Apple’s 17-inch MacBook Pro features a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries.
Apple’s note reads as follows:
How do I replace the battery in my MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)?
The battery in your MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) is a consumable item, which means it will require replacement at the end of its useful life. A replacement battery can be purchased directly from Apple. The price of the replacement battery includes installation of your new battery and environmentally responsible disposal of your depleted battery.
How much does battery replacement cost?
Battery replacement prices are based on your region:
Region: Cost
United States: $179 pre taxes
Canada: CA$219 pre taxes
Europe: €179 inc. VAT
United Kingdom £139 inc. VAT
Japan: ¥19,800 inc. taxes
Australia: A$299 inc. vat
China 1498 RMB inc. vat
Battery replacement service may be available at your local Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”).*
Please review Apple’s Repair Terms and Conditions for further details on service provided by Apple. **
Will the data on my MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) be preserved?
In the course of a battery replacement, the data on your hard disk drive or solid state drive should not be affected. However, please make sure you back up your data or other information stored on your system before submitting it for service. Apple is not responsible for any damage to or loss of any applications, data, or other information stored on your MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009). Please review Apple’s Repair Terms and Conditions for further details. In general, you should back up your data on a regular basis.
How long will battery replacement service take?
Length of time to complete the battery replacement will depend upon the repair location and availability of service stock. In general, the following replacement times apply:
Apple Retail: Same day repair with an appointment.
Apple Mail-in: 3 – 4 business days after shipment of unit to depot.
Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”): Please contact an AASP in your region for specific turnaround times.
What is the warranty for my MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) battery?
Apple warrants your battery against manufacturing defects for one year from the date of purchase.
Does Apple provide a warranty with my replacement battery?
Apple warrants the replacement battery against manufacturing defects for one year from the date of service. Please note that the battery is a consumable item and after a period of normal use the battery’s ability to hold an electrical charge will be diminished. Replacement of a battery which has been consumed via normal use is not covered under warranty.
* Pricing may vary.
** Service may not be available if your MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) has been damaged due to accident or abuse.
Source: Apple Inc.
Wish my new unibody Macbook Pro had this new battery instead of the replaceable one that came with it.
Sounds good for those of us living in cities with an Apple store or reseller close at hand. Our country living bretheren might not be so happy with the need to travel some distance to the nearest service centre, or the alternative, entrusting their precious Mac to the mail. Still, for most of us it should only need replacement every 2- 3 years.
Love it when a manufacturer states the battery will last three years but only warrent it for one. Confidence is always highest on someone else’s dollar.
macfan fails at logic
“Battery replacement prices are based on your region…”
What the music industry controls battery replacement too???
@MacFan
You’re an idiot. If they warranty it for three years,then people who’ve used up the battery from using it through 1,000 cycles would be able to get a free new battery.
If it’s a defect in the battery, it will show itself within the first year. That’s what the warranty is for, not for how long the battery should last. Numb-nuts.
W T F? $179=179€??? It should be more like $179=60€
MacFan,
If you ever bought any piece of technology, you’ll know that rarely is that warranty longer than one year, even though the device’s life expectancy is usually a lot more than the three years (as it is for this battery).
Warranty is not insurance. Warranty provides you with assurance that the product will perform as expected when you buy it; not three years later, after months of various kinds of undocumentable and unprovable (ab)use.
Unlike many other brands that don’t state expected lifetime, or grossly overstate the expected life of their products (or components), Apple provides rather reasonable estimates for their products, and when something goes wrong for a significant number of customers and that life expectancy ends up much shorter than originally anticipated, they provide remedy, even if the product is technically out of warranty.
@One guy from Finland
Apple is expecting a devaluation of the Euro before your battery needs replacing.
@ One guy from Finland
The 179€ includes VAT (besides, at the moment $170 = 134€)
The $179 US does not include taxes.
Correction:
$179 = 134€
One guy from Finland:
$179 = 132€, according to today’s exchange rate.
