26 Sep 2003 | Brad Hurley said...

Those little screws were used in the 2001 iBook as well...I had to go searching the hardware stores for that little screwdriver when I bought more RAM. I couldn't find one sold separately; I had to buy a whole set of miniature screwdrivers.

The iBook's flimsy keyboard was always vulnerable to the process of taking off the keyboard to add RAM or an AirPort card. Keys would pop off my keyboard whenever I reinstalled it. This experience, and some bad hardware problems I had with my previous iMac, have soured me a bit on Apple; I have the impression that they're rushing out new product without adequate quality control.

I ordered a new 15" aluminum PowerBook myself last week to replace the iBook, and I sure hope this machine is better built.

26 Sep 2003 | JF said...

I ordered a new 15" aluminum PowerBook myself last week to replace the iBook, and I sure hope this machine is better built.

The build quality on the new alum PowerBook is incredible. It's really tight. I just wish they had a better hardware approach for RAM upgrades.

26 Sep 2003 | Brian said...

I think the tradeoff is completely acceptable. If those screws are the same size as the ones in the 12" G4 PB, it ain't that big of a deal. Get a set of small screwdrivers from Radio Shack; those'll do the job.

I think I can thank those exact screws for my entry into the World of Apple. This is the first Apple computer I've had the priviledge to use that hasn't caused me to curse at the keyboard. Previous (and current; iBooks, other desktop macs with Apple keyboards) Apples have the sh*ttiest keyboards. Cheap, chinsy, fisher-price feel. Now that the keyboard's not removable in the Powerbooks, the quality has finally become acceptable!

*that* is all. :-)

26 Sep 2003 | JF said...

Ahh, Radio Shack! Great idea.

26 Sep 2003 | Lucid said...

I also picked up a new 15" AlBook, and it being my first Mac, I couldn't be happier. I'm finally an official 'switcher'. The machine is the smoothest notebook out there.

As for the tiny screws, once you find a suitable driver, you can then go ahead and take apart all those other gadgets that require tiny screws. Have a field day with your mini-toys, eyeglasses, etc. You will be king on the day your friend needs a quick eyeglass repair! And after you're done installing your new RAM, you can take that mini screw driver and pretend your Zoro by drawing a Z in the air, with intensity!

26 Sep 2003 | Brian said...

JF said... Ahh, Radio Shack! Great idea.

Well, rats, there goes my one good idea for the day. :-)

26 Sep 2003 | mikes said...

yeah I had to buy a size 0 screwdriver for my ibook. I also want to take apart my ipod but I need a TORX-7 screwdriver .. all quite lame, but its in the name of engineering but people are lonely and only animals with too many tools ...

26 Sep 2003 | jb said...

After spending $40 to buy a set of TORX screwdrivers so I could add an airport card to my TiBook, I felt the same way. You'd think that Apple could throw in the screwdriver on your $2600 laptop.

26 Sep 2003 | Scorched said...

I know the demographic here is more designer than geek engineer, but really, everyone should own a set of small screwdrivers. I don't see where small screw sizes are an issue. You should also own a flashlight and jumper cables for your car. And if you really want a computer that just snaps together, I might suggest Lego.

26 Sep 2003 | dayvin said...

I think the new Apple logo is way more un-Apple-like than tiny screws. Blech.

26 Sep 2003 | Jason said...

Speaking of upgrading the new 15" PBs, are the third-party vendors stocked up on RAM for them? Who has the best deal? The 512MB mine came with is fine so far, but once I get everything loaded up on it and start doing serious work (as opposed to giggling over the backlit keyboard) I'll want to beef it up a bit.

26 Sep 2003 | Brad Hurley said...

And another 15" PB question: I got the one with the 80 GB hard disk (my iBook had only 10 GB!), and this is making me think I have enough room to get Virtual PC and move all my Windows programs and files over to the PowerBook so I could sell my ThinkPad and have just one computer instead of two. Is that realistic? Is Virtual PC good enough for me to give up my real Windows machine?

26 Sep 2003 | jkottke said...

Regarding third-party RAM, a few third-party dealers are carrying the new RAM. Ramjet is one (which was recommended to me by a very nice Apple Store employee). The 1GB modules are a different story. They are currently only available through transintl for the whopping price of $650. Apple is, I hear, selling them with Powerbooks at a loss until the price comes down. I got the default amount of RAM with my Powerbook and am waiting for the 1GB chip prices to fall.

