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As far as new Macs are concerned, yeah, it's not a healthy trend when you can't get in and replace a battery... kinda understandable on the Air models

It's NOT understandable. Ever.

JMHO

Had Macs and PC's. Went all PC because Mac was overpriced.
I deal with the big graphics files and went all PC years ago because I could see no difference but price. Still use a PC and still see no reason to pay more.

Not bashing Apple. It works as well as a PC - it just cost more !

The only thing I use Orbitz, Expedia, etc for is as a search engine for travel. Once I see what the prices are for what I'm after I book through the company's website that has the best price, as it always is as good as the Orbitz - Expedia price with fewer or no restrictions plus the loyalty program benefits.

What, exactly, is wrong with Orbitz (or other companies) doing this? Isn't the goal of the business (and even capitalism) to sell their product for the highest possible price a customer will pay? This is done in reverse all the time: grocery stores will hand out coupons for items you don't usually buy, on the hopes you'll try one or two, like it, and continue buying at full price. It's quite rare to see targetted coupons for items you're known to regularly purchase. (This type of targetting can be avoided by paying cash and not using a store loyalty/discount card.)

Caveat emptor.

I'm a Linux user, and since I sometimes travel to triathlons, most of my travels involve a tent and a bedroll.

Seriously, if all I need is a place to sleep for a night, I'd rather spend $25 for a campsite than $120 for a hotel room. :-)

So another data point signifying Linux users as the most prudent spenders. :-)

I didn't say it was bad. I'm laughing that it works.

Would it be ok to use javascript to get the operating system user name and see if it looks Jewish? Hmm.. "mgoldman". Show them the expensive offerings.

Just askin..

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I'm laughing that it works.

This has been true ever since the first marketplace opened.

Oh you want this nice Glock 19 with the Tritium glow-in-the-dark night sights, frame light, laser grips, gold-plated magazines and super-duper frangible home-defense ammo? Would you like this nice leather holster lined with baby seal fur to go with it?

It should be possible to check this without even necessarily owning a Mac. Pretty much all browsers now have the ability to change the User-Agent string they report, through either a "developer tools" page or via hidden configuration options:

http://www.howtogeek.com/113439/how-to-c....

There are also browser extensions available that do this. I predict that someone's going to come up with an easy-to-use browser extension that can selectively override the User-Agent on a per-site basis, i.e. "IF site domain matches *.orbitz.com, THEN send User-Agent = 'Firefox on Windows'." If they haven't already.

Erbo: That helps for casual observation, but you send so much data back to the web server that you can generally figure out what browser it is anyway.

"There's another way to look at this, of course. If you were dumb enough to pay twice as much for a computer with zero serviceability, especially when all portable computers include a battery that has a known service life but you can't replace it, and you willingly and intentionally subjected yourself to this, you're also likely to overpay for something as simple as a place to sleep."

The batteries in ALL of Apple's devices are replaceable, for a fee, even on the newer units that are sealed and do not allow easy customer access. The majority of people will replace the device by the time the battery has started to fail anyhow.

TickerForum: Where bragging about being a cheap-ass is turned into a competition, and people who do things different than you are clearly stupid.

Gas prices vary too, depending on the part of town. And groceries.

TF - where bragging about being a cheap-ass is turned into a competition...

Well, I wouldn't call it that - a cheap-ass, I mean. It's just that if you look in the end at what people do with their phones, apps, computers - it's for the most part all the same, anyway. And then it comes down to how important is it for you to look good or distinctive doing it. It's the classic Gucci vs. generic handbag, BMW vs. Fiat, Cartier vs. Swarovski kind of thing.

It's one group trying to be better than the rest. Big deal.

Is it a competition? In a way, yes - but then, some of us just aren't interested in playing.

I always hated Apple growing up because it was force fed to me through the public schools. Lots and lots of Apple II's that were basically used to run some educational programs and that's it. Even when the Mac's were commonplace there just never was a decent portfolio of Apple software. Niche products for a niche group of about 10% or so.

Now my employer has given me an iPhone to replace my old BlackBerry. It's ok, but I also have a Win 7 phone for personal use. My not so unbaised opinion is the Windows Phone is easier to use and much faster, especially with 4G. The irony is there aren't many apps for the Windows phone while the iPhone has millions. Go figure.

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The irony is there aren't many apps for the Windows phone while the iPhone has millions. Go figure.

iOS had several years of head-start compared to WP7.

-Uwe-

Microsoft has to bribe software developers (Angry Birds Space). They have billions to spend on the app makers. They've done it in the past - where are they 18 months in? Simple, no one wants Microsoft's phones. They ****ED everyone with the Zune and PlayForSure, and people remember that.

