Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

ifixit.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 109 posts

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#81

Post by kamjam »

jarek wrote: post #73
kamjam wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's a stupid view of the world. What if you bought a BMW and they said "sorry, if you want to replace those tyres or wiper blades then you need to bring it in to BMW, even though we don't actually make any of thee parts ourselves". (Yes, I understand these are serviceable parts, replace above with car battery if you like...)

I'm not sure how you meant to map this onto a situation of replacing the motherboard because a RAM chip died. You don't have to replace the whole engine if your car battery dies, even in a BMW, regardless of warranty status.

You don't have to replace the whole engine if your car battery dies, even in a BMW, regardless of warranty status.

Yes, that was my whole point... I don't have to replace the engine because the battery isn't glued to it. So I may have to remove a few nuts and bolts and it may not be easily accessible, but they are replaceable.

If someone told me that I should replace my car because the warranty had run out, and besides there is now a more powerful version out I'd probably call them mad!

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#82

Post by _djo_ »

kamjam wrote: post #53
_djo_ wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I bought a white MacBook C2D in late 2006 that is still going strong, with the only things I've replaced being the battery, the HDD and the fan (pretty recently). It's still my primary machine which I use for Python and Java coding on a big retail application. The fact that most parts are not user-replaceable has never been an issue as with the sole exception of those three parts everything else has lasted e…

with the only things I've replaced being the battery, the HDD and the fan (pretty recently) Errrm, you do realise you can't replace the battery in the Retina MacBook Pro right since it is glued in... probably also the fan and also the HDD without the special screwdriver for their special screws?

Nor was the fan on my current MacBook user-replaceable, I had it done by a Mac repair shop. Point is that for a portable low-end Mac that I've used heavily as my primary machine for five and a half years having only those three components fail is pretty decent.

If I can buy one of those new Retina MBPs and only have to pay to get the battery, flash drive and/or one of the fans repaired or replaced over a five and a half year period I'll be very satisfied with the purchase.

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#83

Post by jaems33 »

kamjam wrote: post #50
jmillikin wrote: post #17

Ten years ago, a computer's useful lifetime was measured in months. Hardware specs were advancing so quickly that a two-year-old computer might not be capable of running newly-released software. RAM, disk, and even CPU upgrades were necessary to keep up to date. Except for gamers, this is no longer true. Computers without user-replaceable parts are a natural outcome of the fact that users no longer need to replace pa…

Except may be I can't afford the heavy Apple price tag right now and I only want a 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM to get me started while I save up for a few more months for the other upgrades... not everyone can afford to go all out and go full spec. Or maybe i think I'm only going to need the lower spec, but having bought my nice new Mac I find it really easy to use and I'm a bit of a genius at this movie editing thing but…

Pretty sure you CAN replace the SSD later on, not unlike the MacBook Air models. You just need to purchase the correct SSD and connector for the model.

The RAM though, you're out of luck. An extra $200 on the build for 16gb is a bit of a ripoff considering that you can get 16gb laptop sticks from anywhere between $100-$150.

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#84

Post by jarek »

nirvana wrote: post #63
jmillikin wrote: post #17

Ten years ago, a computer's useful lifetime was measured in months. Hardware specs were advancing so quickly that a two-year-old computer might not be capable of running newly-released software. RAM, disk, and even CPU upgrades were necessary to keep up to date. Except for gamers, this is no longer true. Computers without user-replaceable parts are a natural outcome of the fact that users no longer need to replace pa…

Another factor of this is that Apple has a global servicing network in its Apple stores that is kinda astounding. With a sony laptop, you would have to mail it off to their national service center, wait a few weeks and get it mailed back to you for warranty repair.[1] The same repair can often be accomplished in an Apple store very quickly. For example. I bought a Macbook Pro in the USA. I was in the UK and had a pro…

It's not a global service network. You don't even have to go to the 'third world' with unreliable electricity to see that - there are no official Apple Stores in Poland [1] or Trinidad and Tobago [2], off the top of my head. Also, getting warranty service in TT is much easier with a Dell than with an Apple.

[1] http://www.apple.com/pl/buy/locator/map.html?tySearch=1&... - one "Premium Reseller" in a metropolitan area of about a million people. Redoing the search ("Szukaj" button) shows a number of general electronics stores carrying some products

[2] http://www.apple.com/lae/buy/locator/index.php?ctry=TT - speaks for itself really

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#85

Post by kamjam »

hexagonal wrote: post #66
kamjam wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Erm, thought all the new Macs were Intel based now?

Note the year. Apple had only recently switched to Intel.

yes, i did note the year, but how is that relevant to here and now? Since they are intel based now, surely that ruling is m00t?

