Cracking Open
TechRepublic Head Technology Editor Bill Detwiler dissects the latest business tech products and analyzes the internal components in order to help IT leaders make smart hardware purchasing and depl
-
iPhone 5 teardown: Redesigned case and interior simplify repairs
Bill Detwiler tears down the iPhone 5 and shows you how its redesigned case and interior hardware layout make the phone easier to disassemble and repair.
-
Kindle Fire HD teardown reveals repair-ready tablet with minor annoyances
Bill Detwiler disassembles the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and shows you why it's easy to crack open and how it compares to the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.
-
iPhone 5 lacks killer feature, still impresses
The iPhone 5 lacks one big killer feature. But, Bill Detwiler explains why the phone's hardware improvements and iOS 6, make the iPhone 5 an impressive device.
-
How to replace a broken laptop screen
A cracked screen can make a laptop unusable. Luckily, you can fix it. Bill Detwiler gives you step-by-step instructions for replacing a broken laptop LCD panel.
-
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 teardown shows rigid, repair-friendly design
Bill Detwiler disassembles the Galaxy Note 10.1 and shows you why it's easy to service and an improvement over the 10-inch Galaxy Tab.
-
Teardown reveals Chromebox Series 3 isn't your average desktop
The Samsung Chromebox Series 3 may look like a Mac Mini, but it's not. Bill Detwiler explains why this Chrome OS machine isn't your typical desktop.
-
Five ways manufacturers make devices hard to repair
Bill Detwiler shows you five ways manufactures are making our gadgets harder to fix and gives you tips on working around these self-repair roadblocks.
-
MacBook Air 11-inch (2012) teardown reveals upgraded hardware, same battery/internal design
Bill Detwiler tears down the 2012, 11-inch MacBook Air and shows you how Apple upgraded its hardware without changing the internal design.
-
Nexus 7 teardown reveals similarities, better hardware than Kindle Fire
Bill Detwiler cracks open the Asus-built Google Nexus 7, examines the internal hardware, and explains why it has an edge on Amazon's Kindle Fire.
-
Future iPhones, iPads could include fingerprint scanner
Apple's acquisition of AuthenTec could mean future iPhone and iPads will have fingerprint scanners, be more enterprise-friendly.
-
$7000 HP Z1 teardown reveals all-in-one that's easy to service, packed with high-end hardware
Bill Detwiler cracks open a $7,000 HP Z1 all-in-one workstation and discovers a machine that's easy to service, packed with high-end hardware, and engineered to be cool and quiet.
-
How to replace a broken screen on your iPhone
Cracking your iPhone's front glass or the display might not stop it from working, but can make it difficult and unsafe to use. Here's a step-by-step guide to fixing a broken front panel on your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S.
-
Google charges hefty premium for 16GB Nexus 7 storage
Nexus 7 hardware cost breakdown shows that Google charges a $50 premium for $7.50 worth of extra storage.
-
MacBook Air (2012) teardown reveals better hardware, unchanged battery/internal design
Bill Detwiler shows you how Apple made the 2012 MacBook Air more powerful without changing the internal design.
-
Teardown shows Retina MacBook Pro is nearly impossible to upgrade, difficult to work on
Bill Detwiler shows you why the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is nearly impossible to upgrade, a pain to work on, and lacks an essential Pro feature.
-
Toshiba Excite 10 teardown reveals pure tablet hardware and design
Bill Detwiler cracked open the Excite 10 and found the hardware and internal design of a true tablet, unlike the very laptop-like Toshiba Thrive.
-
iPhone 5S teardown reveals subtle internal design changes
Bill Detwiler shows you how to crack open the iPhone 5S and gives you a tour of the phone's internal hardware.
-
Sony Tablet S teardown: Wild wedge-shaped case hides unique hardware
Bill Detwiler cracks open the Sony Tablet S and finds internal hardware that's as unique as the Android tablet's wedge-shaped exterior.
-
Droid Razr Maxx Teardown: Impressive battery life in a sleek package
Offering 20 hours of talk time, Motorola's Droid Razr Maxx may be the answer for those who fear smartphones with non-removable batteries.
-
Acer Aspire S3 Teardown: Good hardware, lackluster construction
The Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook is thin, light and feature rich. But, its build quality and battery life are less than one expects in a premium laptop.
-
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 teardown: Daintiest of the Android tablets
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sleek, sexy, and light, but also delicate and best kept out of harm's way.
-
Motorola Lapdock Teardown: Tiny motherboard, no HDMI output
Bill Detwiler cracks open the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock--a Webtop accessory that pushes the convergence of the smartphone and PC one step closer.
-
iPad Mini more difficult to repair than larger iPad
Bill Detwiler shows you how to disassemble the iPad Mini and explains why it's actually more difficult to crack open and repair than the iPad.
-
Asus Eee Pad Transformer teardown: Convoluted, but 3G-ready internal design
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101's internal design leaves room for a 3G card, but also makes the 10-inch Android tablet difficult to work on.
-
Roku 2 XS teardown analysis: Smaller device hides significant hardware changes
A new processing platform and consolidated USB/Ethernet controller let the tiny Roku 2 XS deliver 1080p video and run apps like Angry Birds.
-
Acer Iconia Tab A100 teardown: Lots of tech crammed into 7" case
The 7" Acer Iconia Tab A100 looks a lot like the 10" Iconia Tab A500, both inside and out. Unfortunately, the similarities aren't all good.
-
Pricey Chromebook Pixel: Built well but impractical to upgrade
Bill Detwiler cracks open the Google Chromebook Pixel and shows you why it's easy to open and service, but nearly impossible to upgrade.
-
Samsung Galaxy Mega teardown: Oversized phone with average hardware
Samsung's Galaxy Mega may share the Galaxy S4's general design. But as Bill Detwiler shows you, this monster phone's hardware is a step behind the Galaxy S4.
-
Kindle Fire HD teardown reveals repair-ready tablet with minor annoyances
Bill Detwiler disassembles the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and shows you why it's easy to crack open and how it compares to the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.
-
Zenbook teardown: Blatant copy of MacBook Air
The Zenbook is a solid, Windows alternative to the MacBook Air. But, it's also a near mirror image of Apple's ultra-thin laptop, both inside and out.