Apple claim that the switch away from user-replaceable batteries occurred with a change in battery chemistry resulting in 1000 cycles rather than the previous 300 cycles of battery life.
Yeah well I never even got close to that. When they released the 17" MacBook Pro with internal battery they quoted its life span at up-to 1,000 Cycles and up-to 5 Years. My battery started to go bad at the 3 year mark (Service Battery warning, bulging began about 6 months later) and I only had 350 Cycles on it.
It's obvious they never actually tested the battery for 5 years, they simply simulated the average wear of a battery used in a computer for 5 years. They probably charged the cells and depleted them 1,000 times over a 2-3 week period and saw it didn't fail until around the 1000th charge and thats where they got their number from.
But we need to actually face reality, the batteries are going to degrade faster and faster the older they are. Leaving them charged, depleting them over time, only depleting a few of the cells and not the others. These are all things that happen in the real world.
I'm not saying Apple can solve physics with their batteries I'm just saying they should provide a way for users to service their own batteries even if it's as complicated as installing RAM used to be on the old models, whip the bottom off, unplug the battery cable from the motherboard and undo three screws. That is a lot easier than trying to remove a battery that is glued to the case and honestly I don't see any reason for them to be glueing anything there is plenty of space for screws to be used especially in the 13" Retina MacBook Pro, all around the trackpad there is loads of empty space.
True. I've done pretty well with the iPhone over the years, and some of Apple's discounts make it easier to absorb the depreciation too.
Actually, upgrading every revision can be extremely cost effective if you're smart about it.
I think this is everyone's concern. It's one of the most expensive notebooks on the planet while it's also build to throw away. Soldered RAM, glued batteries, screen/lid as one component,... It's really hard for people to abandon the old MBP when the newer model comes with al these concerns and it's high price point. I don't mind the Air has soldered RAM of glued batteries or whatever. It's acceptable at it's price point. But when spending 2000-3000 dollar for a machine knowing it'll be crippled in about 4 years is a very bitter pill to swallow.
Apple is like "We can get away with this, people will buy our stuff like usual, just give them some wow-factors like the retina display, all flash architecture, very thin and light design and they wouldn't even care about the lack of an optical drive or the way we've build it". It's true that most people don't even know how the rMBP is build, not everyone reads these sites or the iFixit reports. The lack of an optical drive is easily forgiven. But this is a PRO-machine aimed at (graphic) designers, architects, movie editors, software developers, photographers, mac-lovers who still like to game,... These are not the kind of people you want to underestimate buy giving them an expensive trow-away machine.
Long story short: It's extremely irrational, un-ecological and egoistic to glue batteries in an aluminum device. Use screws for gods sake!! Where's the Apple who let you get the battery out by a simple turn with a coin? The richer one gets, the greedier they get...
I think this is everyone's concern. It's one of the most expensive notebooks on the planet while it's also build to throw away. Soldered RAM, glued batteries, screen/lid as one component,... It's really hard for people to abandon the old MBP when the newer model comes with al these concerns and it's high price point. I don't mind the Air has soldered RAM of glued batteries or whatever. It's acceptable at it's price point. But when spending 2000-3000 dollar for a machine knowing it'll be crippled in about 4 years is a very bitter pill to swallow.
Apple is like "We can get away with this, people will buy our stuff like usual, just give them some wow-factors like the retina display, all flash architecture, very thin and light design and they wouldn't even care about the lack of an optical drive or the way we've build it". It's true that most people don't even know how the rMBP is build, not everyone reads these sites or the iFixit reports. The lack of an optical drive is easily forgiven. But this is a PRO-machine aimed at (graphic) designers, architects, movie editors, software developers, photographers, mac-lovers who still like to game,... These are not the kind of people you want to underestimate buy giving them an expensive trow-away machine.
Long story short: It's extremely irrational, un-ecological and egoistic to glue batteries in an aluminum device. Use screws for gods sake!! Where's the Apple who let you get the battery out by a simple turn with a coin? The richer one gets, the greedier they get...
You hit the nail, thanks! I agree 100% with you.
To sum it up:
- Apple is not ecological anymore, even if they try to sell it with obvious standards.
