Thread: New Macbooks not user-upgradable any more...

Kyle Wiens (of iFixit) doesn't like the new MacBook Pro:

The Retina MacBook is the least repairable laptop we’ve ever taken apart: unlike the previous model, the display is fused to the glass—meaning replacing the LCD requires buying an expensive display assembly. The RAM is now soldered to the logic board—making future memory upgrades impossible. And the battery is glued to the case—requiring customers to mail their laptop to Apple every so often for a $200 replacement. ... The design pattern has serious consequences not only for consumers and the environment, but also for the tech industry as a whole.

And he blames us:

We have consistently voted for hardware that’s thinner rather than upgradeable. But we have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Our purchasing decisions are telling Apple that we’re happy to buy computers and watch them die on schedule. When we choose a short-lived laptop over a more robust model that’s a quarter of an inch thicker, what does that say about our values?

Actually, what does that say about our values?

First of all, "short-lived" is arguable, and I'd argue for "flat-out wrong". I don't take enough laptops through to the end of their life to be a representative sample, but I've purchased two PC laptops and two MacBook Pros. After two years of use, both PCs were essentially falling apart (hinges, power cords, and basically dead batteries) while the MacBooks were running strong.

My 2008 MacBook Pro did get a not-totally-necessary battery replacement after a year, but my 2010 has run strong for two years. I'd expect nothing less from the Airs or new MacBook Pro. So short-lived might be a relative characterization if anything, and only if you consider the need to pay Apple to replace your battery instead of doing it yourself a "death".

Second, and more important, this thought occurred to me: when we look at futuristic computing devices in movies such as Minority Report or Avatar, do we think "Neat, but those definitely don't look upgradeable. No thanks."

Do we imagine that such progress is achieved through the kind of Luddite thinking that leads people to value "hackability" over never-before-achieved levels of precision and portability?

The quote above is the summation of Wiens' argument that "consumer voting" has pushed Apple down this road, and that we need to draw a line in the name of repairability, upgradability and hackability.

I'd argue that Apple's push toward devices that are more about the human interface and less about the components is a form of a categorical imperative, a rule for acting that has no conditions or qualifications — that there is no line, there is only an endless drive towards progress: more portable devices that get the job done with less thinking about the hardware.

That is what drives descriptions like Apple uses in its product announcements: magical, revolutionary — not hacking and upgrading.

Hackers gonna hate - nickchaves.com

This certainly summarizes, to a 'T', the kind of ad nauseam hatin' that the nerd types like Baldrick, HarryBarracuda, etc.... represent. It's essentially the inability to see that software is the new hardware, and that their antiquated thinking will die out with them.

Yes, lots of hand-wringing over the marching morons... tough titties.

Another good follow-up:

Why are Apple laptops becoming harder to take apart?

You can probably imagine what the response of iFixit’s CEO was to the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display once he took it apart and found that it is probably the least user-serviceable laptop Apple has ever made. He hates it.

What I like about his piece is that he doesn’t place the blame on Apple. Instead, he puts it on consumers:

We have consistently voted for hardware that’s thinner rather than upgradeable. But we have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Our purchasing decisions are telling Apple that we’re happy to buy computers and watch them die on schedule. When we choose a short-lived laptop over a more robust model that’s a quarter of an inch thicker, what does that say about our values?

I know a lot of people think that computers (and many other products) are becoming less maker-friendly because greedy companies want to get more money for parts and labor, or even better, shorten the upgrade cycle and sell more computers, or cars, or appliances, or whatever.

I doubt that is ever really the case. There are a lot of tradeoffs that go into product design. When it comes to laptops, there are capabilities (display resolution, processor speed, storage space, battery life, and so on), size and weight, cost, and upgradeability. Apple seems to have gotten the impression that upgradeability is the factor that people care about the least, and I suspect that they’re right.

My suspicion is that the number of people who upgrade any of the components of their laptops is very small — I’d be surprised if even 5% of customers did so. I would imagine that the number of people who repair laptops on their own is even smaller. What’s funny is that I’m one of those people. I unthinkingly set a magnet on a MacBook I used to have and destroyed the hard drive, and I was very pleased to be able to take it apart and replace that hard drive myself. That being said, I’d rather have one of the new MacBook Pros with Retina Display than that old MacBook any day of the week.

rc3.org - Why are Apple laptops becoming harder to take apart?

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

After two years of use, both PCs were essentially falling apart (hinges, power cords, and basically dead batteries) while the MacBooks were running strong.

I have 4 laptop PCs, with 2 running for almost 10 years with WinXP and doing fine

try that with a MacBook, the thing fall aparts after 2 years, which doesn't matter since the dumb fans will buy a newer and gayer one by then

The idea to manufacture products that have timed life spans originated in the automobile Industry. If you manufacture a really dependable, rugged product that is supported by an industry spare parts program is not nearly as "cash," supportive as manufacturing a poor product with a designated life of say 1 or two years without the easy ability nor the spare part support to repair.

