Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

Already covered in greasy greasy fingerprints.

did you budget for a murtlesack to put it in?

As my iPhone 4 draws obsolete, and I'll be looking to get a new laptop soon, my eye is wondering to what other options are avaliable to me. Had a look at the chromebook pixel, but it doesn't have the processing power I'm after (that say, and Air does).

(Only just seen this, as it's been a while since I've use apple)

I've got a Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook, with the previous Intel processor, and it runs CS5 absolutely flawlessly. Happy to batch process RAW images in PS etc etc. Could not recommend it enough, along with the fact that it has a better screen than the Air, and frankly looks nicer.

^^It comes in a cardboard box. That'll do me for now. I'm struggling to envisage a legitimate use for the thing really, so a case isn't high up the list of things to purchase yet.

^buy paper (and the brush set) it's brill.

machinarium is a puzzle game you'd like as well.

also it runs plex app (you use that right?)

watch tv in the bath!

Just successfully put an SSD into my Mac mini and turned it into a fusion drive for less than half the price of having it done at the factory. Aw yiss.

That's on my list of things to do. Have watched the videos and got my head round it, but still thinking it looks a bit fiddly. Any trouble? Did you use one of the kits out there? Which? etc etc.

Got the Other World Computing kit, but I imagine the iFixit one is the same.

No trouble at all. I installed a new OS onto an external drive (then realised I could have used my laptop and Target Disk mode) and backed up in preparation.

Taking it apart is fine, comes with a booklet very similar (and a little better, I'd say) than the iFixit guide online. Put it all back together, followed the Terminal commands (booted from the external drive) from this guide. Then restored OS X and it's copying the old data back to it right now.

Haven't had a chance to check the startup speed, but I've noticed programs opening as fast as on my MBP retina. Yeah, that's where I caught the SSD bug...

It's a shame that the only bit you really need is the ribbon cable to connect the second HD, but they're hard to find for cheap over here, so it's £32 from here, or £23 from US eBay.

I just got the kit in the end, but if you can find the ribbon cable for a reasonable price and want the tools, let me know and you can borrow them.

found the cable for £25 the other day - got it bookmarked somewhere. once I get me an SSD and some time/motivation I'll ping you a pm.

my MacbookPro is making horrible death rattles, starting yesterday when it spontaneously started making noises having been left to sleep for a few hours. it starts up ok, but makes noise from the off - as soon as the fans start. then after a few minutes the buzzing and droning gets louder. it still seems to work, applications start up etc, but it can't backup (Time Machine stays in "preparing backup" stage) and Verify Disk failed (See image).

It isn't making glitchy hard drive noises, but it's more than just the fans. something is very wrong.

Question 1: what the hell is making that noise?

Question 2: it's a 2007 model, it's already being used basically as a desktop because it no longer responds to keyboard, trackpad, screen is pretty ropey etc. can it be repaired, is there any point?

Question 3: new laptop. I need it to run Adobe CS and CAD, no heavy rendering/modeling though. I'd rather something smaller than a 15" so it's easier to carry (I loathe carrying the current one more than a few miles on my back), and I can always plug it in to a screen when I get home. was thinking about a new MBP, smaller one, anyone else run CAD on it? or better recs for running that sort of stuff? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not very computer spec literate. I do basically need it to work out of the box...

sorry for n00b questions.

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I had a fan go a few months back on my 07 mbp, definitely sounded like it was much worse than it was, especially at first when it was pretty sporadic. Replacement fans go for pretty cheap if you can be bothered to do it yourself and you could always replace the hard drive at the same time.

hmm, promising. but the thing about it not being able to verify the disk? that doesn't sound like just a fan problem.

Yeah, does sound like that would need replacing as well.

oh! replace the hard drive, that is indeed what you said. I'm not sure there's much left that isn't broken then: fan, hard drive, keyboard, screen, trackpad, battery life isn't fantastic... actually I'm sure it's just a dodgy connection somewhere to the screen/keyboard/trackpad, probably a pesky bit of solder fell off somewhere. so annoying.
I guess the memory's ok. time for a new computer?

Having had pretty much all the same things fail on mine, I definitely would do if I had the money!

Just volunteered to replace the screen on a friends iphone 4. Bad move?

Oh also I'm pretty sure a fair few people on my course run CAD/CS on 13" mbps and those are probably older models so you should be fine.

That's on my list of things to do. Have watched the videos and got my head round it, but still thinking it looks a bit fiddly. Any trouble? Did you use one of the kits out there? Which? etc etc.

I used the ifixit one (their 26 bit driver toolkit is very good and have used it a lot of times since fixing my iphone etc)

it's a little fiddly but if you take it slowly and dont force anything it's pretty straightforward. i did it on my brand new mac mini so i was absolutely bricking it that i'd fuck it up but i didn't have any issues.

Just volunteered to replace the screen on a friends iphone 4. Bad move?

nah, watch a few videos on youtube. Get a kit with the digitiser.

Hoefla, there have been a fair few deals on mac laptops on here, could do worse than put up a wanted..

Just volunteered to replace the screen on a friends iphone 4. Bad move?

I've done it, it's pretty easy, my tip is make sure you get the screen cable pulled all the way through before you start putting it together again. the two parts should be equal length when it's back in place.

when removing the old screen make sure you salvage the bit of foam that covers the light/proximity sensor as third party ones don't have them and the screen wont turn off when making a call without it.

however if there's any other damage i've recently come to the conclusion it's probably better to pay the £130 odd quid for the out of warranty replacement at an apple store instead.

Oh also I'm pretty sure a fair few people on my course run CAD/CS on 13" mbps and those are probably older models so you should be fine.
ta, that's reassuring. strangely, running CAD on J's more recent MBP (first gen solid cases, I think) is slower and makes it overheat. he reckons it's because it's a higher spec so is more prone to overheating? this seems somewhat counterproductive...

Hoefla, there have been a fair few deals on mac laptops on here, could do worse than put up a wanted..

yep, there was an ultra sweet one recently I missed out on. am possibly getting the 2008 macbook MMC is selling, but I'm thinking that maybe it's better to just go for new new. I've never had a new new mac... I actually find it more reassuring to be constantly slightly out of date. but am attracted by the SSD options on new - should be more durable.

^^ Hm, that's interesting. Had a look around for parts and there's an OEM assembly for £60 notes here

http://www.appleipodparts.com/gbu0-prodshow/iphone-spare-parts-iphone-4s-lcd-digitizer-touch-panel-assembly-black-genuine-original.html

Though elsewhere online says there are no OEM parts, which makes sense as it's Apple.

Can anyone recommend a kit? Preferably with next day shipping