Just had another thought.
Why don't those smart engineers work out a way to put these new extended life batteries in the same form factor you need for older model MB/MBPs? Now that would be smart .....
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Confirmation of Fixed 17" MacBook Pro Battery, Mac Mini with Firewire
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just had another thought.
Why don't those smart engineers work out a way to put these new extended life batteries in the same form factor you need for older model MB/MBPs? Now that would be smart .....
audio recording in multi-tracks @ 192khz isn't CPU intensive?
photo editing in RAW not cpu intensive?
Editing video and applying real time effects/filters are not CPU intensive?
come-on~~~~~
AppleInsider confirms yesterday's report that the new 17" unibody MacBook Pro will arrive with a fixed non-removable internal battery.
Is the battery fixed and non-removable or is like the Air?
ie. 4 screws.
I mean the video of how to replace an Air Battery is only 5 minutes long.
Given the average user is going in to the Apple store or bug a friendly 'geek' for any battery issue anyway and the ones comfortable with opening the machine aren't going to shy away from a couple of screws. I really don't see what the big deal is.
Well that is unless they do make it weirdly placed, unlike the Air.
But if it's no harder than swapping out the memory on the unibody 15" then it's really make a mountain out of a molehill to call it 'non-removable'.
Try doing anything more complex than MySpace on a laptop. Logic, Final Cut, Photoshop, X Code etc... all require a considerable amount of screen space. In fact, now that I'm used to using Logic on my 20" iMac screen, my 15" iMac screen (which is nearly the same resolution) feels cramped. A MacBook feels incredibly restricted in comparison.
RE the rumoured lack of a replaceable battery on a unibody 17" MBP, what the hell are Apple smoking? Do they not realise that professionals do actually want to replace parts of their laptops when they fail? We're talking about the same professionals who, in the industry I'm hoping to move into, replace parts on a component level.
Mind you though, this could end up similar to the whole iPod battery situation; it's not officially replaceable, but for those who actually care about replacing it, it's really incredibly simple to do.
People Chill out!
1.) Calm down until you hear it from the horse's mouth. Apple doesn't design anything with out a reason. So IF they do go to a fixed battery, it's because they had to for design-sake.
2.) When was the last time you hot-swapped a battery BEFORE it died (I'm talking life-cycle)??? I've had 5 laptops, I am a professional designer, and I have NEVER had to do this. You run out of power, you plug it in.
I'm sure Apple will have an external plug in battery for $149 or something. So, if you carry an extra battery around anyways, what's the big deal?
3.) Firewire on a low-end computer like the mini, but not the MacBook, are you kidding me? My guess is Apple took a lot of heat for this and will acknowledge it on Tuesday. If it's on a $400 mini, it better be on the next MacBook.
4.) It all comes down to Matte vs. Glossy. This will be the real deal-breaker as far as people are concerned.
1.) Calm down until you hear it from the horse's mouth. Apple doesn't design anything with out a reason. So IF they do go to a fixed battery, it's because they had to for design-sake.
2.) When was the last time you hot-swapped a battery BEFORE it died (I'm talking life-cycle)??? I've had 5 laptops, I am a professional designer, and I have NEVER had to do this. You run out of power, you plug it in.
I'm sure Apple will have an external plug in battery for $149 or something. So, if you carry an extra battery around anyways, what's the big deal?
3.) Firewire on a low-end computer like the mini, but not the MacBook, are you kidding me? My guess is Apple took a lot of heat for this and will acknowledge it on Tuesday. If it's on a $400 mini, it better be on the next MacBook.
4.) It all comes down to Matte vs. Glossy. This will be the real deal-breaker as far as people are concerned.
From a selfish point of view, where's the news on the new iMacs!!
...anything...please!
I'm with you on that...I want to find out more news about the iMac's, but we probably won't hear anything until Tuesday. Once the new iMac's (hopefully) are on store shelves i'll purchase one, can't wait to get my hands on one. This will be my first iMac purchase.
BAM!
Right there.
It will be a sad day in the pro world. I am telling you for sure. Here come the hackintoshes guys.
I bet future versions of the Macbook will get the missing Firewire 800 port. I am sure Apple got a ear full of complains on that topic. I think the Air will always just have the one USB port for expansion.
I wonder if the fixed battery idea will make its way to the Macbook / Macbook Pro 15 line of notebooks with future generations. I really like how easy it is to replace the hard drive. I hope the next Air redesign has that feature.