Software is the new Hardware? Yea, time delayed obsolescence built into every Apple product since the beginning as is most all IT industry leaders globally. Not a very noteworthy observation on my part, but nevertheless there's plenty of iPod users who will continue to purchase revision after revision of the little ego builders.

^

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

I'd argue that Apple's push toward devices that are more about the human interface and less about the components is a form of a categorical imperative...

^ professional shills with their bullet points and cliche ridden dialogue are the most boring cnuts.

combine that with a no-life zealous apple tard and you have a sure fire recipe for tedium

It's Called Progress, Folks by Garrett Murray

‘It’s Called Progress, Folks’

Garrett Murray deconstructs iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens’s diatribe condemning the integrated design of the new MacBook Pro:

The MacBook Air was not a market experiment. The MacBook Air was a revolution. Every single other company has been trying to replicate its success. Do you think Dell and Sony and Asus and Lenovo are all coincidentally performing the same “market experiment”? Apple designed and built the world’s thinnest, lightest computer and then year-after-year they made it better. The MacBook Air is the future–everyone knows it. People don’t want huge, heavy “robust and rugged” laptops. They want ultra-thin, ultra-light, insanely fast computers that are affordable. Apple delivered.

How much are they paying you to promote them on forums?

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

The MacBook Air was a revolution.

Originally Posted by Koojo

How much are they paying you to promote them on forums?

in RL he is an apple reseller, so he is probably happy to do it for free

isn't corporate brainwashing great ? who needs religions when corporations have taken over with their "company" culture

we are really religious animals and slaves to false Gods

Originally Posted by Koojo

How much are they paying you to promote them on forums?

A billion Baht every day.

Again, you don't grasp it - in your limited world, everything *has* to be financially compensated, because you can't grasp that someone might just be very satisfied with a given product.

Obviously, a curmudgeon like yourself would never be.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

in RL he is an apple reseller, so he is probably happy to do it for free

Actually, I'm not - but why bother with facts, right?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

we are really religious animals and slaves to false Gods

Undoubtedly, you consider yourself the only true prophet of truth... right?

(when, so far, you couldn't even answer a simple question)

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Originally Posted by Koojo

How much are they paying you to promote them on forums?

A billion Baht every day.

Again, you don't grasp it - in your limited world, everything *has* to be financially compensated, because you can't grasp that someone might just be very satisfied with a given product.

I'm very satisfied with many products I buy, I don't spend hours on the internet everyday defending the reputation of the product and the company that made it.
I've been known to shoot off an email to the company.
'Very satisfied with the product' does not explain why you spend hours on the internet talking up Apple.
'obsessed nutcase' does.

Originally Posted by Koojo

I'm very satisfied with many products I buy, I don't spend hours on the internet everyday defending the reputation of the product and the company that made it.
I've been known to shoot off an email to the company.
'Very satisfied with the product' does not explain why you spend hours on the internet talking up Apple.
'obsessed nutcase' does.

I was unaware that I was spending "many hours" on the internet "talking up Apple".

If you consider that to be the sign of "obsessed nutcase", maybe you could explain to me what you would describe or define "spending a great deal more hours on the internet reloading threads in order to post missives ridiculing other poster's comments"

I have a feeling that the above, and which is what you, Baldric, butterfly, HarryBarracuda and 1 or 2 others do, qualifies far more for "obsessive nutcase" than what you falsely attribute to me. Not quite at the Ant Robertson level yet, but certainly getting there.

So, how about it?

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

So, how about it?

you is fcukwit

Seriously? Accusing me of dressing smartly by wearing French Connection UK???

This goes back to my earlier lesson to butterfly that the insult target needs to actually understand what is being hurled at them - which is doomed to failure if the insult originator has a linguistic impediment.

Kinda reminds of me this:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

This goes back to my earlier lesson to butterfly that the insult target needs to actually understand what is being hurled at them - which is doomed to failure if the insult originator has a linguistic impediment.

I did use a form of address I believed would get through to you - I suggest you stick with facebook

Does this mean you dress in Gap and Crocodile, all poofie like?

it means I do not use facebook

Snappy GAP dresser, you are. That explains a lot.

You're the one who wears those baggy cargo shorts, and sandals.... with socks. Right?

uhm... why should I care if you use Facebook, or not?

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

I was unaware that I was spending "many hours" on the internet "talking up Apple".

That's something you might want to address.
This bit.

I was unaware

that I was spending "many hours" on the internet

"talking up Apple".

Because if it's true that you are unaware you really do have a problem.