Over time, this can result in exposure of the wiring embedded in the cable. Flat flexible cables (FFCs) are supposed to be thin, but the 2012 hard drive cable doesn’t quite have enough of the plastic film base which surrounds and protects the internal wires.Īny time the computer is moved around, minor shifts of the hard drive and hard drive cable create friction between the cable and the coarse aluminum.
This hasn’t been an issue with most of the MBP Unibody laptops, but the 2012 MBP 13″ hard drive cable was made a bit too thin. In theory, it seems great, but unlike the exterior aluminum surface which is machined to an extra smooth finish, Apple skimped on machining the interior surface to match. Though this keeps the cable nice and secure, it also sandwiches it between the hard drive and the metal casing. The cable runs from the logic board SATA connector, across the optical drive and then underneath the hard drive, finally connecting to the SATA connector of the HDD. MacBook Pro 13″ (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable So if it ever fails, we’ve got your back. If you’re in need of one of these notorious flex cables, we guarantee our cables with a lifetime warranty. We had to figure out what was causing the issue and find a solution. Customers kept returning with the same persistent issue. It didn’t matter if we used a used cable or a new cable in the replacement. And possibly again with yet another bad cable. Our repair services department noticed this issue when they’d replace a bad cable, only to have the customer return a few months later with another bad cable. What is it that makes the Mid 2012 release special in this regard? A design flaw in the flex cable that seems to be compounded by the properties of the aluminum housing. While it affects just about the entire Unibody lineup, the Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13″ (Model A1278) is especially prone to this type of failure.
REPLACING 2012 APPLE MACBOOK PRO CASING UPGRADE
It allows you to upgrade to a solid state drive as their costs drop over the next 1-2 years and you can replace the battery when it goes bad by yourself.Owners of a Unibody MacBook Pro laptop are probably already aware that failure of the hard drive flex cable is a common issue. It allows for future upgrades in system memory as your needs change. It probably will result in more business for your local computer repair shop since battery replacements will be a new service we will need to offer.īottom line: if your eyesight can take advantage of the higher resolution display – consider the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display but if that is not a major attraction – you may want to stay with the older model MacBook Pro that is still being sold.
I have not heard what Apple plans to charge for battery replacements. But many buy a MacBook Pro with the intent to use it for 5-6 years or even longer. Batteries have a typical life of 3-4 years. Unfortunately Apple’s extended care warranty does not cover the battery from normal wear out. Early models that have been disassembled show the video cable is also glued to the battery which means folks trying to replace the battery themselves may break other things. In theory, it is not customer replaceable. Both the drives and the system memory are difficult to upgrade in the new version of the MacBook Pro so be sure to order enough for your future needs.įinally – the battery in the MacBook Pro with Retina Display comes glued inside the case. This is a faster and more reliable means of storage.
REPLACING 2012 APPLE MACBOOK PRO CASING FREE
If you buy a new Mac now, it comes with a free upgrade to the next release of OS X (Mountain Lion) when it arrives this summer.Īpple is shipping the Macbook Pro with Retina Display with solid state drives instead of hard drives. Technically this 15.4″ display has a resolution of 2880 by 1800 pixels – roughly twice the competition. If you have good eyesight – the display is truly stunning. Apple recently announced the MacBook Pro with the Retina Display.
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