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'''Leave your comments and thoughts on repair centers below.'''
This and many other pages unrelated to the support FAQ are being tagged with that header. We need separate headers and navigation for repairs and local SIGs. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]] 10:41, 21 January 2008 (EST)


== Wiki headers needed ==
'''These are draft discussions. Please feel free to comment, contribute, add, etc.'''


This and many other pages unrelated to the support FAQ are being tagged with that header. We need separate headers and navigation for repairs and local SIGs. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]] 10:41, 21 January 2008 (EST)
{{TOCright}}

== Next steps ==

* Figure out the supply chain (both temporary and long term)
** Olin has been contacted about being a repair center pilot - see [[Olin university chapter/Repair center]]
** Other schools?


== Assumptions ==
== Alternative parts ==


There have been reports of alternative charger tips, etc. working with XOs in lieu of the "original" parts produced by Quanta. If you know of any alternative parts that can be used for repairs, and sources and prices for such, please post them here! [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 10:41, 13 February 2008 (EST)
* "Repair centers" can refer to individuals (including SGers), schools, nonprofits, companies... any group interested in helping people get their XOs fixed.
* Repair centers can charge, be free, whatever they want financially.
* Repair centers do not get marching orders or funding from OLPC-the-nonprofit. (Financial and logistical independence.)
* Repair centers are an educational process; things other than financial/process efficiency also matter.


== Added a title/some thoughts from KayTi ==
== Program goals ==


The one idea listed near the end of the wiki page sounds an awful lot like a "repair jam" where people and computers would come together for a day to repair a bunch of laptops. Am I getting that right? I added that title tot he wiki page as an idea. If so, then this might be a business model for repair dates. It would requiring queing of "needs repairs" laptops, and would probably work best on a periodic model (e.g., quarterly repair jams in xyz location in xyz city.) This way people could plan in advance (example: I have a sticky key laptop. I would consider shipping or bringing mine to a repair jam and either working on the repair myself or expecting someone from the repair jam to do the repair for me and then shipping it back. but to do so I'd want it back on some kind of schedule.)
* Minimize shipping
* Minimize bottlenecks
* Minimize necessary infrastructure - "we're in business to put ourselves out of business"
* Maximize user control and choice
* Maximize available service
* Encourage peer to peer repair support - "repair local act global"
* Any given XO owner should have at least 3 different routes to repairing their laptop, including fixing it themselves. (Corollary: tools for repair should be available, as well as parts.)
* Anti-vandalism repair program design - make it hard to cheat people and easily for anyone to track down and correct it, ''without'' putting legal/financial responsibility on OLPC itself.


Some further thoughts - who is the primary customer for a repair center? OLPC? Individual users? Schools? Organizations? Is it global or local? How local? Or, local only in the sense of being close to a shipping facility?
== Legal stuff ==


If OLPC is the primary customer - e.g., providing broken machines currently located at Brighstar to get repaired to re-enter the product stream, well, that's one kind of operation. But if individual G1G1 donors are the primary audience, that's something else entirely.
* OLPC is not liable for anything repair centers do. The burden is on repair centers and users to understand the legalities behind repair-related liabilities in their country.
* We should get volunteers to research and compile guides to relevant legal information for various countries repair centers might be starting up in (do this on the public wiki).
* We must make it clear to potential repair shop starters/workers that they will be held responsible if they break stuff; OLPC can't help them.


I like the idea of the repair centers being able to charge for services, that might make it a really fascinating school project. I would like to talk to the IMSA folks about this some more, but things like setting prices, setting up governing documents, arranging shipping logistics, managing workflow through the repair center, tracking units, doing the actual repairs. This is cool stuff. I'm interested in getting my son's pre-k through 8th grade school involved too, probably in partnership with IMSA if they are interested.
== Rights and Will Nots ==


More on this later, but I'm intrigued by this idea. [[User:KayTi|KayTi]] 15:46, 19 February 2008 (EST) aka Karen Smith
=== OLPC will not ===


== Sample Mail to holt at laptop dot org ==
* prevent independent groups from setting up their own certification processes as long as repair centers are not forced into using them and they are clearly marked as not being official OLPC certifications '''(please reword this; it's klunky.)'''
Hi,
* restrict access to new or reconditioned parts


I intend to open an XO (XS) repair center for the Birmingham, AL, USA, region.
=== Repair center rights ===
Currently I have a "day job" leading / training a small team of electronics repair personnel at a major automobil manufacturer. I / we fix PCs down to component level and keep the test environment running.


