I recently became aware that Mac OS X will cripple a MacBook Pro’s CPU if the battery of the machine is in an “unhealthy” state. We all know that laptop batteries tend to expire before the rest of the computer, losing all capacity or “needing replacement” in as little as two years of everyday usage. For the past 10 or 15 years, Windows laptops have experienced this and keep on working as usual if you have them plugged in with an AC adaptor. Your laptop essentially becomes a desktop, but otherwise you’re fine to go about your business. This isn’t so with the MacBook.

Apple has implemented OS logic that caps the CPU (apparently at around 50% of it’s maximum speed) when a MacBook’s battery goes bad. This quite insulting to a user. It was one thing when they sealed the battery into the MacBook’s chassis, requiring a screwdriver and a little more bravery to service it, but this is new high in their money-over-users stance. There is no reason to cripple a MacBook’s processor simply because the battery is faulty. A car doesn’t become limited to 50 mph or less if the air conditioner goes out. The battery, like an AC unit, is a convenience. It’s not that much fun to remain within 10 feet of an electrical outlet, but you can still get things done. Unless you’re using a MacBook.

And you can’t even take the battery out to fool the MacBook and Mac OS into running normally. Apple says “It is strongly recommended that you do not use your MacBook or MacBook Pro while the battery is removed” and the CPU will be limited in this scenario, as well.

This, obviously, is a ploy to bring MacBook owners into an Apple store to pay to have their battery replaced. One cannot do this himself because it will void the warranty on a MacBook. And to make it even worse, Apple stores aren’t exactly on every corner. If you live in a small town or other rural areas, you’ll either have to drive for hours or wait weeks to ship your MacBook to be fixed. Because Apple says we don’t work at full speed if we have to stay plugged into the wall – and we’re too stupid to remove the bottom of a MacBook Pro and disconnect the battery to replace it.

Allow me to present Apple: a previously fine company shooting itself in the foot.