It was just launched a couple of days back and now the Retina MacBook Pro is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. While limited shipping of the device is causing discontent among the Apple Pro lovers, it is declared as one of the 'worst repairable' devices by a popular electronics do-it-yourself website and repair guru, iFixit.
The Cupertino tech giant launched this stunningly beautiful device on Monday at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) which started on June 11. The new version of the Pro comes with the high-resolution display that the company labeled "Retina" that's to be found in the new iPhone and iPad lines.
While the company has started shipping the $2,200 notebook, supply has already been exhausted and the company's online store says a waiting period of three to four weeks by Tuesday's end.
Meanwhile the folks at iFixit have already managed to grab one and dismantle it. According to them, the new Pro can score a reparability score of 1 out of ten and is the least repairable laptops that the company has encountered in recent times.
"This is, to date, the least-repairable laptop we've taken apart," said Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, in an email today. "Apple has packed all the things we hate into one beautiful little package."
The first issue that has been pointed out by the repair gurus is the "proprietary pentalobe screws" that "prevent you from gaining access to anything inside," and to remove that one needs to have a special screwdriver. Then, the RAM that is "soldered to the logic board," therefore, you can never increase the RAM and Wiens says "max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace - you can't upgrade."
Also, you cannot upgrade the proprietary SSD. And, you cannot even replace battery of the device which is easily breakable as it is "glued rather than screwed into the case, which increases the chances that it'll break during disassembly."
Moreover, iFixit called the Retina Pro a "virtually non-upgradeable" device and labeled it as "the first MacBook Pro that will be unable to adapt to future advances in memory and storage technology."
"Despite its dismal repair score," writes Wiens, "there's much to be excited about here beyond the Retina display: New ports, an asymmetrical fan, and a Samsung flash memory SSD. Oh, and the screws are replaceable".
