Two Apple questions

February 5, 2007 10:32 AM

Can a PowerBook run without a CD drive? How can I keep Apple from voiding my AppleCare on a MacBook?

I've got an old PowerBook whose HD I've just replace myself. I'd meant to dump its CD drive which hasn't worked for years, but got worried when I saw it was much more work and I found no into on running them without the CD. Anybody know if it'll work, or must I simply try?

I've got a brand new MacBook whose topcase, flange which "seals" the tan topcase to the white bottom case, is breaking away. I'm pretty careful with it. I even carry it in a laptop bag sold by Apple, so its very unlikely that I'm somehow placing unreasonable presure on the flange, although I do have the unhealthy habit of typing with my wrists resting on the topcase. Its pretty obviously to me that Apple has made some mistake here, i.e. the flange is too thin, my topcase is too low, etc. However, Apple's guys just said "sorry case damage, we'll never fix that under AppleCare". Now I'm not worried bout the flange, I'd rather live with it than be without the system for the three weeks. But Apple normally voids AppleCare when they find case damage. Apple obviously can't provide much information on the phone, but they recommended paying $300 for a topcase change, after which they'd basically forget that their case had ever broken. How can I either keep Apple from voiding my AppleCare whenever their hard drive eventually fails or get them to refund my AppleCare?

Yes, I know AppleCare is a tech support scam and vastly inferior to the warranties on PCs, but I've had horrible luck with Apple's hard drives, so I figured it be worth it.

posted by jeffburdges to technology (14 answers total)

When I sent in my PowerBook to have the logic board replaced 3 years ago, they replaced the broken cover without me even asking them to. They're replaced broken keys. They've never actually turned me down for anything. I take good care of my computers and, in general, they last a long time. My PowerBook G4 is 5 years old.

So I'd say, send it in.
posted by clarkstonian at 10:46 AM on February 5, 2007

I guess I don't undestand. Is this one question or two, or three even?

First, Are you looking to save weight by dumping the cd drive? Do you want to replace it? Or do you just feel silly having a drive that doesn't work. If it is old (and considering your derision of AppleCare) it probably isn't covered by AppleCare, why are you worried about coverage?

Second, If it is a design issue, Apple will look at it. I have had nothing but exceptional coverage and service from apple (including some covered case damage repairs) and would expect them to find the problem and remedy it. If there has really been no undue pressure on everything, you should be fine. Just don't be an asshole, they won't work with an asshole.

Third, I have not had an apple HD fail yet, and I'm on my 8th, so don't be such a Debbie-Downer.
posted by jmgorman at 10:46 AM on February 5, 2007

Call Applecare and ask them to repair your laptop. If it is a warranty issue they will send you a shipping case and repair it under your coverage.

If it is case damage as a result of neglect, no manufacturer would cover that, whether it is Dell, IBM, or, yes, even Apple.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:48 AM on February 5, 2007

Here are telephone numbers for Applecare.

Secondly, Apple doesn't put in Apple hard drives. Apple puts in the same hard drives that Dell and IBM put in, one of either Hitachi Travelstar, WD or Seagate. If you have a hard drive failure, you might blame that on the hard drive manufacturer.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:52 AM on February 5, 2007

I actually don't want the case repaired, I'd be without the machine for 2-3 weeks and its not even enough damage to make the machine look less cool in a wifi cafe! I just don't want them turnning me down for other unrelated repairs, as has happend before.

Anyway I finally go through to AppleCare themselves and they'll refund the AppleCare no questions asked. So I'll makes some photos of the damage & spend some time at the local Apple Store, trying to get them to document that the mistakes happened now and the machine passes various hardware tests. If they refuse, or think it won't help, then their jig is up, and I'll ask for my AppleCare money back.
posted by jeffburdges at 10:58 AM on February 5, 2007

Blazecock Pileon, no, officially the similarly priced warranties offered by Dell & others do cover physical damage. Apple's warrenty is officially void following any physical damage. Apple's warrenty is more expencive because they bundle tech support. Afaik, Dell won't even sell you tech support for Microsoft Windows.
posted by jeffburdges at 11:02 AM on February 5, 2007

I just don't want them turnning me down for other unrelated repairs, as has happend before.

