I have a 700kb video on how to diassemble a Mac mini. Use quicktime to play.
Mac Mini Disassembly Video
Mac Mini Disassembly Video
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Video: How to disassemble a Mac mini
- Thread starter nylon
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atari1356 said:Doesn't look too difficult... kind of annoying that you have to use a putty knife though. I'd be afraid of scratching the bottom up.
I'm sure you will be able to use other tools to open the case that would be less damaging, however, putty knives are pretty flexible so I don't think they would be that damaging.
I'm just happy to finally get confirmation that the case will be easy to open. I'm planning to put in one of those 60GB 7200 rpm laptop drives from Hitachi and a gig of RAM.
I'm guessing this is an apple internal video from service source, showing Apple techs how to crack the case open.
The apple logo, the professional look, and the captions all tell me this ...
The apple logo, the professional look, and the captions all tell me this ...
From a technicians point of view that is the stupidest way to service the mini. I can't understand why Apple did not make this thing easily serviceable, using a putty knife to open your computer is poor design. They should have put 4 captured screws on the bottom and then the whole assembly would lift out, that would have been much better.
By forcing the user to use more than just a standard screw driver to open the Mac it will make the very casual computer user hesitant to open up the machine.. probably taking it into a Mac Store for service (upgrade). Thus forcing them to look at iBooks and new iPods.. and they have to pay a small fee to the Service Guys.
I'd say it was a good move to keep it upgradable, but not for the faint of heart.
I'd say it was a good move to keep it upgradable, but not for the faint of heart.
the funny thing about the "stupid design"...
is that it is faster to open it that way than un-screwing the 4 suggested screws.
I know it needs practice, but still that was very simple.
is that it is faster to open it that way than un-screwing the 4 suggested screws.
I know it needs practice, but still that was very simple.
Nice. It doesn't seem as hard as I imagined it to be. I replaced an iPod battery and that sucker was pretty tough to crack open, but I managed. This seems like the same concept, with the prying and soforth.
I hope to put in 1GB ram for the Mac Mini I'm buying my mom. Does anyone know if the 256mb that comes standard is soldered on the board like the iBook G4s?
I hope to put in 1GB ram for the Mac Mini I'm buying my mom. Does anyone know if the 256mb that comes standard is soldered on the board like the iBook G4s?
Why compare
Why compare the Mac Mini to the iMac? It's not the same machine. It would be
more practical to compare upgrading a base level iMac to the a level near an available upper model.
I don't like the look of the iMac, the built in monitor, the slot load on the side, the non-adjustable height of the screen, iLife 04, paying for Apple keyboard and mouse. An iMac doesn't work so well in a "Home Theater" system.
I bought the Mac Mini for "my" reasons. I'll likely be purchasing a large LCD monitor and still using the LCD in 5 years with a future Mac system.
Yvan256 said:wouldn't it be about the same price to get the iMac G5?
Why compare the Mac Mini to the iMac? It's not the same machine. It would be
more practical to compare upgrading a base level iMac to the a level near an available upper model.
I don't like the look of the iMac, the built in monitor, the slot load on the side, the non-adjustable height of the screen, iLife 04, paying for Apple keyboard and mouse. An iMac doesn't work so well in a "Home Theater" system.
I bought the Mac Mini for "my" reasons. I'll likely be purchasing a large LCD monitor and still using the LCD in 5 years with a future Mac system.
Yvan256 said:Fine for the 1GB of RAM, but won't the 7200 RPM drive exceed the Mac mini's cooling capacities?
And if you can afford a stick of 1GB RAM and a 60GB 7200 RPM drive... wouldn't it be about the same price to get the iMac G5?
The 7200 RPM does not produce any extra heat then the 4200 RPM drive. Nor does it use any more power. There are plenty of benchmarks of the Hitachi 7k60 which demonstrate this.
Secondly confiiguring the Mini the way I want it wouldn't even bring it close to the cost of the iMac G5. And yet upgrading those two components would do wonders for the speed of the Mini.
Just my two cents.
New Tool
They do in fact have a tool for this. Direct from apple. Its a red putty knife that has a beveled edge. Pretty technical. Why cant you believe that it is an actual video made by apple? I mean after all, a putty knife IS a tool, and it's not like the only tools that techs use is screwdrivers and wire cutters. You'd be amazed at some of the stuff we used when working on dells at the electronics store that I worked at....
What tool would you suggest, we use? a special tool that costs $50? When a putty knife works just as well? not hardly.
Merman637
jmk said:
They do in fact have a tool for this. Direct from apple. Its a red putty knife that has a beveled edge. Pretty technical. Why cant you believe that it is an actual video made by apple? I mean after all, a putty knife IS a tool, and it's not like the only tools that techs use is screwdrivers and wire cutters. You'd be amazed at some of the stuff we used when working on dells at the electronics store that I worked at....
What tool would you suggest, we use? a special tool that costs $50? When a putty knife works just as well? not hardly.
Merman637