Retina MacBook Pro Could Lose EPEAT Status

[steveh]

You don't need to use glue to have a thin tablet. You can still have 99% of the battery volume by using 3 teenie screws to keep it fixed. And having the battery be easily replaceable with a new one means the user will quickly make up for that 1% if/when the user decides to recycle the battery.

Except you can't replace that glue with "3 teenie screws", can you?

You need to add structure to attach those screws to, for starters, and in practice a containing structure to contain the battery within, etc etc etc.

Sometimes throwing out the brackets/etc and clean-sheeting a simpler chassis that provides more space for battery (providing more run time) with a bit of adhesive to give you a lighter, stiffer end product.

Pick the right adhesive, and you can remove the battery at need by heating or cooling, depending.

 

[KPOM]

I'm away from my laptop, so I don't have the link.

But I read where the problem is the glue holding the battery is so strong, that trying to remove the battery would destroy it causing further environmental exposure.

Therefore it cannot be recycled.

Other parts of the computer may qualify for recycling.

iFixit said they couldn't remove it. That doesn't mean that it can't be removed, just that iFixit couldn't figure out how to without puncturing the battery. Perhaps it needs to be heated to melt the glue.

 

[Mal]

I'm away from my laptop, so I don't have the link.

But I read where the problem is the glue holding the battery is so strong, that trying to remove the battery would destroy it causing further environmental exposure.

Therefore it cannot be recycled.

Other parts of the computer may qualify for recycling.

You read incorrectly (not your fault, the fault of the author of whatever you read). Apple and their recyclers can separate the battery and the case just fine, and they've stated that they will recycle the batteries (in fact, they're legally required to in some places). Just because iFixit and maybe some small local recycler couldn't figure it out doesn't mean that Apple doesn't already have the methods in place.

jW

 

[charlituna]

Btw it was reported (I thnk in Fortune) that Apple spends millions of dollars every year for their products to be part of this EPEAT listing. I'm sorry but tat seems a waste of money to me. Being environmentally responsible in terms of recycling and removing toxins from electronic devices is common sense. It's not like Apple would be dumping things in a landfill if EPEAT wasn't around.

100%. Apple hasn't stopped being aware of the environment. They just aren't letting this one group make their choices for them. In another 3 years, nothing Apple will be on the EPEAT list if the standard isnt changed and something tells me Apple won't care

 

[Rocketman]

The RMBP has EPEAT status right now and governments are ordering now. Even if the status is somehow revoked, we already know Apple will not cry in their soup over it. To revoke it over adhesive for a battery which can be reapplied on battery change seems a stretch and quite arbitrary. I would in no way rule that out considering it is competitors voting on the issue and until they have time to copy Apple they are likely to criticize it. These sorts of standards have a high degree of politics on the application of the otherwise somewhat rationally arrived at rules. Somewhat. There is politics in that as well.

Rocketman

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15256172/

 

[charlituna]

Very true and the times they do use Macs they're aren't going to buy the high end laptop.

If this were true then why the stink about being delisted. What would San Fran etc care about it since they don't use the computers in the first place

 

[irobot2003]

Probably not, actually. Government offices and corporations don't use Macs very much to begin with, and when they do they usually aren't portables. Assuming it just affects the RMBP, anyways.

I don't know about corporations these days, but in the federal government on the west coast (at least for my agency) Macs are in heavy use. At my site, Macs actually outnumber Wintel boxes. In the midwest, and on the east coast, it's a different story...

 

[Rogifan]

100%. Apple hasn't stopped being aware of the environment. They just aren't letting this one group make their choices for them. In another 3 years, nothing Apple will be on the EPEAT list if the standard isnt changed and something tells me Apple won't care

And Apple won't care if iFixit throws another hissyfit either. Apple employs designers and engineers that build stuff like this for a living. Somehow I doubt they all sat around in a meeting and said 'lets make the battery impossible to remove so 3 years from now people will have to replace their laptop with a new one'.

