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There is one thing that to me indicates Apple has really thought through the consequences of this new design: The fact that the SSD is socketed and thus user re

There is one thing that to me indicates Apple has really thought through the consequences of this new design: The fact that the SSD is socketed and thus user removable. The machine retains that most critical aspect of home or in-store servicability. Why this is important: the specific failure case where you have a faulty logic board, or any other failure that requires a full machine replacement. You still have the ability to pull out your drive and replace or wipe it before sending the machine back to Apple for either a complete replacement or "depot" repair. (No doubt there will be SSDs available with the new connector soon.) So sure, we've lost the ability for the most common, fun, and economical upgrades, and that's a let down for those of us who like to tinker. But the construction of the machine still allows you to protect your personal data before sending your machine off to be repaired, and I have to believe that is the most critical issue for power users.

jaems33 14y ago
If it's under warranty (be it 1 year or Apple Care), aren't you not supposed to remove or replace the drive?
- reneherse 14y ago
  Not sure. I've only replaced a drive in an out-of-warranty machine, but it didn't raise any eyebrows when I brought it into an Apple store for major repairs. For what it's worth, I used the same OEM.
ctdonath 14y ago
Bingo. Repairs are now super-easy: move SSD to identical replacement machine, done. Makes supply-chain management MUCH easier. For Apple, they can now concentrate actual repairs in one place, rather than rolling out parts & training & etc. to stores. Just have a stack of new or refurb units ready to swap and mailers for returns: user brings in a broken notebook, swap SSD, user has a like-new[1] machine in minutes and leaves happy, store just mails the broken beast back for repair in a very efficient & well-equipped facility. [1] - some hypothesize that Apple refurb units are better than new.
- diegobc 14y ago
  could you expand on the point that refurb units could be better? Also, remember that most companies get valuable manufacturing feedback by analyzing failed machines which have been "in the wild."
  - ctdonath 14y ago
    Based on very little information and lots of intuition reaching conclusions shared by others... Most "refurb" units are just bought-and-returned products. There's nothing wrong with them. If there is something wrong, it was a problem with a new unit (either broken at purchase or soon thereafter), someone bought it assuming "new" better than "refurb" and got a lemon; the problem is easily identified and replaced with a working part. If something's gonna break, it's gonna break very near the time of acquisition (or near predicted end-of-life); few breakages happen during the middle 80-90% of product life. New machines are cranked out in a factory en mass. Refurbs, most of which are either undamaged/new or lightly/obviously broken, are individually inspected with the keen awareness that this particular unit may very well have a particular problem. They receive more attention from better trained inspectors, and with more...domestic sensibilities. Then they're put thru the same, if not greater, QA testing as the factory provides. So, at the risk of the occasional abused machine with deeper chronic problems, most refurbs are in effect (if not actuality) new units with an added layer of real-world testing, individualized attention/correction, comprehensive re-testing, all done within local cultural norms. And you get all of that not at added cost, but at a discount off the original price. So the theory concludes (again, just hypothesizing with little knowledge of what really happens) that the refurbs are the most reliable and/or best value.
    - jonah 14y ago
      This general idea - that refurbs are more thoroughly tested and therefore more reliable - has been confirmed to me by Apple staff. My guess is that it's primarily the likelihood of failure soon after purchase which is greatly decreased.
      - 14y ago
wavephorm 14y ago
The hard drive is soldered to the chassis, it cannot be removed.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]

jaems33 14y ago

If it's under warranty (be it 1 year or Apple Care), aren't you not supposed to remove or replace the drive?

reneherse 14y ago
Not sure. I've only replaced a drive in an out-of-warranty machine, but it didn't raise any eyebrows when I brought it into an Apple store for major repairs. For what it's worth, I used the same OEM.

ctdonath 14y ago

Bingo. Repairs are now super-easy: move SSD to identical replacement machine, done. Makes supply-chain management MUCH easier. For Apple, they can now concentrate actual repairs in one place, rather than rolling out parts & training & etc. to stores. Just have a stack of new or refurb units ready to swap and mailers for returns: user brings in a broken notebook, swap SSD, user has a like-new[1] machine in minutes and leaves happy, store just mails the broken beast back for repair in a very efficient & well-equipped facility. [1] - some hypothesize that Apple refurb units are better than new.

diegobc 14y ago
could you expand on the point that refurb units could be better? Also, remember that most companies get valuable manufacturing feedback by analyzing failed machines which have been "in the wild."
- ctdonath 14y ago
  Based on very little information and lots of intuition reaching conclusions shared by others... Most "refurb" units are just bought-and-returned products. There's nothing wrong with them. If there is something wrong, it was a problem with a new unit (either broken at purchase or soon thereafter), someone bought it assuming "new" better than "refurb" and got a lemon; the problem is easily identified and replaced with a working part. If something's gonna break, it's gonna break very near the time of acquisition (or near predicted end-of-life); few breakages happen during the middle 80-90% of product life. New machines are cranked out in a factory en mass. Refurbs, most of which are either undamaged/new or lightly/obviously broken, are individually inspected with the keen awareness that this particular unit may very well have a particular problem. They receive more attention from better trained inspectors, and with more...domestic sensibilities. Then they're put thru the same, if not greater, QA testing as the factory provides. So, at the risk of the occasional abused machine with deeper chronic problems, most refurbs are in effect (if not actuality) new units with an added layer of real-world testing, individualized attention/correction, comprehensive re-testing, all done within local cultural norms. And you get all of that not at added cost, but at a discount off the original price. So the theory concludes (again, just hypothesizing with little knowledge of what really happens) that the refurbs are the most reliable and/or best value.
  - jonah 14y ago
    This general idea - that refurbs are more thoroughly tested and therefore more reliable - has been confirmed to me by Apple staff. My guess is that it's primarily the likelihood of failure soon after purchase which is greatly decreased.
    - 14y ago

wavephorm 14y ago

The hard drive is soldered to the chassis, it cannot be removed.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]