Help me enjoy my iMac!

January 6, 2008 4:38 AM

I'd like to move my 20" iMac from one country to another, but I'm not sure what the most cost-effective and safest method is.

At first I thought checked baggage was the way to go, (I wasn't worried about altitude problems like his guy), but now I'm thinking that's risky giving the airlines' propensity to lose baggage and the carelessness of some baggage handlers. What would you all recommend, please? The move is from England to Norway and I would really appreciate specific recommendations where possible!

posted by dance to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

The move is from England to Norway and I would really appreciate specific recommendations where possible!

Why not take the car/passenger ferry from Newcastle to Stavanger?
posted by three blind mice at 4:50 AM on January 6

From the linked thread, my answer.


'cept I had a 17", check with CaseAce to see if they have anything that accommodates the 20".
posted by mhz at 5:25 AM on January 6

three blind mice: I did that with the rest of my luggage but it's not an option to repeat it right about now, funk soul brother.

mhz, I'll look into that, thanks.
posted by dance at 6:22 AM on January 6

Whatever you do, back up everything on an external hard drive, CDs, DVDs, or online service.
posted by HotPatatta at 9:09 AM on January 6

Just pack it extremely well and check it. Bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, the whole nine yards. Remember that when Dell ships computers to your home, they send it via UPS in a big box - I'm sure that thing gets tossed around. It's no different on airlines.

If you want to be doubly safe about your data, remove the hard drive and carry it on with you. I've done that before, and it worked out fine.
posted by chrisamiller at 9:58 AM on January 6

Do you have the original box and packaging? That would probably be a good start for protection. Check with the airline to see if you can get insurance beforehand on luggage in case it does break. And definitely back up the data first.
posted by cubby at 12:05 PM on January 6

remove the hard drive and carry it on with you

On an intel imac, that's a no-goer, given how damn difficult it is to get into the machine.

Everything you can't replace and care about on your iMac should be backed up already, so the easiest solution is to just pop the iMac in its shipping carton (you kept that, right?) and ship it.

If you haven't backed up your iMac, back it up. If you didn't keep the original shipping carton, perhaps ebay will have one.
posted by panamax at 12:31 PM on January 6

If you haven't backed up your iMac, back it up.

Quoting this for emphasis! The drive head is parked, but don't risk some other mechanical failure in transit. Make sure you back up before you transport.
posted by Mikey-San at 2:56 PM on January 6

My brother moved his 17" iMac from Canada to England by packing it in a suitcase, sourounded by clothing. He uses it today. It could have got lost, this is true, but I imagine you can get compensated for things like this.
posted by chunking express at 8:54 AM on January 7

Thanks all, after considering taking it as hand baggage (its too big even without the box), I am going to put it in the hold - and hope for careful baggage handlers. I backup regularly to an external HD using SuperDuper!. The only problem is the EHD is coming with the iMac, so obviously I won't want to put both my eggs in one basket but I worry they'll think the EHD is a bomb...

oh well, we'll see how it goes. Thanks for help so far!
posted by dance at 1:22 PM on January 7