The rMBP got some of the best reviews, many calling it the best laptop Apple's ever built. Then iFixit 1/10 in repairability and suddenly everyone's trashing it. I just saw one review calling the retina display a "brilliant boondoggle", saying its not a product feature but a marketing one and that no one knew they wanted it until they saw it (wow imagine that, the average joe doesn't always know what's possible or what he/she wants until it's shown to them).

Oh and here's why there is no Ethernet port on the rMBP or MBA:

 

[Myiphone7]

I will turn to PC if Apple loses it's epeat status. Steve Jobs would be so angry if knew his company was willing to lose it's status to help the environment.

Disgusting.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I think this whole gluing the battery in thing is the worst idea Apple has ever had.

Batteries are consumable. They need to be replaced eventually. They contain toxic chemicals and need special handling for recycling.

nothing that you said prevents battery recycling in the rMBP. Apple will service and can recycle it. what's the issue?

you can't perform repairs on your car, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get service and repairs, does it?

 

[Rocketman]

saying its not a product feature but a marketing one and that no one knew they wanted it until they saw it (wow imagine that, the average joe doesn't always know what's possible or what he/she wants until it's shown to them).

Oh and here's why there is no Ethernet port on the rMBP or MBA:

Image

If the ethernet port were reduced to only the internal hole like the HDMI and USB ports on that image it would actually fit just fine.

Rocketman

 

[ixodes]

You read incorrectly (not your fault, the fault of the author of whatever you read). Apple and their recyclers can separate the battery and the case just fine, and they've stated that they will recycle the batteries (in fact, they're legally required to in some places). Just because iFixit and maybe some small local recycler couldn't figure it out doesn't mean that Apple doesn't already have the methods in place.

jW

It's encouraging to hear that Apple has a method. Hopefully when the time comes. Users will return to Apple for proper recycling.

I originally dismissed the idea of Apple doing the recycling, since that's something they'd usually advise us of since it's a controversial issue.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I also don't think that a "trained" Apple repair technician would be significantly better than the people at iFixIt.

what's with the scare quotes around trained By definition apple technicians are trained on things that people from third-party companies aren't...like the tricks for for removing and replacing the battery; which theyll do for a paltry 200 bucks.

 

[macidiot]

Do you know a better way to make a device as small as humanly possible with zero wasted space?

The Macbook Air battery is screwed in. Its thinner than the retina MBP. So there goes that theory.

 

[dona83]

Nah, what bothers people is that they don't have the cash to afford the Retina MBP. Battery for a 2006 MacBook costs $129. Lasts 300 charges. Battery for a Retina MBP costs $199. Lasts 1000 charges. With 7 hours vs. 4 hours per charge. Do the maths.

The battery in my Dell lasted less than 300 charges, costs $169, and I have take apart my laptop and do it myself.

I bought a 13" MBP of the same age, still has a battery that's 90% good.

 

[mdelvecchio]

The Macbook Air battery is screwed in. Its thinner than the retina MBP. So there goes that theory.

entirely different design. no retina display means less battery on an air. different design requirement.

 

[doelcm82]

I will turn to PC if Apple loses it's epeat status. Steve Jobs would be so angry if knew his company was willing to lose it's status to help the environment.

Disgusting.

So if Apple changes absolutely nothing, but keeps its epeat status, you'll stay with Apple?

If you are not happy with Apple's products, or with Apple as a company, not buying Apple products is the most powerful tool you have. But if your decision is based on whether a third party is happy with Apple or not, I'm not going to have any respect for you.

And neither would Steve Jobs.

 

[Rogifan]

I will turn to PC if Apple loses it's epeat status. Steve Jobs would be so angry if knew his company was willing to lose it's status to help the environment.

Disgusting.

How dumb. EPEAT isn't the definitive answer on the environment. If you believe that then I won't be sad to see you go to the world of PC crap.

