Or you could just throw a 64 GB SDXC card into the SD slot that's already in the iMac..... (Of course, the SD slot in all Macs are only 480 Mbps USB, but hopefully they'll move to a faster interface in the next iteration.)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iFixit Offers Kit To Install 2nd Hard Drive in Mid-2011 iMacs
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Or you could just throw a 64 GB SDXC card into the SD slot that's already in the iMac..... (Of course, the SD slot in all Macs are only 480 Mbps USB, but hopefully they'll move to a faster interface in the next iteration.)
While I'm in complete agreement that the iMac could and should be easier to get inside, I don't think we're going to get any sympathy in Cupertino. The Jobs vision was always that computers should be "black boxes". End users don't need to know anything about what's inside the box, only that it performs the tasks they want it to. The original Macintosh was like that. A few necessary ports, but otherwise a sealed box only accessible to trained repair technicians. The iPad is the modern equivalent, even more sealed than the original iMac and sporting a minimum number of connections to the outside world. Even the software is locked down to a pre-approved list to ensure the device performs its intended tasks and nothing more.
I don't see Apple deviating from the Jobs vision. It has brought them an amazing amount of success and almost unimaginable wealth.
I have a 2011 iMac after decades of buying only desktops/towers. It was a good deal given that I wanted a newer, bigger display anyway. I've learned to cope with the reflections and I've had at least one external hard drive since I bought my very first Mac so being stuck with only one internal drive was no big deal. It's annoying that getting reliable, high speed external storage means spending big bucks for Thunderbolt or FireWire 800 when the rest of the world has USB 3 at $100-150 less. It's also frustrating that boot camp requires an internal HD with only one Mac partition, but a virtual machine is fine for everything except games.
I agree, why can't Apple build products that are more upgrade friendly? HP has been doing it for years. I would gladly trade a little thickness for ease of maintenance.
----------
The price, even with the cool design, will probably be quite competitive. HP has shown over and over that they can do it on price. Now if you could only get it with OS X installed.
Well yes, it's a plasticky computer as usual from HP. But at least iMac could be designed like that while keeping the great design and aluminum. Easy to maintain, upgrade, disassembly like a DESKTOP computer should. And that HP use 2560x1440 27" display too, so no reason for .. "Uugh iMac use a professional grade display resolution, HP not" anymore.
But no Steve wouldn't want customers "mess up" with the inside. It's a piece of art, not a computer .. right?
Actually, Apple used to have easily upgradeable products. For example, it made the first desktop (Mac II) that could have a motherboard upgrade by simply putting a card in an expansion slot (the expansion slots were parallel to the motherboard). Mac desktop cases used to be among the easiest to open (this is still true about the troubled Mac Pro, but its CPUs are not user upgradeable, unlike to competition). But under the influence of Steve and Jony, the focus had been increasingly on "it just works", with minimal user involvement in terms of configuration or upgrades. You don't need to know how it works, or what its specs are, you just need to know that it works. In other words, Apple has more and more been catering to consumers rather than hobbyists or enthusiasts. We have also seen this trend in Apple's software. This has caused great consternation to many members on these boards.
Too bad they can't do it on quality. According to Consumer Reports, HP desktops are almost twice as likely to require repair as Apple desktops.
Last edited:
I totally thought I was going to get Rick-Rolled by clicking on the link, but the video was much worse . . . an HP computer. Ugh.
This from the company that announced they were ceasing PC production a few month back, then changed their minds. What possible faith could anyone have in HP after that?
Furthermore, this is an ugly package. The concept is fine, in theory, but it looks as if it's been designed by a committee of myopic suits. It's horrible.
There a million aesthetic crimes to pick on, but the massive design crime that screams out is the thing they appear to believe makes it desirable: that ridiculous folding solution. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the idea of an all in one desktop computer to save desk space? And that this is achieved by having a smaller FOOTPRINT?
So HP build an all in one desktop computer that folds into the same footprint as the screen?? This is utterly illogical. The footprint of the old CRT screens weren't as big as a 24" screen - lying on its back, never mind a 27" screen!