I wonder if the fixed battery idea will make its way to the Macbook / Macbook Pro 15 line of notebooks with future generations. I really like how easy it is to replace the hard drive. I hope the next Air redesign has that feature.
I'm willing to give the new battery a chance. It may work out well. Building it in saves weight, size, cost and complexity and makes the frame stronger by not having a hole for the battery. If the actual life turns into five or six hours and if the number recharges goes up to several thousand then I'm happy. If I only have to swap the battery every three or four years that is not a hardship.
For those needing longer battery life it seems that you could use an external battery just as well as swapping out the internal battery. No loss of function there. More opportunity for third parties to participate. Someone will sell a miniature fuel cell giving you 24 hours of operation.
I'll guess that the batteries can be swapped at an Apple store. You won't have to send it in for a battery swap. If that is true then any third party Apple repair shop can do this. Probably there will be on-line instructions for doing it yourself.
For those needing longer battery life it seems that you could use an external battery just as well as swapping out the internal battery. No loss of function there. More opportunity for third parties to participate. Someone will sell a miniature fuel cell giving you 24 hours of operation.
I'll guess that the batteries can be swapped at an Apple store. You won't have to send it in for a battery swap. If that is true then any third party Apple repair shop can do this. Probably there will be on-line instructions for doing it yourself.
The question on the upcoming 17" MBP is why has Apple waited 2 months after releasing the unibody 15 incher? Just to put in a fixed battery and make the 17"er thinner? I don't think so. I'm guessing there is more to it than than that. I think the quad core rumor is true. Just a few more days and we will see.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10129817-37.html?tag=mncol;posts
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10129817-37.html?tag=mncol;posts
Ok, you may not have had to replace your battery before but I bet others have.
Actually, the current Mini is $599, not $400.
I wish it were though. XD
Where did you see it say the fixed batter's going to be used to help make it thinner?
Agreed
If the 17" is getting a redesign I hope this means an aluminum macbook in the $999 slot.
You are right it would be for design sake but that's a problem with apple it's function follows form not form follows function. You can be an innovative designer but they need to take a breath an include things like matte option, FireWire etc. Sacrafice the extra innovation and give the people what they want. Who else is challenging apple design wise no one
seems apple is spreading random rumors to throw off all the rumor sites.
two display interfaces, non removable battery and FW800 in the mini. i believe it when i see it.
Exactly what I was thinking, why put a non-removable battery in a £2000 laptop, makes no sense, I can see the point with the MBA, to save space, but on a MBP? Unless they're making it MBA size (god forbid), I can't see the reasoning behind it being non-removable...
Personally, I would love to see a new iMac design. I like the whole floating computer thing but we've had that for, what, 3 or 4 years now? I don't know how long the old iMac designs were around, but i think it was only a few years. And i'm not talking about another upgrade, like replacing plastic with aluminum. I'm talking about going from half-sphere computer base with floating screen to floating computer type of change. Maybe even a multi-touch screen.
The only other January date I'd consider possible is Tuesday, January 27, which ties in with the no Mac mini redesign rumor. Still, I'd say MWSF introduction and later release is the most likely.AppleInsider said:
And about the iMac we have the quad-core rumor, the NVIDIA chipset rumor, and the MWSF rumor.
Personally, I would love to see a new iMac design. I like the whole floating computer thing but we've had that for, what, 3 or 4 years now? I don't know how long the old iMac designs were around, but i think it was only a few years. And i'm not talking about another upgrade, like replacing plastic with aluminum. I'm talking about going from half-sphere computer base with floating screen to floating computer type of change. Maybe even a multi-touch screen.
You mean a "MacTablet?"
well with netbooks and laptops becoming so powerful, large 17 inch MBPs might not have the same appeal as they did years ago
If the quad core rumer is true then it would have required a complete redesign of their macbook range, because a quad core wouldn't work in the current unibody's due to heat issues, perhaps thats why they've integrated the battery to create more room for the processor heatsink.
The 17" Macbook Pro's are the 'powerful' laptops! and netbooks are beginning to plauteau and hit a glass ceiling.
Not many graphic designers where i work would buy it if that was the case.
The 17" is all about screen real estate. In the current lineup the 15" has more power than the 17". But people still want the 17" for the screen size especially for pro applications. But more power is also a plus, I have my fingers crossed that they put the new intel quad processor in it.