Buying 15" PB 100G 7200 RPM tomorrow...

[cepler]

So it looks like I'm going to pickup a 15" Powerbook tomorrow and will join the Mac world for a bit! Looking forward to a change of scenery and learning a new platform. I have a long PC background but also work daily with Linux and FreeBSD so am anxious to have a UNIX based system.

...Now of course all of this hinges on the local Apple store here having the units in stock *crosses fingers* Have the new revised Powerbooks been showing up in local stores by now?

 

[stoid]

Your title hints that you are wanting the upgraded hard drive from the standard configuration. AFAIK, Apple does not do that in their retail stores, and all Built-to-Order machines ship configured directly from the factory. So even if you go into an Apple brick and mortar store, they will not have a machine with that HD in stock, and will order one for you. It would be just as easy to order online at home, unless you want to go in and take a look at the machines first.

 

[cepler]

Ah crap, they won't have drives to install? Hrm...I'll probably swing by just to be sure and to look it over in person one more time. Not sure I could 'live' with an 80 gig drive....altho NewEgg has the 120 gig 5400 for $248 and 100 gig 7200 for $260, upgrade price is $180 w/educational discount...hrm... Might still be worth picking it up, living with 80 gig and upgrading later I suppose....we'll see how my brain functions tomorrow

 

[powerbook911]

The ship times on the new machines is not very long. If you order, you'd have it pretty quickly.

 

[macbaseball]

Ah crap, they won't have drives to install? Hrm...I'll probably swing by just to be sure and to look it over in person one more time. Not sure I could 'live' with an 80 gig drive....altho NewEgg has the 120 gig 5400 for $248 and 100 gig 7200 for $260, upgrade price is $180 w/educational discount...hrm... Might still be worth picking it up, living with 80 gig and upgrading later I suppose....we'll see how my brain functions tomorrow

You don't want to go the Newegg route. First of all putting a hard drive in an Apple Powerbook is very difficult. Secondly, it will void your warranty unless you over pay an Apple Certified Technician. Just be partient, and order it online. It will be there within a week.

 

[cepler]

You don't want to go the Newegg route. First of all putting a hard drive in an Apple Powerbook is very difficult. Secondly, it will void your warranty unless you over pay an Apple Certified Technician. Just be partient, and order it online. It will be there within a week.

I'm really not scared to open up a Powerbook, I've done authorized service for HP, Compaq, IBM and others, including laptops, it's nothing to be scared about when done methodically and carefully and knowing where the various screw attachment points are and snap points are. The warranty voiding thing is a bit annoying but like I said I'll probably run with the 80 for a while since that is what I have in my current T22 laptop and it's been sufficient for me, I don't think 20 gig will really be necessary but might miss 7200 RPM a bit...but I am anxious to have something tomorrow so will probably go with the 80.

How are the store managers regarding dead pixels? I absolutely DETEST them and find them UNACCEPTABLE and plan to make this very clear before my purchase. Are they willing to work with pain in the butt customers like me to get a unit with no dead pixels?

 

[stoid]

You don't want to go the Newegg route. First of all putting a hard drive in an Apple Powerbook is very difficult. Secondly, it will void your warranty unless you over pay an Apple Certified Technician. Just be partient, and order it online. It will be there within a week.

I was interested in upgrading the hard drive in my PowerBook, and I called up AppleCare, and not only would they not help me determine if the hard drive I was looking at would be compatible, I was informed that there is absolutely no way to get a different capacity hard drive put in. Could not take it to an authorized Apple shop, couldn't even pay Apple to do it. Furthermore, if my current hard drive failed, they would only replace it with the same model part, and would not put a different drive in.

So only consider upgrading an option if you don't care about warrantee!

 

[Demon Hunter]

I'm really not scared to open up a Powerbook, I've done authorized service for HP, Compaq, IBM and others, including laptops, it's nothing to be scared about when done methodically and carefully and knowing where the various screw attachment points are and snap points are.

Even if you're the best technician in the world, PowerBooks aren't meant to be opened. The first time you open it the aluminum will bend a little, and it will stay that way. The more you open it, the worse it gets. Just so you're aware.

I haven't heard of the Store Managers making agreements like that (and I worked there), but it's certainly worth a try!

 

[generik]

Even if you're the best technician in the world, PowerBooks aren't meant to be opened. The first time you open it the aluminum will bend a little, and it will stay that way. The more you open it, the worse it gets. Just so you're aware.

