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Plaupius on 03 April 2009
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nightsurge said:
Plaupius said:
nightsurge said:
Just one more point to show Apple is just retarded. With their newest designs for laptops, they effectively remove the user's ability to upgrade their own laptop. Sure you can probably do it with the right tech experience, but it will void the warranty and they specifically recommend all new MacBooks be upgraded by Apple. Hmmm.... sounds like they are doing all these monopolistic things to keep any and all possible upgrades and the resulting high installation fees going to them rather than buy the ram on NewEgg and install it yourself for much cheaper.

Is that why the user's manual for the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros has instructions for the user on how to replace the battery, change the hard drive and upgrade memory? Also, unless you damage your computer while doing the upgrades, it has no effect on the warranty. Sure does sound like effectively removing the user's ability to upgrade, doesn't it?

Yes, considering the unibody design involves exposing all the internals instead of just the ones you wish to replace.  Also, what is the purpose of this statement, then:

WARNING: Apple recommends that you have an Apple-certified technician install
replacement drives and memory. Consult the service and support information that
came with your computer for information about how to contact Apple for service. If
you attempt to install a replacement drive or memory and damage your equipment,
such damage is not covered by the limited warranty on your computer.

Any general user that sees that will think, "Oh I have to go to Apple to upgrade.  This sounds scary and difficult."

As I said earlier, anyone with tech experience could still do it.  I guess I was wrong about voiding the warranty (that is as long as you don't break any of the stuff that becomes vulnerable when you are just trying to replace one part), but the whole purpose of this new design is to discourage self upgrades.

 

Oh please. You said Apple has effectively removed the user's ability to upgrade, and I plain and simply showed that is not true. Also, replacing the battery or HDD does not expose the internals, you just flip open the battery/HDD compartment lid and it's all there. To upgrade memory you have to unscrew the bottom plate and that does expose some of the internals, but judging from the internet ramblings, it's not a hard thing to do. Considering how most PC laptops are designed, I don't think memory upgrades are usually much easier on that side of the fence, either.

And I hope you're not telling me Dell, Lenovo etc. don't write similar warnings and recommendations on their user manuals? I'm pretty sure they do, that's just standard practice for corporations that you're trying to make somehow Apple-specific. The purpose of the statement is to tell the owners that if you break your computer while upgrading, that's not covered by warranty. And speaking of these "general users", how many of the Dell/Lenovo/HP users do you think know how to replace the HDD or upgrade their memory? And do you believe for a second that ANY warranty will cover something that the owner himself breaks, unless there is a manufacturing defect?

Lastly, the point of the new design is to make the laptop more durable and enviromentally friendly, not to "discourage self upgrades." Claiming that is ridiculous and just shows you can't talk about Macs rationally.