Having worked close to hardware since 1991, and in maintenance since 2004, I thought I'd start a XO (XS) repair venture.
* You have the right to start up, operate, and close down when and how you wish.
If it takes off: fine, if not: no big deal.
* You have the right to privacy; you do not need to advertise, be listed, or share information about yourself with anybody in any way.
* You have the right to choose your credentials. OLPC does not have or endorse an official repair certification, but you may choose or create a certification system yourself as long as it is clearly marked as not an official OLPC certification. '''(please reword; klunky.)'''
* You have the right to make a profit in a way that does not obstruct the rights of others, including XO users and other repair centers.
* You can offer and charge for any services you wish, including repair programs, warranties, etc. but it is your legal responsibility to handle and fulfill them financially and otherwise.
* You have the right to serve whom you please, and to turn down jobs you don't want. (For instance, a repair center may restrict itself to only serving children from a particular school, or decide to specialize in display problems only.)


With 15.000 XOs coming to the area, and if ony 2 - 5% suffer some damage per year, this could keep one busy. Be it busy training school / student repair centers, or busy fixing hardware.
=== Repair centers CAN NOT: ===
But it all hinges on the availability of spare parts.
Does olpc expect the repair shops to get their components from e.g. digikey?


I expect to see the first 1000 units in Birmingham by April 15th, warranty will run out by May 15th... So a (somewhat equipped) repair shop needs to be operational by May 17th (08!).
* have an exclusive territorial or other monopoly over any user group
The solution to run with failed G1G1 XOs is not sustainable. Particularly for a serious business. Nice for soldering practice but not for serious operation.
* directly hinder or prevent any other repair center from operating


For a start I'd expect to be buying about 10 - 30 XOs in parts, depending on the time between ordering and delivery of spare parts.
=== User rights ===
I don't expect order lists on component level, but on module level (smallest unit accessible with a screw driver, including wiring harness). I also expect schematic drawings and parts lists on component level (component value / location). Getting components in high demand from digikey is no problem.
I expect the price for the sum of components necessary to make one XO to be lower than the price for one XO. (Otherwise working XOs would make valuable targets for spare parts).
I also expect to have "wholesale prices" which would give (semi-) professional service providers a (small) price advantage beyond the saving on shipping cost over do-it-yourserlfers to encourage businesses to get in on this.


For a start I can imagine 3 paths to doing business:
Inspired by the [http://www.makezine.com/04/ownyourown/ Maker Bill of Rights]
a) Teaching repair
b) Offering advice, tools and material to do-it-yourselfers at a flat fee plus cost of parts. Maybe in a workshop / repair jam setting.
c) Full service repair
I can imagine doing all three simultaneously.


I already have a business set up, so starting operation mainly depends on the availability of parts and schematics.
* You are free to obtain parts and service from any person or group you wish.
* You are free to fix your laptop yourself; you do not have to go to a repair center if you do not want to.
* Buyer beware.


== Repair center paradigms ==


Please contact [[User:TTown|me]] at +1-205-292-5131 anytime between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm CDT (GMT -5) on any week day.
# Ship part to user, DIY repair
A.s.a.p. of course... ;-)
# Ship part to user, user looks up repair centers in some directory, contacts them individually for help
# User looks up local repair centers in directory, contacts them directly to order parts and get help
# User ships XO to repair center, repair center ships back a working XO immediately for a flat rate, repair center gets parts and fixes broken XO then adds to "working XO" stack
# (variant of above:) Different centers specialize in different parts - when a user sends in a broken laptop, that part of the laptop gets replaced with a working part, and the broken part is repaired (or if complicated, sent to the specialist). When repaired, the part goes into the working-parts pile.
# User ships XO to repair center, repair center gets parts, fixes laptop, ships same XO back to user
# User contacts SG, SG walks them through diagnosis with a help@ RT ticket, when they figure out what's wrong user is pointed towards instructions or local repair centers
# After-school XO repair class/program, students (not necessarily limited to kids) fix XOs for "homework"


== Financing paradigms ==


Best regards
# OLPC sponsors/certifies nobody and does not run its own "official repair shops" (although it will probably provide some helpful resources, hints, and gathering places for repair centers to use). Each repair center is financially and logistically on their own.
Stefan Reitz
# If OLPC offers parts at a premium, and also offers a 'pedigree', repairs could become a donation source. This requires OLPC to manage, support, finance, and assume legal responsibility for such a program, though.


