One of the early criticisms levelled at Apple’s new MacBook Air ultra-thin notebook computer is that the battery seems to be a non-replaceable part.

While Air fans have said that carrying round a spare battery defeats the object of the machine’s portability, if the internal battery goes kaput, it would be a lot handier to be able to pop in a new one without having to send it away to Apple.

It turns out a distinctly low-tech solution exists. According to AppleInsider, all that’s required is “a single size-0 type Philips screwdriver and some diligence.”