Thanks for the downvote, shame I can't repay the favour.

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#86

Post by densh »

ezy wrote: post #41
jmillikin wrote: post #17

Ten years ago, a computer's useful lifetime was measured in months. Hardware specs were advancing so quickly that a two-year-old computer might not be capable of running newly-released software. RAM, disk, and even CPU upgrades were necessary to keep up to date. Except for gamers, this is no longer true. Computers without user-replaceable parts are a natural outcome of the fact that users no longer need to replace pa…

This. I think it's also worth noting that for a pro laptop , price is not a major issue, if you're trying to treat your laptop like a BYOB, you're doing it wrong. So: (a) The RAM capacity is limited by the chipset anyway, and on "pro" machines, most people max out the RAM when they purchase or directly after. It's just that now you can't cheat and buy the RAM elsewhere to avoid an apple price premium. (b) The SSD is…

It looks like ssd is actually connected via standard sata. Only size and shape of the card is non-standard:

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Displ...

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#87

Post by kamjam »

jaems33 wrote: post #83
kamjam wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except may be I can't afford the heavy Apple price tag right now and I only want a 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM to get me started while I save up for a few more months for the other upgrades... not everyone can afford to go all out and go full spec. Or maybe i think I'm only going to need the lower spec, but having bought my nice new Mac I find it really easy to use and I'm a bit of a genius at this movie editing thing but…

Pretty sure you CAN replace the SSD later on, not unlike the MacBook Air models. You just need to purchase the correct SSD and connector for the model. The RAM though, you're out of luck. An extra $200 on the build for 16gb is a bit of a ripoff considering that you can get 16gb laptop sticks from anywhere between $100-$150.

Yes, read that. Generally for me RAM is bigger factor these days than storage... with speeds from USB3 I can generally get by with external storage.

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#88

Post by kamjam »

_djo_ wrote: post #82
kamjam wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

with the only things I've replaced being the battery, the HDD and the fan (pretty recently) Errrm, you do realise you can't replace the battery in the Retina MacBook Pro right since it is glued in... probably also the fan and also the HDD without the special screwdriver for their special screws?

Nor was the fan on my current MacBook user-replaceable, I had it done by a Mac repair shop. Point is that for a portable low-end Mac that I've used heavily as my primary machine for five and a half years having only those three components fail is pretty decent. If I can buy one of those new Retina MBPs and only have to pay to get the battery, flash drive and/or one of the fans repaired or replaced over a five and a h…

Yeah, fair enough. You're assuming that a Mac repair shop will un-glue the battery and not regard it as "oh well, you need a new one" like they do when say a TV part breaks these days (they may well be able to, I genuinely don't know). Problem may well be though the cost of doing this may be quite high once you are out of warranty (again, I don't know, but suspect replacing a faulty RAM chip will not be cheap).

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#89

Post by jarek »

kamjam wrote: post #81
jarek wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure how you meant to map this onto a situation of replacing the motherboard because a RAM chip died. You don't have to replace the whole engine if your car battery dies, even in a BMW, regardless of warranty status.

You don't have to replace the whole engine if your car battery dies, even in a BMW, regardless of warranty status. Yes, that was my whole point... I don't have to replace the engine because the battery isn't glued to it. So I may have to remove a few nuts and bolts and it may not be easily accessible, but they are replaceable. If someone told me that I should replace my car because the warranty had run out, and besid…

I take it you won't be buying this product then? I don't support Apple's policy in this case, but I just won't buy it so I don't really care how mad it is. m_eiman's description of Apple's policy was accurate, and I voiced my support.

Re: Retina MacBook Pro full of Air-style proprietary parts

#90

Post by _djo_ »

kamjam wrote: post #88
_djo_ wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nor was the fan on my current MacBook user-replaceable, I had it done by a Mac repair shop. Point is that for a portable low-end Mac that I've used heavily as my primary machine for five and a half years having only those three components fail is pretty decent. If I can buy one of those new Retina MBPs and only have to pay to get the battery, flash drive and/or one of the fans repaired or replaced over a five and a h…

Yeah, fair enough. You're assuming that a Mac repair shop will un-glue the battery and not regard it as "oh well, you need a new one" like they do when say a TV part breaks these days (they may well be able to, I genuinely don't know). Problem may well be though the cost of doing this may be quite high once you are out of warranty (again, I don't know, but suspect replacing a faulty RAM chip will not be cheap).

That's also a fair point and I hope that doesn't happen. I guess we'll have to see, although the niche industry that has grown around even iPhone repairs suggests that companies may provide the service.

Unfortunately I don't see a way for any company to make machines like the Retina MBP in future without using custom and tough-to-replace components.

Post reply on HN