They ****ed everyone when WiMo 6 apps became useless - two die-hard windows mobile users I know went to Android because of that. They lost their geek-cred, and now those of us who people come to for advice direct those people to Samsung's and HTC's Android offerings, unless they want an iPhone.

Palm went to an incompatible OS, but didn't obsolete their old app ecosystem and **** their users (not that that saved them - but it's possible to do).

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And then it comes down to how important is it for you to look good or distinctive doing it.

Not always. Sometimes people buy them because there's nothing comparable available at any price.

I had two iPhones (an original and a 3GS) back when there was nothing with comparable functionality. But I switched to Android phones when the functionality caught up because I prefer screens that are bigger than the meager 3.5" that Apple thinks you should have.

I have a 13" Macbook Air because, at the time I bought it, there was nothing even close when it came to a travel laptop. But I've never once booted Mac OS. I bought it, handed the sealed box to one of my employees who likes Macs told him: Install Windows on it for me.

-Uwe-

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If you were dumb enough to pay twice as much for a computer with zero serviceability, especially when all portable computers include a battery that has a known service life but you can't replace it

Carl you are constantly talking about the truth on your blog, then you post something that isn't directly true. What's up with that? Batteries in nearly every Apple product are replaceable though you might have to send the device to Apple or take it to an Apple store.

Here's Apple's worldwide battery replacement prices for their currently shipping laptops:

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/....

Here's Apple's price list for other devices like iPhones and iPads:

http://www.apple.com/batteries/replaceme....

Batteries on the first model of "unibody" laptops are user replaceable, as are the previous Macbook Pros and all Powerbooks.

Prices are in line with the industry averages for all laptops. Additionally, in our fleet of Macbooks, we are seeing great battery longevity on the newer machines from 2008 onwards. Dell batteries don't last nearly as long.

Ckaminski wrote..

Oh you want this nice Glock 19 with the Tritium glow-in-the-dark night sights, frame light, laser grips, gold-plated magazines and super-duper frangible home-defense ammo? Would you like this nice leather holster lined with baby seal fur to go with it?

Huh? Glocks are common-as-dirt, work-a-day guns. In order for this analogy to work, you need to use a better brand.

Maybe a Les Bear or Wilson Combat custom 1911?

-Uwe-

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Huh? Glocks are common-as-dirt, work-a-day guns. In order for this analogy to work, you need to use a better brand.

I'm a newb. Colt is about is upscale as I know. :-)

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Batteries in nearly every Apple product are replaceable though you might have to send the device to Apple or take it to an Apple store.

Exactly. NOT user-serviceable. And the fee/charge to replace the battery is excessive. And add to that the fact that there's frequently a several week delay in getting the Apple product back from servicing.

This kid ISN'T happy... Had his MacBook Pro for only 1 year and the battery died. He had to pay Apple $220 for a new battery and charger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxD9nCh0l....

This kid is unhappy with Apple's lack of capabilities and very high price.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qMvGI7kr....

Both are linked only because they contain what some would consider offensive language.

Toshiba

I love it. All the older people I know that can buy a shirt without busting their bank account or borrowing money, never lived like this. I'm talking about people that have been millionaires for 30 to 40 years. Karl is pointing out the idiots and how they are led around by the nose by the establishment. We are all trained to believe AAPL is anti-establishment. If they were, there wouldn't be an AAPL promoting party on CNBS every morning, along with a FB promoting party. This is all about Wall Street stuffing money in their pockets, as they touch every share of stock that goes through the exchange and make more money on the ones they can get to go up. I venture $100 billion of that increased market cap went into the pockets of the street. Eventually the bag will be in the right hands and CNBS will be boasting about some new outfit. 15 years ago it was INTC and MSFT. How has that worked over the past 12 years?

Those defending the battery are stupid. It would be like taking your car to the dealer to fill up your gas tank. I, for one, abuse computers. An AAPL would merely be a nice piece of **** in 3 years. Then again, I use one for very little other than surfing the net.

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Exactly. NOT user-serviceable. And the fee/charge to replace the battery is excessive. And add to that the fact that there's frequently a several week delay in getting the Apple product back from servicing.

I can't speak about iDevices, but for laptops the apple store guys will replace the battery for you while you wait, and the replacement price includes installation and recycling.

From the link I posted:

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How do I replace the battery in my MacBook Pro?

The battery in your MacBook Pro is a consumable item, which means it will require replacement at the end of its useful life. A replacement battery can be purchased directly from Apple. The price of the replacement battery includes installation of your new battery and environmentally responsible disposal of your depleted battery.

I'm sure you can find a few youtube rants for all makers.