Closing Out Another Sunday

[dewline]

Cleaning up some iPhoto archives tonight after re-watching Star Trek: Discovery.

Yes, I know that Apple's moved on to Photos now. I have a machine with that software loaded up. I seem to recall some issues with maintaining control over the photos I've taken and dumped from my cameras into my MacBook Pro over the years, so I'm leaving the archive in said MBP for now. If I'm remembering incorrectly, please explain what mistake I've made.

Also, I still want to upgrade the RAM and hard drive on the slightly newer MacBook-that-isn't-Pro before I move said picture archives to that machine. I've been advised by several friends in my User Group to want to switch that machine from HD to SSD, but I'm (still) skeptical about the value of the trade-offs there.

I can't afford to buy the newest gear every couple of years, and Apple management's not making it easier for me with their growing desire to minimize the ability of owners to customize our gear once we buy it.

Comments

[thewayne]

Check out iFixit.com's web site for info on upgrading your MacBook. I've updated several different models and model years, increasing ram and swapping hard drives, and overall it's been quite easy.

And increasing memory to 16 gig and going to an SSD is a HUGE performance diff! I was frankly amazed when I did it to my 2011 MBP, it was literally a new machine. I can't wait to get a 2012 MBP - the last year before everything started getting glued in - and upgrading it. I'm cautiously optimistic that I might be able to use the same RAM from my dead 2011s as I don't think there was a quantum leap in memory technology between the model years.

[dewline]

"...before everything started getting glued in..."

Yeah, that is just Disturbing in its own way, just reading that line.

Anyway, on point: I have yet to do any kind of real hands-on work myself in refitting any of my Mac gear. So far, it's just been unscrewing and rescrewing the casings at the start and end of the process. When I've seen it done before my eyes, other people have done what I consider the hardest parts of the work. Frankly, I do not trust my own hands with this kind of delicate manœvering. Not yet.

I am familiar with the iFixit site in general, and do trust their supply sources for DIY repait kit.

[thewayne]

The hard drive is easier, and less sensitive than memory. Neither is difficult. And the iFixit tutorials are really top-notch. Memory is very intimidating the first time you do it, no doubt. I started working with it when it was EXTREMELY static-sensitive and never blew a chip. Take your time, sit down, touch the case while touching the screw on the cover plate of a light or electric socket to discharge yourself and you should be fine.

Honestly, the most difficult thing in servicing a MacBook is the case screws! It's very easy to cross-thread them when screwing 'em back in and getting one protruding a bit. Very inconvenient. They're very short-throw screws, so it can take some patience getting the cover back on. And on the Pros, and I expect the Standards, there's 2-3 screws that are approx 1" long whereas the others are less than 1/4" long, so you have to keep that in mind. The long ones are on the hinge side, so even that is kind of obvious and not hard.

The important thing is having a proper #00 screwdriver. And if you ever need to replace a battery, you may need a Y-blade screwdriver, I had to buy one of those from iFixit. The little repair kit from them that's about 6x6" is very nice and quite useful.