Going to pick up a macbook soon, and I was just wondering if it's possible to get an upgraded macbook (bigger harddrive, extra ram, ect.) from the apple store. There's a couple in my area and I'd just rather get it from a store than from thier website. My house is usually empty during the day, so it would be much easier to go to a store, than miss the delivery man and wait longer than I have to.
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Upgraded macbook from the apple store
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The best thing to do is call them. 
But typically they at minimum carry more "stock" configurations than the online store indicates. For most Macs they usually have a "stock" configuration that is equivalent to more-or-less fully built-out BTO configuration -- RAM and HD upgrades, etc.
But typically they at minimum carry more "stock" configurations than the online store indicates. For most Macs they usually have a "stock" configuration that is equivalent to more-or-less fully built-out BTO configuration -- RAM and HD upgrades, etc.why not just perform the upgrades yourself? Apple won't let you return or exchange BTO macs unless it's DOA. Also DIY upgrades are much cheaper.
Pretty sure the only thing they'll do in store is install RAM that you buy from them... which is a rip off.
They will only do the RAM at the apple store. Likes others said it would be easier to do it yourself, and cheaper. On the new Macbooks it is easy to swap out the hard drive and ram. You just have to make sure you buy a 2.5 inch serial ATA hard drive.
Bad Idea
Not a good idea to get it done a the apple store. They charge $200 to upgrade the ram in any macbook as aposed to $100 online. I tried this way and it turned out to be like $150 more than at he online store. It may take longer for shipping, but, to me at least, its worth the wait for $150.
Not a good idea to get it done a the apple store. They charge $200 to upgrade the ram in any macbook as aposed to $100 online. I tried this way and it turned out to be like $150 more than at he online store. It may take longer for shipping, but, to me at least, its worth the wait for $150.
Ok, so lets say that I want 1 gig of ram, and the 80 gig hard drive. And lets say that I get one that turns yellow or discolors or has some other problem; they won't exchange it? So I'd be stuck with a problematic Macbook?
And if I were to do the upgrades myself, where do I get the hard drive and would I be able to sell the old one easily? Would it be cheaper to just have apple upgrade that and do the RAM myself? RAM sells quick on ebay, right?
Thanks for all the help so far, guys.
EDIT: Oh, one last question, does upgrading it yourself void the warranty?
And if I were to do the upgrades myself, where do I get the hard drive and would I be able to sell the old one easily? Would it be cheaper to just have apple upgrade that and do the RAM myself? RAM sells quick on ebay, right?
Thanks for all the help so far, guys.
EDIT: Oh, one last question, does upgrading it yourself void the warranty?
Fortunately, the MacBook is designed to allow DIY upgrade of both the RAM
and the Hard Drive.
You will not void your warranty as long as you use Apple guaranteed RAM from
a reputable supplier.
Obviously you must be careful not to damage the logic board while performing the upgrade, but you should not have any problems as long as you follow the step by step directions.
Before you change anything or add anything just make sure your system is running correctly "as shipped"
If you do need to take your machine in for repairs, it's still a good practice to remove any third party hardware, just to rule out problems with third partry components.
and the Hard Drive.
You will not void your warranty as long as you use Apple guaranteed RAM from
a reputable supplier.
Obviously you must be careful not to damage the logic board while performing the upgrade, but you should not have any problems as long as you follow the step by step directions.
Before you change anything or add anything just make sure your system is running correctly "as shipped"
If you do need to take your machine in for repairs, it's still a good practice to remove any third party hardware, just to rule out problems with third partry components.
Adding RAM to a Macbook is really easy, takes 5 minutes. I haven't tried installing a hard drive, but I hear it's easier than installing one on the Macbook Pro.
shlause said:
I don't know how it works in the US, but in Britain, the Apple Store will match the online price. If you tell them.
Since your life is pretty much stuck on your Hard Drive, I would take care to go for the best quality you can afford rather than concentrating on price per GB alone.
I'm really conservative when it comes down to how much data I want stored on any one drive.
