Apple MacBook Pro Battery Removal

So, Ive got a nice shiny MacBook Pro and I happened to be on VS UC to JFK and back last week (review later). But the flight attendant insisted I remove the battery from said computer. I thought it was well known that the Intel MBP didnt suffer from any battery problems but they insisted.

Its so irritating. I only reboot once a month or so these days so Ive got used to leaving all my browser tabs set and find it really inconvenient.

Maybe its only me.

PS Ive been away - just havent been travelling so havent been online here

I got asked to do the same last week with my Powerbook G4. The stupid thing is that the power supplies on board don't supply enough juice to boot up my computer, so the only way for me to use the thing is to plug in the power cable and then remove the battery. Against the rules, but the battery only has to be in the running laptop for a second or two before you remove it. You just have to make sure nobody's looking I guess. My battery wasn't in the defective batch either.

Cheers,

Ben

Originally posted by benamure
so the only way for me to use the thing is to plug in the power cable and then remove the battery. Against the rules, but the battery only has to be in the running laptop for a second or two before you remove it.

That's what I do, as I probably reboot my laptop once every 10-14 days, unless it desperately needs a reboot for something else.

I plug the Empower in, power up, and then take the battery out, once I'm sure it's on mains.

It only seems to be VS (and even then, only certain crews) who are insisting on this "take the battery out and put it in a sick bag" rigmarole.

On other carriers, this battery paranoia existed for a few months, and has now blown over, and it's back to normal.

But, if the length of the "Phone in Flight Safe mode not okay" saga is anything to go by, we probably shouldn't expect a change in the coming months.

Mike

Its a worry though.. Youre only a magnetic power connector from the end of the world while typing. Admittedly I was only playing call of duty so it wasnt exactly business critical.

We are instructed that all devices which are plugged into seat power have the battery removed. It is too difficult for crew to determine which batteries are defective/replaced so this decision was taken. Its all in the name of safety after all.

[HighFlyer]

I was under the impression that you were allowed to plug your laptop into empower and then remove the battery? (therefore not needing to totally shut down a suspended machine).

Incidentally, i have never been asked to remove the battery when using either of my Mac's onboard.

I was asked to remove the battery by security on our flight out to IAD but after my little strop (advising them that i'd first have to shut down all the open and active programs, as i never shut down my machine) they told me not to bother.

Thanks,
Sarah

[RichardMannion]

So when I used Empower to charge my iPod on Thursdays flight, I wasn't asked to remove my battery. Can't think why..... [D]

They did ask the chap a couple of rows back to remove his battery though, but were happy to supply him with a cable.

Thanks,
Richard

can't see what the fuss is all about..... You don't need to reboot if the battery is removed.

For example, and I've just tested this. Put the mac into sleep mode (close the lid, etc). Wait until HD spins down and fans stop. Remove battery. Have a beer. Put battery back in. Press power button, after a while, mac powers up and should be where you left off

[preiffer]

Yup - there's enough residual power in the MacBooks (and PowerBooks, for that matter) to last a few minutes in sleep with no battery inserted.

I found that VERY weird when I first tried it!

[HighFlyer]

Ah, i never knew that. There's me thinking in PC circles again Cheers Woggledog!

Thanks,
Sarah

[RichardMannion]

You can do this on PC's too [D]

[preiffer]

Ah, you're referring to HIBERNATE though Richard (takes longer to come back from the dead) as opposed to "StandBy".

The Macs can do it in Sleep/Standby and therefore immediate recovery.

[RichardMannion]

New in Vista - Hybrid Sleep, will write to memory and disk. So if power goes completely, then you can still restore.

I didnt know you could standby and remove the batter. I will try that.

I run Vista on my MacBook Pro in a VM.. So I will have to check the Vista part out too

Its a silly rule,... and yes every airline differs but the society for portable batteries or whatever they call themselves advise this proceedure.

Bet their Christmas do is a laugh a minute !!

So all crew should be following this proceedure.. but then again we all know some crew dont wish confrontation or may simply be working up a rank and unfamilier with proceedures in that cabin.

I contacted our safety department with this comment about Mac pro and they are still investigating this. fingers crossed (a fellow mac user)

Hi, Just been reading this thread with interest. I am traveling to Orlando in Y in 2 weeks and I may want to use my laptop, I have spoken to the FC silver team and they advised that I could use my laptop on battery as long as the battery is not affected by the apple recall (I checked with apple and no macbooks are affected)

Now reading this thread I am concerned that the crew will just ignore this and tell me that I can't use it full stop? Can anyone advise on their experience, can you still use laptops on battery power? This really seems ridiculous.

Neil.

[HighFlyer]

I've never had my battery checked on my Mac so i think its highly dependant on the crew you'll get.

Personally, I'd take a print out from the VS website which states:

Customers wishing to use an Apple, Dell or IBM laptop on board can only do so once the laptop battery serial number has been checked by a member of the Cabin Crew.

- If the battery is permitted for use, the laptop may be used as normal on board, with no further restrictions.

- If however the battery is identified as being from the affected batch as identified by Apple, Dell or IBM, the battery must be removed. In cabins where the seats are fitted with In Seat Power Supplies, leads/adapters will be offered. Where no ISPS is provided or no laptop leads/adapters are available, the use of these affected laptops is prohibited.

Any removed or spare batteries must be individually wrapped/protected and placed in your Carry On Baggage. This is limited to two batteries per passenger.

Virgin Atlantic is in communication with Apple, Dell and IBM. As soon as this safety issue is resolved these restrictions will be lifted.

I appreciate what JoeyVS has said, but the above statement is clearly shown on the VS website and i would stick rigid with that. If my Mac's battery's serial is not on the affected battery list, i should be able to use it as normal.

Thanks,
Sarah

In order to determine your battery serial number, it is necessary to remove it. Which annoys me as I keep my mac in standby all the time when i travel.
I have not been asked for around 6 months if it is an affected one. I just tell them it's been replaced by Apple already (which it has)

[preiffer]

You can actually remove the battery from a MB/MBP when it's in standby for brief periods of time, and it'll come back to where you left it just fine.

They hold enough residual power to last a quick battery inspection [y]

hi guys i agree this is a slightly silly rule but virgin has generalised all batteries so there is consistency, if your using the in seat power to charge an ipod then in theory you are going against the guidelines as far as im aware you cant use the in seat power supply to charge batteries, as it hasn't been made for this and runs the risk of over heating! could give you a warm bum!

using a laptop in any cabin and running it off your battery is fine as long as it's not plugged in. So, Virgin lover you'll be fine in Y you just wont be able to plug it in as we dont have in seat power supply in economy.

Also does anyone know where i can get tickets to the society for portable batteries christmas doo, missed it last and was gutted!!!

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by johnvscrew
if your using the in seat power to charge an ipod then in theory you are going against the guidelines as far as im aware you cant use the in seat power supply to charge batteries, as it hasn't been made for this and runs the risk of over heating! could give you a warm bum!

I got a very warm iPod. [:0]

Thank you for that piece of information. I shall take it down and use in evidence in my fight with VS about my now defunct iPod.

well having looked through my manual it appears that you can use your i pod but only with the gaming pack it uses tip a61 and supports the nano, 3g, 4g, colour and video so i think i maybe mistaken. with regards to your ipod honey lamb i dont know what happened there. the game pack would just power it and shouldn't cause it to overheat unless of course it was broken. so best of luck to you with that one.