On 9/6/13 4:17 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:49:57 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

Dropped my iMac off at the apple store today, and the checkover and
preauthorized repair data generated the following:

Problem Description/Diagnosis

Issue: Hard drive not mounting

Steps to Reproduce: Verified at bar, machine qualifies for HARD DRIVE
repair program for seagate

Proposed Resolution: Replace hard drive under quality program
Cosmetic Condition of iMac: Great no apparent damage

Estimated Turn Around Time: We'll call you in 3 - 5 days

Mac OS Version: 10.8.4
Hard Drive Size: 1000 GB
Memory Size: 8 GB
iLife Version: n/a



Repair Estimate
Item Number Description Price Amount Due
661-5520 Hard Drive, 1TB, 3.5", 7200, SATA $ 226.14 $ 0.00
S1490LL/A Hardware Repair Labor $ 39.00 $ 0.00
Total (Tax not included) $ 265.14 $ 0.00

Apple prices the retail of that drive at three times what you can buy a
similar one from just about anyone, but certainly lowballs the labor
charge, since it is a pain in the ass to open up an iMac sans the proper
tools, knowledge and guts. (all glass on the front, et cetera)
I would have guessed $125 on the drive and $125 labor.

Anyway, they were out of the drives, but more were scheduled to come in
today or monday, so I left the computer there.

No cost to me because of "quality" program.


Disk drives are expendables. I am surprised they are not easier to get
out of a Mac. All of my laptops have drives you can get out without
really taking anything apart. (hat IMac looks like a laptop with a
stand and a detached keyboard)
I used to have a couple drives for my old Thinkpad and I swapped them
all the time. One was my "business" system, the other my personal
stuff.

For around the house I still like a computer with a case and card
slots ... but I am a hobbyist. ;-)


The iMacs are apple complex. You have to remove the glass front panel,
which is held in by the sweat that forms in the belly buttons of
Victoria's Secret models. Or, you can watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vW8lGupPc8

In any event, apparently several million of the Seagate drives that
apple bought were prone to early failure, so apple sent out recall
notices to replace them all. I waited since mine was doing okay.

I'd guess drive failures are the most common problems on computers.