== Questions / under debate ==


Anybody have a better aproach to getting this started?
=== Official certification debate ===


== Mail-order parts ==
"Official certification" refers to an "official" OLPC-administered certification (possibly with training) that repair shops can get.


For G1G1 purchasers, it would be convenient if there was an on-line place they could order replacement parts that they would install themselves (such as the OLPC battery).
'''PRO:'''
* Keep people from getting ripped off by scam artists
* Community recognition and respect
* Nice to have an "I'm good at this!" badge


What is the process here? What is the address, email address, or other contact protocol?
'''CON:'''
* Bottleneck; "We're in business to put ourselves out of business"
* Paper does not determine talent - possible to forge
* Independent groups can and will set up their own cert processes so we don't have to; see http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Content_stamping.


=== Copycat parts ===
== Online shop for accessories and parts ==


I have just opened an online shop to sell accessories specifically to the XO community (www.XOExplosion.com). I am currently the only U.S. distributor for the [[USB_ethernet_adaptors | ZoWii USB-to-Cat5 Network Adapter]]. I am also interested in stocking kits to make sensors, etc. (The shipping necessary when you source the parts for one sensor makes it cost prohibitive... and there are folks out there who additionally need very detailed instructions to make such items) And I would be glad to stock parts that repair centers may need. But I don't know who in the repair center community to contact about this. Any help would be appreciated. -- [[User:AuntiMame]] 17 March 2008, 23:15
Discussion opinion on this topic was split, and the final answer needs to be determined by OLPC and its partners.


== Screwdriver information ==
Everyone agreed that copycat/unofficial parts would happen, and shouldn't be unilaterally stopped. There was disagreement on whether there should be "official" and "unofficial" parts (as "quality guarantees") or requirements/recommendations for manufacturers to make their parts traceable back to them (legal/copycat concerns vs users being able to track/recommend particular parts to each other).


Just to be more specific, you need a #0 and a #1 Phillips screwdriver to remove all of the screws. It's also necessary for the screwdriver to have a slim shaft so you can get to the screws around the hinge. If you use a driver with a bit holder, it's may be too wide to fit into the small space.
* '''What components are open/not-open in terms of licensing and design?'''
[[User:128.118.119.10|128.118.119.10]] 13:01, 1 May 2008 (EDT)
* '''Does OLPC or its pratners have any issues with people designing, producing, and selling copies of existing XO parts?'''
** Will there be any "official" OLPC parts or products, and if so, how will they be identified?
** Are there any ID/logo/branding or source identification/disclosure rules they should follow or avoid?
** What will be encouraged, discouraged, and enforced?
* '''Does OLPC or its partners have any issues with people designing, producing, and selling other (non-copycat) XO parts/accessories?'''
** Are there any ID/logo/branding or source identification/disclosure rules they should follow or avoid?
** What will be encouraged, discouraged, and enforced?
* How does this work with international patents/trademarks/copyright laws?


== Help us decide what spare parts to stock! ==
== Resources needed ==


'''This message is for people running or starting repair centers.'''
This is a list of resources OLPC might consider creating.


