OffTopic: Can you upgrade a mac at the apple store?

aychamo · 12-19-2006, 10:02 AM

Hey guys

Sorry this is off topic, but it's the only mac forum I read and need the quick advice. If I buy a new MacBook / MacBookPro at the Apple Store, can they upgrade the ram & HD in-store, at the genius bar? Or do I have to order it upgraded from the internet?

Thank you

PS - My development PowerBook is dying, and I went to the genius bar. God they are such arrogant pricks there, sigh!

iamgnat · 12-19-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by aychamo

PS - My development PowerBook is dying, and I went to the genius bar. God they are such arrogant pricks there, sigh!

You answered your own question

You might be able to (depends on the staffing/parts they have), but do you want to deal with them or the wait? They will also probably keep it for a couple of days to do the work, i've never seen them just turn something like that around.

The memory is easy to do yourself. I swapped the HDD in my Al PB (same steps for the MBP from what i've told) and it is a royal pain in the ***.

If you haven't already, order it with the minimum amount of ram and the HDD you want. Then buy the RAM upgrade from somewhere else for about half the price and pop it in yourself.

-dave

Bugbyte · 12-19-2006, 12:19 PM

I had mine open. It would be easy to swap both. Memory is really easy. Once you take the DVD drive off, the HDD is right underneath it.

iamgnat · 12-19-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugbyte

I had mine open. It would be easy to swap both. Memory is really easy. Once you take the DVD drive off, the HDD is right underneath it.

Yes the Mini is simple

-dave

Bugbyte · 12-19-2006, 05:00 PM

Oh for God's sake. There I go reading too quickly again. Sorry!

BarryWoods · 12-19-2006, 08:12 PM

If you get a macbook, both the ram and drive are user replaceable. On the pro the ram is user replaceable, but you have to take the top case off to get to the drive. If you have any mac questions just pm me, I'm not a dick like the "geniuses".

spdfrek · 01-01-2007, 02:35 PM

Ive replace hard drives in ibook g3, ibook g4 ,powerbook 12 and 14 alum...Its not that tough to do but I would ask if it'll void your warrenty replacing the drive yourself. The ram is simple enough.

echonull · 01-04-2007, 06:48 PM

I worked an the Apple Store in Pittsburgh and yes, they do hardware upgrades in the store. They will have to order the part and they will hold you laptop and then call you when it's ready to pick up.

parksgm · 01-05-2007, 02:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by spdfrek

Ive replace hard drives in ibook g3, ibook g4 ,powerbook 12 and 14 alum...Its not that tough to do but I would ask if it'll void your warrenty replacing the drive yourself. The ram is simple enough.

Uh, the G4 iBook isn't "hard" to do, but it does take quite a bit of time and patience. I consider myself pretty skilled at DIY electronics upgrades/projects, I followed an online guide, and it took about an hour to disassemble and install the drive, and another hour to reassemble. There are MANY screws, few of which are the same size. I don't look forward to replacing the drive again, and I enjoy this sort of stuff.

G3 iBooks, the Powerbooks, and the MacBook/MBP may be different, but the G4 iBook is no quick task.

spdfrek · 01-05-2007, 09:39 AM

Just run away if its ever a 12 powerbook that needs in optical drive. You have to remove the main board to replave it.... That sucked. I can speak on the macbook pro. My cousin just did a couple of them for customers at their store. Aparenty theres alot of screws to take out compared to the powerbooks, but once you have the screws out the case pops apart easy and the drive is quick to access.

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