iFixit.com

Who’s it for?
Gadget lovers, DIY types, green geeks

Why should I bookmark this?
Because you want to extend the life of your gadgets, hate e-waste and like to save money.

OK, Tell me more.

Sure thing!

While writing about the green virtues of Dell’s touchscreen tablet, I realized that it had  been a while since I featured an online resource. So today, I’d like to devote some of the spotlight to iFixit.com. The site should be familar to the “teardown” crowd, those folks that revel in taking apart a hot new gadget, examining the components that make it tick and analyzing the quality of the device’s build and materials employed. It’s a fun hobby, but also one that has benefits for eco-conscious gadget lovers.

The site blends a sense of genuine geeky inquisitiveness with an earnest desire to do good by Mother Earth. One of the site’s mantras is “Fix the planet.” That is, by following the site’s expertly illustrated and annotated guides, you can more often than not revive your beloved but busted smartphone, tablet, digital media player… You get the idea.  The site also sells common components to make your repair job easier in case you don’t want to trawl eBay.

Ultimately, you get to enjoy the Frankenstein-esque thrill of reviving your dead electronics (It’s alive!), commune with your inner tinkerer and do your part to reduce e-waste. You can even save some money by putting off a replacement or recoup some money by unloading your newly-repaired gadget on eBay.

A win-win, no matter how you look at it, and definitely worthy of a spot among your bookmarks. You can follow iFixit on Twitter here.