Upgrade new MBP hard drive?

I was reading the switchers' guide and saw that upgrading the HD in my new (Apple refurb store, actually) 15" LED MBP 2.4ghz 8600gt model will void the warranty, and an Apple store tech must do it.

I'm cheap, illustrated well by me buying a refurb MBP for $1350 after waiting for a couple years to pounce on one. Being cheap, I was thinking of purchasing a 320gb HD for the MBP for like $65 off Newegg, and having the Apple store pop it in for me so my 1-year warranty will remain intact.

Does the Apple store charge for this service if they are installing an HD I am bringing in? If I purchase an upgrade HD from the Apple store themselves, will they provide the service free or at a discount?

Just trying to find the cheapest method to this madness in Apple world.

 

I'm pretty sure they charge a small service fee, but not sure exactly how much. It's not going to be too bad though. If you bought the HDD from the store, I'm still pretty sure they charge to install it. It's the installing labor that they charge you for. The only way to get an upgraded HDD in your MBP without having to get an Apple store to replace it, was to pre-order one with the upgraded one in it already.

 

Unless you screw up the installation Apple doesnt really care whether you did it yourself. Just keep the original around in case you ever need service.

 

very often with a few companies, including Apple machines, I've bought the bare minimum smallest drive they offer, then take it out, store it in an anti-static bag, and put in my own big one. If I ever had to have it serviced, i swapped the drives back and sent it in.

This wasn't ever a problem... but for a few years i was an Apple tech at an AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider), so I did my own warranty repairs... which was nice. My machine would have a warranty issue, and Apple would actually pay me to fix my own machine I'm not sure if they put anything inside the machines to tell if it has been open, but they never did on any machine I worked on under warranty. I will tell you if you can find a AASP that really wants your business, they will be known (though might not admit it) to break some rules for you... which may not happen if you deal with Apple directly.

 

I'm in the same boat as you. The only way to tell if the notebook has been opened is to look for signs of use on the screws. They're aren't any "warranty voided" stickers.

 

Don't they sell plastic screwdrivers and prying parts for upgrading stuff like laptops and game consoles specifically so there won't be any signs anything was ever opened?
If so I may buy one, snag up the new Seagate 500gb 7200rpm drive and do this.

 

Spudgers are the tools used to pry apart cases. I am not sure about plastic screw drivers.

 

But what if the laptop breaks down and the person is given a new replacement? Will they swap the hard drive (and ram) if these have been updated by the user?