bohus@math.rutgers.edu (Geza Bohus) (01/11/91)
Hi, I need some advice. I just got myself an SE/30 w/ 1Meg and I have 4Megs what I bought separately. I understand that the warranty is voided if I install the memory myself. A dealer would probably charge $40-$50 for a job even I could do in 10 minutes. So the question is which of the following strategies is the best: 1. Playing it same and have a dealer install the memory. 2. Taking the risk of installing it myself on the assumption that it's unlikely that there will be anything wrong with the machine in the near future. (1 year.) 3. Using it with 1Meg for a while (which is a pain) and then if everything is OK, then install it myself. The question is whether E[the price one pays for a breakdown in one year]<$40, where E stands for expectation. All opinions are appreciated. Please send email. gb bohus@mathematics.rutgers.edu
johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu (01/11/91)
In article <Jan.10.16.12.53.1991.12749@math.rutgers.edu>, bohus@math.rutgers.edu (Geza Bohus) writes... >I need some advice. I just got myself an SE/30 w/ 1Meg and I have >4Megs what I bought separately. [ how to upgrade ? ] >1. Playing it same and have a dealer install the memory. >2. Taking the risk of installing it myself on the assumption that it's >unlikely that there will be anything wrong with the machine in the >near future. (1 year.) >3. Using it with 1Meg for a while (which is a pain) and then if >everything is OK, then install it myself. Option 1 plays it safe ... Option 3 is unthinkable! Get that RAM into your machine ... >The question is whether > E[the price one pays for a breakdown in one year]<$40, >where E stands for expectation. Regarding Option 2 and your "equation": if it fails you will almost certainly pay more than $40 if your dealer decides that you voided the warranty. Hint: if you know how to put memory into a Mac, you should also know how to take it out. If your hard disk dies, yank the RAM and take it to the dealer. If the service person opens it up and says "hey now!, whose been messing with this Mac", you probably screwed up and deserve to pay. If you did it right, I doubt that: 1) it would be detectable 2) that an Apple service person would blame an unrelated failure on you I had the rather perverse experience of paying for my first RAM upgrade, which was questioned later by a service person because it was the dealer installed RAM that failed. It turned out that this RAM was purchased as an "Apple upgrade" during the peak of the RAM drought of 1987. Apple was buying RAM anywhere it could, and my SIMMS did not have Apple markings. I had to drive home to get the paperwork that proved that my failed Apple ram was legitimately purchased and installed. After that experience I'd rather take my chances and install my own. (Note that the reason for not opening the box is that compact Macs are not made to be opened and messed with. The Mac II's are easy to work inside. For a Plus/SE/SE30, it is fairly easy to break the picture tube or yank the wrong wire. Hopefully, the Classics are easier to work with on the inside.) -- Bill (johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu)
Dave.Frye@f555.n161.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Dave Frye) (01/21/91)
I put 8 megs in my SE/30, as well as a HD, and I would only suggest that you
would do it yourself if you're very confident in your tinkering skills. The
rear of the monitor has a very sensitive glass nipple that if touched may
break and destroy the monitor. It sits behind a white cardboard
piece that has several wires leading to it. You can pull off
the cardboard piece to lessen the risk to the monitor but be wary of shock
hazards. The clips holding RAM chips to the motherboard are also notorious
for breaking and causing much grief. It is also very easy to
scratch the case up pretty well if you don't have the right tools. Acase
cracking kit can cost $15 bucks and will include everything to open and
replace your old RAM. But for $25 more, you avoid all risks, keep your
warranty, and know that your money was well spent.
--
Dave Frye - via FidoNet node 1:125/777
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