OK...so let's say I buy the new 17" MacBook Pro with a non-interchangeable battery...

[xparaparafreakx]

How did the OP charged 5 batteries anyway? With the charge pack I posted, he can just charage one unit.

Yes I know, we should be bashing apple on how they *uck us. But he like everyone else is making money and time is money. We got to work with what we have and continue to make money.

 

[Sir Cecil]

If I'm out in East Jesus with no power, a laptop that doesn't have a spare battery is nothing more than a paper weight! And no...I don't wanna unscrew the case, remove the battery, pop in a replacement battery (and probably void my warranty, right), and take about ten stinking minutes to do so!!!

And there could be a sandstorm blowing at the time.
Just think of all the grit that will get inside the computer as you struggle with the machine's innards with one hand, while trying to hold down the tent with the other. If I were you in that situation, I'd wait to put a new battery in the computer until ater I'd secured the camel.

 

[Brad Trent]

That's not really the point of the thread, or his comment......Yes, he can still get the older 17" MBP model, but the point is that pros are a complete afterthought in today's Apple world. If he wants a new machine next year, forget about it. Apple forgot about you........

Thank God there are some people who can look at the big picture and not just chime in with "If you don't like it, don't buy it!".

Apple seems to be doing all they can recently to piss off the very group of consumers who helped get them where they are today...design professionals/ad agencies, photographers and the video production industry. Sure, they can crank out a nice, fast, pretty computer that's gonna give the masses a warm & fuzzy feeling every time they hear the startup chimes, but by arbitrarily deciding what is 'important' they are forcing people like me to look elsewhere for my computing needs. Yes I shoot with generators when necessary and sure I can occasionally shoot untethered and yes, I know a 15" Macbook Pro still has interchangeable batteries so I could use that instead of a 17" model even though it means I lose valuable and much-needed screen space and don't you think I would have tried MULTIPLE Firewire 400 to 800 stepdown cables when we got corrupted files and found it didn't make any difference (?!!) because it is just the kind of thing that's gonna happen when you're moving HUGE RAW captures from a 33mp digital back every .6 seconds with a non-dedicated cable and nobody has an answer.....but while I thank all of you photography experts with all for your suggestions, I don't think I need anybody telling me how to take a Goddamned picture at this stage of my life! A simple thing like Apple deciding interchangeable batteries are no longer relevant has an enormous ripple effect...how long before the 15" models go the same way? And since Firewire 400 is gone, what about killing 800 as well? Screw those professional photogs and their $30,000 digital back thats only work on Firewire! They're such a small part of our bottom line, who needs 'em?!!

Do you get my point now or do you have you iPod jammed in your ears and turned up to '11'...?!!

BT in NYC

 

[djbahdow01]

Ok so your on location with a 17in Macbook Pro and a 33MP leaf back. Now am I to assume your also shooting with strobes? If so how are those powered? Or are you using a portable solution.

There are a few solutions, such as the Tronix Snap Back, http://www.innovatronix.com/detailp...ductid=354&categoryname=Products and Services will run around the same cost as your 4 other batteries.

A portable generator, http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/...tion=P2GG&modelname=EU2000i&modelid=EU2000IAN

this model is extremely quiet, and will run for a full shoot on just under a gallon of gas.

There are many options, you just have to look, they might not be as easy as your replacing batteries, but with these 2 options you shouldn't have to waste time changing batteries.

 

[SimD]

Apple fanboyism at it's best.

I completely agree with OP here. Of course, with every innovation, there are ppl who suffer, but in the case of a PRO laptop that burns me a good 3 grand, I expect some sort of respect to the pros.

I actually find it funny how people are telling him to not shoot tethered.


[/end rant]

 

[Muler36]

ive got to be honest mate, you're coming across as a bit of an arrogant cock.

you don't need to mention in every post that you have a leaf back, and you definitely dont need to insult every member as if there lower than you.

I agree the Pro's are becoming more consumer and less "Pro", but there not forcing you to stay loyal, just change brand?

 

[jeffy.dee-lux]

yeah it is pretty abnoxious to lose features. It just comes down to a bunch of design engineers looking at a bunch of product characteristics, how they relate to one another and the relative importance and cost of all of them. Basically, I'm sure they're decision was made because by their calculations, they'll sell more laptops this way.
Anyway, there seem to be some other solutions to your problem, and they actually seem like pretty good solutions to me if you look at extra run time vs cost and weight. Maybe a little more bulky than being able to keep spare batteries aside and only having one that fits flush inside your computer, but that said, a 17" isn't exactly featherweight itself. Also, external battery would mean you don't have to restart every time. Maybe not ideal, but there is something there for you.

