Understand that I have a new top and bottom case for Dr L's 12-inch powerbook, because someone in her lab bent her computer. It still works, it was just sort of bent....not bad, but it wouldn't close. So I got a new top and bottom case, and the bottom case for a 12" powerbook is actually more difficult to find than any single object in the entire world. Understand that I purchased, for $10, a takedown manual. Understand that the directions for the takedown included key phrases such as "once the screws are removed, pull up the top right and left corner, and continue to smoothly pull. The entire top case (and keyboard) will pull off the bottom case." Understand that I have taken apart somewhere between six and eight hundred notebook computers over the course of my life, and have the right tools and the right mind-set. Understand that I was prepared for the worst by my previous foray into my own iBook, a case-cracking that proved nearly disasterous as I found another sixty screws that weren't in the manual. And finally, take a look at the pictures, which show what was the final solution after cutting, bending, and destroying both upper and lower cases: you have to break the keyboard off of the keyboard tray via three mounts that are not screws, fasteners, or snaps. They are rivets. You must destroy the keyboard to open the case. Between the hidden screws (once you've broken the keyboard off from the top case, there are about sixty screws to recover) and the use of clips on non-flexible case components, the machine itself was never, ever intended to be opened up without Apple's secret manuals. Estimate for repair, before I started blowing it up: $800 plus shipping for new cases + labor, with a one-week turnaround. Estimate for repair now that i have it apart: I need a new optical drive, a keyboard and one wiring harness, plus the case cost, so $250-ish.
In the meantime, we went out today and bought her a new 12" powerbook at Frys for $1350, and it has a DVD burner. So she's happier. And me? I just want to laugh. Because...well, christ, look at the fucking pictures!
NEAT, HUH?
Update [2006-2-25 17:42:10 by blixco]: These guys rock, here's the perfect takedown manual plus a screw guide for free.
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