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12 Replies Last post: Jun 12, 2007 11:51 PM by heisetax  
Click to view MW Forums's profile New Member
MW Forums
12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004
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Jun 12, 2007 9:10 AM

250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure

MCE's MobileStor Performance 250GB hard disk drive upgrade for the MacBook and MacBook Pro is now shipping. more
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Click to view moo083's profile New Member
moo083
29 posts since
May 17, 2005
1. Jun 12, 2007 12:33 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Just thought I would point out that I emailed MCE about this kit, and then 250 GB drive is a Samsung HM250JI, if anyone was wondering.
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Click to view Machound's profile Member
Machound
866 posts since
Jan 4, 2004
2. Jun 12, 2007 2:37 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
This is an interesting concept, and the price is great! I just wonder how many people are willing to void their AppleCare warranty by doing drive swaps? I paid $50 to have a 160 GB drive put in my PowerBook G4 by my local Apple Authorized repair center last spring. That decision allowed me to get my PowerBook repaired for free under AppleCare last September (at 35 months after purchase) when its motherboard failed in an electrical storm. That was $50 well spent -- not to mention the 60 minutes technician time involved in the swap.
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Click to view AndrewRodney's profile New Member
AndrewRodney
146 posts since
Jul 19, 2005
3. Jun 12, 2007 3:15 PM in response to: Machound
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
At this price point I'd just buy it and use the 250gig with the supplied enclosure and be done. I love the G-Technology Mini but for the same price, I can get an additional 90 gigs even if the case isn't as sexy.
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Click to view MacBliss's profile New Member
MacBliss
16 posts since
Jun 12, 2007
4. Jun 12, 2007 3:45 PM in response to: Machound
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Since when does replacing the HD on a new MacBook void your warranty? I was told by several sources that both RAM and HD can be user upgraded without losing your warranty... I did mine already with a 200GB form Toshiba and it was a piece of cake, took less than 5 minutes.... Gonna call my local Apple store and find out...

Update: Well, apparently updating the RAM is allowed, but swaping the HD will void the warranty. Good thing I have kept my original drive intact... I think I'll put it back in there, and pay a Certified Apple tech $50 to put in my 200GB officially, as I do plan to purchase Applecare on a laptop... I hate when Apple is being so anal about something so simple to do...
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Click to view ShermanHoman's profile Member
ShermanHoman
202 posts since
Oct 27, 2006
5. Jun 12, 2007 4:14 PM in response to: MacBliss
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
I think it is a left-over from the iBook and PowerBook days. The MacBook drive change is very easy, the iBook and PowerBook were a nightmare. The MacBook drive should be considered a user serviceable part.

Sherman Homan http://macintoshsolutions.com http://grumblefix.com http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/MacIntosh.Solutions.781-749-9162 http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Grumble.Fix.781-424-5722 http://local.yahoo.com/info-10140203-macintosh-solutions-norwell
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Click to view alansky's profile Member
alansky
390 posts since
Jul 14, 2004
6. Jun 12, 2007 4:22 PM in response to: ShermanHoman
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
I think it is a left-over from the iBook and PowerBook days. The MacBook drive change is very easy, the iBook and PowerBook were a nightmare. The MacBook drive should be considered a user serviceable part. ShermanHoman

The MacBookPro, on the other hand, requires the removal of 21 screws to replace the hard drive. The procedure is very straightforward. I certainly wouldn't call it "a nightmare." However, there's no question that the average home user should not be attempting a procedure of this complexity. There is therefore no way that Apple can allow such an operation under the terms of its warranty. Having different policies for different models would create nothing but confusion.
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Click to view Machound's profile Member
Machound
866 posts since
Jan 4, 2004
7. Jun 12, 2007 5:32 PM in response to: alansky
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Apple used to allow HD swaps without voiding your warranty as recently as the TiBooks (if I remember right). $50 for a technician to do this is a bargain for most of us, especially considering how phenomenal Applecare service is for laptops. IMO, it's well worth preserving your access to Applecare.

Apple looks the other way with Mac Mini RAM upgrades. It doesn't void your warranty as long as everything goes well, but if you screw up..... I upgraded my own Mac Mini RAM without voiding my warranty. I'm not sure about Mac Mini hard drive swaps, though.
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Click to view Dan Frakes's profile Macworld Editorial
Dan Frakes
3,341 posts since
Apr 14, 2003
8. Jun 12, 2007 5:52 PM in response to: alansky
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Quote:<hr />
Having different policies for different models would create nothing but confusion.

