New laptop?

[Loppan Torkel]

I'm again thinking about buying a new computer, preferably a portable. The battery in my current 8 year old macbook is getting worse and a new one costs over 200$ here. I've bought several over the years, but since I've used the laptop a lot and it otherwise has worked flawlessly, I've been happy with it. I also run OSX Lion on it and it can't be upgraded beyond it, so it might be time to get a new one.

Another macbook pro would be great if it weren't for the glued batteries.

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?

Every time we buy a locked down product containing a non-replaceable battery with a finite cycle count, we’re voicing our opinion on how long our things should last. But is it an informed decision? When you buy something, how often do you really step back and ask how long it should last? If we want long-lasting products that retain their value, we have to support products that do so.

Today, we choose. If we choose the Retina display over the existing MacBook Pro, the next generation of Mac laptops will likely be less repairable still. When that happens, we won’t be able to blame Apple. We’ll have to blame ourselves.

http://www.wired.com/2012/06/opinion-apple-retina-displa/

I pretty much agree with this. As much as I like apple for not having to deal with various issues, I'd hate being screwed every second year when the battery dies.


Any good alternatives to macbook?

 

[Zelig]

Well, most good Applebook alternatives also don't have removable batteries.

Also, Apple charges $200 for battery replacements on rMBPs anyway, you just have to go through them.

Depending on what size/power you're looking for, the Lenovo X240 or any of the T-series are great laptops and all have user-replaceable batteries.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

$200 is okay. I'm not sure if it will be that cheap here for the latest model. Supposedly you need to change more than just the battery in those.

I may try Linux and SteamOS in the new laptop.

A couple of more thoughts from another guy -

Essentially, it is not possible to replace the battery yourself in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro.

The battery in the Retina Display MacBook Pro likely will last most users 2.5 to 3 years (1000 charge cycles), and perhaps these consumers are happy to drop it off at an Apple Store or even will just purchase a new computer when the battery no longer holds a charge.

Ultimately, if you're not comfortable being required to turn over your entire notebook computer to someone else simply to replace the battery or dislike the idea of working components being discarded needlessly to replace the battery, the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro is not for you.

Do you know which brands that let you access the battery, other than Lenovo?


Edit: So I emailed the support and asked for the price for exchanging batteries in a macBook pro 2012. The cost they gave: 260$ including work.
I emailed them again about changing batteries in a late 2013 model, if I were to buy one. This answer took a while longer and since I was going down town anyway, I walked into the only authorized apple boutique in town and asked the same question. I appreciate their honesty since I informed them that I didn't own a 2013 model yet.. They'd take 920$ to change the batteries in a late 2013 macbook pro 15''. They'd have to change more parts than the battery, but this was the whole price for the procedure.
I while later, I got the answer for the central customer support: it's the same price as for the 2012 model: 260$. This seems to be the theoretical, and reasonable fair, price, but I bet the local stores are the ones who set the actual price.

 

[Zelig]

Well if you look at business/portable workstation models, most brands will have replaceable batteries, but I'm most familiar with Lenovo. I looked at the intersection of "laptops I'm familiar with and would recommend" and "laptops with replaceable batteries" and Lenovo's the only brand in there.

My personal laptop is an HP with a removable battery... the screen is awful, and one of the screw-holes detached from the frame the first time I disassembled it (HP support was good about it, at least), but I guess they probably have some newer/other models you could look at.

rMBP will still hold good value after 2-3 years, I'd just flip it off to someone else after that (which is about the same amount of time the extended warranty coverage from a credit card will cover them, since Apple warranty coverage is terrible) and let them deal with the used battery.