Glues in our devices...

[Macman45]

Glue these days is very high tech stuff, we aren't talking about store bought stuff here...The Space Shuttle used glues to hold it's heat shield tiles in place...Many surgical procedures are also using high end, bio-glue compounds these days too..It doesn't bother me that glue is used in my iPhone and iPad at all...It's a more elegant solution than screws would be on either device.

Gluing in the rMBP battery? That's a different story, but I didn't buy one.

 

[Xcelerate]

The glue doesn't bother me, but I have a question for somebody who may know. For my last laptop, the battery slowly wore out after many recharge cycles so that by the end of the 4th year, it only held a 5 minute charge.

I'm sure Apple's batteries probably last more cycles than Dell's, but what exactly will happen when it gets to this point? Can I pay to just replace the battery, or will this laptop really only last 4-6 years?

(Interestingly, I'm doing research in batteries this fall so maybe I can make these things last longer )

 

[Macman45]

The glue doesn't bother me, but I have a question for somebody who may know. For my last laptop, the battery slowly wore out after many recharge cycles so that by the end of the 4th year, it only held a 5 minute charge.

I'm sure Apple's batteries probably last more cycles than Dell's, but what exactly will happen when it gets to this point? Can I pay to just replace the battery, or will this laptop really only last 4-6 years?

(Interestingly, I'm doing research in batteries this fall so maybe I can make these things last longer )

Maybe would have ben better to post this in the MBP forum, but basically Apple have clear guidelines about batteries...Four years is not too bad, but yes, if you have an MBP you can buy one and do it yourself...Better to take it to a genius bar though:

http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html

 

[sireShonBohn]

I have no problem with glue. Glue allows for a lighter, thinner, and better performing machine. Using glue equates to a superior product, that is all that matters.

 

[doh123]

I suppose it depends how long you're planning on keeping it and what the general life expectancy of it is. My view is that Laptops that are even five or six years old are still perfectly capable machines for everyday tasks. My old Macbook Pro has been handed on and is still being used daily. It was bought in 2006 and has had two battery replacements.

Apple changed their battery tech in 2009. older batteries lasted like 300 or 400 full charge cycles, while they rate the current ones at 1000, or normally around 5 years.

 

[Xcelerate]

Maybe would have ben better to post this in the MBP forum, but basically Apple have clear guidelines about batteries...Four years is not too bad, but yes, if you have an MBP you can buy one and do it yourself...Better to take it to a genius bar though:

http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html

I thought this was the MBP forum?

Also, I didn't think it was possible to replace the battery yourself since it's glued in (according to iFixit anyway).

 

[doh123]

I thought this was the MBP forum?

Also, I didn't think it was possible to replace the battery yourself since it's glued in (according to iFixit anyway).

Apple will still change the battery out so they can make a refurb unit ready to sell as an exchange to the next person. Yes you can remove the glued in battery, but its not something easy enough that even Apple doesn't want their techs doing in stores. iFixIt just rips things apart trying to figure it out. Just because they don't know how to do it properly, doesn't mean its impossible.

 

[gokart mozart]

You are making quite a few assumptions.

On a more serious note, I read that the chemicals to remove the batteries are highly toxic. I don't know if that is true but I am wondering if replacing batteries means that one needs to replace other parts as well, such as keyboard, trackpad and the upper part of the case.

Maybe about the cleanliness of their work environment, but about the chemicals no. My dad is an industrial engineer. He works with this stuff all the time. The chemicals in the batteries themselves can be far more toxic.

Apple isn't known for their environmental record prior to being publicly called out as one of the worst in the world.

Last I checked, they were known as one of the cleanest computers companies. In fact, iirc, around 2009 that was a big selling point on the unibody MBPs.

Not to mention that recycling program that few computer companies have, and even fewer advertise. Not that Apple advertises it enough.

Glue these days is very high tech stuff, we aren't talking about store bought stuff here...The Space Shuttle used glues to hold it's heat shield tiles in place...Many surgical procedures are also using high end, bio-glue compounds these days too..It doesn't bother me that glue is used in my iPhone and iPad at all...It's a more elegant solution than screws would be on either device.

QFT

It is used in all sorts of products. Especially electronics were screws or bolts simply don't cut it.