But that's not the only issue. If the idea is to lay it down after use - screen facing upwards, it's going to collect dust and get used as a place to rest things - such as drinks etc...
They haven't created a solution here, they've created a million problems. Are you seriously posting this here as a viable alternative to an iMac - based solely on a video showing how it has been made? Did you really not consider all the other issues?
pretty nice, though did any one else notice how many fans there were? Make sure you use paper weights!
This is the combo cable I used for my mid 2011 iMac: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0056OB8GK/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
What all are they including for $69? The link to there instructions shows no mounting kit, they just say use double sided tape.
So basically $69 for a $10 cable?
Last edited:
Why not add two doors on the bottom of the iMac and use sliders to exchange disks.
There is one door right now to exchange or upgrade RAM memory, so I think it would be easy to also do that for HDD or SSD.
![HT3918_4-iMac_Late_2009-Replace_memory_access_door-001-en.png]()
But I guess this won't happen, it's Apple.
Edit : The speakers are there now but could easily moved to the side.
There is one door right now to exchange or upgrade RAM memory, so I think it would be easy to also do that for HDD or SSD.
But I guess this won't happen, it's Apple.
Edit : The speakers are there now but could easily moved to the side.
Thanks for posting this! I had seen that in the past and had a client who would love one - but I forgot who made it, etc. Now I know.
Well yes, it's a plasticky computer as usual from HP. But at least iMac could be designed like that while keeping the great design and aluminum. Easy to maintain, upgrade, disassembly like a DESKTOP computer should. And that HP use 2560x1440 27" display too, so no reason for .. "Uugh iMac use a professional grade display resolution, HP not" anymore.
But no Steve wouldn't want customers "mess up" with the inside. It's a piece of art, not a computer .. right?
It is a piece of art if you ask me. Never seen a more beautiful computer. Does that mean that expandability and user upgrades isn't nice to have available? No. What it does mean that it seams you often sacrifice aesthetics and in-all-in one for expandability.
But by all means, if Apple can keep the iMac sexy or make it more, while offering greater expandability, then I'm all for it.
Their website says you get-
Each kit comes with:
SATA power cable
SATA data cable
Custom-cut 3M VHB double-sided mounting tape
Two Heavy-duty Suction Cups
26 Piece Bit Driver Kit
Spudger
Certainly doesn't seem like $70 worth.
and on the Software side?
Ok, when the Installation of the additional SSD is done, how do I handle the 2 drives in Mac OS?
- Is it possible to easily mount my /Users folder with all the Data to the HDD, while having the operating system on the SDD? Or how do I manage the split (to have all the iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, etc. stuff on the HDD)?
- Do I have to move my bootcamp partition also to the sdd, or will the setup: Bootcamp and Data on HDD, OS X on SDD work?
- What about the partition anlingement for the SDD? You find so many different things if Mac OS does this right or does it not.
Or how is this on an BTO Mac with an HDD/SDD setup?
Ok, when the Installation of the additional SSD is done, how do I handle the 2 drives in Mac OS?
- Is it possible to easily mount my /Users folder with all the Data to the HDD, while having the operating system on the SDD? Or how do I manage the split (to have all the iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, etc. stuff on the HDD)?
- Do I have to move my bootcamp partition also to the sdd, or will the setup: Bootcamp and Data on HDD, OS X on SDD work?
- What about the partition anlingement for the SDD? You find so many different things if Mac OS does this right or does it not.
Or how is this on an BTO Mac with an HDD/SDD setup?
Wild Guess
Total $34,10
----------
Install OS X on SSD, also install Bootcamp there since you want both OS to be fast.
You can easily move your home folder to the HDD, you could for instance make a symlink on the HDD which will point to the right place on your SSD,but you need to log in as a different user, then move(Copy) your home folder to HDD, delete the original and then make a symlink in that place.
Edit 1 : Although this will work there might be side effects, like backup or encrypting the Home folder.
