Teardown of New 21.5-inch iMac Reveals Glued Down LCD and Dual Microphones

[charlituna]

And I also wonder why the Apple retail stores stocked with geniuses won't do the repairs.

Who says they won't.

 

[Takeo]

You want a machine you can muck around in, get a Mac Pro or a PC

I couldn't care less about having a machine I can "muck around in". I DO care about being able to replace a hard drive if it fails.

 

[Renzatic]

Even if that's true (and PITA has different threshold levels for everyone), that's *NOT* the same as "impossible".

The biggest problem for me isn't that it's difficult to do, rather that it voids the warranty.

If I get Apple Care, pop out the harddrive a year later to replace it, and the PSU suddenly dies on me for no apparent reason, I've wasted $300.

 

[riverpoet]

Do you supplement that SSD with an eternal drive for media?

I've got 500 gigs in my laptop, with an external 1 TB drive, and I find that to be limiting at this point. I'm not sure that I could live with 256G in a desktop.

Could you use some sort of hybrid SSD/HD setup inside the iMac?

I examined my disk space usage and concluded I can get away with 256GB - even with using 32GB for virtual Windows. I just ordered 4-bay QNAP NAS which will serve as media library (mirrored disks) and maybe even for TM backup.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd be willing to pay the same price for 256GB SSD as 1TB Fusion Drive, but no such option is available.

Also, if one could swap out the drive, you could get 256GB and upgrade to 512GB in a year or so when SSDs get even cheaper...

I plan to use the next computer for 5 years, like the current iMac. Sure, I can be forced to buy 1TB Fusion Drive, but that will be totally outdated in 5 years... My current iMac has 128GB SSD in it feels very responsive and fast for simple tasks (heavy web browsing, light Photoshop, Office).

 

[stiligFox]

See the thing that makes me sick is Apple devices are the most expensive, They should let us the user have root accsess and the build quility should be second to none, Apple might be the second best selling Smartphones at the moment but if you can,t Jailbreak 20% ARE going to jump ship to Android and the new Mac with a glued down screen that is taking the p!ss big time the money it costs. Apple heres a message you ARE going to lose custom people want/need to use there device how they want Jailbroken or not, When ios5 came out it reached past 1,000,000 Jailbreaks and you are going to lose at least that many customers unless we can have root access, Simple

Um, if you are talking about OSX, then you do have root access...

 

[JohnDoe98]

The biggest problem for me isn't that it's difficult to do, rather that it voids the warranty.

If I get Apple Care, pop out the harddrive a year later to replace it, and the PSU suddenly dies on me for no apparent reason, I've wasted $300.

There isn't a shred of evidence that replacing the HD or RAM would void your warranty. Show me where in the warranty or in the terms of agreement/contract there are Tie-in-Sales provisions prohibiting the replacing of those components.

 

[charlituna]

Cut a thin strip from a pair of tights, cut a plastic strip as a holder for the soft material, glue the strip of tights to the plastic then place on the vents with some tape so it's not easily seen. That then will grab the worst.

Well there goes your Kickstarter

 

[Renzatic]

There isn't a shred of evidence that replacing the HD or RAM would void your warranty. Show me where in the warranty or in the terms of agreement/contract there are Tie-in-Sales provisions prohibiting the replacing of those components.

I thought it was common knowledge that opening up the iMac voided the warranty.

If it doesn't, then I have no complaints.

 

[stiligFox]

However unlikely it is, if we keep complaining or "squeaking" loudly enough maybe Apple will go back to magnets for the next generation. Don't forget to hit up their feedback site!

 

[Tech198]

Who says they won't.

True..

Apple has their own tools to do the work. The question will be, we probally will see something iFixIt will sell in the future tso users can DIY their owm iMac removing and reapplying the glue.

Isn't the iPad 3 also glued as well?

 

[JohnDoe98]

I thought it was common knowledge that opening up the iMac voided the warranty.

If it doesn't, then I have no complaints.

I wouldn't trust "common knowledge". I'd much prefer to follow the law. But to each their own I guess. In any case, you raise an important point, anyone potentially willing, like you, to upgrade the components should probably make sure before doing so.

 

[tbrinkma]

Not how that warranty works. Cx would have to prove the part was broken upon delivery to go the route you are talking.

Actually, no. If that were the case, there would be absolutely no point to the mandatory 2 year warranty. What you have to prove is that *you* didn't cause it to stop functioning, not that it was DOA. (IIRC, in the first year, the manufacturer has to prove that you *did* to avoid it being covered.)

