Comments on: 13-inch MacBook joins Pro family, Air gets updated

Not to be left out, the MacBook's been updated too, and it's no longer just a MacBook. Also: the MacBook Air gets a price cut.

[IzRock]

I don't understand the benefit to the customer of having sealed in batteries on their laptops. Are you supposed to just buy a new laptop when your battery dies?

[Mac User Too]

No. You take/send it to Apple and they will switch it out for you. I agree, though. I do not see the advantage, unless it has to do with the structural integrity of chassis. Also I think Apple is betting you'll want a new laptop before the battery gives out.

[seven7dust]

the only advantage is the extra batterylife
plus the battery supposedly lasts longer too
but C'mon Apple only 2 hrs more ?

[cobblerjr293]

by making the battery part of the computer's interior, it allows for much more space and hence much more battery. They have also changed the shape of the battery to maximize space. There are screws on the bottom of the aluminum unibody so the battery can be removed and replaced by apple

[osaphfpuashfpidsuah]

No, here's why. The benefit is exceptional battery life.

By eliminating the extra space that is taken up by the battery casing, the casing inside the laptop that holds the battery, the electrical connections that allow you to remove the battery, and not confining the battery shape to a removable rectangle shape, they can get more battery cells in the same space with less weight. So you have a choice: 2-3 hour battery life with a removable battery or 7-8 hours with a nonremovable.

Apple will totally switch a bad battery out for you on the spot for a price competitive with buying a new one if you need it.

Also, battery technology has advanced - and it advanced further with these new batteries - so that we aren't and won't see the failure rate we used to. It's a feasible solution now in a way it wasn't a few years ago.

So it's a matter of preference. I fly alot and would much rather have the long battery life. It would be nice to be able to switch it out when it dies, but really, how many people do you know that actually carry a second charged battery with them and swap it out in the middle of computing - even though they are only getting 2 hours or so battery life? This is part of Apple's smart market research: people don't carry second batteries, they complain about insufficient battery life, batteries have a much lower failure rate than before, and it's just as easy to come into the store to have the battery swapped as it is to come into the store to buy a replacement.

Complain if you want, but I'll be on my international flight watching three - four movies in a row. You'll watch one.

[bbabadu]

Sounds like someone's been drinking the marketing hype.

[SJEble]

or works for Apple

[pithenumber]

I'll be on my international flight watching more movies than you since I have things called extra batteries

I like and sometimes need the extra battery life, I congratulate Apple for getting 7hr out of 1 battery, but that isn't really enough yet. Still sticking with the removable battery please and thank you.

[mgheff]

I bought an aluminum macbook in March. If I had just waited...ugh!

[seven7dust]

only a minor update actually
and some people prefer the removable batteries !

[sevort]

Firewire, backlighted keyboard, and sd slot are HUGE upgrades to me! I am glad I waited. Sorry mgheff...

[jscott418]

You know if its such a great thing other PC manufactures would offer at least one non user replacable battery laptop. But I do not know of one. I understand the fact you can provide a bigger capacity battery by not having to conform to a spacific size. But why not make the laptop accessible to replace it without having to have Apple do it? This too me is all about making it harder for the user and to encourage you to buy a new one instead. I also found it intersting that Apple has fallen behind the PC on at least on item which just now has shown up in Mac's. That is the SD card reader which I have been able to get on a cheap PC for over two years now. It's too bad it took Apple this long to realize how useful it is.
I think Apple makes some decent products. Nothing I would become a fanboy about. But, I have to wonder why Apple feels the need to improve a product in one sense like improved battery life. But then make it hard for the user to replace? Does that not go against Apple's simple minded approach?
I thought they were suppose to make things simpler for the user? On my laptop I get 4 hours per battery. If I was to use 2 batteries I could easily get eight hours. If Apple allowed a battery replacement a MacBook could possible get over 13 hours? I don't know but Dell offers a laptop with a similar battery life claim as the MacBook Pro and has a user accessable battery. So I am not sure about Apple's claim.
Or maybe Apple just needs a lot more battery for its laptops?

[pithenumber]

ASUS makes a notebook with a nonremovable battery, EEEPC 1008HA

Dell claims to have a 24hr battery life notebook

[pithenumber]

$1500 high end ultraportable
I can't believe I'm saying this, but thats actually a great deal!

Still won't be replacing the good old X200 though, need USB ports and removable battery

[Mr. Dee]

Sealed in battery? That should be optional. My recommendations, stick with a Windows based notebook.

[DanielJPN]

okay, so i just bought a 15 inch macbook pro last week and it has yet to arrive, what are the odds i can get it replaced without paying more.

[ticobrohay69]

Call them. It'll only take a few minutes. Apple will be able to answer that question better than any of us.