Technically, this should be in the "In the News" section, but thought I'd better put it here...

New iMac hard drive upgrades 'difficult'


It annoys me when Apple start doing stupid things like this, why the hell use a proprietary connection? Stick to standards!! I suppose with the iMac, though, the hard drive's not considered a user-replaceable part, but what happens when it's out of warranty - sorry, but you should be able to replace it yourself if you have the technical know-how. And what about these independent repairers, how are they going to be able to source the drive and flash the firmware without going back to Apple.

I hope they don't start doing this in the Mac Pro - which should be user-upgradeable.

This is one reason I don't like Apple.

They sell parts for their computers but at ridiculous prices. With RAM and HDDs they were OK as you could use standard third party kit.

... and now this!

The batteries for my MBP cost over £100 from Apple and they will only last 1 year. This is why I haven't bought a replacement and use it just on the mains adapter.

I've never heard of anything you might describe as a 'standard laptop battery'. Everyone makes custom battery enclosures for their laptops and they all price-gouge on them. Even though, as history showed, most of them are functionally identical and equally likely to spontaneously combust. Having said that some of Apple's BTO option pricing is bordering on the hilarious. I certainly wouldn't upgrade RAM as a BTO option for example. The fact is though if you want to use standard parts you have to go for a Mac pro and they're not cheap anyway.

Having said all that, crucials's web site is utterly broken when used with Safari, which they deserve a thorough kicking for .

Jon

Well no, but the HDDs and RAM have always been standard. The only reason to do this to the HDDs is so they can apply the Apple premium to the price tage and sell it themselves.

Indeed, but on the other hand they patently don't market the iMac as an upgradeable product - they even say that the hard drive is not a user-serviceable part. You simply don't buy an iMac if you're planning on tinkering. The actual problem is the infamous 'headless iMac hole' in the Apple lineup. For years and years a (presumably fairly small) core of users have been clamouring for a 'mac pro mini'; something cheaper and smaller than a Mac pro but with some user serviceable features. Apple simply don't seem interested in serving that market - the demand has been constant for as I say years and it's not technically difficult so the only explanation remaining for Apple not doing it is that they don't want to.

At the end of it all, Apple make the products they make and if you like what they make you buy one, if you don't then you don't buy one. Apple don't seem to mind either way.

Jon

Is it such an issue. When I bought both my iMacs last year I maxed the spec in the areas that I thought would get me through to the next upgrade in several years time. I have Applecare so if there is a problem them I can get it fixed. Other than that I have no intention of upgrading the machine at all. Also it is a fairlty tough job as you have to take everything out through the screen anyway so it is good that they can do it. I wouldn't try.

And I can see why they do it. I want one of those, but they don't make one, so I'll end up getting a mac pro, which is far more than I need. They've managed to price it at just the point I can stand where I'll grumble, but not seriously consider a pc. Gotta admire them really.

With this and the dropping of classic and ppc emulation and the iPhone 4 not working on tiger, i have absolutely no good will towards apple anymore, but I do still love their products.

Apple shoves its mighty corporate cock further up the arse of fanboys, and yet they'll not only defend it but scream for more.

There is surely no justifiable reason for this change, other than corporate greed?

+1

Charmingly put.


I don't think anyone was claiming otherwise. This the deal Apple offer, we're all free to take it or leave it.

Jon

Can we have a poll, take it or leave it.
I'm a leave it..... but I like fiddleing.

I prefer not to fiddle any longer. I did all that when I was a windows user.

Sata power connectors are 7 pin anyway & the hdd fan goes mental on all existing imac's if you use a non apple drive anyway. You simply shove a resistor across the sensor to fix it.

The question remains though - if you're into doing this kind of stuff why buy an iMac in the first place? You know it's going to be hard to get into, you know it's going to be a pain in the arse to actually get any components in or out of it (beyond RAM), you know you can't do anything really fun (like overclocking the CPU) because of the enclosure and heat dissipation issues. You can't put a better video card in it because they just don't make them. You can't fiddle with the cooling or put glowey wires in there or anything, well you can, but nobody would see them. It costs extra than just buying a bog standard tower case and making your own up from scratch for, frankly, a massive ball ache of a job instead of a simple one. Other than masochism, why on earth would anyone put up with the grief?

If you want to drive around in fields, buy a landrover. Don't buy a Smart car and try to turn it into a landrover.

Jon

I don't think an HD upgrade is out of the question for most people, really. It's not a matter of if an HD fails, it's when.
Of course, we're all oh-so-upset (apparently) by this, but as the industry hasn't come up with an answer yet, we'll have to wait and see in the long term if this is such a terrible thing.
I can imagine some firms might do an iMac specific option, or something.