- rMBP are not PRO, due to the lack of upgradability!
From a shareholder's perspective, it's (at least for the moment) perfect.
There is always a gap between shareholder's and client's interests. Since Cook, I've the feeling that the power shifted to the shareholder's benefit on the costs of customers, which in the long run won't work out I guess.
I guess then battery replacement under warranty means either a new bottom assembly or a very time intensive repair; I'm glad got Applecare on the 2 13 inch rMBP's got home, so at least if the batteries or screen goes bad within 3 years the cost ($) is on them.
To be honest, I don't understand what PRO has to do with upgradability. It's just a name, not an indication for upgradability.
They only cover batteries for 1 year even if you have Apple Care because it's considered a consumable item...
Really shows how much confidence they have in their supposedly 1,000 cycle batteries![]()
Your one-year warranty includes replacement coverage for a defective battery. You can extend your replacement coverage for a defective battery to three years from the date of your notebook purchase with the AppleCare Protection Plan. However, the AppleCare Protection Plan for notebook computers does not cover batteries that have stopped working or are exhibiting diminished capacity due to normal use except when it is the result of a manufacturing defect.
Their pro line is shifting to non upgradable devices.
They did it with the rMBP and now the Mac Pro.
They probably looked at the automobile industry and just did the same.
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Unless you can prove it's a manufacturing defect
Actually, upgrading every revision can be extremely cost effective if you're smart about it.
To be honest, I don't understand what PRO has to do with upgradability. It's just a name, not an indication for upgradability.
True it's just a name. But in the past this name was advertised by apple and perceived by us as a real "PRO-"fessional device. Now it is still a very good device, but the focus shifts from professionality to mainstream. One brick of this change is the missing upgradability. If you buy a laptop for 2,5k you maybe want to double ram or add a bigger "generic" SSD after some month or one year.
They only cover batteries for 1 year even if you have Apple Care because it's considered a consumable item...
Really shows how much confidence they have in their supposedly 1,000 cycle batteries![]()
To be honest, I don't understand what PRO has to do with upgradability. It's just a name, not an indication for upgradability.
I can believe that!
As an OSX newbie I'm simply amazed at how well Apple products hold their value. I recently sold my first MB (09 white) and actually after owning it for over a year I only lost $50 off what I paid for it.
If you look at the newer MBP's for some reason there's huge demand for them, even if it's only a couple of $100 saving compared to buying a newer model from Apple.
Yeah totally agree.
Some of my friends think I'm throwing a lot of money away when I upgrade my iPhone on the first day every upgrade.
But the fact is I sell my iPhones a day or two before each iPhone event.
And just use another phone for the month between the event and the release. (It is a bit annoying but worth it. Cos during the weeks after the event, and the release, the market gets totally flooded with iPhones and the prices drop with 100eur just during the first week after the events.)
+1 I Dont understand why people keep saying this. If you have a desktop then sure, I understand wanting upgradability.
When it comes to a portable laptop? As a professional I would 1000% prefer portability as compared to upgradability.
And we have yet another 'I don't see a need for it, so no one else should need it' post.
A lot of professionals need and worry about:
1. Bleeding edge resources.
2. Easy serviceability (imagine your hard drive dies in the field somewhere, or your battery can't hold a charge because it's too cold and you can't swap out batteries)
3. Overall ownership costs going up.
4. Hardware fails, it is inevitable.
5. Losing the option to customize certain components that may suit your needs better.
Of course, no body needs all those things.
If they want that, they should buy a workstation class laptop - a thinkpad or a precision/latitude, and you know what? They will. That is why the no longer 'pro' because of lack of serviceability argument holds water to a degree.
Most of the information in this article appeared in this thread first which 9to5mac has obviously been tracking.Yay! The first indirect rumor this month, hopefully this is the first of many.
At this point, I can only imagine that Haswell rMBP wil only be revealed alongside Mavericks.
My out of warranty, no Apple Care battery was replaced free simply because it dipped below 80% health before reaching 1000 cycles.They only cover batteries for 1 year even if you have Apple Care because it's considered a consumable item...