 

[Tosser]

Just dont buy the new 17" mbp, get the 15".

Except, we know for a fact that the 15" has the troublesome Agere chipset on the firewire port. And if the bloke has problems using an adaptor (800->400FW), then imagine the problems using that chipset. Further, as has been recognised widely, under OS X, the Expresscard-slot doesn't work properly with Expr->FW adaptor, even if said adaptor uses the TI chipset.
So much for choosing the 15 incher.

Anyhoo –*Abstract is right, this isn't what this is all about. He is commenting on how Apple caters to consumers, not only mostly, but completely in recent years. It has reached a point where even the most die hard pros are simply giving up and move on. It takes some venting to do so, though.

 

[stevo8]

maybe they plan on coming out with some kind of external battery/charger for it. Kinda like the ones for the Iphone.

 

[Tosser]

Just a heads-up to the many who suggest carrying an extra battery to charge the internal:

There is a HUGE loss of energy when one has to first charge one battery and then use that same battery to charge the next. This, along with the necessary charging circuitry (it is Li-Ion, after all), translates into carrying much more weight and bulk to get the same "extra juice" as a proper swappable battery and is thus counter productive to the Reality Distortion Field-concept of "getting more power by making it nonswappable".

Further, thousand charging cycles is used as if this is something new. It isn't. A thousand charging cycles is the norm for Li-Ion batteries these days and have been for years.

 

[answer348]

Guys, "Pro" is just a word. All it does is differentiate between the Macbook line and the Macbook Pro line. Having "Pro" in the name does not mean that the computer is made exclusively for some kind of professional. Having "Pro" in the name does not mean it has to have hot-swappable everything and 1000 firewire ports.

Using the word "Pro" allows consumers to easily recognize that one product line has more power under the hood than the other. You don't have a right to be upset because you're a professional and the computer named "Pro" doesn't have everything you want.

Apple's job as a business is to make the decisions that will most help the business. Apple's ultimate goal should be to increase market share, and they won't accomplish that by catering to a select few.

 

[Tosser]

Guys, "Pro" is just a word. All it does is differentiate between the Macbook line and the Macbook Pro line. Having "Pro" in the name does not mean that the computer is made exclusively for some kind of professional. Having "Pro" in the name does not mean it has to have hot-swappable everything and 1000 firewire ports.

Absolutely correct. Having "pro" in the name USED to be about catering to the professional segment. These days, however, it is just Apple's way of piggy backing on the reputation said pros gave them in order to sell the big-screen MacBooks to the iPod and iPhone Crowd.

Using the word "Pro" allows consumers to easily recognize that one product line has more power under the hood than the other. You don't have a right to be upset because you're a professional and the computer named "Pro" doesn't have everything you want.

Apple's job as a business is to make the decisions that will most help the business. Apple's ultimate goal should be to increase market share, and they won't accomplish that by catering to a select few.

Funny argumentation often seen on these forums …

Do you know ANY "ordinary" consumer who would choose to NOT buy a Mac because it had a (working) firewire port or a swappable battery? Seriously, except for the lot of the apologists, I can't see anyone actually decide AGAINST buying something because it actually worked with this or that or gave the consumer a choice.
That's like saying that the iPhone is a hit BECAUSE of the missing cut-n-paste, lack of UMS, or lack of MMS, not DESPITE such short comings. There's a huge difference, and you seem to have them all confused.

 

[answer348]

Funny argumentation often seen on these forums …

Do you know ANY "ordinary" consumer who would choose to NOT buy a Mac because it had a (working) firewire port or a swappable battery? Seriously, except for the lot of the apologists, I can't see anyone actually decide AGAINST buying something because it actually worked with this or that or gave the consumer a choice.
That's like saying that the iPhone is a hit BECAUSE of the missing cut-n-paste, lack of UMS, or lack of MMS, not DESPITE such short comings. There's a huge difference, and you seem to have them all confused.

The average consumer would far prefer longer battery life to being able to use multiple batteries. However, professionals have a problem with this. Swing-and-a-miss.

 

[Tosser]

The average consumer would far prefer longer battery life to being able to use multiple batteries. However, professionals have a problem with this. Swing-and-a-miss.

Not exactly. The thing is, you buy into this RDF, and actually believe what they say are true. It all sounds nice in theory, but the reality is, that you could easily have a swappable battery with the same wattage in a 17 incher.
So, given that, what do you prefer: An inbuilt battery with 8 hours of "use", having to use inneffective external batteries if necessary, or a swappable battery with hours of "use" where you can swap batteries without the added charging circuitry, inefficiency (making you carry a larger battery to get the same juice into the internal), and without having to have a huge battery connected while you wait for the internal to charge?