 

[doelcm82]

Just curious what people use DVD drives on a laptop for these days? I can't remember the last time I used mine.

I use mine to rip DVDs and CDs. And I have bought software in the past year that came on a DVD.

That's why I bought an external optical drive with my new rMBP. The vast majority of the time, it stays safely in its box. When I upgrade to a newer model in a few years, I expect the external drive will also work with the new model.

 

[macidiot]

If the ethernet port were reduced to only the internal hole like the HDMI and USB ports on that image it would actually fit just fine.

Rocketman

Shh. Apple has declared ethernet useless and unnecessary! Apple designs are stunning, utterly perfect and flawless! Please do not introduce any facts and reality that contradict that.

 

[macidiot]

entirely different design. no retina display means less battery on an air. different design requirement.

So what.

You are trying to refute facts with a non-relevant statement. The iPhone has a much smaller battery than the iPad which has a much smaller battery than the MBP. The MBP battery is bigger than the iPhone. So what.

That DOES NOT change the fact that the MBA, which has far less available internal space to begin with than the MBP, uses screws instead of glue to hold the battery in place. And ended up with a thinner design.

AGAIN, my point is that Apple can indeed make an ultrathin laptop and still use screws for the battery. As PROVEN by Apple with the Macbook Air. What part of that do you not understand?

I'm sorry that the simple fact that Apple itself makes a thinner laptop that uses screws to hold the battery in flies in the face of the "Apple had to use to glue to make it thin" theory.

I'm sorry, but I am really getting tired of all of the apologists and/or fanboys declaring the use of glue as the ONLY possible solution to get a thin laptop. And that it was the only way to do it. And that if you don't like it, tough, Apple doesn't care about you anyway. They only care about people that are utterly non-critical of their products, declaring each new product as the pinnacle of design and engineering. Until the next new Apple product.

 

[e-coli]

I will turn to PC if Apple loses it's epeat status. Steve Jobs would be so angry if knew his company was willing to lose it's status to help the environment.

Disgusting.

Yeah because PCs have better environmental records.

Drama queens on this site. Sheesh. "I swear I'll turn to Windows if..." Just do it then (you won't). Stop telling everyone already.

 

[doelcm82]

Shh. Apple has declared ethernet useless and unnecessary! Apple designs are stunning, utterly perfect and flawless! Please do not introduce any facts and reality that contradict that.

What apple has done is declare the ethernet port optional. They don't in any way stop you from using it. How did you miss that fact?

 

[alfistas]

Seems like Tim Cook probably found out about this just in time and kept the matter from snowballing. Unless it was his decision to begin with, in which case it seems he's learning. Either way, it's good to see the attempt.

I'm pretty sure the next revision of the rMBP will have a removable battery. This is the 2006 MBP debacle all over again...

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What apple has done is declare the ethernet port optional. They don't in any way stop you from using it. How did you miss that fact?

If that is the case then why have they not included the adapter in the box?

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Makes sense to me. No upgradability, means it gets tossed as soon as better performance is needed. I don't know about the rest of the world admitedly, but where I'm from recycling is almost unheard of and considered unnecessary and a waste of time.

Yep! Sad but true...

 

[applebook]

Do you know a better way to make a device as small as humanly possible with zero wasted space?

Maybe no one needs a 17" notebook that is anorexic? I don't know about the rest of the world, but 1" thin is already enough for a desktop replacement. Apple's continual obsession with thinness is s waste.

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Makes sense to me. No upgradability, means it gets tossed as soon as better performance is needed. I don't know about the rest of the world admitedly, but where I'm from recycling is almost unheard of and considered unnecessary and a waste of time.

To be fair, what is there to upgrade on modern laptops anyway besides the memory and storage? Apple's recent Snow Lion exclusion of pre-2008 Macs should be a clear message that the company believes an ultra modern computer should have only a 4-year lifespan.

You might want to try recycling a little bit though. It doesn't hurt.