Kim, Adam, the good folks at Brightstar, and many others are moving closer towards a long-term spare parts solution (much, *much* closer) and one of the last things we need to figure out is how much of what parts to stock for sending to which locations (read: what should we make available to repair centers?) and where to send broken machines for spare parts stripping in the meantime (read: repair centers that need parts - where are you? can we forecast the need a little?)
* Tech documentation to go off teamwiki onto public (mchua: It's unclear what further documentation is needed; please list specific stuff we need access to but don't have and we can try to get access to those in particular.)
* A place where all repair centers can list themselves ("Yellow Book") and be reviewed (separately?)
* Sample repair contract templates for download and use - completely optional, but encouraged for people to keep track of repairs they do or have done.
* A place/way for people to upload the aforementioned repair contracts, so that a neutral third-party has records that can be accessed in the event they're needed.
* Suggestions for ways repair centers can track and organize their information
** Templates/examples on public wiki
** http://openplans.org
** "RT for repair centers" guidebook (and offers of free hosting)
** other solutions?
* Repair info on laptop libraries
** a page with instructions for repair, as in [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Disassembly Disassembly]]
** "User's Bill Of Rights" informing them that they can hack their laptop and choose who to entrust it to, and tips on how to be smart about it
** A page on what part designs are/aren't open, and where the open part schematics are available (should also be available online)
** A link to the repair centers info page
* On the public wiki: a grassroots-maintained resource on any legal issues involved with running a repair center, manufacturing/selling parts, etc. for various countries


In order to do that, we'd like to know about what you've been doing with your repair centers so far.
== Getting parts ==


If you could take 5 minutes to fill out a 7-question survey by next Friday, May 30, we would love you forever (we do already - our love will grow). I'll compile and post the results (minus contact information) on May 31st.
=== Supply chains ===


The survey URL is here:
What can we do?
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pLRFS4t4wk4dVwTjInokIRg


Most of the information should already be on your repair center wiki page (you have one, right? ;) Please holler back if you need any help, have questions, comments, improvements, etc - and pass this on to any repair center folks not on the list (and tell them to subscribe, please - http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/repairs).
* Brightstar is shipping central
* Megafranchise model
* Independent hackers and their small companies (a-la adafruit, sparkfun)
* Community "XO Labs" also serve as repair centers


Many thanks!
=== Availability ===


[[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 09:13, 23 May 2008 (EDT)
* Both new and reconditioned parts should be available.
* There should not be "One Righteous Source" for parts - people can buy and sell parts to each other privately, as always.

Latest revision as of 13:13, 23 May 2008

Leave your comments and thoughts on repair centers below.

Wiki headers needed

This and many other pages unrelated to the support FAQ are being tagged with that header. We need separate headers and navigation for repairs and local SIGs. --Sj leave me a message 10:41, 21 January 2008 (EST)

Alternative parts

There have been reports of alternative charger tips, etc. working with XOs in lieu of the "original" parts produced by Quanta. If you know of any alternative parts that can be used for repairs, and sources and prices for such, please post them here! Mchua 10:41, 13 February 2008 (EST)

Added a title/some thoughts from KayTi

The one idea listed near the end of the wiki page sounds an awful lot like a "repair jam" where people and computers would come together for a day to repair a bunch of laptops. Am I getting that right? I added that title tot he wiki page as an idea. If so, then this might be a business model for repair dates. It would requiring queing of "needs repairs" laptops, and would probably work best on a periodic model (e.g., quarterly repair jams in xyz location in xyz city.) This way people could plan in advance (example: I have a sticky key laptop. I would consider shipping or bringing mine to a repair jam and either working on the repair myself or expecting someone from the repair jam to do the repair for me and then shipping it back. but to do so I'd want it back on some kind of schedule.)

Some further thoughts - who is the primary customer for a repair center? OLPC? Individual users? Schools? Organizations? Is it global or local? How local? Or, local only in the sense of being close to a shipping facility?

If OLPC is the primary customer - e.g., providing broken machines currently located at Brighstar to get repaired to re-enter the product stream, well, that's one kind of operation. But if individual G1G1 donors are the primary audience, that's something else entirely.

I like the idea of the repair centers being able to charge for services, that might make it a really fascinating school project. I would like to talk to the IMSA folks about this some more, but things like setting prices, setting up governing documents, arranging shipping logistics, managing workflow through the repair center, tracking units, doing the actual repairs. This is cool stuff. I'm interested in getting my son's pre-k through 8th grade school involved too, probably in partnership with IMSA if they are interested.

More on this later, but I'm intrigued by this idea. KayTi 15:46, 19 February 2008 (EST) aka Karen Smith

Sample Mail to holt at laptop dot org

Hi,

I intend to open an XO (XS) repair center for the Birmingham, AL, USA, region. Currently I have a "day job" leading / training a small team of electronics repair personnel at a major automobil manufacturer. I / we fix PCs down to component level and keep the test environment running.