The same argument you use can be used for the iPhone as I mentioned, not to mention on the lackluster (mildly put) firewire connection – hell, it could even be used on Alfa Romeos of old: "They sell BECAUSE they rust and rattle to pieces". You ought to at least be able to see how much of logical fallacy such argumentation is, making it utterly invalid.

So, in short, there was no hit'n'miss with regards to your invalid argumentation. Quite the contrary.

 

[Abstract]

The average consumer would far prefer longer battery life to being able to use multiple batteries.

The average consumer isn't using their laptop for tens of hours on battery life, or buying the uber expensive 17" MBP. Explains the low sales numbers of the 17" MBP, don't you think?

Funny thing, the people who are buying the 17" MBP are the rare people who actually need swappable batteries. Not many other groups need a 1920 x 1200 resolution screen in a portable more than photographers (and in some other fields) who need a real portable workstation (e.g. the OP), not just a portable computer while they're away from the desk. A graphic designer, IT person, or someone in business would rather get the MBA, MB, or 15" MBP because they just need to do work while away from the desk, and they need a machine that fits in a typical briefcase or backpack. Perhaps some of these people may prefer the 17" MBP regardless, but then again, these people can probably survive with the laptop attached to the mains.

If Apple wanted to try something so gargantuanly silly, at least do it to the 13" MBs first, or perhaps the MacBook Air. If there's a consumer laptop where most buyers wouldn't mind the extremely long battery life, it's MBA users. Same with MacBook customers.


People with 17" MBPs tend to have work to do, and work away from their desk. Apple aimed at the wrong group to get experimental.

 

[timestoby]

i dont know,i guess someone like you would invest in one of them external battery type things you plug ur device into. why not have a guy fix up a car batt so you can plug ur mac into it when needed,will be heavy tho lol

 

[Brad Trent]

"..."Pro" is just a word......Having "Pro" in the name does not mean that the computer is made exclusively for some kind of professional. Having "Pro" in the name does not mean it has to have hot-swappable everything and 1000 firewire ports...."

As was already so astutely pointed out, if it weren't for "Pros" like myself, Apple wouldn't be pushing the word "Pro" so damned hard like it's a badge of honor! All marketing aside, professionals like myself who adopted the Mac platform early on DID make Apple what it is, not the bloody iPod! Dumbing down the "Pro" line of computers isn't gonna mean a thing to everyday users, but I don't think there is a single power user who woke up one day and said, "Gee...I wish the new Apples all had LESS features!".....

BT in NYC

 

[Manzana]

Just a heads-up to the many who suggest carrying an extra battery to charge the internal:

There is a HUGE loss of energy when one has to first charge one battery and then use that same battery to charge the next. This, along with the necessary charging circuitry (it is Li-Ion, after all), translates into carrying much more weight and bulk to get the same "extra juice" as a proper swappable battery and is thus counter productive to the Reality Distortion Field-concept of "getting more power by making it nonswappable".

Further, thousand charging cycles is used as if this is something new. It isn't. A thousand charging cycles is the norm for Li-Ion batteries these days and have been for years.

you don't, the battery packs do not charge your internal they just power the laptop.
for the OP, he already carries 5 external batteries plus a "full leaf pack" whatever that is so the solution that xparaparafreakx posted is suitable.

 

[dopeytree]

Please get in touch with apple about this.

wouldn't 8 hours cover a whole days shoot though anyhow?

I can see apple or a third party producing an external battery that just has a magsafe connector on it and if it was made by apple you could get a total of 16hours! just imagine.

 

[apolloa]

As was already so astutely pointed out, if it weren't for "Pros" like myself, Apple wouldn't be pushing the word "Pro" so damned hard like it's a badge of honor! All marketing aside, professionals like myself who adopted the Mac platform early on DID make Apple what it is, not the bloody iPod! Dumbing down the "Pro" line of computers isn't gonna mean a thing to everyday users, but I don't think there is a single power user who woke up one day and said, "Gee...I wish the new Apples all had LESS features!".....

BT in NYC

If your a real "Pro" then the equipment you use is equipment fit for purpose, you ignore "brand names" So to say you MUST have Apple is wrong. Yes they have a rep with photographers as good machines, I thinks it's no secret Apple is moving away from your field, there a business, they'll go where the money is and it's no longer with the Pro's it would seem so you should look else where for a "for a fit for purpose" machine.
And whilst I don't know too much about Apple before the iPod. I DO know the iPod has pretty much made Apple what it is today as it saved it from bankruptcy. iTunes and the iPod were launched before Steve gave any thought to the "Pro" line when he returned to Apple.

