[GLLUG] So the new Macbook Pro...

[Marr]

On Wednesday 13 June 2012 20:34:08 Taylor Burke wrote:
> Apple is slowly turning the world of computing into a crapshoot. Their new
> Macbook features a fused display [...]

Normally, I would not comment on this, given my limited experience with Apple 
hardware. But, by complete coincidence, just today I happened to be trying to 
get at the hard disk drive in an iMac (one of the polycarbonate-encased ones 
with a 20" LCD and a little webcam built in). It turns out to be a friggin' 
nightmare and I soon decided that it wasn't worth the effort.

For starters, there are 6 screws on the bottom of the monitor (which is where 
the HDD is ensconsed -- deeply, as it turns out) that have to be removed. No 
problem, but slightly odd that 2 are Phillips and 4 require a #9 Torx. (Yes, I 
know why they do that, but it's still annoying.) Then, of the 4 Torx screws, 1 
is slightly longer than the other 3 so make sure you're paying close attention 
as you remove them because, unlike my 12-year-old Toshiba Satellite laptop 
which I recently disassembled, the position for the longer screw is not marked 
near the hole in any fashion. And the longer screw seats easily in 2 of the 4 
holes, so just hope that it's not shorting anything out if you happen to pick 
the wrong 1 of the 2!

The next obstacle to the HDD access comes with the plastic surrounding the 
LCD, which cannot be easily removed because there are 2 hard-to-access 
interior clips inside at the top (which I only learned about after trying to 
remove the plastic, encountering resistance, and watching a 7-minute YouTube 
video that only covered removal of the outer plastic, not even getting 
anywhere close to the HDD access/removal!). Releasing those clips requires 
what us mechanically inclined types would call an SST (Special Shop Tool). 
It's $30 at Apple, but discontinued. YouTube has a video about how to make one 
from an old credit card, so get out a pot of boiling water, some tongs, and 3 
old CD jewel cases. (Don't forget the old credit card!  I actually have a 
couple of those for cracking the cases of things like remote controls and 
briefly considered making this SST.)

However, at that point, before wasting too much (more) time on this endeavor, 
I figured I should dig a little deeper and found this website showing the 
involved process just to get access to the HDD:

   http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/iMac-Intel-20-Inch-EMC-2105-and-2118-
Hard-Drive-Replacement/1092/1

That's an excellent guide, but still... "No, thank you", Apple.  Anyone 
contemplating an Apple purchase and ever wanting to repair or upgrade should 
take a good look at all 23 steps involved in that guide. I sure hope that's 
atypical for Apple, but I think I know better, based on what I've heard over 
the years and continue to hear, right up to today's thread-starter.

On Wednesday 13 June 2012 20:44:24 Eduardo Cesconetto wrote:
> We call it innovation for those who want innovation

That's what Microsoft called it too. It doesn't make what they do innovative. 
Or useful. Seeing that nightmare just to get a peek at the HDD made me swear 
off ever buying any Apple product. I'm glad that this iMac is a loaner and that 
it never cost me a dime because I'd be rather annoyed (correction, "more 
annoyed") right now.

On Wednesday 13 June 2012 21:22:31 Eduardo Cesconetto wrote:
> Upgrading RAM to the same motherboard is a waste of time and effort for
> most people, maybe not for us geeks, dweebs, nerds, etc… Do you believe a
> lawyer, dentist, doctor, engineer o any other professional would spend
> time even thinking of gaining 3.765% speed by replacing RAM?

Funny you mention RAM. That's the _ONLY_ thing on this iMac that's easy to 
upgrade! Not counting the mouse or the keyboard, of course. :^)  There are 2 
Phillips screws and a couple of pop-out levers to leverage out the RAM. If so 
few people upgrade the RAM, then why is that the thing that they make so easy 
to upgrade? Yeah, I know you're talking laptop and I'm talking desktop, but I 
think the point is still applicable.

On Wednesday 13 June 2012 21:22:31 Eduardo Cesconetto wrote:
> Think about Taylor, if you are not building your PC and you decide to buy a
> brand name one, it'll have a warranty seal on it, so technically, you
> can't upgrade that unless you WANT to void your warranty…

Huh?!? The last 2 laptops I bought (both Toshiba, but I have no affiliation with 
them) had easily accessible doors to upgrade the RAM with no warranty-voiding 
whatsoever.  Just how long have you been smoking the Apple crack-pipe, 
Eduardo?

Still, I'm glad that Apple is out there for some competition. And, of course, 
people are free to buy what they like. Some people never even think about 
touching the "innards" -- more power to them if that is what they want/like 
and can live with and/or are willing to pay Apple to repair/upgrade. But I'm a 
DIY guy deep in the core and just cannot fathom such unmaintainable and 
(effectively) non-upgrade-able hardware. Reasonably easy RAM and HDD access is 
_required_ on even a laptop PC and especially on a desktop PC. And yes, I'm 
old enough to remember when even Apples were called PCs and I still consider 
them PCs.

Bill