Apple's 13in MacBook Pro in online strip tease
Unibody exposed
Photos One item announced during Apple's keynote address at this week's Worldwide Developers Conference took most observers by surprise: the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. It didn't take long, however, for the teardown specialists at iFixIt to get their hands on one and take it apart.
They found the operation to be reassuringly easy, making upgrades of such items as RAM, hard drive, and battery a no-brainer for even the most ham-handed handyperson - and, yes, iFixit will be more than happy to sell you the items you need for an upgrade.
They'll also sell you the tools you'll need, with the exception of the odd-duck tri-wing screwdriver needed to remove the battery. However, since that tool is used to disassemble many a Nintendo product, you can readily find one online or, if you're a tool grinder, you can make your own.
You'll find their detailed teardown of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro especially interesting when compared with their earlier teardown of the original "unibody" MacBook back in October of last year.
For example, as far as ports are concerned, the MacBook Pro 13-incher giveth and the MacBook Pro 13-incher taketh away.
That's last October's "unibody" MacBook on top and the new MacBook Pro on the bottom
The new mini MacBook Pro adds two welcome items for connection to the outside world: a FireWire 800 port and an SD card slot. To make room for them, however, something had to go - and the digital audio-in port was the fall guy. The single audio port on the new model supports analog and digital audio-out, but only analog audio-in.
Don't try to force the SD card all the way in - it won't cooperate
Next page: Speaking of room...
COMMENTS
@Hard to use
>That all seems preety hard to use. I mean swapping the harddisk when the old one fails is a typical >user task, just like replacing a toner cardridge.
The average computer user uses their computer and takes it to PC World or somewhere when there is a problem.
Anyone who can change a toner cartridge can surely use a screwdriver.
Hard to use
That all seems preety hard to use. I mean swapping the harddisk when the old one fails is a typical user task, just like replacing a toner cardridge. Although looking back at my experience with Apple computers, you would consider putting the logic board on quick release, too.
500GB drives
Laptop drives hit 500GB some time ago. When I bought my MacBook, I bought a 500GB drive to go with it. It's easily user-replaceable. I paid less than £100 for it. Apple charge £160.
I paid the slight premium for their RAM to get it upgraded to 4GB, but I wouldn't have paid an extra 60% for a drive upgrade - that's just silly.
Sticky out SD Card
Personally I think it's a good idea to make the sd card slot as shallow as possible in this case (when it's not supposed to sit in the machine for long periods of time - ala ssd netbook) - that means when some muppet (and there's a good number of them) tries to stick a micro sd or some other smaller format into the reader the chances of getting it out are greatly enhanced.
I couldn't tell you the number of memory cards I've had to pull out of the wrong slot with a couple of very small precision screwdrivers to avoid sending the whole laptop away for strip down/repair. The last one that happened to the motherboard had to be replaced cause the reader was soldered to the motherboard and completely busted by the time the card was removed.
It does make you wonder how some people procreate if they can't even find the right hole on a laptop.
@ Chris Haynes - Mine's a 15-incher though
really? What about your laptop tho...