Even though more, it is still not nearly as much as 179€, though. However, you have to keep in mind that EU prices are almost always retail prices (i.e. including VAT, MwSt, etc), whereas US prices virtually never include sales tax (as it differs from state to state). Even with added US tax, there will continue to be the difference, since US sales taxes are generally extremely low, compared to the rest of the developed world (mid- single-digit, vs. double-digit percentrages across EU). The final bit of difference comes from the purchasing power of the population in the EU, which is greater than that in the US, primarilly thanks to the sinking US dollar and a mountain of trade deficit (most importantly with China), among many other things. One more factor may be the sheer size of the US domestic market, compared to the EU or other individual national markets where customised product is to be sold (language customisation, etc).
This discussion often comes up when EU prices for Macs are compared to US$ prices; during this summer, when 1€ was around US$1.6, many European posters here were crying foul when a MacBookPro could be had for 1,100€ in the US ($1,750 at the time). It’s a bit more expensive in € today, but the difference remains, and it will remain as long as he cost-of-living and purchasing power of EU citizens exceeds that of US citizens.
I’d love to see a transcript of the Apple boardroom when this subject was discussed:
Q. So why don’t we just put this revolutionary battery in a standard replaceable case? We’d still be able to offer a couple hours more battery life than competitors.
A. For a few reasons:
1. This move will negate third party battery providers, meaning Apple will profit by selling more batteries.
2. Apple will additionally profit by installing these same batteries.
3. Apple will have the opportunity to up-sell when these consumers return to our stores.
4. Eco-image. Apple can claim to be even greener because all dead batteries will be returned to us and not simply dropped in the garbage by consumers.
Q. What about the convenience factor for consumers? Many won’t like having to send their laptop away to have mere battery replaced, especially anyone living in rural areas or those with sensitive data.
A. The reality is, we are after the wealthy youth market which consists mostly of video gamers who want pretty colors and don’t use Pro features. In the last year we’ve eliminated Firewire, color-correct displays, and forced everyone else to suffer those same reflection laden screens with over saturated colors. Heck, we’re even selling the MacBook Air without an optical drive at a higher price point than a full featured MacBook Pro. Quite simply our desired market niche will buy whatever we tell them and most will even rationalize the inconvenience away as a feature if we market it as “cool” enough.
(laughter ensues, meeting ends)
@ Brau – They have treatments nowadays for excessive cynicism. I recommend checking with your therapist.
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Wow, Brau, great analysis. Except for the fact that the reason the battery’s revolutionary and can last so much longer is that it ditches the replaceable shell.
Quit being bitter. 8 hours (probably really 6) of battery life plus 1,000 (probably more like 750) charges is more than 99% of customers will ever need. How often do you go 6 hours without being near an outlet?
I am sure that by the time the average user needs to replace theirs, there will be a number of third-party suppliers that will be selling replacements with instructions on do-it-yourself.
And they will be 12-hour or more.
And they will be available within the year.
And cheaper.
I understand Brau’s analysis, but I think he misses the mark. I think he, and most consumers, dramatically underestimate the importance of support, reliability, and liability considerations in Apple decision-making. Apple generally takes a closed-shop approach, meaning that Apple discourages the use of non factory- installed hardware (and strictly prohibits the use of most of its software on non Apple-branded hardware). This means that Apple does not have to field tens of thousands of support calls from customers who have problems the consumer blames on Apple, when the real issue is a third-party hardware supplier. It also means that Apple maintains a reputation for products that are reliable, i.e. they “just work.” Finally, with products like batteries, it dramatically reduces Apple’s exposure to lawsuits for exploding batteries, etc., because Apple controls the quality of the components. There are really two simple results for consumers – the higher price that Brau discusses, and the higher reliability most Apple users enjoy. Because all companies face similar considerations (think Dell) Dell really can’t offer significantly cheaper prices for the same components, except by offering less in the way of support/customer service. Indeed, when volumes get high enough and designs are robust enough, Apple offers the same or lower prices, a higher level of reliability, and superior support. In other words, when you do it all right, everybody wins, except the competitors who can’t keep up.
I see…so there’s a replacement plan for a battery that you don’t have to replace.
Makes sense to me.