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Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 02:45 pm
Apple to replace 17-inch MacBook Pro batteries in stores
Apple this week served up the details of its battery replacement program for the new 17-inch MacBook Pro, which offers customers the option of having a new battery installed at their nearest Apple retail store.The top-of-the-line Apple notebook will ship later this month with a new built-in battery which the company says is capable of delivering up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of traditional notebook batteries.
The design of the 95 watt-hour lithium polymer part is also more compact than conventional batteries due to Apple's proprietary manufacturing process, helping to make the new 17-inch MacBook Pro the thinnest and lightest in its class.
One tradeoff is that new 17-incher doesn't provide the same easy access panel for battery replacements as its 13- and 15-inch cousins. Instead, Apple plans to offer a $179 battery replacement program that includes installation of the new battery and environmentally responsible disposal of the depleted battery. (Prices for other regions can be seen in the chart, below).
According to the Mac maker, the length of time to complete the battery replacement will depend upon the repair location and availability of service stock. Generally speaking, customers who use the Apple mail-in service will receive their MacBook Pro back with a new battery within 3 to 4 business days after the notebook ships out to its repair depots.
Unlike battery replacements for the iPhone, however, Apple has also announced that customers can have a new battery installed in their 17-inch MacBook Pro at their local Apple retail store with a Genius Bar appointment. MacBook Pros serviced at Apple stores will be returned the same day. Several Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) may also offer the in-store service. Customers interested in this approach should contact their local AASP for turnaround times.
Apple warrants both the battery that ships with the MacBook Pro and the its battery replacements against manufacturing defects for one year from the date of purchase.
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Previous Comments View All
Somehow waiting all day for my battery to be replaced doesn't appeal to me.
If you don't live near an Apple store, then you're SOL unless you want to be without your laptop for a week and pay shipping charges on top of that $179 battery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdkennedy1 
If you don't live near an Apple store, then you're SOL unless you want to be without your laptop for a week and pay shipping charges on top of that $179 battery.
If you don't live near an Apple store, then you're SOL unless you want to be without your laptop for a week and pay shipping charges on top of that $179 battery.
I'm pretty sure shipping is included in the $179. My bet is they ship you out a box (takes 2 days), you ship it back in the box, they return it. That's how all other apple repairs go. Apple warranty care is pretty darned good.
Also, if you're under warranty (and/or Applecare), and you're battery dies earlier than you'd expect, call apple. Ask for a replacement, saying the battery is holding only X change after Y cycles, and that you'd like a new one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by federmoose
I'm pretty sure shipping is included in the $179. My bet is they ship you out a box (takes 2 days), you ship it back in the box, they return it. That's how all other apple repairs go. Apple warranty care is pretty darned good.
Also, if you're under warranty (and/or Applecare), and you're battery dies earlier than you'd expect, call apple. Ask for a replacement, saying the battery is holding only X change after Y cycles, and that you'd like a new one.
I'm pretty sure shipping is included in the $179. My bet is they ship you out a box (takes 2 days), you ship it back in the box, they return it. That's how all other apple repairs go. Apple warranty care is pretty darned good.
Also, if you're under warranty (and/or Applecare), and you're battery dies earlier than you'd expect, call apple. Ask for a replacement, saying the battery is holding only X change after Y cycles, and that you'd like a new one.
Agreed.
I don't see how this is any different from brakes on a car or a million other things. Most folks don't even change their own tires even though they are "user replaceable" but there is nothing stopping you from doing it if you want to.
There will also be "kits" for those that want to do it themselves. Anyone handy with a screwdriver of average intelligence can do this replacement and it's theoretically only going to happen every five years or so. In other words it might not happen for the entire time you own the product.
Seems obvious to me that if putting a replaceable battery in screws with the design and is not actually necessary in most cases, then this is clearly the way to go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by camroidv27
I dunno, but I still don't like the idea of having to go in to an Apple store, or sending your laptop away for half a week for a simple battery replacement. It just makes me question something.