Hasn't happened to me, and I've had hundreds of iBooks, iMacs, Power Macs, PowerBooks, MacBooks and MacBook Pros go through my hands.

When those computers need Applecare, if the damage is due to a manufacturing or shipping defect, Apple covers them during the three year coverage.

You might have a different Applecare plan than the rest of us, but I suspect that you're probably as well covered as us (so long as your laptop indeed suffered a manufacturing or shipping defect).

And, no, neither Dell or IBM will repair a computer if you drop it. Believe me, it doesn't happen, and I've got the long distance phone bills to speak with support managers to prove it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 AM on February 5, 2007

"When I sent in my PowerBook to have the logic board replaced 3 years ago, they replaced the broken cover without me even asking them to."

I was in an accident and my 15" G4 PowerBooks case was seriously bent, about ten degrees or so. The computer ran fine, just wouldn't sleep and it obviously didn't sit flat on any surface any longer.

I sent it to Apple after paying £375 for a new case; I thought it was a good deal as I intended to get at least two more years out of the computer. And it was clearly an even better deal when I got back a Mac with not only a new, aluminum case but a new logic board as well.

So yeh, send it in. Apple is remarkably cool about this stuff.
posted by Mutant at 11:26 AM on February 5, 2007

As to your original question: Your Mac can run without a CD drive, as long as it can boot from an OS on a hard drive. It can also boot from a disk on firewire, either magnetic or optical. (I've been wishing for a while that Apple would issue a laptop without an optical drive. I'm using mine only for software installations these days, and even those are rarer as more of my software purchases are done online. So that's a few hundred grams of effective deadweight I wouldn't miss.)
posted by ardgedee at 11:32 AM on February 5, 2007

Not only can it run without a cd drive, but with usb and firewire, adding an external drive when needed is so much easier than it was just a few years ago.
posted by advicepig at 12:23 PM on February 5, 2007

Thanks ardgedee! I'l almost surely pull that worthless CD drive out after your comment, and seeing how huge it is.

advicepig, You don't need an external drive if you have two Macs since Macs provide both their HD and CD when in firewire target mode. However, you can not install the OS using another machine's CD drive. You can still place your CD-less machine into target mode and install to its disk from the other one. But this obviously won't work between an Intel & a G4.

Blazecock Pileon, All my bad AppleCare experences have been at Apple Stores in Britian, but Mutant appears to be using Apple UK too. So it may be that Apple's mail in guys are nicer.
posted by jeffburdges at 1:12 PM on February 5, 2007

So it may be that Apple's mail in guys are nicer.

By far. I would never take my computer to an Apple Store, because different retail staff are generally not trained to handle customer support on the same level. In any case, in-store help would simply call Apple on your behalf. Who knows if they'll even relay the problem details correctly?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:21 PM on February 5, 2007

I exchanged my Superdrive with a 120 GB harddisk from MCE in my Macbook Pro. I am pretty sure that it voided my warranty, but the superdrive wasn't working properly and I have no time to send my beloved 'book anywhere. I am a very happy camper now :-) The external DVD-drive I got from MCE didn't work either and haven't had time to send it in, but my old Plextor works flawlessly. (note to self: find more spare time!)
posted by KimG at 1:25 PM on February 5, 2007

"I would never take my computer to an Apple Store, because different retail staff are generally not trained to handle customer support on the same level. In any case, in-store help would simply call Apple on your behalf. Who knows if they'll even relay the problem details correctly?"

Different staffs are more helpful than others. In Chicago I always go to the store on Michigan Ave., and they are amazingly helpful. They replaced components for me for free when it was CLEAR that the damage was caused by a bad coffee spill. But at other locations/cities I've experienced staff that is snarky or lazy or just incompetent. Another option is to look up all of the "authorized apple dealers" in your area. There are often a few that aren't the Apple Store. They don't call apple and relay problems, they type the order of what you need, so, unlike phone orders, you can actually see what has been ordered for you. If you don't like it, you can leave with your computer.
posted by LizardOfDoom at 6:42 PM on February 5, 2007