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The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

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Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#21

Post by minimax »

Tloewald wrote: post #13

If theydriver hey made the battery and drive readily upgradable by technicians I think the article would be moot. They didn't so it isn't. Today's laptops tend to sell with the maximum addressable ram in them (apple only charges $200 for the 16GB option). I had a PowerBook 1400 - the most modular and upgradable apple laptop ever, with the CPU on a daughtercard. When I upgraded the CPU the laptop was still pretty usel…

> apple only charges $200 for the 16GB option

Only $200? That's twice what it would cost to buy from Newegg.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#22

Post by seanalltogether »

jzeltman wrote: post #17

I know this isn't the place to say this, but. Think about the context of who they're [Apple] going after now. Regular people who don't care whatsoever if they can upgrade their RAM or have a bigger hard-drive. They want something that just works. Furthermore, even though applications eventually require more RAM or computing power, the majority of Apple products purchased today will handle that for years to come, espe…

Those people you describe shouldn't be buying a macbook "pro" then.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#23

Post by gnaffle »

jonrob wrote: post #8
acdha wrote: post #2

> Would we support laptops that required replacement every year or two as applications required more memory and batteries atrophied? This is the key misunderstanding most people made: a 2010 MacBook Air still makes a fine system, even for software developers. For almost all users, hardware capacity has exceeded their needs for years and the newer battery technology holds up better than the older designs as well.

If it was just a case that hardware capacity has reached a point where most of us really don't need to upgrade our computers any more, that would be one thing. But the article also says that many of Apple's decisions are making their laptops less recyclable - even if the actual materials they're being made from are more so. This is a serious issue that people should care about. People should also care about not being…

First of all Apple has a battery replacement program that is way, way cheaper than buying a new laptop ($129-199 for a MBP depending on the size of the laptop).

And you'll probably be able to buy aftermarket batteries just as you can with iPhones. I replaced the battery in my 3GS and it wasn't difficult at all even though the battery was glued in.

It's not like it's glued to the chassis with epoxy resin, it's designed to be replaced. iFixit didn't want to completely ruin the battery of their new laptop, so they kept it in.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#24

Post by moystard »

archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

That's not the only point mentioned in this article. You are forgetting about two aspects:

- Environment: Gluing glass and aluminum most probably forbid recycling both of them, that's just a waste. - Cost of repairing: While with previous models, any of us could replace some part of his laptops easily (to repair as well as to upgrade), that won't be possible anymore. That means that it will cost tons of money to customers (Apple Care becomes mandatory), and that the ecological impact will be even greater, see 1.

I am currently thinking about changing my current MBP June 2009, and as the author of the article states, I have to make a choice, and that choice will probably participate to drawing the future of laptops.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#25

Post by gnaffle »

archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

I've maxed out the ram, added an SSD _and_ added the biggest SATA drive I could find and fit it in the DVD tray using an adapter from iFixit. My laptop is from 2007 and it feels like a speed demon with the SSD and still can store all my media.

So now, I have the option of maxing out the hardware _hoping_ that it will last me many years. That's part of buying into a closed platform _and_ belonging to a niche of consumers.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#26

Post by ebbv »

taligent wrote: post #12
gokhan wrote: post #9

The title part "But should we really blame Apple?" rather than the original "UNFIXABLE, UNHACKABLE, UNTENABLE" is a perfect replacement for Apple loving HN crowd.

I love the idea that upgrading RAM/Hard Disk somehow equates to hacking your machine. It's akin to someone thinking they are an F1 mechanic because they can replace the car battery.

I swapped out an SD card in my phone so I know just as much about hardware design as Apple's engineers. B-)

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#27

Post by moystard »

jzeltman wrote: post #17

I know this isn't the place to say this, but. Think about the context of who they're [Apple] going after now. Regular people who don't care whatsoever if they can upgrade their RAM or have a bigger hard-drive. They want something that just works. Furthermore, even though applications eventually require more RAM or computing power, the majority of Apple products purchased today will handle that for years to come, espe…

In Macbook Pro, there is Pro. These models have been designed for hackers/designers in mind and those people usually want to have a good control over their hardware (especially the former).

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#28

Post by georgespencer »

archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

> Upgradability was a defect of technology not being good enough for long periods

The other thing to consider is that the same applies to repairing technology. Why are we putting resource into catering for the tiny minority of a given product which experience mechanical failures which we can fix?

90% of BlackBerry users will never change the battery on their device. 100% of BlackBerries have a stupid door on the back which allows you to remove the battery and eventually becomes very loose and slides off.

80% of MacBook Retinas (at least) will never have a hardware problem (as long as Apple has finally learned how to correctly apply thermal paste). The ones who do we replace.

The economics of replacing an entire device are finally starting to make sense. That's the really exciting thing about this. It is no longer cheaper for Apple to pay technical people in stores and service centres to cater for failure rates in hardware. It is now cheaper to throw the broken thing away and get a new one, and take a chance on not having two successive one-chance-in-a-million failures for the user.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#29

Post by DeepDuh »

theorique wrote: post #18

What's the life cycle on laptops? I tend to upgrade every 18 months or so. I'm sure many other professionals and power users upgrade even more frequently. At this rate, as the article states, we've voted with our actions.

Are you Gordon E. Moore?

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#30

Post by gnaffle »

theorique wrote: post #18

What's the life cycle on laptops? I tend to upgrade every 18 months or so. I'm sure many other professionals and power users upgrade even more frequently. At this rate, as the article states, we've voted with our actions.

I think most people buying a $2000+ laptop keep it for more than 18 months. I know I would.
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