Can someone convince me it's safe to buy a MBP with non-replaceable hard drive?

[Wolfpup]

ARGH! This new model is about perfect (other than the still terrible GPU), but...it still dosen't have a user replacable hard drive.

I'm worried about needing to send the system in for service, but having no way to swap the hard drive out first so no one can get hold of my personal info

 

[shecky]

ARGH! This new model is about perfect (other than the still terrible GPU), but...it still dosen't have a user replacable hard drive.

i know you are probably correct, but have we 100% confirmed this yet? i am waiting for the tech. overview PDF to be posted on apple's site.

 

[Butthead]

i know you are probably correct, but have we 100% confirmed this yet? i am waiting for the tech. overview PDF to be posted on apple's site.

I'm not waiting for tech overview. Apple did absolutely nothing much more than slam a C2D into the existing case, the couldn't even be bothered to upgrade the ATI x1600 GPU to it's slightly higher performing replacement that dissipates the same amount of power (no additional thermal issues).

No new engineering (unless you claim that for the MBP15in, which was rushed to market, while with time the MBP17in got the necessary additional support chip to use FW800, now that chip has been added to the MBP15in, no big engineering feat, lol) is on the minor speed bumped C2D MBPs.

Anyone who can wait, should wait for the Santa Rosa/Merom combination that is rumored to be on schedule for delivery H1 2007 (Spring, perhaps as soon as March). Expect a number of useful performance enhancments that will make the current C2D owners green with envy. No telling whether or not the HD bay will be more accessable, or even less on the Santa Rosa platform

 

[katie ta achoo]

I'm worried about needing to send the system in for service, but having no way to swap the hard drive out first so no one can get hold of my personal info

I think the tech guys have better things to do than to rifle through your hard drive.
That would also be an insane invasion of privacy, so they wouldn't do it.
Methinks you're a little too paranoid.

 

[Sesshi]

Anyone who can wait, should wait for the Santa Rosa/Merom combination that is rumored to be on schedule for delivery H1 2007 (Spring, perhaps as soon as March). Expect a number of useful performance enhancments that will make the current C2D owners green with envy. No telling whether or not the HD bay will be more accessable, or even less on the Santa Rosa platform

ROFL

 

[extraextra]

I'm worried about needing to send the system in for service, but having no way to swap the hard drive out first so no one can get hold of my personal info

I'm pretty sure they don't sift through your HD when they have other computers to fix.

Unless, you have files that look suspiciously like pornos. Lol. They might take a peek then.

 

[matperk]

Anyone who can wait, should wait for the Santa Rosa/Merom combination that is rumored to be on schedule for delivery H1 2007 (Spring, perhaps as soon as March). Expect a number of useful performance enhancments that will make the current C2D owners green with envy. No telling whether or not the HD bay will be more accessable, or even less on the Santa Rosa platform

And it begins again.

 

[ZooWall]

Get an external.

Why don't you just get an external hard drive for any info you want to keep safe?

 

[Russ-ST24]

Hi,
I just upgraded my internal HD on my MBP to 160GB. I know it is "not user upgradable" but it was really easy when I watched the video on the internet of someone doing it.

http://media.macsales.com/medres.html

You only need one special screwdriver which is cheap.
Also during the whole thing there is no way apple would know I have been inside as there are no warranty seals to break. So the way I look at it that should I need service under applecare I will just put my original 80Gb back in with a clean OSX install and send it off.
The whole HD swap only took about 45 mins and that was being VERY carefull.
I must say that without the above video I dont think I would have been brave enough!
But now I have 20GB for Windows XP and the rest for OSX! Nice. 80Gb was a little low to be honest with iTunes and video etc all together.

Hope this helps.

Russ

 

[Wolfpup]

Why don't you just get an external hard drive for any info you want to keep safe?

Sort of an option, except stuff could still be cached on your internal drive...hmm, I guess technically I could use my old iPod for stuff...

Here's some more questions-

-Does OS X support encrypting your home files? I thought that was a feature that got added some time. If it does, is it risky? Does it hurt performance, and would it actually protect your stuff from prying techs?

-Is there method of doing a "secure wipe" on an entire hard drive on a Macbook Pro? Of course that assumes the system is working well enough to run the wipe...

 

[Wolfpup]

Hi,
I just upgraded my internal HD on my MBP to 160GB. I know it is "not user upgradable" but it was really easy when I watched the video on the internet of someone doing it.

http://media.macsales.com/medres.html

You only need one special screwdriver which is cheap.
Also during the whole thing there is no way apple would know I have been inside as there are no warranty seals to break. So the way I look at it that should I need service under applecare I will just put my original 80Gb back in with a clean OSX install and send it off.
The whole HD swap only took about 45 mins and that was being VERY carefull.
I must say that without the above video I dont think I would have been brave enough!
But now I have 20GB for Windows XP and the rest for OSX! Nice. 80Gb was a little low to be honest with iTunes and video etc all together.

Hope this helps.

Russ

Thanks for the video. Unfortunatly it looks like a little too much of an art than a science for my taste. (I don't think I have a torx screwdriver either, though I suppose they sell them somewhere.)

 

[Sayer]

If you dont want someone to see your collection of PORN then use FileVault.

Oftentimes the techs wipe the HD anyway, so I don't think they will care what is on your HD if you actually have to "send it in."

 

[gnasher729]

-Does OS X support encrypting your home files? I thought that was a feature that got added some time. If it does, is it risky? Does it hurt performance, and would it actually protect your stuff from prying techs?

-Is there method of doing a "secure wipe" on an entire hard drive on a Macbook Pro? Of course that assumes the system is working well enough to run the wipe...

Have you ever used MacOS X?