iBook Innards

Yesterday I embarked on a terrible task: Deconstruct an iBook G3 600Mhz and replace its hard drive. Let me make an analogy for you:

There are some cars manufactured today where you must literally take off the tire nearest that battery to replace it. No, seriously.

To wit: If an iBook was a car, you would have to remove the car hood, doors, wheels, trunk lid, and then disable the air conditioning unit, cherry pick the engine up, just to replace the battery.

This iBook has simply seen better days. Its ravaged exterior matches its now “old world” charm (as it is a few years old at this point). There is talk of giving this to an employee here, but I wonder at its usefulness without an external monitor. The thing is only 12” (another wonderful hurdle in taking it apart), and is White Trash Cute to say the least.

I would also like to note that if you want to bleed, tear apart a laptop sometime. There are hidden screws, metal plates, aluminum tape, the whole works. If you can cut yourself on it, it’s probably found inside. I wonder if its processing power comes from a huge, hidden stash of hundreds of little razor blades congealed together to form a processor.

Did I mention it had 12 different screw types? 12. Can you remember taking something apart and putting it back together only to find pieces missing? Just imagine having to put the right screw (2.5mm not 1.5mm etc etc) in varying places. I have screws left over and screws in places they have no business being. Hey—it gives it charm. It’s like that old car you just can’t bear to get rid of: If it wasn’t a piece of shit you wouldn’t love it so damn much. I think much the same way about this ridiculous laptop. I spent almost $200 getting a hard drive for a machine that may never actually attain its $200 investment back.

But that’s a rant for another time. Until then, enjoy your weekend and if your laptop breaks do the sensible thing: Buy a new one. Whatever hell you go through to undo the clips, take out the screws, use the special tips (hello Allen Wrenches!), can not be worth it. Need that hard drive? Find a friggin hammer and eye protection. Total cost? About $12 and a smile on your face.

You seem so out of context
In this gaudy apartment complex