“The 17-inch MacBook Pro is going Unibody, like the 13-inch and 15-inch models. That, in itself isn’t really that big of a deal; it was widely expected. The big news is that Apple is making a super slim battery pack for the 17-inch MacBook Pros that will last much longer than current models. However, you won’t be able to remove the battery pack. It will be inside the machine, just like iPods and iPhones,” Seth Weintraub reports for 9 to 5 Mac.
MacDailyNews Note: And, most relevantly, like MacBook Air (built-in, that is; not longer-lasting. If true, perhaps the Air will get this new longer-lasting battery tech, too).
Weintraub hypothesizes that Apple may be “pioneering Silver-Zinc battery usage” in their new flagship MacBook Pro and that the models may offer “high gloss screens” exclusively.
Full article here.
MacRumors reports that they “feel confident that this rumor is likely accurate, as we have heard similar independent whispers.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “James W.” and “RadDoc” for the heads up.]
Hopefully those new batteries won’t expand to double size as my current 17″ did otherwise it might create more damage than preventing trackpad to work.
Let’s see.
House payment or MacBook Pro?
A non-removable battery for the MacBook Pro, the King Kong of portable workstations??? You gotta be kidding!!! Why not offer it in pink, while they’re at it?
@ loloontheair
One of the biggest advantages of the type of battery they are talking about here is that it doesn’t swell, explode or anything dangerous at all. It’s not only more powerful, it’s non-toxic, non-explosive, etc. The only downside is the cost and the need to recycle the silver in the batteries. Putting it into the top of the line product of the top of the line computer maker, solves the whole price issue, making the batteries non-removable helps with the recycling.
from the manufacturers website:
“The company is currently working with leading manufacturers of notebook computers, cell phones, and smart phones to incorporate silver-zinc technology in next generation products. A silver-zinc battery option will be rolled out in a major notebook computer in 2009. The battery is slated to be released as a premium extended life battery. The notebook will be ‘dual chemistry enabled,’ which means it will work with either silver-zinc or lithium-ion batteries. …”
It better last a LONG time if you can’t swap it out.
The laptop battery issue is pretty much of the same magnitude as the cellphone battery issue. Virtually every laptop has a removable one, just like every cellphone (except the iPhone, of course). Another fact is that practically nobody who has a laptop/cellphone with a removable battery has ever removed it in the lifetime of their laptop(s)/cellphone(s). If they actually held onto that laptop/cellphone for that long for the battery to die on them, they either bought a new after-market (or OEM) battery, or bought a new replacement laptop/cellphone.
If this non-removable battery means much longer battery life, then I say do it across the entire portable line. I’d love a MacBook with 7-hour battery life.
…and if I hear ONE word about glossy screens from ANY of you…
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A battery that is not user replaceable will be a show stopper for MANY people.
GLOSSY??!!! NOOOOOOooooooooooo……
The MANY people for whom the non-replaceable battery would be a show-stopper represent minuscule percentage of Apple’s buying population, especially now, since majority of ordinary consumers are buying laptops as their primary and only home computers, which end up sitting on an end table for the most of their useful life, expending about 20 charge-discharge cycles per year.
This is especially true for (almost) un-luggable 17″ monster laptop.
The screaming from a bunch of people, people who couldn’t FIND much less replace a car battery, about how terrible this is will be overwhelming.
wow, Apple really keeps in touch with reality as of lately. Glossy-only on the MB Pros is so remarkably stupid that it hurts, phasing out the superior FireWire technology is crazy, and now batteries that can’t be replaced/swapped? Can we pretty please get someone back at Apple who actually works with their machines and doesn’t only think about cost efficiency and ROI all day long? Thankyou.
Clara:
That is PRECISELY what has happened at Apple. Unlike Dell, HP and others, who ONLY think about ROI, Apple listens to their customers. They finally figured out what people need and what they DON’T need and are phasing out the stuff that’s collecting dust on 99% of their machines once they get into the consumers’ hands. This may be unfortunate to a very small group of professional users who had very specific needs which will no longer be addressed by Apple’s hardware. For the rest of the Apple-buying world, this will mean slightly cheaper hardware (or slightly better, for the same price).
One real downside to having a laptop that you can’t remove they battery is that you cannot kill all power to the machine.
So if you want to clean it, or upgrade RAM etc…
You will have to do it with the machine being hot.
Sounds like a good way to fry your laptop.
In other words, Apple has been selling cars with heated seats to people living in Florida. I’m sure someone in Florida would have the need for those heated seats, but for the vast majority, they’d be paying for something they would never need.