Edit 2 : If only your Movies, Pictures and Music folders are the big ones then it would be better to make Symlinks only for those folders and not your whole Home folder.
Last edited:
I might actually CONSIDER buying an iMac if it were closer to something like this. It's a desktop, yet you can hardly get inside the machine for upgrades. And they use MOBILE graphics cards. So embarrassing.
Hmmm... well, I think an iMac ISN'T for YOU then, right? Most people who just want a nice design, and want it to WORK would buy it... Just go by a PC then. I could do this upgrade easily, but even with the parts accessible, some have broken parts putting them in, so whatever... no matter what, servicing the guts of a computer isn't for EVERYONE!!! Now, anyone have any positive remarks about this upgrade?
----------
Now you can buy this... okay... about the topic?????
Why does MR's have all these AH's on it? The topic is about putting a 2nd drive in, nothing more, nothing less... why turn it into a battle?
----------
I say... PLEASE go design one! I can't wait to see your design expertise!Why not add two doors on the bottom of the iMac and use sliders to exchange disks.
There is one door right now to exchange or upgrade RAM memory, so I think it would be easy to also do that for HDD or SSD.
Image
But I guess this won't happen, it's Apple.
Edit : The speakers are there now but could easily moved to the side.
Yeah that's pretty cool, our external USB hard drives aren't faster than that either! Maybe in the future we could just have thunderbolt speeds for the memory card slot, with faster memory cards of course
Yes, they would. Especially when their iMac needs a new several hundred dollar logic board and their machine is under warranty.
Data Doubler
The first thing I did when I received my 27" 2011 iMac was to pull the optical drive out, install the Data Doubler from OWC, installed my SSD in its place and threw the optical drive into an external case. I had a local Apple approved repair shop do the work so as not to void any of my warranty in doing the upgrade. All in all it cost me $110, the best money I ever spent.
The first thing I did when I received my 27" 2011 iMac was to pull the optical drive out, install the Data Doubler from OWC, installed my SSD in its place and threw the optical drive into an external case. I had a local Apple approved repair shop do the work so as not to void any of my warranty in doing the upgrade. All in all it cost me $110, the best money I ever spent.
Did I say anything about the design, no I did not, it's beautiful as it is, this is a forum and I and other's have "complained" about how difficult it is to just upgrade a HDD instead of paying Apple's Expensive alternative options.
Just check out how much they charge for bigger HDD or more RAM or other options.
Not only that but even exchanging the main HDD is impossible because of some Apple sensor built into the disk.
If you read iFixit it does not come with the bracket be careful you are wasting you money. I have a 27" iMac with a 3TB and 120SSD with my Optical drive still in there. I did it much cheaper then them.
If you put a SSD drive in there is a nice little spot to put it right next to the original drive.
You can also go this route and get the bracket..
http://www.applecomponents.com/comp...d-2011/?p=all_items&pn=1&cmp=0194&per_page=30
If you put a SSD drive in there is a nice little spot to put it right next to the original drive.
You can also go this route and get the bracket..
http://www.applecomponents.com/comp...d-2011/?p=all_items&pn=1&cmp=0194&per_page=30
69.99 for a bunch of cables, screws, and trays?! I think this add-on is a bit overpriced...
----------
The Backpack is available at Best Buy or B&H Photo. It works "ok" but takes a little work getting it to sit properly.
----------
The Backpack is available at Best Buy or B&H Photo. It works "ok" but takes a little work getting it to sit properly.
Pop the hood.
Nice one, I wonder how often you have to pop the hood of this beauty. I am guessing these new HP computers require an oil change every 3 months and new spark plugs every 2 years. Then you need to also change the air filter and rotate the 4 RAMs so that they wear evenly. Do you know how often you have to turn the disks rotors?
Nice one, I wonder how often you have to pop the hood of this beauty. I am guessing these new HP computers require an oil change every 3 months and new spark plugs every 2 years. Then you need to also change the air filter and rotate the 4 RAMs so that they wear evenly. Do you know how often you have to turn the disks rotors?