DIY your own iMacbook Pro

[ozkar]

My original 13" macbook pro was bought in 2009
and the display was dead, staff at Apple Store quoted the cost would be >$600aud to fix it

A second hand mac for the same spec should cost less than $400 on ebay so I refused to fix it.
Besides, I am so sick of using a 13" monitor in writing up my essays and reports as i have to open the source and MS word at the same time.
So I determined to tear it the screen and keyboard apart to ensure the out of order monitor won't block my view like below.

With a Shamesung 24" monitor at less than $300aud at Dicksmith
(They are offering extra 15% off all Samsung monitor this weekend)

iMacbook is done

p.s. the wifi receiver of macbook pro is located inside the clutch cover
remeber to take it out otherwise u hv no wifi signal

updates on day 2:
The airport card is dead [No idea whether it was due to sweat on my hand shorted the circuit or not]
Using Lan cable right now, doesn't matter much since i have turned it to a desktop computer already.

 

[Brian Y]

My original 13" macbook pro was bought in 2009
and the display was dead, staff at Apple Store quoted the cost would be >$600aud to fix it

Image

A second hand mac for the same spec should cost less than $400 on ebay so I refused to fix it.
Besides, I am so sick of using a 13" monitor in writing up my essays and reports as i have to open the source and MS word at the same time.
So I determined to tear it the screen and keyboard apart to ensure the out of order monitor won't block my view like below.

Image

With a Shamesung 24" monitor at less than $300aud at Dicksmith
(They are offering extra 15% off all Samsung monitor this weekend)

Image

iMacbook is done

p.s. the wifi receiver of macbook pro is located inside the clutch cover
remeber to take it out otherwise u hv no wifi signal
Image

updates on day 2:
The airport card is dead [No idea whether it was due to sweat on my hand shorted the circuit or not]
Using Lan cable right now, doesn't matter much since i have turned it to a desktop computer already.

If you put the airport card in upside down (connector wise) you will kill the card, and quite often the MLB. If you don't have experience, just pull the airport card out before you kill the board!

And they actually make quite nice little desktop computers!

 

[johnnnw]

Really random place for that sticker, that would bother me beyond belief.

 

[ozkar]

If you put the airport card in upside down (connector wise) you will kill the card, and quite often the MLB. If you don't have experience, just pull the airport card out before you kill the board!

And they actually make quite nice little desktop computers!

can u talk more in-depth about the upside down of the airport card?

no idea why it is required to place the airport card in that way

 

[trigonometry]

Why not just use the MBP in clamshell mode with external display, mouse, and keyboard? Seems like a more elegant and simpler solution.

 

[Brian Y]

can u talk more in-depth about the upside down of the airport card?

no idea why it is required to place the airport card in that way

On most unibody MBP models which have the clutch mounted airport card, the cable is physically able to fit both ways. However, if you put it in back to front, it will often short the logic board (You'll notice a small puff of smoke, followed by either an inability to use any airport card in the unit, or sometimes complete death of both the airport and logic boards.