No iPods have user replaceable batteries. (Same goes for iPhone). I didn't like this idea either. But with those batteries only lasting a year or two, and a MBP17 battery lasting probably 3 years, it just means more foot traffic into the Apple store.
Anything to get us back into the Apple store right? "Is there anything else we can help you with?" While you get your battery replaced, may as well get your OS, iLife/iWork, and what ever apps you need updated too. Once you are in there doing the battery replacement, more likely to buy the upgrades too I suppose ...
I dunno, but I still don't like the idea of having to go in to an Apple store, or sending your laptop away for half a week for a simple battery replacement. It just makes me question something.
No iPods have user replaceable batteries. (Same goes for iPhone). I didn't like this idea either. But with those batteries only lasting a year or two, and a MBP17 battery lasting probably 3 years, it just means more foot traffic into the Apple store.
Anything to get us back into the Apple store right? "Is there anything else we can help you with?" While you get your battery replaced, may as well get your OS, iLife/iWork, and what ever apps you need updated too. Once you are in there doing the battery replacement, more likely to buy the upgrades too I suppose ...
I really doubt they would screw with one of their flagship products just to get more foot traffic in the stores.
Apple's design ethic is fairly established at this point. They don't consider retail issues when designing cases for laptops, they consider issues relevant to laptop cases instead.
Makes sense too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2
Agreed.
I don't see how this is any different from brakes on a car or a million other things.
Agreed.
I don't see how this is any different from brakes on a car or a million other things.
I don't have to drive two or more hours to see a mechanic.
Apple's current guidelines are that after 4 or so years of regular use, your battery should hold 80% of its initial capacity. Somehow I don't think doing this once every 5 years or so (or, for most folks, replacing the laptop entirely before the first battery replacement) will be a deal-breaker. If after 10 years when your 2nd battery is ready to change in 2019 if you're really hurting maybe we can all pitch in for a Mr. Fusion replacement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenRoethig
I don't have to drive two or more hours to see a mechanic.
I don't have to drive two or more hours to see a mechanic.
Well lots of people do though.
And those that are unreasonably far away from a garage learn how to change the brakes themselves.
I'm not disagreeing with the idea that there isn't a down-side, just that it's a trade off and that all things considered it seems like a great decision to make it non-replaceable. Nothings perfect, but the chorus of folks saying (paraphrased) "OMG, I might have a hassle with the battery years from now, I ain't buying that!" are being silly.
My concern about the non-replaceable battery is that many working pros need to use their laptops in remote locations for more than the 5.5 hours one can reasonably expect from an "8 hour" battery. Kinda limits the usefulness of the king of MBP's for working on location.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alansky
My concern about the non-replaceable battery is that many working pros need to use their laptops in remote locations for more than the 5.5 hours one can reasonably expect from an "8 hour" battery. Kinda limits the usefulness of the king of MBP's for working on location.
My concern about the non-replaceable battery is that many working pros need to use their laptops in remote locations for more than the 5.5 hours one can reasonably expect from an "8 hour" battery. Kinda limits the usefulness of the king of MBP's for working on location.
I don't know anyone who carries a spare battery for a laptop. However, if you really need it, just carry a spare MBP.
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I dunno, but I still don't like the idea of having to go in to an Apple store, or sending your laptop away for half a week for a simple battery replacement. It just makes me question something.
No iPods have user replaceable batteries. (Same goes for iPhone). I didn't like this idea either. But with those batteries only lasting a year or two, and a MBP17 battery lasting probably 3 years, it just means more foot traffic into the Apple store.
Anything to get us back into the Apple store right? "Is there anything else we can help you with?" While you get your battery replaced, may as well get your OS, iLife/iWork, and what ever apps you need updated too. Once you are in there doing the battery replacement, more likely to buy the upgrades too I suppose.
I dunno... just seems kinda weird and not in the good way.
On another note, how come the lines to the genius bar are so long often filled up within the first few hours of the day? I see so many dead products come back to the Apple store... and I see a lot of replacement products head out too... Just something to notice.