Apple Computers are most certainly NOT designed to be opened and tinkered with. In all the years I’ve owned them, I’ve only needed to do a major bit of work twice. Once to repair a cracked PowerBook screen, and then today replacing the dead drive in the iMac.

Both were the result of simple math. Quotes for the PowerBook screen replacement ranged from €650-€1000 (7 years ago I believe). That’s crazy money. €90 on eBay got me a replacement LCD and 2 hours of my time. Not sure what the going rate to replace a drive in an iMac is. But it cost me €90 for a 1TB drive and €22 for a set of Torx screwdrivers. Another two hours of my time and the iMac is busy reinstalling.

It’s certainly feckin fiddly work though! But if you’re technically/mechanically minded and can hold a steady hand it’s certainly possible.

Why not use Apple Care? Because both times the machines were over five years old, and from an insurance perspective I’ve never needed, or seen the need for it.

Course there’s always that “I could bloody do that” mentality which I suffer from as well

Oh and also bought a replacement Xbox 360 after the old one gave up the ghost with three blinking red lights (it never rains, but pours). That’s about five years old as well (at least). With the new one not coming out until 2015 or something it makes sense to replace it (we have a Kinect you see). I like the new ones! Smaller, black and much, much quieter.

I am bored of technology around the house dying though – no more please.