13" MacBook Pro Teardown and Unboxing Galleries

[Anaxarxes]

I'm saying that they're sacrificing an instantly replacable battery for a clean underside, yes - and I've seen the video. The two hours extra is most likely because battery company X has a slightly improved product, using square cells instead of round ones is hardly revolutionary either
The 17" model looks no different. It looks pretty feasible to have the exact same pack of cells fit in the laptop and still have it removable - People seemed impressed at the marketed runtime of that, but all it seemed to be was a large laptop (without dual hd/etc features of similar products) with the extra space used up with a large battery pack.

I'm sorry but your points make no sense. Yes it's not a big revolution tu use square cells but it's also Li-Polymer instead of Li-Ion like most laptops out there today. It gives you 1000x charges vs 300-350 charges you get in a conventional battery. That's the main reason Apple decided to make an integrated battery. If you're going to change your battery in 1-2 years then integrated makes no sense, but if you can extend that period to 3-4 years then suddenly you would not need to change the battery on your laptop for it's lifetime.

It would be near impossible to fill the exact same amount of cells in an removable battery because of the frame, hinges, latches etc it uses. I thought that was clearly stated in the battery tech video. Engineering is not only about the best of the best tech, it's also about feasibility. Sure Apple could have spent billions for a compacted battery tech to fit the same capacity batteries in a removable design but that would have made the battery pack far more expensive due to the complicated process and R&D.

 

[iAmLegend]

Will we be able to sync our iPhones/iPods using FireWire again?

 

[VoR]

I'm sorry but your points make no sense. Yes it's not a big revolution tu use square cells but it's also Li-Polymer instead of Li-Ion like most laptops out there today. It gives you 1000x charges vs 300-350 charges you get in a conventional battery. That's the main reason Apple decided to make an integrated battery. If you're going to change your battery in 1-2 years then integrated makes no sense, but if you can extend that period to 3-4 years then suddenly you would not need to change the battery on your laptop for it's lifetime.

It would be near impossible to fill the exact same amount of cells in an removable battery because of the frame, hinges, latches etc it uses. I thought that was clearly stated in the battery tech video. Engineering is not only about the best of the best tech, it's also about feasibility. Sure Apple could have spent billions for a compacted battery tech to fit the same capacity batteries in a removable design but that would have made the battery pack fac more expensive due to the complicated process and R&D.

Who cares what the battery tech is, how long its runtime or lifespan is? I just said that they sacrificed a removable battery for clean lines, it's an aesthetic decision that will affect some users.

Maybe my points make no sense to you, you could always stick to watching and quoting adverts if you're confused by internet opinions. There were only two points I quickly made anyway, the one about the sd card sticking out, which was done on purpose according to a previous post (...), and the one where I said that I can't see any reason that the exact same pack of cells couldn't be removable, despite what unimaginative logic and a manufacturers marketing video says.

 

[Sticman]

Yellow Screen Problem!!

I picked up a 13" MBP last night. Plugged it in and while going through the registration process, the screen got all of these yellow splotches all over it.
After about an hour, they went away. I don't know if they'll come back or not, but will be checking that today.
Any one else have a similar experience?
Although an Apple, still made in China...

 

[Anaxarxes]

I picked up a 13" MBP last night. Plugged it in and while going through the registration process, the screen got all of these yellow splotches all over it.
After about an hour, they went away. I don't know if they'll come back or not, but will be checking that today.
Any one else have a similar experience?
Although an Apple, still made in China...

Yellowish hue is due to the LED backlight, as far as I know. It goes away in 3-5 minutes.

How is the screen? Does it have good viewing angles and good color fidelity like 15 and 17 inch models?

 

[Sehnsucht]

*Flips over MacBook Pro, opens up battery compartment, pops out removable battery and hugs it*



Cool.

 

[rols]

why did they add an SD slot at all? I don't have anything which remotely uses an SD card, I have some really large CF cards for my camera but SD .. is it that common to warrant a slot instead of everyone using their plugin CF/SD/whatever you want USB reader they already have (or just plugging in the camera)

Why do they do things like removing an audio jack and hiding the battery (for the sake of a minimalist design?...) and then go and stick an sd slot on the side that wont take a full card?

 

[Sticman]

Yellowish hue is due to the LED backlight, as far as I know. It goes away in 3-5 minutes.

