17-Inch MacBook Pro Battery Replacement: Same Day Service at Apple Store, $179

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17-Inch MacBook Pro Battery Replacement: Same Day Service at Apple Store, $179

Posted 01/13/2009 at 2:45:16pm | by Roberto Baldwin

When Phil introduced the new 17-inch MacBook Pro without a user replaceable battery, the keynote audience wasn't sure how to react. It may have had something to do with the notebook specs, and battery issue being leaked to the internet days before, or they weren't sure what to make of a pro notebook with a battery can't be replaced in the field.

If you're one of the folks who needs the extra real estate of a 17-inch MacBook Pro, but isn't sure what to make of the new battery situation, check out Apple's Replacing your Battery support document.

Here are a few of the main points:

- Battery replacement will cost you $179

- Your data should be preserved during the replacement. But, Apple warns that you should back up your data before giving it to Apple.

- The battery is a consumable and isn't normally covered by Apple's one year warranty.

- You can drop off your huge MacBook at an Apple retailer for same day repair with an appointment, or ship it off to Apple and wait 3-4 business days for your precious machine to be cracked open and a new battery shoved in.

COMMENTS: 3

TAGS: macbook pro

COMMENTS

This is rediculous...
Submitted by kevkevallen on Tue, 2009-01-13 15:08

Its a Pro Book, you should be able to swap out the batteries any time you wanted. And $179, do you at least get to keep your old battery? Although I have no clue why you would want to, you'd have to crack open the case to charge it....

What I would REALLY like to see happen, is a battery system where you can leave your system running while you swap your batteries (Without a powercord and brick)
Maybe like a battery that only lasts 15 seconds, and will give you 15 seconds to go from one empty battery to a full battery? That would be awesome so as not to badly interrupt workflow..... but of course this would mean the unibody would have to have a battery door in it and blah blah blah.

Make it happen Apple.

-Kevin Duncan

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PowerBook G3 swap
Submitted by Roberto Baldwin on Tue, 2009-01-13 16:18

What I would REALLY like to see happen, is a battery system where you can leave your system running while you swap your batteries (Without a powercord and brick)
I was just talking to my friend about hot-swapping batteries on the PowerBook G3. It was so incredibly convenient. I hope Apple will someday re-introduce the hot-swappable battey.
An internal battery that would give you a few minutes to swap out a battery would be great.
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Hot swap battery
Submitted by Quayzar on Tue, 2009-01-13 23:44

You can actually turn hot swapping back on but it requires some time in terminal just keep in mind that by hot swapping I mean swapping the batteries in sleep mode without having to load the contents of ram back off of the HD. The computer never entirely shuts off so you can replace the battery as fast as you can put a computer to sleep and wake it up which you would have to do just to get to the battery in the first place. It'll be just like it was on the TiBooks. I don't know if it works on the newest MacBooks as this was written in an article on LifeHacker nearly two years ago or so. You could probably find it via Google but I need to go to sleep myself now but I may link to it in the morning.

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