Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

Brilliant, thanks...

Any iPhone 6 owners on here have a problem with the front facing camera, looks like it's shifted inside the case but I think it's just a gasket that's moved. Lots of other reports on the web, booked into the Genius Bar but wanted to know if anyone here had a repair. I'm scared they're going to take my scratch free baby and replace with reconditioned.

If you take it into the apple store they should replace the graphics card for free. Thats what happened with mine. Make sure they know about the repair programme though because I was about to be charged £400 until I reminded them it was covered...

They are replacing the graphics card on those for free.

Yes! I just thought I'd knocked it and would have to live with an annoying grey crescent for ever more.

People seem to say it comes back after a while. Be interested to see how you get on.

Is it worth me fitting an SSD to my mid 2009 macbook pro (2.8GHz Intel Core Duo, 4 gig ram)? I'm a graphic designer so use photoshop/indesign etc but don't actually use my laptop that frequently as I'm normally on client's machines, but when I do it can get pretty sluggish these days. I can't justify a new mac but wondering if I'll notice any benefit from an SSD and ram upgrade?

You'll definitely notice a speed bump from both upgrades but the SSD is the best £ per speed bump upgrade you could make to your current machine...

+1. A SSD + 16gb ram took my early 2011 mbp from unusable to almost on par with the new retina mbp's, it's a proper work horse now

Ok then! Recommends for what/where SSD and ram then please?

Get this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B00P736UEU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429794740&sr=8-2&keywords=256gb+ssd

And something from here:

http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/memory-ram-upgrades/apple/macbook-pro/15-inch-mid-2009-2.8ghz-core-2-duo

Although you'll need to check how many banks of memory your current 4Gb takes up (prob 2 sticks of 2).

100%.
My even older C2D MacBook Pro went from unusable to working fine with an SSD fitted.

my 2009 macbook is super slow now that i have upgraded to the latest OSX.
I have maxed out the RAM, got an SSD and it gave it a new lease of life until this.

I haven't updated my OS since 10.6.8 for this very reason

I don't think there is a way to go back - i'm full of regrets now.
Might just get a new laptop somehow - time to start looking for a new job....

If you upgraded your old osx to new and it is now slow. The best thing to try would be to backup your files to an external source, do a full harddrive wipe/format. Then install from scratch.
Apple provide a really easy way of doing this:
Reboot with Command and R (Recovery menu)
Use Disk Utility here to format the drive.
Enter Recovery Menu again and download the OSX iso over wifi and install it fresh.
Obviously requires a decent internet connection to obtain the ISO.
I only suggest this because traditionally, files orphaned by the retired OS can leave their mark.

Don't panic, it'll be fixable.
My really old mbp is on the latest OSX and it runs great, try a reinstall.

Oh also run disk utility. Repair permissions etc.

My replacement Mac has finally arrived after over 3 weeks of waiting... gonna pick it up tomorrow... the store has also just put the last nail on their coffin yesterday when I called for an update... it's gonna be an interesting chat with the manager tomorrow.

Since my machine is only going back to apple, would it be enough to just wipe the storage through disc utility with 1 pass? I have done a fair bit of everything on it...

Ok I've ordered the ram SSD and a caddy kit to replace the optical drive when I swap the hdds over. Will I need anything else? Sorry I'd normally do this research myself but I'm up to my neck in pitch work and a slow machine isn't helping!

would it be enough to just wipe the storage through disc utility with 1 pass?

Considering the circumstances - if I were you I'd take it out, have at it with a nice hammer for a couple of minutes, and put it back in.

If you're doing a straight swap and clean install; you'll only need a boot USB with the OS of choice.

If you're going to clone the original drive, you'll need a way of either backing up the drive externally with Time Machine etc or an external USB caddy to put the SSD in and clone the drive (with clone software).

I'm cloning. Can I mount the SSD in the optical caddy, clone the boot HDD and then boot from the SSD?

Yes. If you're removing the optical bay, you can clone and then just change the boot partition on start up.

Great, thanks

I left my tools at work... shame...having said that I picked up the replacement unit today and they actually got the specs right... that was a strange feeling...

The lead genius and I spent some time discussing the downfall of my experience and how the quality of service from the store varies a lot... he has promised me changes will be made in the store... one being they will try and bring the technical knowledge of their technicians up to similar standards so customers won't get someone who know less than the customer, and actually able to resolve issues for them rather than swaping and changing parts, wiping machines endlessly... I sincerely hope he is a man of his word.