New EU regulations mandate user-replaceable batteries in Apple products

mayfly said:
Apple MacBooks & MacBook Pros used to have a tool-free latch on the back to get at and replace the battery. Sure would be nice to have that on most of the current Apple devices. Sure, LiON batteries are rechargeable, but they sure do deteriorate over time. If you're determined, experienced and have pentalobe tools, you can replace the batteries in them, but you can also break other, more expensive things while doing it. And maybe get in front of future EU regulations by making the RAM and SSDs replaceable/upgradeable again!

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Mandating some regulations for the sake of environment is fine, but this regulation is asinine. Take EV's for example, many of them use the battery "cartridge" as a structural component for the chassis, and now this is supposed to be "user replaceable"??? Or with iPhone, which is weather-sealed with gaskets which need to be replaced each time the unit is opened for service in order to maintain the IP rating, how is it supposed to retain that rating if the battery is "user replaceable"??

This is what happens when idiot politicians start meddling in industrial design matters... There is no win for consumers here, little win for the environment, and just make-work projects for themselves so they can keep receiving big fat pay checks paid for by their constituents, revolting.