How is the screen? Does it have good viewing angles and good color fidelity like 15 and 17 inch models?

Wow, thanks so much. I thought I had a faulty screen.

I'm the wrong person to ask as this is my first mac...screen seems wonderful, but I did not compare to the 15s or 17s.

Thanks again...I'll keep an eye on the screen today and post something if the yellow problem comes back.

 

[rols]

no

Will we be able to sync our iPhones/iPods using FireWire again?

 

[Cameront9]

Will we be able to sync our iPhones/iPods using FireWire again?

No. The reason you can't sync newer iPods/Phones via FireWire is because the FireWire circuitry has been removed completely. Nothing to do with the Mac.

 

[citi]

Will we be able to sync our iPhones/iPods using FireWire again?

no

 

[tirerim]

why did they add an SD slot at all? I don't have anything which remotely uses an SD card, I have some really large CF cards for my camera but SD .. is it that common to warrant a slot instead of everyone using their plugin CF/SD/whatever you want USB reader they already have (or just plugging in the camera)

SD is used in the majority of digital cameras these days, and in a host of other devices as well. Slots have become fairly common in computers from other manufacturers, which isn't true of any other format, to my knowledge.

 

[dunfomr]

Universal to proprietary

Ok SD not exactly a proprietary 'connection' but still seems a backward or at least limiting step.

Why? I use a Belkin Express Card Media Reader - this supports all media (not CF Obviously) but does Sony MS etc as well as SD (inc HC, if you get the right model)

I got it for £15, why didn't apple make such an Express Card reader I'm sure even with 'apple tax' they could have retailed it for £25 and sold a truck load to previous gen MBP owners and maybe even bundled it with the new ones, even for a while god knows they've been tight with apple remotes with more recent Macbooks.

Love my Apple stuff and the company ethos etc but this smacks a bit of a cynical ploy to get anyone who does need an express card slot to pay over the odds for 2" more screen real estate that they might not need.

(Controversially) Maybe just the 17" should have remained as 'MBP' and the 15" should now be a MB rather than the 13" making the step up? Processing speed and supported RAM doesn't make a 'pro'

Technology and engineering advance - the Aston Martin DB5 or Ferrari Dino where arguable the MBP of their day, you could buy a run of the mill Ford that would outperform these today, doesn't mean that your 2009 Mondeo is a 'Super Car'

'Pro' is surely about flexibility and support of niche uses, that's normally why ay pro equipment is normally more expensive.

...but that's just what I think... but as I look down at the Screen Monika on my UB 2.4 MBP it looks just that little bit 'Cheaper' (not in £'s!)

if anyones interested I have a young steve and woz podbrix model on ebay at the mo'

 

[Sticman]

SD is used in the majority of digital cameras these days, and in a host of other devices as well. Slots have become fairly common in computers from other manufacturers, which isn't true of any other format, to my knowledge.

Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal has consistently criticized Apple for this ommission. He's one of the most respected voices on consumer electronics. Could very well partially be in response to him.

 

[bytethese]

why did they add an SD slot at all? I don't have anything which remotely uses an SD card, I have some really large CF cards for my camera but SD .. is it that common to warrant a slot instead of everyone using their plugin CF/SD/whatever you want USB reader they already have (or just plugging in the camera)

Because SD is pretty much the industry standard for memory in digital cameras?

Also I've heard it's bootable so for forensic analyses (I'm in grad school for forensic computing), I could create a bootable SD card, pop it in and examine a drive without writing to it.

 

[pagansoul]

I use SD cards all the time...I keep a copy of all my ebooks on one, I have another that contains my families photo collection that goes back to my great-great grandparents (I have Reunion software). I have one in my PSP and another in my camera. I also make use of flash drives and 2.5 externals but find cards nice and small and they come with their own little plastic cases.

 

[diamond.g]

Because SD is pretty much the industry standard for memory in digital cameras?

Also I've heard it's bootable so for forensic analyses (I'm in grad school for forensic computing), I could create a bootable SD card, pop it in and examine a drive without writing to it.

I love the SD card reader, as an owner of a D50. But I feel for all those Cannon 5D Mark II users... Guess CF isn't as Pro as they once thought it was...

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

why did they add an SD slot at all? I don't have anything which remotely uses an SD card, I have some really large CF cards for my camera but SD .. is it that common to warrant a slot instead of everyone using their plugin CF/SD/whatever you want USB reader they already have (or just plugging in the camera)

I agree. If they had to add a port, HDMI out would have been preferred since it's something that is useful when using the machine with a TV, and is something more and more people seemed to be doing.

