MacBook 1st Gen Aluminum corrosion

[smitha96]

Hi, I have a 13" MacBook 1st Gen aluminum enclosure (fall 2008) with replacable bettery. I took it to the Apple store after water was spilled on it. They advised there was corrosion to the display connector (display was not lighting up) and the logic board and recommended replacing both for $750, free labor because under warranty.

Here's my questions:
1) Are the repairs a fair price (2.4ghz logic board, 13" display)
2) Can I do the repairs myself and save money by buying the parts elsewhere? My hardware computer experience is limited to upgrading hard drives and ram on desktops.)
3) Should I instead get a new white Macbook? We use this for playing videos on the TV, email, writing and internet. My only complaint with the current MacBook was the battery life ~2.5 hours.

[iLog.Genius]

Hi, I have a 13" MacBook 1st Gen aluminum enclosure (fall 2008) with replacable bettery. I took it to the Apple store after water was spilled on it. They advised there was corrosion to the display connector (display was not lighting up) and the logic board and recommended replacing both for $750, free labor because under warranty.

Here's my questions:
1) Are the repairs a fair price (2.4ghz logic board, 13" display)
2) Can I do the repairs myself and save money by buying the parts elsewhere? My hardware computer experience is limited to upgrading hard drives and ram on desktops.)
3) Should I instead get a new white Macbook? We use this for playing videos on the TV, email, writing and internet. My only complaint with the current MacBook was the battery life ~2.5 hours.

1) The parts itself combined is generally over $1000 so 750 isn't that bad for those two repairs.

2) You can definitely find parts elsewhere but you have to 1) trust that the logic board is working and there isn't any other flaw and 2) have to be comfortable taking apart computers, which goes further than replacing RAM and a HDD. Tutorials should help though.

3) Getting a new MacBook would be a good option. A new MacBook could be had close to the repair price and you would be getting a newer computer. Check the refurb site.

[vistadude]

It's not worth it to pay $750 for repairs. Might as well a new macbook, or another laptop. The new macbook has a little bit better battery life.

[Prom1]

Indeed new Mac Book
- unless you MUST have the separate In/Out audio ports!

Still - part out your existing MB ALu Unibody and keep the HDD yourself of course.

[DewGuy1999]

If you've got a Micro Center near you, they currently have the white unibody Macbook for $799.99 and the base aluminum MacBook Pro for $999.99. IMHO, I think that either would be a better use of $750 than repairing your current MacBook.

[smitha96]

If you've got a Micro Center near you, they currently have the white unibody Macbook for $799.99 and the base aluminum MacBook Pro for $999.99. IMHO, I think that either would be a better use of $750 than repairing your current MacBook.
Thanks. Picked one up at Micro Center today. Can't beat 20% off.