Having worked close to hardware since 1991, and in maintenance since 2004, I thought I'd start a XO (XS) repair venture. If it takes off: fine, if not: no big deal.

With 15.000 XOs coming to the area, and if ony 2 - 5% suffer some damage per year, this could keep one busy. Be it busy training school / student repair centers, or busy fixing hardware. But it all hinges on the availability of spare parts. Does olpc expect the repair shops to get their components from e.g. digikey?

I expect to see the first 1000 units in Birmingham by April 15th, warranty will run out by May 15th... So a (somewhat equipped) repair shop needs to be operational by May 17th (08!). The solution to run with failed G1G1 XOs is not sustainable. Particularly for a serious business. Nice for soldering practice but not for serious operation.

For a start I'd expect to be buying about 10 - 30 XOs in parts, depending on the time between ordering and delivery of spare parts. I don't expect order lists on component level, but on module level (smallest unit accessible with a screw driver, including wiring harness). I also expect schematic drawings and parts lists on component level (component value / location). Getting components in high demand from digikey is no problem. I expect the price for the sum of components necessary to make one XO to be lower than the price for one XO. (Otherwise working XOs would make valuable targets for spare parts). I also expect to have "wholesale prices" which would give (semi-) professional service providers a (small) price advantage beyond the saving on shipping cost over do-it-yourserlfers to encourage businesses to get in on this.

For a start I can imagine 3 paths to doing business: a) Teaching repair b) Offering advice, tools and material to do-it-yourselfers at a flat fee plus cost of parts. Maybe in a workshop / repair jam setting. c) Full service repair I can imagine doing all three simultaneously.

I already have a business set up, so starting operation mainly depends on the availability of parts and schematics.


Please contact me at +1-205-292-5131 anytime between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm CDT (GMT -5) on any week day. A.s.a.p. of course... ;-)


Best regards Stefan Reitz


Anybody have a better aproach to getting this started?

Mail-order parts

For G1G1 purchasers, it would be convenient if there was an on-line place they could order replacement parts that they would install themselves (such as the OLPC battery).

What is the process here? What is the address, email address, or other contact protocol?

Online shop for accessories and parts

I have just opened an online shop to sell accessories specifically to the XO community (www.XOExplosion.com). I am currently the only U.S. distributor for the ZoWii USB-to-Cat5 Network Adapter. I am also interested in stocking kits to make sensors, etc. (The shipping necessary when you source the parts for one sensor makes it cost prohibitive... and there are folks out there who additionally need very detailed instructions to make such items) And I would be glad to stock parts that repair centers may need. But I don't know who in the repair center community to contact about this. Any help would be appreciated. -- User:AuntiMame 17 March 2008, 23:15

Screwdriver information

Just to be more specific, you need a #0 and a #1 Phillips screwdriver to remove all of the screws. It's also necessary for the screwdriver to have a slim shaft so you can get to the screws around the hinge. If you use a driver with a bit holder, it's may be too wide to fit into the small space. 128.118.119.10 13:01, 1 May 2008 (EDT)

Help us decide what spare parts to stock!

This message is for people running or starting repair centers.

Kim, Adam, the good folks at Brightstar, and many others are moving closer towards a long-term spare parts solution (much, *much* closer) and one of the last things we need to figure out is how much of what parts to stock for sending to which locations (read: what should we make available to repair centers?) and where to send broken machines for spare parts stripping in the meantime (read: repair centers that need parts - where are you? can we forecast the need a little?)

In order to do that, we'd like to know about what you've been doing with your repair centers so far.

If you could take 5 minutes to fill out a 7-question survey by next Friday, May 30, we would love you forever (we do already - our love will grow). I'll compile and post the results (minus contact information) on May 31st.

The survey URL is here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pLRFS4t4wk4dVwTjInokIRg

Most of the information should already be on your repair center wiki page (you have one, right? ;) Please holler back if you need any help, have questions, comments, improvements, etc - and pass this on to any repair center folks not on the list (and tell them to subscribe, please - http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/repairs).

Many thanks!

Mchua 09:13, 23 May 2008 (EDT)

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