I never use FW. I never use internal optical drive on my laptop (I have my iMac for that). I never replaced or swapped battery on any of my portables in the last 10 years. And you have to admit, vast majority of average laptop users are just like me. I really have no need for those heated seats and I feel I’m needlessly paying for them.
Predrag:
Apple better listen to all the pros who are the most likely buyers of the high end machines.
Apple already screwed us on the 15″ – ONLY GLOSSY SCREEN.
If that is the case with the new 17″ I won’t replace my present 17″ with a new one – I will instead buy the last incarnation of the present 17 WITH A MATTE SCREEN..
I’ve been a Mac user since 1984 – a Glossy screen is a deal breaker for me.
CR
Hookers for the year or macbook pro?
Glossy……YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!
@ Predrag
“….and are phasing out the stuff that’s collecting dust on 99% of their machines once they get into the consumers’ hands. This may be unfortunate to a very small group of professional users…”
As in: the Mac loyalists who kept Apple alive during dire times. I don’t have an issue with changes in the battery; we need new technology there. But I wouldn’t diss the small group of professionals, like myself, that kept Apple alive until Jobs could come back and nurse the company back to health.
zot me babty. you little snitch fscjkk
I’ve never complained about non-user replaceable batteries in the iPhone or iPod, since I value the resulting streamlined design and I end up replacing the phone or laptop long before the battery wears out. But laptops have considerably longer life-spans than cell phones and MP3 players. And when I do decide to replace a laptop – particularly a Mac – I’m counting on the sale of the old laptop to help pay for the new replacement model.
A non-replaceable battery would dramatically lessen the resale value of the laptop.
@Predrag I am one of those people who mainly uses my Macbook Pro at home. Although I don’t travel that often with the laptop, after a year and a half of use I can already see a noticeable drop in battery performance – perhaps because the battery accumulates recharge cycles every time you unplug/plug the power cable and every time there’s a restart. It’s hard to avoid this unless you remove the battery altogether.
Now this 18 month old Mac is a 2.4Ghz machine with 4GB ram, 300 GB HD, and an 8600M GT with 256MB VRAM – so I am NOWHERE near needing or wanting to replace it. And yet I DO expect the battery to require replacement within the year. Regardless of when I decide to sell/replace this laptop, I consider it essential that I can easily replace the battery when needed, and/or that when I sell it, the buyer can also expect to replace the battery if and when needed.
For this reason, I hope and expect Apple will offer a reasonably priced battery replacement service for these new machines, and I hope the recycle value of the worn out battery will help offset the cost of its replacement.
Correction:
“and I end up replacing the phone or IPOD long before the battery wears out.”
First of all, anyone who buys any computer without an extended service plan is an idiot. Second, I too much prefer matte but I’ve seen the glossies in the Apple Store and the glare is not at all as bad as described- the screen too is gorgeous. I’d still go for matte, but glossy isn’t a deal-breaker- lack of firewire is. Also, I’d hope that the battery life is significant, and doesn’t fade year-to-year. And, of course, we’re all getting upset whether or not we’re in the market for this machine and before it’s even been officially announced. I think everyone should just chill till we know facts rather than rumors. And that DEFINITELY includes Steve’s health!
I find it amusing how some self-acclaimed experts always try to point out to others why no one (read: ordinary consumers) actually needs THIS or THAT particular feature on whatever product that is currently being crippled by Apple. Yet, as soon as Apple’s tiny marketshare is being discussed, these same people are up in arms, quickly pointing out the importance of the few who actually work with Apple’s os/machines – and how these “individualists” happens to actually be something of a very important driving force in the industry. Go figure…
Let’s face it, today’s Apple is all about gaining market share. Hence, they have to cut costs wherever it’s possible. Or does someone really believe that going all-glossy was a technical or maybe aesthetically related decision?
@t.parson Apple is not just “cutting costs.” This design change, if true, would mainly provide a more streamlined machine with better performance, since the battery could be larger and irregularly shaped and would not use up extra space for a latch mechanism. Just compare an iPhone to the competition and you’ll see the benefit.
Regarding Mac fans being up in arms whenever “Apple’s tiny marketshare” is impacted by the loss of a feature, I think this is perfectly justified. Macs are not, and should not, be designed for the lowest common denominator: the ignorant, cheapskate knuckle draggers who think a $500 Dell is comparable to a $1300 Macbook. While it’s great that the masses are finally realizing the VALUE of Apple products, it’s important that Apple never alienate its core customers. To do so would eventually result in Apple becoming another Dell or HP, which would ultimately doom the brand.