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Teardown of Retina MacBook Pro Finds Low Repairability with Custom Components
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Considering it's capacity, I would not be surprised if the "spares price" for the battery in the MBPR would be more than the $349 AppleCare cost.
My Apple hardware has been bulletproof for the years I have owned it, but I get AppleCare because it seems to help resale value (I buy on the "Tick" cycle for Intel components so I replace everything about every two years), but when I bought the MBA, I also bought it should I need battery replacement (I don't use the device enough for the battery to fail for any reason but defect).
That MacBook Pro was my first big laptop purchase and lasted me until I finished college. I had a problem with the power cord getting frayed and was too broke to buy a replacement (and my applecare was now well over)
I called Apple, mentioned "safety concern" (because, quite frankly, the cords were sparking and smoke was coming out occasionally), was connected with a manager/lead who asked to go over the steps that led to that problem and verify that I wasn't hurt. They offered a replacement power adapter + cord.
I'm sure if you called, they would've replaced the battery. A swelling battery is cause for concern.
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lol
The old MBPs had a max. of 8GB RAM, this has a max. of 16GB, and getting that extra 8 at the outset costs a couple hundred $. So I don't see the problem.
Unless you want to jerry rig it in two years to take more, I guess, but really, a pro that needs 32GB RAM is probably going to require state-of-the-art CPU and graphics chips, too, so putting more RAM in an old laptop isn't going to suddenly make it suitable for their work. They'll buy a new one.
Modern European supercars have a mix of European, American, and Asian components. Yes, even Chinese. (Primarily in the electronics.)
Well, I don't think a battery that has already swelled and cooled would be much of a threat to my safety. After all, my mom had been using the laptop for a day after it swelled up because she somehow didn't notice it. It was randomly losing power, though.
I am going to take the MBP to Apple today and ask them about this. What WAS a threat to my safety was that thing's CPU going above boiling point. At 221˚F, that thing could explode.
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Yes you can. It does not simply click off, but you can open it and take it out easily. This is not the case with the MBPR because the battery is glued on. I was never a laptop user and never will be.
D)
Errr, no it's not.
You have two spinning fans inside that will wear out. Fans always wear out over time, as well as suck in dust. We all know that if we take a home computer apart and give it a vacuum from time to time.
The batteries of today and especially what Apple uses will not die within the time you upgrade your MBP. In the slim chance that it does, you still might have the original warranty and/or AppleCare. Possibly, by then, a resolution has been presented on replacing it.
The ram upgrade is a moot point as well. For the $2,199 MBPR, 8GBs is plenty. If 16 GBs is needed, it would have been purchased from the start because you're a "professional" power user.
But the SSD is what gets me. Apple is charging an arm and a leg for the 256 GB bump. By the time OWC produces a kit, it would rival that of what Apple charges, so it's a lose lose.
I'm so disappointed 512 GB was not included in the $2,199 model.
The ram upgrade is a moot point as well. For the $2,199 MBPR, 8GBs is plenty. If 16 GBs is needed, it would have been purchased from the start because you're a "professional" power user.
But the SSD is what gets me. Apple is charging an arm and a leg for the 256 GB bump. By the time OWC produces a kit, it would rival that of what Apple charges, so it's a lose lose.
I'm so disappointed 512 GB was not included in the $2,199 model.
Well, not surprising but this stinks.
It's interesting. These laptops are still upgradable in an unconventional but still useful sense: you can sell your old lappy for decent $ and buy a new one (or a different used one, for that matter).
But they are horribly unrepairable.
It's interesting. These laptops are still upgradable in an unconventional but still useful sense: you can sell your old lappy for decent $ and buy a new one (or a different used one, for that matter).
But they are horribly unrepairable.
Was hoping the SSD could be upgraded.
This kinda sucks, means one should buy the 512 SSD for futureproofing.
512GB is the base
Not when they charge almost 20% of the original cost it's not. It's a con, nothing more, nothing less. £280 for a 15" laptop get real. That isn't justifiable even in Apples screwed up world.
Another reason to buy a MacBook Pro with low RAM then upgrade it yourself: The initial cost will be lower, so AppleCare will cost less.
At least here in the US, it looks like AppleCare will be $349 across the board for the MBPR.
And you can't upgrade the RAM after the fact, on the MBPR.
And you can't upgrade the RAM after the fact, on the MBPR.
Fans are more reliable than optical drives and hard drives. The fan is just a motor, but the drives are motors with other moving parts in there.
In all of my experience, I've never seen a fan fail, but I've seen plenty of hard drives and optical drives die. My cousin's stupid Windows laptop came with a Blu Ray drive that broke very quickly. Luckily, it had insurance for water damage, so he dumped coffee on it and got a new one.
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This is the one beef I have with Apple. They're too closed. I like it to be somewhat closed but not this much. Soldered on RAM is ridiculous. Internal batteries are great as long as they can be taken out with a screwdriver (like the non-retina MBPs). I'm fine with the security and lack of Flash in iOS, but why can you not make plugins for other apps in iOS? It's simply limiting.
Oh, and this wouldn't matter so much if it wasn't on their model that is made for professionals.
I actually have seen fans fail. Generally the bearings let go, although on most machines, it's rare.
Although I don't know how many HSFs I replaced on my FrankenPad back when it was a T60p... at least the T61p fan was greatly improved.
