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MacBook battery replacement process a non-issue

Posted by Joshua Karp on Jan 21, 2008 11:18 am 17 comments
Filed in Apple

Yeah, we know that Apple has taken a bunch of flack for the non-user replaceable battery in the new MacBook Air. We’re still not too happy about it, as we often like to take a spare battery or two with us while we’re on the road, but according to AppleInsider, the replacement process might not be as frustrating as we initially thought. Apparently all it takes to replace the MacBook Air’s internal battery is $129 for the new battery, a size 0 Phillips head screwdriver and about 3 minutes. Not too shabby. For the time being, at least, Apple is recommending that anyone looking get their battery replaced needs to bring their laptop into a Genius Bar. Given the simplicity of the process, however, we don’t see why something like this couldn’t be handled in the comfort of your own home. If they only could have integrated some HSDPA action into the MBA. We’d be in lovez and would forget about the non-user-replaceable battery…

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17 comment(s) for this post.

  1. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 9:53 am, Dtest54 Said:

    couple days late on this one. But i agree, seems easy enough that anyone with the right screwdriver could do it.

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  2. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 11:24 am, MRonson Said:

    Proprietary parts is one thing, but making behaviour proprietary is borderline scary! We’re turning into drones. Next we’ll have to go to the Genius Bar for all of life’s problems!

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  3. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 11:53 am, gadgetchic Said:

    the MBA is gonna be a failure for apple in the long run. the price tag alone isnt even worth it. too many compromises and its only meant as a secondary computer.

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  4. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 3:26 pm, Michael Said:

    Does anyone know if you can modify the hard drive on your own? If it sports the old 1.8″ 80 GB hardrive found on the ipods, can you install a 160 GB 1.8″ Harddrive found in other ipods? I think Toshiba also recently released a 1.8″ 160 GB hard drive (see link below). Why couldn’t you swap this out? Sounds like if you substitute SSD for the 80GB, you might be able to?

    http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/09/toshiba-launche.html

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  5. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 3:26 pm, Dtest54 Said:

    why is it meant as a secondary computer? maybe for you. And the price is not far from the other slim pcs in that class. You do know they said the same thing about the rest of the mac computers.

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  6. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 3:29 pm, Chris Said:

    And more than likely invalidating your warranty. yeah, sounds great! /sarcasm

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  7. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 4:01 pm, Galvatron Said:

    This is lame. Apples trying to control too many aspects of their customers an regulation or attemt thereof reeks of california lawmakers. apple needs to get off the propitary train. It slauterd the pcbox comapnies dell an hp are the only real players in that maret. Toshiba dell and apple and sony ar the major laptop market players

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  8. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 4:19 pm, gadgetchic Said:

    what makes it a secondary computer? idk maybe the fact that you have to connect it to another computer to use its optical drive? and i’m not talking about the rest of the mac line im talking about the MBA.

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  9. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 4:21 pm, Martin Said:

    You could always use a USB modem or just hook up one of your Blackjacks bluetooth style…

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  10. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 4:47 pm, M. Ronson Said:

    That’s so much work for a few ounces shaved off the box. Back to the drawing board, kiddos!

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  11. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 6:39 pm, S_Jobs Said:

    What are those screws doing there? You’re fired dude..

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  12. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 7:04 pm, tnkgrl Said:

    All you need for HSDPA is to connect to a Nokia N95-3 (or other 3G phone) over Bluetooth.

    http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/macworld-apple-macbook-air-pictures-and-videos/

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  13. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 7:34 pm, Jeff B. Said:

    This is still more complex and time consuming than just flicking a switch and swapping the batteries. When you’re really on the move you’d have to take out time to deal with this. And who knows apple probably found some way of linking this into the warranty void area so you get screwed if you try.

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  14. On Jan 21, 2008 @ 7:39 pm, Dtest54 Said:

    gadget, many people don’t use their optical drives. Also you dont need a separate computer, they do have things called external drives.
    just because its not something you want do not mean there is no market for the device.

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  15. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 12:09 am, Galvatron Said:

    @jeff b technicly that vilates us warenty laws

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  16. On Jan 22, 2008 @ 2:38 am, billy Said:

    Not rally about how easy it is to change.. but rather how convenient it is to change. Who is going to whip out a screw driver on an airplane to change out the battery or in the car.. or any other place you might be when battery is running low and there is no alternative power solution. I hate wires.. it’s a bitch whipping out the car adapter and plane adapter.. I am sure someone can make a mod bottom peice to have a removeable battery option for the air.. only a matter of time.

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  17. On Jan 23, 2008 @ 9:05 am, eJay Said:

    God I’m gone for a little while and Galv’s spell check still sucks. A couple of other people here must be taking spelling lessons from him after he pushes carts in Target…

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