MacBook batteries - why can't you change them?

[Danny]

I notice you can't replace the batteries on a MacBook.

Has this always been the case, or is Apple just trying to find a new way of forcing customers to upgrade their laptop every few years?

 

[gaz]

Apple like to control the hardware in their computers, can you blame them? It makes them work smoother as the operating system can be catered to work only the hardware they use.

If you need to take it apart, then it is possible. but it's not advisable to do. Most of the time apple will be helpful and i have friends who's warranty had run out by 2 years, and apple still replaced their dead battery for free. There are some affiliated partners that will do any work that is required for a price.

 

[mangaman]

Apple like to control the hardware in their computers, can you blame them?

Yes

If they make a computer that makes it difficult to do as mundane a thing as replace a battery thry are being a bit naughty.

As a non-computer person completely - I can still take my PC to bits and add or replace things without having ever had a problem.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I notice you can't replace the batteries on a MacBook.

You notice wrong :-)

 

[StuAff]

First off, you can replace the batteries on most Apple laptops ever made, including the 2009 model MacBook I'm typing this off, yourself. Secondly,newer models (including all 2010 models, all MacBook Airs and last year's MacBook Pros) don't have user-replaceable batteries for design reasons. By fixing it in the case, it lightens the thing up and frees space to have greater capacity- Apple reckons they should last for five years, and Apple offers a replacement battery programme for those models. You're not being forced to upgrade by any means.

 

[zimzum42]

it's a tory conspiracy...

this would never have happened under labour...

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Easy solution:

1 - Throw MacBook into the bin.
2 - Buy a normal laptop.
3 - And relax.

 

[zimzum42]

Fortunately their computers are so much better than regular PCs that most Apple users don't give a damn and are happy to put up with such things...

 

[johnnyh]

newer models (including all 2010 models, all MacBook Airs and last year's MacBook Pros) don't have user-replaceable batteries for design reasons.

in a nutshell that sums up alot of Apple... form over function.

 

[StuAff]

in a nutshell that sums up alot of Apple... form over function.

Nope. Removeable batteries need bigger, heavier casings, connectors.....it's one function over another.

 

[Jezston]

Fortunately their computers are so much better than regular PCs that most Apple users don't give a damn and are happy to put up with such things...

Ohh God please I'm sick of getting this nonsense in Pro Audio forums let's leave it off the bicycle forum I use to get away from it!

Although to be fair mac laptops are quite nice. I just wish other laptop manufacturers would look at Apple and go "hmm they seem to do quite well with only a few model variations that are quite good which they only update once or twice a year, perhaps we should consider doing that rather than having 20-30 simultaneous models which we completely replace every 3 months - I'm sure we'd save a fair bit on R&D. Oh and perhaps we should put some DECENT F***ING SIZED TRACKPADS ON OUR LAPTOPS TOO!"

Also there are legit reasons for unreplaceable batteries - you can fit higher capacity ones if they aren't removeable, and I'm sure most people never replace their phone or laptop batteries. Nokia and Samsung have started doing it too now.

 

[johnnyh]

Nope. Removeable batteries need bigger, heavier casings, connectors.....it's one function over another.

Bigger heavier casings, haha hardly much weight in the plastics, and the connectors are there whichever way you go. (plenty of ultra light long life laptops out there running other Operating Systems)

form over function, and that aint a bad thing, but it aint the greatest either.

as an aside, if an internal battery was done for the design element of losing weight from a unit, why does the iphone 3Gs with its internal battery weigh more than other mobiles I have owned with removable batteries?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

There's gonna be a geek fight...

 

[phil_hg_uk]

 

[StuAff]

I'm not fighting anyone.