Although I don't know how many HSFs I replaced on my FrankenPad back when it was a T60p... at least the T61p fan was greatly improved.
to add further, this is extremely elitist of Apple and very unsustainable design practice to be promoting in this day and age and a bit of a design cop out if i do say so in order to make the MBP marginally thinner, who really cares if you made it a tad thinner? except for superficial people that like to be seen with expensive shiny new toys and will only ever use it for word and the internet, I say to you if you think a thiner MBP is going to change your life you need to go get one! As a product that should be aimed at demanding "Pro" users on the move that need to be able to up spec the simple basics on their work horse to keep them sane and "smily happy people" REM quote. For people that say 8GB ram is plenty for a MBP I'm sorry you should really have bought a MB Air, try running VM Ware Fusion or a 3D CAD programme on 8GB go figure! By soldering in RAM & SSD this will only result in contributing to increasing consumer waste levels in the not to distant future. Refurbing these Retina MBP's then selling them on is going to be a non starter as well, so in 4-5 years down the line if the battery lasts that long and its spec'ed out of date it will probably end up lying around your house designated as a frivolous child's toy or door stop along with all your other old laptops.
But the MBP materials can all be recycled I here you cry thats really sustainable of apple isn't it? well this is to be commended on the face of it, but if we take the main material aluminium, generally aluminium over its life cycle is a high embodied energy material that consumes large amounts of energy in it's extraction, production & disposal. Creating a product that is effectively deposable after 4-5 years rather than being fixable or upgradable and that could last for 10 years is truly shame worthy, I just hope other manufactures don't try and copy this as a viable and sustainable way forward to design products in the future!
As you can probably tell after my rant i am rather peed off with this so called evolutionary leap forward, sorry for being so negative about the new Retina MBP but someone has to give impartial and constructive feedback in order for creation of truly evolutionary products!
To further stretch the car analogy, I have a 1974 BMW 2002 and a 2011 Mazda3.
Leaning under the hood of the bimmer, there is enough room for me to almost touch the ground reaching around the radiator/fan. You can swap in different radiators, carbs, brakesets, headers, pretty easily. I have a 320 radiator, 5 series brakes, have moved the battery to the trunk, Weber carb, bunch of other stuff. Car nerd geek love - however I need to spend time under the hood to keep things purring and if I don't my bimmer will leave me stranded on the side of the road.
My Mazda is a black box under the hood. Other than oil changes and fluids, I would want to touch anything there. Things are packed in super tight. However, the machines moves beautifully and I have no need to mess with it. Blissful reliable ignorance. I'm sure fancier cars (I'd call the rMBP closer to an M3) have even tighter black boxes under the hood.
We're a bit of a geek audience and are probably biased towards the touch and feel love of the '74 bimmer. A black box is what you're going to end up with if you want that completely dialed/optimized/slick machine.
Leaning under the hood of the bimmer, there is enough room for me to almost touch the ground reaching around the radiator/fan. You can swap in different radiators, carbs, brakesets, headers, pretty easily. I have a 320 radiator, 5 series brakes, have moved the battery to the trunk, Weber carb, bunch of other stuff. Car nerd geek love - however I need to spend time under the hood to keep things purring and if I don't my bimmer will leave me stranded on the side of the road.
My Mazda is a black box under the hood. Other than oil changes and fluids, I would want to touch anything there. Things are packed in super tight. However, the machines moves beautifully and I have no need to mess with it. Blissful reliable ignorance. I'm sure fancier cars (I'd call the rMBP closer to an M3) have even tighter black boxes under the hood.
We're a bit of a geek audience and are probably biased towards the touch and feel love of the '74 bimmer. A black box is what you're going to end up with if you want that completely dialed/optimized/slick machine.
The only reason the SSD isn't upgradable now is the connector. I would bet that OWC is going to find a supplier and start offering upgrade kits at some point.
Just relax.
Sounds to me that most guys that are whining about price and this and that just can't afford it.
But then you can still buy one of the thicker ones that were upgraded too.
Oh stop. The thick one with 15', 16 GB Ram and 512 GB SSD costs more than the retina MBP.
Well, there're still refurbished models...
In any case. In two or three years I'll still be able to sell my retina MBP (2,6 Mhz, 16/512 GB) for a good price and I can buy a new one.
And I really love its design. The main reason for me to buy Apple products.
Sounds to me that most guys that are whining about price and this and that just can't afford it.
But then you can still buy one of the thicker ones that were upgraded too.
Oh stop. The thick one with 15', 16 GB Ram and 512 GB SSD costs more than the retina MBP.
Well, there're still refurbished models...
In any case. In two or three years I'll still be able to sell my retina MBP (2,6 Mhz, 16/512 GB) for a good price and I can buy a new one.
And I really love its design. The main reason for me to buy Apple products.
The battery is the most likely part to fail, but it will last a very long time. Also, you can always get it repaired if it does fail.
On my iMac, the most likely part to fail (setting the infamous lemon NVIDIA card I have aside) is the hard drive. Same with my MacBook. The only reason the MBPR's battery is the most likely to fail is because it uses an SSD.
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Good plan. Selling your Mac every 2 years or so (right before a refresh) keeps your $/year low.
I made the mistake of keeping my 2006 iMac. Keeping this for 10 years costs the same as buying a new one every 2 years and selling the old one.
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Or a SATA to proprietary Apple connection adapter.