Also, at least in the US, if you're getting warranty work done (even by an authorized third-party, as described in the original post), they usually get reimbursed for labor by the manufacturer. If it's different where the OP is, that sucks.

 

[charlituna]

I'd suggest hard drive replacement as a useful feature. Apple might charge you several hundred for a dead drive,

$169 gets you Apple Care, three years from date of purchase. All defects covered. After that, they have 'flat rate' repairs that are often way cheaper. It is possible that an out of warranty replacement could top out at $400-500 which could be quite a bargain if you have a Fusion Drive

 

[tbrinkma]

The biggest problem for me isn't that it's difficult to do, rather that it voids the warranty.

If I get Apple Care, pop out the harddrive a year later to replace it, and the PSU suddenly dies on me for no apparent reason, I've wasted $300.

Where do you get the idea that it voids the warranty? I can't speak for the sock monkey hostel, but in the US you're fine. Unless the later failure was caused by the work you did, your warranty is fine.

Certainly, the easiest way to avoid that potential eventuality is to not do the work yourself in the first place, but if you're competent enough to be doing the work in the first place, you shouldn't be worried about it.

 

[Tech198]

I wouldn't trust "common knowledge". I'd much prefer to follow the law. But to each their own I guess. In any case, you raise an important point, anyone potentially willing, like you, to upgrade the components should probably make sure before doing so.

Maybe Apple's realising they should allow people to do stuff, like replace the user-replaceable hard drives/SSD's and/or RAM in today Macbook Pro/Retina.

I can't even remember the last time i went to the Apple Store to replace anything...

 

[gentleman00]

Not really. Have you seen them in person? It's almost like an optical illusion. I expected there to be a big bulge in the back, but actually its really stunning. A clear improvement from last year's machine

Lets get real. Users don't want to open their machines. I certainly don't. So long as its covered by apple care, I couldn't care less. That's the whole point of being an apple user. If you want to deal with computers instead of use them, I bet Windows would be an amusement park for you

+1

I agree.

90% of the complaints about Apple comes from 10% of the geeks who always find something to whine about.

 

[maxira]

They all criticized Apple for having pasted the batteries in mbpr, Apple has used the same glue to attach the display iMac! Just imagine if tomorrow car manufacturers paste the engine bonnets!

 

[Judas1]

Fixed that for ya

Yep. Apple's target audience isn't the type to try such repairs and frankly given the muck up many make that Apple then refuses to fix (that machine ever under TC the customer never bothered to read), resulting in other issues for store staff etc. Well one can't blame them for locking folks out as much as possible

With the target audience, especially for the 21.5, not really. They use what they have until it falls apart then by a new one. Some of these folks will be replacing iBooks and PowerMac g4 towers with this machine.

The kook-aid is strong in this one.
There is no conflict of interest with iFixit. Their job is to rate repairability, and detail steps to repair and upgrade a device. They don't make more money when something is easily reparairable or hard to repair. In fact, if something is very easily reapairable, it makes their jobs pointless. Their expertise wouldn't be needed. And why is your perspective from the point of view of the manufacturer and not the consumer? All consumers benefit when something is easily repairable even if they don't do the repairs themselves. They can go to someone other than Apple for reapairs and get a cheaper repair. They can get a cheaper computer in the first place and upgrade the parts for less. They can sell a malfunctioning device to someone who can fix it because its easily repairable.

 

[Renzatic]

Where do you get the idea that it voids the warranty? I can't speak for the sock monkey hostel, but in the US you're fine. Unless the later failure was caused by the work you did, your warranty is fine.

Certainly, the easiest way to avoid that potential eventuality is to not do the work yourself in the first place, but if you're competent enough to be doing the work in the first place, you shouldn't be worried about it.

Yeah, that was my main concern about it. What I've heard was that Apple blocked off access to the drive entirely, and set it so cracking open the case yourself voided the warrant. That's what I didn't like. But if if that isn't true, then hey...no complaints.

It'd be nice if it were easier to get into from the back, but considering replacing the drive would be something I do, maybe, twice at the very most over the course of 3-4 years, it isn't that big of a deal.

I'll read up on it to make sure and wait for the 27" breakdown videos before I make my final decision, though.

 

[noiseordinance]

Never have three words meant so much to me: do not want.

 

[theSeb]

There isn't a shred of evidence that replacing the HD or RAM would void your warranty. Show me where in the warranty or in the terms of agreement/contract there are Tie-in-Sales provisions prohibiting the replacing of those components.