<hr />


Apple specifically calls the MacBook hard drive a user-upgradeable part and covers the procedure under warranty:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf
(PDF download)

Dan Frakes | Senior Editor, Macworld
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Click to view Machound's profile Member
Machound
866 posts since
Jan 4, 2004
9. Jun 12, 2007 6:08 PM in response to: Dan Frakes
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
I stand corrected. What about MacBook Pros?
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Click to view NTropy's profile New Member
NTropy
48 posts since
Aug 31, 2004
10. Jun 12, 2007 6:32 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
sigh

Looks really good except for the eSATA/USB 2.0. I'm using a MacBook and would really prefer Firewire (anything) to eSATA. While there may be an adapter of some kind it adds a level of hassle I wish wasn't there.
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Click to view MacBliss's profile New Member
MacBliss
16 posts since
Jun 12, 2007
11. Jun 12, 2007 7:50 PM in response to: Dan Frakes
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Quote:<hr />
Quote:<hr />
Having different policies for different models would create nothing but confusion.

<hr />


Apple specifically calls the MacBook hard drive a user-upgradeable part and covers the procedure under warranty:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf
(PDF download)

<hr />


Sweeet!! Thank you Dan, that's a relief! So much for the confidence-almost-snootiness with which my Apple store mis-informer answered my question...

Cheers.
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Click to view heisetax's profile Member
heisetax
516 posts since
Oct 2, 2003
12. Jun 12, 2007 11:51 PM in response to: Machound
Re: 250GB laptop drive kit includes enclosure
Quote:<hr />
Apple used to allow HD swaps without voiding your warranty as recently as the TiBooks (if I remember right). $50 for a technician to do this is a bargain for most of us, especially considering how phenomenal Applecare service is for laptops. IMO, it's well worth preserving your access to Applecare.

Apple looks the other way with Mac Mini RAM upgrades. It doesn't void your warranty as long as everything goes well, but if you screw up..... I upgraded my own Mac Mini RAM without voiding my warranty. I'm not sure about Mac Mini hard drive swaps, though.

<hr />




A hard drive is very easy to change in the Ti PowerBook. I changed mine out at least twice a year. This meant that I always had a fresh hard drive in my PowerBook. This ease of changing hard drives ended with the Al PoerBook & has continued on with the Intel MacBook Pro. This entails the 21 or so number of screws & a very delicate connector that connects the track pad to the motherboard. If you break the connector it is a $150-3 or 400 repair. My 17" Al G4 PowerBook still has its original drive in it. The PowerBook is becoming very useless to changes with the internal drive.

With my Ti PowerBook I ran my company with just a PowerBook or 2, no real desktop for a few years. I would worry about the reliability of my PowerBook or Intel MacBook Pro with the same drive in it for more than a few months of 24 hour a day hard drive running. I now start my PowerBook only occasionally. The hard drive has no room on it. I have added only a handfull of new customer files rather than all of them. When I really get serious about using my PowerBook I run it from an external hard drive. I have a 3.5" Seagate SATA hard drive connected to my PowerBook using a FW800 adapter. This drive can take 5, 10 or maybe even 15 seconds to start transmitting data if the drive has been at rest for very long.

I'm waiting for Apple to produce an Intel MacBook Pro that has an easily User replaceable hard drive. One like the Intel Mac Book would be nicest. One at least as easy as the ATi PowerBook would also do. With the backlit keyboard on the Intel MacBook Pro, I would only expect to see the Intel MacBook way.

When people ask me about my PPC PowerBokk I say that I liked my old one but my new one was not user servicable & thus they should stay away from them. So far none of them have gone through iwth their previous plans to purchase any of the Al PowerBooks or Al Intel MacBook Pros.

By now I would have had a 120 GB, 160 GB & now a 250 GB had drives in my PowerBook. I may even have one of those new Intel MacBook Pros.

Have I purchased my last PowerBook Intel MacBook Pro? Probably with the way Apple is about user servicable parts on their computers. Writing this replay with my Intel Mac Pro makes me miss the simple days of my Ti PowerBooks.

Bill the TaxMan
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