suddenly see a way to make a uick buck and to drive their cycle of planned obsolescence.

If I could do it at 6 and my mom can do it at close to 80 then I really don't see why other people could not. Sometimes there just isn't a problem unless you make one. Standardize the cells, sell them through the supermarket chains at a normal price, just like Duracell and other quality battery manufacturers have been able to do for ages. Problem solved, once and for all. No need to go through AliExpress, Amazon or some other shady online store, if you are that concerned about trust then the only way to solve that is to buy from a reputable vendor.

Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by def_true_false on Tuesday September 01, 2020 @02:16PM (#24344921)
The trust problem is better solved by relevant legislation. The counterfeit problem is better solved by relevant legislation. Intentional incompatibility with generic replacement parts will eventually also be solved by, you guessed it, relevant legislation.

See also: vacuum cleaner consumables, independent car repair

Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by mimi89999 on Sunday August 30, 2020 @06:32PM (#24326522)
It would give reputable battery producers with all kind of certificates a thing and not buying dubious compatible batteries from Amazon/EBay/Ali/whatever a thing.

It would also make it easier for people to learn how to replace batteries.

Re:Open Source Thinkpad T420 Battery Design by thatcat on Sunday August 30, 2020 @02:09PM (#24324647)
Why not argue for better battery certification and quality control or more tolerant phone designs? You could probably detect low quality batteries with software and sensors and notify the user.