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    MBP HD replacement questions

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by DrDan99, Nov 19, 2008.

  1. DrDan99

    DrDan99 Notebook Geek

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    Excuse my ignorance just a few questions from a pc guy. My wife's 1.5 year old 15 inch MBP only has a 80 gb hard drive and I want to upgrade it for her birthday. She seems to always be moving stuff for more space.
    1) Any effect on Applecare warranty?
    2) I would use Ghost for my Thinkpad. What do you use in the apple world?
    3) I want a quite drive. Probably 320+. I don't think she will notice any speed difference with 5400 or 7200. Recommendations please. (I have no brand preference).

    Thanks in advance for your help.
     
  2. diggy

    diggy Notebook Deity

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    If its still under warranty, I believe replacing the hard drive will void it.
     
  3. DrDan99

    DrDan99 Notebook Geek

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    Well I can forget that idea. She loves Applecare. And she never keeps a notebook out of warranty. I think she has a couple of more years to go.

    By the way, no effect on my Thinkpad warranty.

    Thanks for the reply
     
  4. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I'm not sure if it will void warranty.

    If it won't I can recommend the Hitachi 5K320, quiet and fast enough.
     
  5. QueenOfSpades

    QueenOfSpades Notebook Consultant

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    1) This is one of those things that depends. I've spoken to Apple reps who have told me it does not void your Apple care warranty, all it does it make it so they don't warranty the hard drive. This is the response I've gotten more often than not. I've known people who have upgraded their drives and had no problem getting service. I think the official manual says it does void the warranty, though. I just upgraded my classic MBP's hard drive yesterday. I'm not worried about Apple care problems.

    2) SuperDuper is the best and easiest program for making a bootable back up drive of your current one. It's also free.

    3) Hitach 320GB 5400 RPM drive. It's on sale at newegg:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145227

    $59.99 after $20 rebate. I just installed it in my laptop and can safely say it operates silently. I'm very happy with it and all the extra space I have.

    My advice would be to go for the upgrade, I highly doubt you'll have Applecare problems. But if you really don't want to go there, maybe get her a nice external. Good luck.