If your HD fails and they DO, you're in deep ***** if you don't follow good back-up procedures.
I would keep a notebook drive's contents to a minimum and buy a good, fast, reliable external
drive for all that data you can't live without.
While you're at it consider buying Data Rescue II and DiskWarrior, just in case.
I'm really conservative when it comes down to how much data I want stored on any one drive.
If your HD fails and they DO, you're in deep ***** if you don't follow good back-up procedures.
I would keep a notebook drive's contents to a minimum and buy a good, fast, reliable external
drive for all that data you can't live without.
While you're at it consider buying Data Rescue II and DiskWarrior, just in case.
Confused
So I was looking at 80 gig hard drives on newegg and I'm confused, everyone says it's cheaper to upgrade it yourself, but they're going for $120-$150 as opposed to a $45 (using educational discount) upgrade from apple. Same for ram, it a little over $100 to get a 1 gig kit while just $90 to get it from apple. Is there something I'm not seeing?
So I was looking at 80 gig hard drives on newegg and I'm confused, everyone says it's cheaper to upgrade it yourself, but they're going for $120-$150 as opposed to a $45 (using educational discount) upgrade from apple. Same for ram, it a little over $100 to get a 1 gig kit while just $90 to get it from apple. Is there something I'm not seeing?
You're probably better off just having Apple upgraded the HD if you're only going up one notch, but the price Apple is quoting you on the RAM is to add 512MB
for a total of 1GB RAM.
They are not selling you an additional 1 GB, they are upgrading your system TO 1GB.
If you want to actually ADD 1GB RAM, go to Datamem.com or OWC to get
guaranteed Apple compatibility.
NewEgg does sell Crucial RAM, but NewEgg does not guarantee Apple compatibility. they are selling specs alone so you must know what you are ordering.
for a total of 1GB RAM.
They are not selling you an additional 1 GB, they are upgrading your system TO 1GB.
If you want to actually ADD 1GB RAM, go to Datamem.com or OWC to get
guaranteed Apple compatibility.
NewEgg does sell Crucial RAM, but NewEgg does not guarantee Apple compatibility. they are selling specs alone so you must know what you are ordering.
Apple2Mac said:
what were the specs on the ram that you bought? i've heard good things about Gskill from newegg.....seems that no one has problems with it. And nowadays nothing is mac compatible bc it's all the same hardware....
So a user stated that you can't return or exchange a BTO macbook...
I just bought one with an upgraded 80gb hd...
so are you telling me that if I had any of the numerous problems that are occuring in the macbooks, (discolouration, mooing, overheating, etc) I wont be able to exchange it for a new one!!??!
Can someone please clarify this...
I just bought one with an upgraded 80gb hd...
so are you telling me that if I had any of the numerous problems that are occuring in the macbooks, (discolouration, mooing, overheating, etc) I wont be able to exchange it for a new one!!??!
Can someone please clarify this...
Apple will usually repair a BTO in store or send it out if necessary.
Now if you have something really simple like a RAM upgrade or in a MacBook
a Hard Drive upgrade, the store genius may or may not decide to just swap out your upgrade components.
Now if you have something really simple like a RAM upgrade or in a MacBook
a Hard Drive upgrade, the store genius may or may not decide to just swap out your upgrade components.
It's still going to be up to the individual store manager.
They can't swap you for something they don't have in stock.
I purchased my daughter's iBook refurb direct from Apple.
It arrived with a free 60 GB HD upgrade.
The display hinge fractured and the store sent it off to their repair facility.
It took almost two weeks, but didn't cost me a cent.
I can't complain at all. The Tyson's Corner Apple Store is great!
They can't swap you for something they don't have in stock.
I purchased my daughter's iBook refurb direct from Apple.
It arrived with a free 60 GB HD upgrade.
The display hinge fractured and the store sent it off to their repair facility.
It took almost two weeks, but didn't cost me a cent.
I can't complain at all. The Tyson's Corner Apple Store is great!