 

[DYER]

I love the SD card reader, as an owner of a D50. But I feel for all those Cannon 5D Mark II users... Guess CF isn't as Pro as they once thought it was...

Really? I am surprised at that view CF is very much still the main type of memory for pro cameras mainly because they are a hell of a lot more resistant than sd cards - i have broken far too many and only 1 or 2 cf cards... mind you people do always tell me i should take more care of my stuff...

 

[macshill]

"outie" instead of an "innie"

How do you feel about the protruding SD card?

 

[brop52]

Not as important as access to the RAM, IMO. Holy cow! Can we use any additional types of screws please? I counted three different sizes in removal of the top back cover.



Are we sure about this? User replaceable, maybe - but my big hands don't go well with tiny screws. I wish they had put in a convenient door for easier access to a memory upgrade!

Question: Will a Mac Genius upgrade my RAM for me? I know a third party, authorized Mac Reseller / Service center will.

The Macbooks have always required about 4 screws to remove the RAM whether it was with the L-Bracket of the White MB or the simple screws to take off the bottom case. Now it just requires twice as many screws because the battery compartment doesn't have a latch. So if you can't unscrew screws, you are kind of screwed no matter what Mac notebook you buy.

 

[AidenShaw]

How do you feel about the protruding SD card?

I much prefer the flush ones in my Asus netbook and my Dell Latitude XT2 multi-touch systems...

And I especially like that the 12", under 4 lb (1.7kg), 27mm thick XT2 has the flush SD card slot right above the Express Card 54 slot, and just to the right of the eSATA/USB port (the Dell DVD drive is an eSATA drive, and gets power off the USB part of the combo port).

 

[Fatdog]

Who cares what the battery tech is, how long its runtime or lifespan is? I just said that they sacrificed a removable battery for clean lines, it's an aesthetic decision that will affect some users.

Maybe my points make no sense to you, you could always stick to watching and quoting adverts if you're confused by internet opinions. There were only two points I quickly made anyway, the one about the sd card sticking out, which was done on purpose according to a previous post (...), and the one where I said that I can't see any reason that the exact same pack of cells couldn't be removable, despite what unimaginative logic and a manufacturers marketing video says.

Have you seen the difference between the old and new batteries? I mean, the new batteries in the MacBook Pros are protected by thin plastic. Can you see how that is not safe? Don't you think it would be pretty easy to puncture the plastic? And what do you think the battery will do after it's punctured? Not blow up?

The new battery is not user-replaceable because it wasn't designed to be safely removed. It can't just be thrown into a back pack or laptop case. It was designed this way because the normal replaceable batteries have THICK protective cases that take up considerable volume. Hence why replacing this thick case with a thin plastic case increases the volume that is available for the battery. This small increase in volume allowed Apple to get TWO MORE HOURS of runtime out of the MacBooks. This isn't insignificant. Hence why Apple choose to go this route. It has nothing to do with clean lines.

Honestly, I don't think many people care that the battery can't be swapped out. And just because it isn't user-replaceable on paper, doesn't mean someone can't buy a third-party battery to replace a worn-out battery.

"Who cares what the battery tech is, how long its runtime or lifespan is?" I have to question your sanity now... I CARE how long my battery lasts in both terms of runtime and lifespan. I don't want to spend $129 on a new battery in two years because the battery finally gave up the ghost. That is 10% the cost of my unibody MacBook. That isn't insignificant. And I also don't want to spend $129 on a second battery just so I can get a full day's worth of usage. So for many, many people, this non-replaceable battery is a HUGE improvement.

 

[diamond.g]

Really? I am surprised at that view CF is very much still the main type of memory for pro cameras mainly because they are a hell of a lot more resistant than sd cards - i have broken far too many and only 1 or 2 cf cards... mind you people do always tell me i should take more care of my stuff...

It was supposed to be sarcasm. Apple claims adding the SD reader is for the Pros (as a consumer I do appreciate it). But most Pro cameras use CF not SD.

 

[mikesjo]

Is the screen just as good as the old Macbook Pro's 15" LED? I have the older non-unibody one 2007.

I had a look at my friend's previous macbook which was alumnium and the screen on that thing compared to my mbp was really washed out.