Really? Have you actually read the terms and conditions of the warranty?

Replacing the HD yourself in an iMac is an "unauthorised modification" that is not performed by Apple or an AASP. The terms and conditions are pretty clear and there is no room for misinterpretation.

Apple’s One-Year Limited Warranty for iMac excludes coverage for damage resulting from a number of events, including accident, liquid spill or submersion, unauthorized service and unauthorized modifications.

This warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, such as batteries, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports; (c) to damage caused by use with another product; (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside Apple’s published guidelines; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product, or (i) if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product.

What is authorised? (for the 2011 models - obviously this is slightly different now in 2012 where we can only upgrade the memory on the 27" model)

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/imac_mid2011_ug.pdf

Page 38 of the user manual clearly shows that upgrading the memory is the only authorised user upgrade.

WARNING:  Apple recommends that you have an Apple-certified technician install memory. See “AppleCare Service and Support” on page 63 for information about how to contact Apple for service. If you attempt to install memory and damage your equipment, that damage isn’t covered by the limited warranty on your iMac.

In a nutshell, you're not authorised to open up the iMac and modify it. If you do, your warranty is void.

 

[Tech198]

+1

I agree.

90% of the complaints about Apple comes from 10% of the geeks who always find something to whine about.

+1. I'd agree to that one...

If Apple Really wanted to cause users frustation, and only stuff bought from Apple worked, they could easily do this.... Forcing users to buy their components through them, instead of third-parties.

Just like how Apple brand their own hard drives with the Apple logo, so they can see which user has replaced theirs, when they bring it in for servicing. The same could be trur for hardware (RAM, Hard drive, SSD's etc.....) could easily be affixed by a "hardware check" at boot time, unique to them, All Mac's be updated to take advantage of this, if not done already. (maybe part of an OS X security update)

But it can be done, if they wanted to.

 

[theSeb]

Where do you get the idea that it voids the warranty? I can't speak for the sock monkey hostel, but in the US you're fine. Unless the later failure was caused by the work you did, your warranty is fine.

The warranty terms and conditions is where we get this idea. It's pretty clear. I am not sure where some of you got the idea that it's ok to replace the hard drive in an iMac by yourself.

----------

I wouldn't trust "common knowledge". I'd much prefer to follow the law. But to each their own I guess. In any case, you raise an important point, anyone potentially willing, like you, to upgrade the components should probably make sure before doing so.

Yes, neither would I. Hence why we should always read the actual terms and conditions of the warranty instead of spreading misinformation.

Just to repeat

(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple;

 

[3282868]

I can't imagine this being a positive aspect for Apple; the less upgradable and user friendly the system the quicker it will become obsolete. As with the retina MacBook Pro's, the displays and system components appear much more intertwined/locked; if one component fails it may require replacing much more (such as integrated graphics on the logic board). Using a 2.5" 5400 versus the previous 3.5" HDD just to save space, c'mon.

No ODD, slower HDD, LCD panel gorilla glued to the chassis, same front/form, difficult to access RAM - all for a thinner desktop. SMH

Oh, it finally has USB 3.0, then again, so does my Mac Pro, which also has four HDD's, a SSD, a Blu-Ray burner, a better graphics card, and I can access everything and even make my own upgrades without breaking my AppleCare. Huh.

Some are confused here, I've had a CalDigit USB 3.0 PCIe card for a long time, so yes, it does have USB 3.0, and can play Blu-Ray movies with third party app's.

 

[usarioclave]

I was really planning on updating the family Mac with a new iMac, but now I might go with the Mac Mini. We already have a monitor, wireless keyboard, and mouse. I could get the base Mac mini for $600 (our home computing needs are pretty simple) plus buy my wife a new iPad for $500 or iPad Mini for $330 and still be $200 to $370 ahead.

If the iMac fails, we might be waiting a while for service and repair. If the Mac Mini fails, it will be easier to service and my wife can use the iPad in the meantime.

Well first, iMacs don't generally fail, except for the hard drives.

That said, the new Mini looks to be a great box. Pair that with a big dell 27" IPS monitor and you have a machine that's just as fast as the 27" iMac and a few hundred bucks cheaper. Graphics aren't as good, but I'm not sure that matters that much. Plus the Mini has ridiculous resale value - I know, I've been trying to find a cheap one and they're still really expensive - and you can swap in a new one with no hassle.