I haven't heard of the Store Managers making agreements like that (and I worked there), but it's certainly worth a try!

I've often heard of users who buy third party ram to upgrade themselves. Wouldn't they face the same issue too?

 

[Jon'sLightBulbs]

I've often heard of users who buy third party ram to upgrade themselves. Wouldn't they face the same issue too?

Nope, the hard drive and RAM replacement situations are not similar. RAM is a "user servicable part" requiring only the removal of a single panel from the bottom of the notebook computer. Replacing a hard drive requires taking apart the entire case and removing several components from within the innards. Certainly not bypass surgery, but neither is it as simple as replacing RAM.

 

[cepler]

Nothing in the Apple warranty I read seems to indicated changing the hard drive would void your warranty. It indicates that the 3rd party drive of course would not be covered under warranty and if I break anything they won't replace it but nothing like a 'remove this seal and your warranty is void' thing...

 

[chucknorris]

Nothing in the Apple warranty I read seems to indicated changing the hard drive would void your warranty. It indicates that the 3rd party drive of course would not be covered under warranty and if I break anything they won't replace it but nothing like a 'remove this seal and your warranty is void' thing...

The thing I've heard repeatedly is that they couldn't really care less about an upgraded hard drive if it's done competently. It sounds like you're more than up to the task, so go for it!

I personally would just order online, but I understand the reasons for not doing so.

 

[Vanilla]

How are the store managers regarding dead pixels? I absolutely DETEST them and find them UNACCEPTABLE and plan to make this very clear before my purchase. Are they willing to work with pain in the butt customers like me to get a unit with no dead pixels?

From my own experience you are far more likely to come to an understanding with a store concerning possible dead pixels than via an online service, which is why I have never ordered online.

The downside is you have to accept standard configs, but if you wait beyond the initial model versions what was originally BTO tend to become standard configs anyway.

Vanilla

 

[cepler]

From my own experience you are far more likely to come to an understanding with a store concerning possible dead pixels than via an online service, which is why I have never ordered online.

This is one of the motivating factors to buy locally, that and the instant gratification after pondering various models of laptops to purchase over the past several months... At this point I just want to get somethin' in my hands! ;-P

I've decided to pickup the standard config 15" PB and will be heading out in a few minutes. My next post may well be from that PowerBook

This will be my first Mac so should be interesting! (I >>LOVE<< learning new hardware/applications/environments) My desktop will likely remain a PC (I had just upgraded it to a dual core AMD X2 4400+) since I use that primarily for gaming and it also works very well for Photoshop. But my aging IBM Thinkpad T22 was starting to feel very slow in updating the screen and the RAM can only be upgraded to 512 meg which was a bit painful. I'll be dropping 2 gig into the PB once I get it in (Probably order tonight once I verify my PB's working AOK) Then later down the road if I feel I need more space I'll throw in a 160 gig 7200 RPM (Which will probably be out by then or larger)

Cya on the other side!

 

[Demon Hunter]

This is one of the motivating factors to buy locally, that and the instant gratification after pondering various models of laptops to purchase over the past several months... At this point I just want to get somethin' in my hands! ;-P

I've decided to pickup the standard config 15" PB and will be heading out in a few minutes. My next post may well be from that PowerBook

This will be my first Mac so should be interesting! (I >>LOVE<< learning new hardware/applications/environments) My desktop will likely remain a PC (I had just upgraded it to a dual core AMD X2 4400+) since I use that primarily for gaming and it also works very well for Photoshop. But my aging IBM Thinkpad T22 was starting to feel very slow in updating the screen and the RAM can only be upgraded to 512 meg which was a bit painful. I'll be dropping 2 gig into the PB once I get it in (Probably order tonight once I verify my PB's working AOK) Then later down the road if I feel I need more space I'll throw in a 160 gig 7200 RPM (Which will probably be out by then or larger)

Cya on the other side!

Awesome, congrats. Wow, 160GB@7200rpm... when exactly should those be out?

 

[cepler]

Yup, I did it, got the 512 meg 80 gig 15" PB. They also had 1 gig RAM 100 gig 7200 RPM models in stock as well but I really didn't want to pay the outrageous premium for the RAM since I'd swap it out for 2 1 gig modules soon anyhow. Still poking around the system to get used to things and hunting down utils and stuff to get settled in, will be a fun learning experience.

 

[Rob587]

thats what I got... the apple store's have an upgraded 15" that comes with 1gb ram and a 100gb 7200rpm hd.