 

[Gomff]

$199 for a battery replacement. Period. Without AppleCare (or with, but not a failed battery, which ought to be rare now). Very straightforward as a customer.

jW

Not cheap, however. And what happens if in five years Apple decide they're not servicing that model anymore? Apple are starting to develop a pattern of cutting off support for older models of their products these days.

If you're happy with this arrangement then fair enough....We're all entitled to our own opinions....I'd just prefer to have other options.

 

[ender land]

Why is glue so much more taboo than solder?

 

[MacBird]

Why is glue so much more taboo than solder?

Who talked about soldering batteries in this thread?

 

[Puevlo]

How long until the glue leaks and then the MBPr is rendered useless as liquid damage is not covered?

 

[fizzwinkus]

How long until the glue leaks and then the MBPr is rendered useless as liquid damage is not covered?

if you can manage to make a glue leak, you've got bigger problems - like a melted macbook pro.

 

[Interstella5555]

Maybe about the cleanliness of their work environment, but about the chemicals no. My dad is an industrial engineer. He works with this stuff all the time. The chemicals in the batteries themselves can be far more toxic.



Last I checked, they were known as one of the cleanest computers companies. In fact, iirc, around 2009 that was a big selling point on the unibody MBPs.

Not to mention that recycling program that few computer companies have, and even fewer advertise. Not that Apple advertises it enough.



QFT

It is used in all sorts of products. Especially electronics were screws or bolts simply don't cut it.

Like I said prior to being publicly called out on being one of the worst (2.7 on a scale of 10) environmental companies in the world. They have improved dramatically, but doubt if they would have done so as quickly without the public backlash.

 

[doh123]

Like I said prior to being publicly called out on being one of the worst (2.7 on a scale of 10) environmental companies in the world. They have improved dramatically, but doubt if they would have done so as quickly without the public backlash.

called out by who? the only people I ever saw making big noise about Apple was Greenpeace, and they admitted to picking on Apple simply because they were more likely to make headlines picking Apple than other companies.

 

[MacBird]

called out by who? the only people I ever saw making big noise about Apple was Greenpeace, and they admitted to picking on Apple simply because they were more likely to make headlines picking Apple than other companies.

Interesting, do you have a source for Greenpeace's admission?

Do I remember correctly that SJ was fuming after Greenpeace pointed out that there were heavy metals and arsenic used in Apple computers?

 

[doh123]

Interesting, do you have a source for Greenpeace's admission?

Do I remember correctly that SJ was fuming after Greenpeace pointed out that there were heavy metals and arsenic used in Apple computers?

well they of course won't claim it word for word, but its easy to figure out form things they do say...

http://gizmodo.com/313728/greenpeac...grabs-headlines?tag=gadgetsgreenpeacevsiphone

they are also known to use faulty or wrong information.. sending their "reports" to news agencies. Even today they still pick on Apple more than any other manufacturer, even ones that are MUCH less "green" ... because their goal is not to pick on the manufacturers, but what their goal always is, to try to raise everyones "awareness" ... the company has always done stunts to grab headlines so they get attention, so of course they'll target whoever gets them headlines, even if their info is wrong.
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/1...regrading-of-apples-data-center-energy-plans/
can find tons of news stories over the years about Greenpeace.

 

[terraphantm]

your windows first of all. I have watched videos of robots applying adhesives in the car assembly lines. Tires have adhesive too. sound deadening will have adhesives attaching them. many many places have adhesives. this will get you started.
http://www.koe-chemie.com/doc/a5.pdf

The sound deadening (at least the bits I've accessed) is held in with friction, or sandwiched between other pieces. My windows are held in by mechanical means. The door panel is held together with fasteners. Interior trim is held in with friction and/or fasteners depending on the piece we're talking about. My headlights are held together with plastic clips and a gasket between the lens and body. No glue as far as I can tell in any of the intake parts.

I will admit that the rear view mirror mount is held in via an adhesive. And possibly the headliner (I haven't actually removed it).

My car is a 2005 model, so it's not terribly old either.

Adhesives can be useful, and in some cases they're the best tool to use. Holding a tile in place, applying a film without effecting optical properties, etc... but using it to fasten the battery to the case is just lazy. Especially since it pretty much eliminates access to the trackpad and keyboard cables. So if either of those fail, you basically need a new bottom assembly (unless we can determine which glue they used and find a solvent that can dissolve it without damaging anything else)