26 Sep 2003 | Curtis said...

"Apple has make it markedly more difficult to upgrade the new machines"

26 Sep 2003 | JF said...

I just got 512 extra from Ramjet for the new 15" Powerbook. They are based in IL, though, so I had to pay tax. I highly recommend them (especially to out of state patrons).

26 Sep 2003 | Matt said...

If you're a PowerBook user in the UK, I'm sure a 4 set of Precision Screwdrivers from Woolworths will do the job. No home should be without a set anyway :)

27 Sep 2003 | ek said...

So they still have Woolworths in the UK? Having grown up near one in New York (that had a food counter no less!) I still get nostalgic about the company.

27 Sep 2003 | JF said...

Radioshack has it!. Just picked it up at the local store. Works perfectly.

27 Sep 2003 | pb said...

You'd think they'd have figured out optimal noebook design by now. The basic guts really aren't changing that much now are they?

28 Sep 2003 | Jeff said...

When Powerbooks are owned and administered in public environments, i.e. computer labs, libraries, computer services loaner machines, etc, making the RAM harder to steal is a plus.

29 Sep 2003 | Don Schenck said...

You Mac folks are too funny. All you have to complain about is a little screw on the bottom of your notebook??

Count your blessings! :-)

30 Sep 2003 | effixx said...

on the topic of mac keyboards, which is sort of generally off the grand topic here, i would recommend the Macally IceKey. Holy shit, have you ever been excited about a keyboard before? Because if you haven't used it... be prepared to get schoolgirl excited. Every one of my friends prefers a varying keyboard feel, but all of us agree that the IceKey is the shit.

05 Oct 2003 | Michael said...

For what it's worth - should you be thinking of adding one of these babies to your Mac inventory down the road - installing RAM in a G5 is a breeze. No tools req'd, took about 5 minutes.

05 Oct 2003 | dvsjr said...

sears. where you can buy just the single screwdriver. shell out $3. Get back to telling everyone how much you hate stuff they dont know blows.

08 Oct 2003 | Brad Hurley said...

My 15" PowerBook arrived yesterday. Impressive machine, but the screen doesn't latch correctly and keeps popping open. This is a common problem with the new 15" PBs, and a lot of people have had to bring them back. The last three Macs I've owned have all had annoying hardware quality problems. I bought an iMac that started making an incredibly loud buzzing noise in the middle of the first night I had it, my iBook had several keys pop off the keyboard, was never able to record sound without skips and pops, and the CD burner and battery both gave out after only two years. And now this. Much as I want to support Apple and its products, this might be my last Mac. As ugly and boring as my IBM ThinkPad is, everything on it works flawlessly (except the Windows operating system, of course!) and I've never had any problems with it.

On the other hand, there were some great Apple touches on my PowerBook that reminded me how going the extra mile wins customer loyalty. The system clock came preset for my time zone and location, for example (I ordered mine through the Apple Store). The user manual is the best I've seen from Apple, very clear and thorough. Maybe I'll give them another chance.

10 Oct 2003 | krish said...

I picked up a new 15" Albook last week to replace my aging TiBook (which has already been committed to eBay.)

Unfortunately, in addition to the latch issue I also have extremely low reception levels from the airport extreme card. After replacing the card, it looks like the problem is in the antennae. This is not 'user servicable' so I will likely have to box up my powerbook and send it off to be repaired. Unfortunately for me due to security concerns this also involves a multi-hour backup, a disk wipe and a new install of 10.2.

To add insult to injury: someone in my office picked up an IBM T40 and has such great reception he can pick up like 8 base stations while I can barely see the one that is a few feet away. Of course, the Albook cost was nearly double that of the T40.

After the flaking paint on my Tibook, and the issues with the Albook I am getting a bit wary of the Apple quality levels.

Of course this could all be repaired by a highly responsive and 'premier' service organization. Someone should come to my home, back up my drive and provide me with a new Albook. Then a few quality glitches would not really bother me.

Apple is trying to be the Porsche of the computer business. If I bought a Porsche and the door didn't close and it couldn't go more than a mile without sputtering to a halt you can be sure the dealer would be over in a matter of minutes with a replacement and nothing but the gravest of apologies.

Selling a Porsche requires more than just having an up-market design and a higher price, the service and delivery also needs to match.

Just my .02,

Kris

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