 

[jeffy.dee-lux]

So, given that, what do you prefer: An inbuilt battery with 8 hours of "use", having to use inneffective external batteries if necessary, or a swappable battery with hours of "use" where you can swap batteries without the added charging circuitry, inefficiency (making you carry a larger battery to get the same juice into the internal), and without having to have a huge battery connected while you wait for the internal to charge?

As was pointed out, these external batteries don't seem to charge the internal battery, the laptop just runs off the external battery, during which time the internal battery is still just dead weight, but you make better use of the energy stored in your external battery.

Even if it were charging the internal battery (which might be nice, cause then you can get a bit of time at the end without the bulky battery attached, and you can leave your external battery to charge while you have a fresh 8 hours to work with without the external...) it might not be as bad as you're suggesting from an energy per kg perspective. And this comes down to the fact that your Wh/kg for a large external pack is probably well above what you'd get from multiple removeable batteries, which have a lot of mass in terms of casing and whatever for interfacing with the compartment in the mbp. My bet is that even if you factored in the efficiency loss involved in charging the internal with the external, you'd still come out ahead in terms of useable Whr/kg of extra bulk to carry around. That's just a hunch though, but pointless anyways, as the external battery does not waste its time charging the internal battery.

All that said, I was also kind of expecting Apple to offer a nicely executed external battery solution, maybe they'll come out with something soon.

 

[Tosser]

you don't, the battery packs do not charge your internal they just power the laptop.
for the OP, he already carries 5 external batteries plus a "full leaf pack" whatever that is so the solution that xparaparafreakx posted is suitable.

As was pointed out, these external batteries don't seem to charge the internal battery, the laptop just runs off the external battery, during which time the internal battery is still just dead weight, but you make better use of the energy stored in your external battery.

Well, that seems to take care of one problem, but it intorduces another, unless you're sitting at a desk (and then what's the use?).

The magsafe adaptor is (in most cases: luckily) easy to break loose, so you now have what amounts to a desktop driven by an easily removed (including by mistake) UPS.
I hope I don't have to explain the problems with that?

Even if it were charging the internal battery (which might be nice, cause then you can get a bit of time at the end without the bulky battery attached, and you can leave your external battery to charge while you have a fresh 8 hours to work with without the external...) it might not be as bad as you're suggesting from an energy per kg perspective. And this comes down to the fact that your Wh/kg for a large external pack is probably well above what you'd get from multiple removeable batteries, which have a lot of mass in terms of casing and whatever for interfacing with the compartment in the mbp.

Research battery technology before making such assumptions.

My bet is that even if you factored in the efficiency loss involved in charging the internal with the external, you'd still come out ahead in terms of useable Whr/kg of extra bulk to carry around.

See above.

That's just a hunch though, but pointless anyways, as the external battery does not waste its time charging the internal battery.

[my emphasis]

Right-o.

All that said, I was also kind of expecting Apple to offer a nicely executed external battery solution, maybe they'll come out with something soon.

Think about the problems introduced by having a loosely connected rather large power package when out in the field, not at a desk.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Stop whining. Stop shooting tethered.

 

[THX1139]

Thank God there are some people who can look at the big picture and not just chime in with "If you don't like it, don't buy it!"...

BT in NYC

What's up with all the anger? As a professional creative you should be used to dealing with issues and solving them out of the box. Many people have given you great options to solve your problem, but you seem more interested in venting your frustrations. Okay... we get it. It screws up your work routine. However, you are just one peon in the pool of thousands and I don't think Apple can make you happy no matter what they do without negatively affecting the majority. If they make the battery user replaceable, then they piss off all those people who like the new 8 hour battery. For those extreme users who need additional power, they have other options. Why should Apple cater to the extreme user? And yeah... your situation is extreme. MOST professional users are going to get by just fine with 8 hours or be able to plug-in. If not, they buy the 15 inch or rent/buy generators. They certainly don't come on this board and act like Apple just caused the end of the world.

Okay, that's my "BIG PICTURE" post. I think that to look at the big picture one needs to look at solutions (and there are plenty) instead of focussing so much on the problem.

 

[gnasher729]

Seriously though

One of these powerpacks would work fine for you. 28 AMP hours should power your MBP for days.

According to the website, it supplies a laptop using 20 Watt for seven hours. Not that much.