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The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

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

#51

Post by MatthewPhillips »

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…

There is the Air line for light weight laptops for normal people. I would think that the word Pro signals that this computer is for people who want to do stuff with it beyond what is provided up front.

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

#52

Post by lloeki »

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.

Mine is a mid-2009 13" MBP closing in to 3 years of age, with original battery (just crossed 600 cycles), swapped the 160GB hd with a 128GB Samsung ssd and inflated 2GB ram to 8GB, then down to 4GB because I did not use them and they were cheap RAM, so killing the battery (very noticeable on sleep) while the 4GB come from my iMac. I could have had those upgrades from the start (and not have to hack TRIM support on each upgrade) save from the money I simply did not have at the time I bought it.

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

#53

Post by metatronscube »

Oh well, if you don't like it buy something else, but to be perfectly honest, 90% of folk out there will not be bothered with this at all. They are probably buying the laptop for its portability, price point and performance and like every aspect of life, there are trade offs. I would be quite happy (very happy in fact) with buying the new Macbook knowing that it has no upgrade ability.

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

#54

Post by sbalea »

minimax wrote: post #21
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.

The correct way to calculate this (using prices for the previous gen MBP as found on crucial.com) would be $160 for the 16GB kit - $46 for the 8GB kit = $114. Compare that to $200 and it's still more than 50% markup. Of course, these are retail prices, while Apple's BOM math will be totally different, but still...

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

#56

Post by spiralpolitik »

stcredzero wrote: post #35
moystard wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 cust…

Gluing glass and aluminum most probably forbid recycling both of them, that's just a waste. I doubt that's an insurmountable technical hurdle. Apple should take the machines back at the Apple store, though, and they should handle the separation.

Apple has a very good and easy to use recycling program. They send you a shipping label, you walk into any FedEx and mail it to them. Simples. These days they even give you a gift card if the machine has any value.

The Apple stores accept smaller Apple products for recycling like batteries and iPods. I suspect they don't accept the larger items due to local laws on toxic waste management.

So really there isn't any excuse not to recycle your Apple product at EOL if you so desire.

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

#57

Post by generalk »

I'm on the fence. On the one hand, the new MBP is a fantastic machine and if I pay the premium for the 16GB of RAM, I'm probably going to be set for years.

That said, I'm currently running the original Late 2008 Unibody Macbook Pro. It's survived for four years because I've been able to, over time, upgrade the RAM, replace the spinning disk with an SSD, and replace the aging battery. SSDs weren't available when I purchased the machine, but because it uses standard connections the upgrade was easy. I didn't pay an Apple premium for RAM, I waited a few years and the price dropped even more. And the battery was a 2-second replacement.

I don't know if I'm comfortable giving that ability up.

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

#58

Post by cloverich »

meterplech wrote: post #42

I think this is proves Apple is going to continue holding design and user experience above all else even with Steve Jobs no longer at the helm. In reality you operate under a very fixed amount of constraints, and easier upgradeability would make the laptop bulkier in a way that is against Apple's design principles. They made a tough design decision given engineering constraints - just like they did when they removed…

I agree in part.

But the cynical side of me see's this: The base device isn't wildly overpriced; their "upgrades" are. I upgraded my macbook Pro to 8gb Ram for 50 bucks. The same from Apple was 200.

I think - at least in part - they see an opportunity to incentivize "upgrading" at time of purchase and boosting their profits. Not an unreasonable business move - just feels a bit scumbag.

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

#59

Post by padobson »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #51
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…

There is the Air line for light weight laptops for normal people. I would think that the word Pro signals that this computer is for people who want to do stuff with it beyond what is provided up front.

This is the crux of the entire issue, crystalized perfectly.

If you are going to carry multiple product lines, then why would their features converge? I see no reason to get into the closed vs open debate - this is Apple we're talking about.

But why would they turn the Mac Book pro into a MacBook Air with higher specs? Why not get rid of all the branding distinctions and let the consumer spec out the machine, with a few default configurations for those who don't want to think about specs?

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

#60

Post by [deleted] »

Spooky23 wrote: post #37
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.

Average refresh cycle has historically been around 3 years. Today, most businesses are pushing to 4 for laptops, 6 for desktops. Normal people tend to upgrade when the batteries become untenable to deal with. An 18 month lifecycle for Apple kit is indicative that you spend between 3-6x than the average.

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