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A good argument for having replaceable batteries is that this recall could be done by just sending new batteries to everyone. Now, they have to replace entire
by Osiris 10y ago
A good argument for having replaceable batteries is that this recall could be done by just sending new batteries to everyone. Now, they have to replace entire devices.
- JustSomeNobody 10y agoIf they could have caught this in QA, they wouldn't have had to replace devices either.
- _wmd 10y agoI wonder if the aggregate cents saved per unit still amount to a profit despite a black swan like this. Based on how much they ship, and this only hurting a single product release I suspect it might
- mindslight 10y agoOr it would encourage people to keep using the defective battery as a spare or old-age replacement. For the record, I'm nominally in favor of "replaceable batteries". But I also don't see how having to open a case makes a battery "non-replaceable", either. If I had to choose between easily-replaceable batteries or easier to open cases that didn't use snap-fit, I'd choose the latter.
- Namidairo 10y agoI would note that opening the case in this instance requires high temperatures to soften up the adhesive, and might affect the water resistance of the device after replacement. In addition to the back panel being glass, the above means that without the proper tools, I would not recommend self-service.
- mindslight 10y agoWell really I abbreviated my sentence. ... snap-fit, glue, welding, staples, rivets, plastic push-clips, and any other assembly mechanism which undoing causes the device to be structurally damaged, cosmetically damaged, or necessitates buying new non-standard fasteners for each open. General point is that the battery itself isn't so special compared to opening the rest of the device. Even on my i9500 with a standard "removable battery", the plastic clips which hold on the back cover have started to break off because they must have been designed for 20 insertion cycles. We don't need a "modular smartphone", we simply need assholes to stop "designing" them as if they're disposable. Self-threading plastic screws aren't bad as long as you always back-thread them when reassembling. Soft thread-lock as used on eg Thinkpads is about the borderline of acceptability, and that's only because if you open your device enough you aren't really worried about a screw loosening over time.
- bane 10y agoI bought a Shield tablet that had a battery related recall. Instead of replacing the device they simply shipped me a new one and asked nicely for me to toss the old one. So...I now have two Shield tablets.
- usaphp 10y ago> "so...I now have two shield tablets" One of each can explode any time and cause injuries to people around it. Totally worth $150...
- bane 10y agosince the problem wasn't them exploding, and the resolution they offered was to toss the old one in the municipal waste system...then no, they won't explode
- khedoros 10y agoAn Anandtech article from last year claims that they were recalled for overheating issues, with the possibility of being a fire hazard: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9480/nvidia-initiates-safety-recall-of-shield-tablets http://www.anandtech.com/show/9480/nvidia-initiates-safety-r...
- nommm-nommm 10y agoBest Buy has an electronics recycling program.
- supercoder 10y agoNo, it's an argument for better QA.
- kazinator 10y agoSpecifications are also susceptible to QA. Issue #1234: Idiotic non-removable battery Phase found: Requirements ...