Ya'll love me don't ya. I'm the bearer of so much good news lol 😯
Other World Computing, the de facto after market iMac upgrade retailer and servicer, is reporting they are unable to replace the main hard disk in the recently released iMacs.
This sucks. A lot.
Apple has become increasingly unfriendly toward the do-it-yourself community over the years. While the iMac and other all-in-one devices aren't inherently designed to be tinkered with, I always held solace in the fact I could replace my hard drive if it ever died. I could add ram. Maybe even sneak in a SSD in the extra drive bay (which you can still do). However, these dreams with the new iMacs are crushed.
Before, Apple limited the ability to change hard drives by using its own specific thermal sensor cable connected to drives that featured internal temperature sensing. Drives could be replaced, but users were relegated to replacing Seagate drives with larger Seagate drives and Western Digital drives with larger WD drives etc.
However, according to OWC, Apple has moved from a common 4-pin SATA power connector to a 7-pin configuration with hard drive temperature being controlled by a combination of the cable and Apple's proprietary firmware on the drive itself.
Quote
From our testing, we’ve found that removing this drive from the system, or even from that bay itself, causes the machine’s hard drive fans to spin at maximum speed and replacing the drive with any non-Apple original drive will result in the iMac failing the Apple Hardware Test (AHT).
Even more depressing, the latest iMac EFI Update increased the speed of two internal eSATA ports to 6Gb/s speeds and one of them is the proprietary drive. Which can't even take advantage of the speed increase.
Despite this tomfoolery the iMacs can still take advantage of OWC's Turnkey Upgrade Program. Users will only be able to add an additional SSD in open drive bay within the 27" iMac's casing. Still, for users to be forced to take a 27" iMac to an Apple Store or accredited service provider all because a hard drive fails, is overly restrictive.
Hard drives fail. I've had three fail on me. I replaced them. Even if it is a pain to do, I'd at least like the option to be able to upgrade or fix my system without Lord Jobs' approval.
Hopefully a workaround is figured out soon.
Source OWC
I'm not a mac user as I dislike Apple as a company. Things like this and the way they handled the iPhone signal issue just shows how arrogant they are.
Isn't this bordering on an "antitrust" issue? MicroSoft gets raked through the coals for similar "bundling" and yet others do what they want.
I don't think its quite on the scale of the browser scenario MS had plus its Apples choice to do what they want to their hardware. Making it less user friendly may just make a few less people want to buy that particular product.
Greetings,
Have you tried opening up some of the new Vaio's? It is possible, but it can be extremely difficult and leads to a very similar situation - you need to take it in for repairs. How about Airs? iPhones? Anyone's tablets? We want compact, high power, computing equipment. This is one side effect.
Apple's probably not doing this just to drive more business to their stores. I suspect there are very good engineering reasons for this decision.
When I buy Macs, I just assume they're going back to the store if they need work. Cost of doing business.
I can appreciate some things are engineered/designed in a particular way as its just better. Saying that, I hate the way Apple has their own charger connector when everyone else seems to be moving to some form of USB roll
Apple is a cult, not just a company.
Brainwashing
is a process that occurs over a period of time and usually involves the repetition of the programme (content, themes, beliefs) until the subject responds with (attitudinal, behavioral) compliance
Apple causes ‘religious’ reaction in brains of fans, say neuroscientists.
http//
This matter will be resolved with the next generation of iMacs. Then the housing and the whole interior will be mounted with the new revolutionary iScrews.
Ordinary screws look ugly and are hard to remove. The new iScrews instead are pieces of astonishing aesthetic design, completly invisible to the user and not to remove. No more agonizing thoughts of how to tamper with his iMac!
It will stay how God has created it until it dies.
But Apple is aware that some crazy geeks might be annoyed. They can download "iMac Lab" on the App Store for free this is an amazingly realistic virtual dissection of the iMac.
[…]But Apple is aware that some crazy geeks might be annoyed. […]
You mean to say, that to wish for the opportunity to repair or upgrade something that I own outright, just like any comparable and competitive product makes me a "crazy geek"? mrgreen