I see no evidence to support your hypothesis, definitely not enough to justify the design decision. While it's never been my "day job" or primary function, I'v

I see no evidence to support your hypothesis, definitely not enough to justify the design decision. While it's never been my "day job" or primary function, I've had a fair amount of industrial design experience. Both with formal ID firms, and as general product development (most of my startup experience is with companies that produced some sort of hardware). To make the battery removable you need to make a "pocket" for the battery to sit in that is separated from the rest of the electronics. You also need to make the battery pack itself thicker than it would need to be if it was just an internal device (plastic casing, etc.). You also need to add some contacts for the battery and other odds and ends. This probably adds about $3-$5 to the BOM for a device like the iPad. This may sound small, but it is a significant number by the time you factor in the end-user price. It also adds additional weight and design considerations, plus additional thickness to the overall product. Yes, plenty of devices have removable batteries. And in several cases (like the Droid I just got) the battery cover is a flimsy piece of crap that detracts from the products integrity. I suppose you don't include every laptop ever made as examples of replaceable batteries in practice. Yes, I'm quite aware that most other laptops have had replaceable batteries. I've owned dozens of them, and hadn't needed to replace a laptop battery since about 2002. They died of general system failures or complete obsolescence before they needed new batteries. The vast majority of laptops with replaceable batteries have also not been designed for the portability, sleekness, and usage style that the iPad has. Comparing the industrial design of the iPad and its battery to legacy laptops is not an apples-to-apples comparison (pun intended). I really don't think that when it comes to Apple this is "designed obsolescence" as much as it is recognition that we've been Doing It Wrong for many years. I also find it ironically humorous that you cite your electronic razor among arguments of designed obsolescence and environmental/sustainable life style arguments. I use a Merkur Futur razor. I replace only the single blade about once a week. The razor handle will last forever, and it does not have replacement cartridges that are grossly over-priced items. My razor also does not have other environmentally unfriendly items like batteries, and motors and other elements that will eventually wear out and be unreplaceable. Everyone chooses a slightly different way to manage their impact on the world and product choices. Regarding environmental concerns, the way I read this is that if your battery dies Apple will give you a refurbished unit with a new battery for a little more than what a replacement battery would likely cost. It seems like this would encourage users to keep devices LONGER, if they can get a freshened up unit along with a new battery. It's not like it has ever been stated that if the battery fails you must immediately plant your iPad in a landfill.