Filed under: Hardware, Apple, Macbook Pro
15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Exchange Program
If you bought a 15 inch MacBook Pro between February 2006 through May 2006 you want to read this Apple KB article now. It tells you how to identify whether or not your battery is eligible for the 'battery exchange program,' (doesn't that sound much better than 'World Wide Recall?'). To quote Apple, 'We recently discovered that some 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries supplied to Apple do not meet our high standards for battery performance. To give our users the best experience possible, we will replace these batteries for customers free of charge.'
The article says that the batteries do not pose a safety threat, but if my battery were eligible I would want to get a new one as soon as possible.
Thanks, Tomas.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mascker said 2:47PM on 7-30-2006
I'm one of them....
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Zorn said 3:12PM on 7-30-2006
I just ordered the replacement, thanks for the heads up. Wonder what the problem was, or if the new battery has any better life.
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fcodc :: Mac Recon said 3:17PM on 7-30-2006
I was also one of them. Here's my whole experience:
http://www.macrecon.com/2006/07/26/macbook-pro-battery-issues/
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ZipperSeven said 3:29PM on 7-30-2006
Hey you guys that have the recall, what week productions numbers do you have? Mine is a week 16 and my batt serial isnt included...I just wanted to see if they were earlier batteries, or from a series of newer ones?
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Josh said 3:35PM on 7-30-2006
Have two batteries that qualify. Appreciate the information.
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Steve said 3:36PM on 7-30-2006
I have a battery that is included (judging by the model number and the serial number of the battery) but the online from won't accept it.. I guess I'll have to call apple... Weeeeee...
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ecne said 3:39PM on 7-30-2006
i wonder why WORLDWIDE means only 45 countries to Apple.
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tydes said 3:43PM on 7-30-2006
My battery qualifies but I haven't had a problem yet. But I've already filled out the form anyway. Thanks for the heads-up.
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Samuel McConnell said 3:45PM on 7-30-2006
Whoo! Through 100 charge cycles on my current battery, and I get a new one free of charge! I don't see anything wrong with that!
Plus, Apple didn't take my credit card info before sending me the new battery. I think I'm going to try to keep my old battery so I can have a spare...
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Adam said 3:53PM on 7-30-2006
My MBP is only a few months old, but I've noticed a significant decrease in battery life since purchasing it. I mean, like, maybe an hour less than before with the screen dim and all that. I was trying to pretend it wasn't happening, but I guess I can go ahead and accept it now.
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kirk said 4:08PM on 7-30-2006
As luck would have had it, my MacBook started showing this behavior this weekend.
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astutefool said 4:27PM on 7-30-2006
How strange... My Macbook Pro started behaving like this several days ago. Its charged up to 100% and then sometimes at 40%, sometimes at 20% then BANG the computer goes dead with a little pip. Its happened more than once. I thought it might be the Power Management Unit so I reset it, nothing changed.
Now this comes along lucky me I guess, shame it doesn't still work cause I could keep two batteries. Also the aluminium case of the battery is coming unstuck I think because the heat is messing up the adhesive.
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Max v W said 4:34PM on 7-30-2006
Free replacement? Woohoo! Now i can re-calibrate, i'll have another excuse to actually USE the battery (mmm maybe i should get out more :p)
But thanks for the hint, mine is also one of ... them!
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Alex Marchuk said 5:33PM on 7-30-2006
Isn't this something, yesterday by battery like expanded, and other batteries seem to be doing the same these past weeks. But i called Apple Care yesterday, and they are shipping me one in 2 days.
My story can be found here http://www.macusersforum.com/index.php?showtopic=13481
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Ondroo said 5:37PM on 7-30-2006
Ooohhhh, mine is one of them! Yay thats a good thing lol
does this mean we can keep our old batteries as spares :D:D???
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evariste said 5:38PM on 7-30-2006
Mine is one of them, apparently. Thanks for the heads-up!
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Richard Petty said 6:03PM on 7-30-2006
I signed up for the exchange yesterday. I was, I think, one of the first to get a MBP. I pre-ordered, and it arrived within three days of the launch.
One of my two batteries had started the trick of shutting down the computer while still full of juice. The other seems ready to imitate his brother. Sub-optimal, when trying to use the wretched thing for a Powerpoint or Keynote presentation.
No idea exactly how long it will take for the new batteries to arrive, but it IS an exchange: they want the old ones back. I'm expecting a quick turn around. It seems that Steve Jobs is not pleased by this turn of events, and he does not want to alienate his most loyal supporters!
All the best,
RP
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Bert Goethals said 6:07PM on 7-30-2006
I actually had one of those; traded it in a few weeks ago.
From one day on the next, my Mac got powerfailiures and I noticed that the maximum capacity of the Battery had dropped with over 25%.
Worst of all, the thing started to expand. It got bloated in sushe a way you could simply rock it like a rockingchair, and the metal plate started to get loose.
Got a new battery tough, so I'm a happy macuser :)
Wonder if mine got this recal running :D
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Rom Feria said 7:11PM on 7-30-2006
Week 14 and my battery is included in the replacement program. Bought a spare one at Apple Store in SF and will also be replaced. However, these batteries are fine - no problems whatsoever except that it eats up 5% of the battery every night when it sleeps. I wonder if it is dreaming... :D
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Tim said 9:38PM on 7-30-2006
A couple of weeks ago my battery actually started bulging and coming apart causing the machine to shut down randomly. I called Apple as soon as it started and they sent a new battery by overnight delivery.
I've owned more than a dozen Macs over the years (this is my fourth laptop) and I've never had a major problem. However, whenever I've called Apple they have always been great about getting my problem solved.
And then at work I get to listen to the horror stories of my co-workers dealing with Dell. It's worth the few dollars extra to get quality!
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