Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
And the difference between the two is....?
Sorry, but as far as I'm concerned, if the user can't replace it, then it's not a "replaceable" battery. Having to send it back to the manufacturer really does not count.
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There is a notable distinction between the two. A "non-replaceable" battery is one that is permanently sealed into a product and cannot be replaced period., i.e., when the battery goes so does the item. There are common in the cheap blinky lights you see on Halloween and New Years.
On the other hand, a "non user-replaceable" battery is one that the manufacturer does not make replacement batteries available to consumers but can replace the battery for the consumer. That, however, does not mean the consumer can't replace it. Usually they can as long as they can use a screwdriver, something even many user-replaceable devices require.
The most famous gadget to have a "non user-replaceable" battery is, of course, the iPod. Despite it having a "non user-replaceable" battery 3rd party replacement kits are widely available, and at a fraction of what Apple charges.
The only time a device with a "non user-replaceable" battery is really a pain is when the battery is soldered to the logic board. Then, unless you are a skilled solderer, you really do have to send the item in for battery replacement.
As I mention in an earlier post, non user-replaceable battery devices are the future. It's a natural result of consumer demand for thinner devices and government regulations requiring for more environmentally friendly ones.