MacBook Air's Battery is Actually Easy to Replace 420
pizzach noted that the MacBook Air battery is actually fairly easy to replace.
"All it requires is a philips screwdriver. Unlike some of Apple's other products, the battery is not so soldered in which should make a lot of people at least a little bit happier." I think I'll have to wait for something with a bigger screen and a faster clock speed.
Something bigger/faster (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Something bigger/faster (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Swapping batteries, not replacing is the point (Score:5, Informative)
As for the battery needs, I'm a business user and while I do agree that extended batteries are nice, I don't think it's the norm that you need 8 hours of battery life without a single power outlet nearby. Where are you using your computer for that long that you're not near an outlet once in a while? I typically need stretches of several hours, possibly as much as 4 hours from time to time, but never much more than that. The people I know who have the extended battery packs seem to use them just because they can, not because they need to.
I think the integrated battery decision is possibly market-limiting to the users who really do (for some reason) need 8 hours of battery life, but not nearly as limiting as you suggest. Overall, a simpler design has positive aspects in that Apple can spend time making features that most of their target users will benefit from, they can also get the product to market faster and lower R&D costs building it.
This reminds me a lot when the iPod first came out. Most people just couldn't say enough bad things about it. Too simple. No features. No replaceable battery. Too expensive. But the core comptency of the iPod hasn't really changed that much over the years: it lets you organize your music in a really simple way, and find any song fast. When it comes down to it, if you can't find your music easily, you're far less likely to use the device. And if you don't use it, every other "neato" feature is irrelevant because it'll be sitting in your desk drawer.
If the MBA is missing something, read this first: (Score:2, Informative)
http://wilshipley.com/blog/ [wilshipley.com]
Re:Can I get that through airport secuirty... (Score:3, Informative)
Nibbled to death by ducks... (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Ask Slashdot: Battery life with the SSD option? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I don't mean to troll but... (Score:2, Informative)
guess it sucks for you that Jobs is holding a gun to your head to buy an Air then isn't it. oh, wait...
on the battery life quote of 5 hours: this is different from other quotes. it is not a maximum, but a "productive" quote. Jobs pointed out that this is with wireless services turned on and not the usual turn-everything-off maximum life quote.
Re:I don't mean to troll but... (Score:2, Informative)
Actually, I have many complaints about the Apple Store service, but just last week they fixed a keyboard problem on the spot by replacing a few keys and didn't charge me anything. So I wouldn't be surprised if they would install a battery you bought.
Cheers.
Re:I don't mean to troll but... (Score:3, Informative)
In fact, it's not replaceable at all. Sansa has no battery replacement program whatsoever for the View.
Re:There are probably going to be battery options. (Score:3, Informative)
The Air is smaller (Score:3, Informative)
Or to put it another way, the Air is 50% smaller than the PowerBook. Important when putting it into a briefcase or backpack. Heck, it's even 20% smaller than the Asus Eee [isights.org].
Re:Keep waiting (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I think calling some people retarded (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I don't mean to troll but... (Score:2, Informative)
I have maintained for some time that Apple's designers just aren't capable enough to design enclosures with removable batteries. Good camera companies, who've been in the business since Apple was producing the Apple 1 (which was sold just as a bare circuit board) have got it right. Apple focuses instead on sleek and chic.