Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MBP hdd usere replacable?

A

akadmon

Suspended
Original poster
Aug 30, 2006
2,006
2
New England
I haven't followed the MBP since last November. The then current rev of the MBP had an hdd which could not be easily accessed (unlike the MB). Has this changed with this year's Santa Rosa rev?

Also, I'm about to pull the trigger on a new MBP for my daughter who is going to college next year. At this point I'm just waiting for the latest OS to be released, so I don't have to shell out $99 separately. Is this a good time to buy a MBP, or do you think that Apple will come out with something radically better by January? A 10% bump is processor speed is not what I would consider as worth waiting 3 months for.
 
Can be done, but fiddly and far too many different screws. I've been pulling laptops apart for about 10 years (professionally) and even was suprised at how annoying it was to pull apart. Some of the engineering "solutions" are a bit bodged eg Scotch tape for the bluetooth module.

Give me an IBM ThinkPad any day! 1 screw to access the HDD...
 
HDD still can be replaced by user without voiding your warranty.
Or you can pay authorized service agent to do it, if you can not be satisfied with what Apple Store offers for upgrades on your ordering page.

If your daughter goes to college next year, buy MBP (or anyth else/new by that time) next year.
If you need it now, have it now.

But I would keep in mind that a new CPU architecture is coming out by the beginning of 2008 (MBPs would probably get it early spring, dont ask me ask Apple why).
And when Apple introduces such upgrades, they usually upgrade other specs quite a bit too.

Also there is a rumors/possibility/long standing need/ of a new laptops, probably at Macworld, or even this November.
 
Replacing the HD on a MBP does void the warranty. You can do it yourself on the MacBook no problem.

My question is, can I take my MacBook Pro to to my local Apple store and pay to have them upgrade the HD? Or will have to take it to a third party authorized repair center to have the HD swapped out so I can keep my warranty?
 
Replacing the HD on an MBP does not void the warranty, however they won't cover any damage you cause while fiddling around in there. I read the warranty very carefully before pulling my system to bits :)
 
Nermal is right, but I think this will go on forever, as users of a "legacy free" Macs, carry too much legacy beliefs on them ;)
 
Doesn't seem like it especially when you compare it to the MacBook. But as mentioned before it doesn't just as long as you don't screw it up. There are detailed guides that show you how, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Also, I think the window is 2 weeks and since Leopard comes out in October, getting it free shouldn't be a problem.
 
Nermal said:
Replacing the HD on an MBP does not void the warranty, however they won't cover any damage you cause while fiddling around in there. I read the warranty very carefully before pulling my system to bits :)
Click to expand...

Your warranty is only void if they find out you've been fiddling where you ought not to. If you have a HDD that isn't one Apple ships OEM then they sure as heck know you've been in there and if they wanted to would tell you you're SOL.

Unfortunately, many techs go by if found any proof that you've been inside your laptop this is obviously the cause of whatever disaster brought you in to their bench; Case etching? Must be the drive! Yellow screen? Must be your crucial memory!
 
I was careful to use the same drive that Apple uses when I upgraded mine :)

Having said that, if a service provider was to accuse my upgraded hard drive of causing, say, my CD drive not to eject then I'd simply take the computer elsewhere.
 
iTouch said:
Doesn't seem like it especially when you compare it to the MacBook. But as mentioned before it doesn't just as long as you don't screw it up. There are detailed guides that show you how, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Also, I think the window is 2 weeks and since Leopard comes out in October, getting it free shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

Where would one find said guide?.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back