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iMac G5 Porn Roundup

Posted by pudge on from the take-it-all-off dept.

boredMDer writes "Apparently someone who has already recieved their iMac G5 has decided to take it apart. Stupid if only for the fact that he's just voided his warranty." pjcreath writes "Apple has posted official pages listing the components that are 'easy' to install (including the LCD!) and describing how to troubleshoot hardware problems using diagnostic LEDs inside the case. For the very curious, you can download the high-resolution TIFF (10MB) of the iMac's innards from Apple."

23 of 530 comments (clear)

  1. Didn't void the warranty by halo1982 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This isn't an old iMac. Apple designed this one so that your grandmother could open it and replace its parts. This didn't void the warranty. It has quite an interesting inside. I like how they focused on the inside design as well (i.e. G5 heatsink that no one will ever see but still looks cool) as the outside.

    1. Re:Didn't void the warranty by Tanlis · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually he did void the warranty. There are brass colored screws for all the pieces that can be taken off by users. Remove any of the others and your warranty is gone.

    2. Re:Didn't void the warranty by jcr · · Score: 5, Informative

      Apple's finally catching up to the NeXTStation with this machine. Disassembling a NeXT slab required removing a total of four screws: one to hold the case closed, one for the disk drive bracket, one for the floppy drive, and one for the power supply.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    3. Re:Didn't void the warranty by The+Only+Druid · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ugh, iPods are NOT glued shut! You can open them quite easily with a thin flat object (i.e. the plastic spatulas you'll get with any of the variety of replacement batteries on the market).

      --
      "Stumble before you crawl"
    4. Re:Didn't void the warranty by jcostantino · · Score: 4, Informative
      Actually you can do whatever the hell you want with your purchased equipment as long as any modifications you do to it don't cause other components to fail.

      From working in an Apple authorized service center, it didn't matter if a machine with Applecare or Apple's 1 year warranty came in with modifications as long as those changes didn't cause other components to fail. IE: A CPU upgrade fried the motherboard or a HD replacement broke a component off the logic board. Disassembling your Power or iBook would be a huge mistake due to the sheer number of different screws but a careful end user could disassemble his book and put it back together without causing anyone to become suspicious.

      If he disassembled the hard drive to take pictuers, then he would have broken a seal that would have voided his warranty. As it is, I'm sure his warranty is intact.

      I don't know if the Magnusson-Moss warranty act is directly applicable but I don't see why it wouldn't be.

      --
      Reviews with a twist! http://www.sardonicbastard.com
    5. Re:Didn't void the warranty by speleo · · Score: 4, Informative

      "chipping paint on Titanium Powerbooks"

      Never happened to mine. It's been dropped a few times and stepped on once or twice and it's bashed and bent and held together with duct tape, but it still works just fine.

      ""Windtunnel" PowerMac G4's"

      I never understood the problem with these. The one I have is loud but it's no worse than your typical Dell PC.

      "logic-board failures on iBooks"

      Don't know about this one -- I never owned a iBook.

      "failing lid-latches on Powerbooks"

      Never had this problem on the 5 Powerbooks I have.

      "cracks on the Cube"

      Had two of these, one had small cosmetic cracks, the other didn't. Not a problem for me, but I can see how some folks would. Nice design, though; wish I still had 'em and didn't give 'em away.

      "overheating 12" PowerBooks"

      My wife has one of these -- she uses it all the time and hasn't had a problem with overheating. I don't think it gets any hotter than the 15" Powerbook I use everyday as my primary machine.

      Now, I'm not saying these problems don't exist. But I personally own a lot of Macs (about 10 in current use around the house right now) of nearly every model and I've had very few of the problems folks complain about. YMMV.

    6. Re:Didn't void the warranty by pi+radians · · Score: 3, Informative

      "Have you wrestled with removing the case cover from a ... Beige G3 Desktop?"

      Why yes, all the time. Easy as pie. Two latches (basically two big buttons buttons to push up) on the front panel, then you pull the cover towards you. The rest unfolds easily giving you easy access to the PCI slots, RAM, and videocard. I little work to remove or add HDDs or CD-ROMs, but nothing worse than your average PC case.

      I think you may have it confused with another Apple system...

      --

      sin(6cos(r)+5A)
  2. Re:For those not using Macs... by Unordained · · Score: 3, Informative

    well, winzip opens it just fine ... i'd guess it's not the only tool out there that can?

  3. The Monitor is for the new iMac! by rogerborn · · Score: 5, Informative


    Actually, he didn't void his warrantee by doing this. The new G5 iMac is extremely easy for customer troubleshooting, upgrading and generally messing around inside the thing. This is way better than even the big G5 PowerMacs.

    Regards
    Roger Born
    writing.borngraphics.com
    "These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."

    1. Re:The Monitor is for the new iMac! by KitFox · · Score: 4, Informative
      I suspect most PC owners here would not buy a machine from a manufacturer that prohibited the opening of the case.

      Actually at least -some- PC manufacturers definitely void the warranty based on opening the case. Anything from those funky self-destructing stickers to case intrusion switches can detect this, and they make way too much use of them.

      I'm looking at this computer here at work. Not sure what brand it is, as that information has all been removed *Grr*. Might be an off brand. But it has a big sticker on the back of it that reads: "WARNING: All guarentees and warranties are void if case is opened or main BIOS settings are modified in any way. This system contains modification-detection technology. NO USER SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. Please contact your dealer for service." This sticker has not one, but THREE little holographic self-detsructing fingers sealing the main siade of the case up, and there are two on the backside side of the case, and two on each side of the case between the front cover and the sides.

      Admittedly, this is a system bought by the US Federal Government, but still. I've done work on computers in private homes that had the same deal. It's scary to think about.

      At the same time, it makes sense. Most PC Owners honestly wouldn't know a DIMM from a CF card, let alone how to safely change even a PCI card. The vast majority of them are more likely to break something in trying. They just want a computer that works for what they want it to do, and not have to worry. Plus, if the manufacturer can convince people that they -must- return it to their service shops for service, then they can make a killing on labor.

      Honestly, it's VERY nice to see a computer of any type that ENCOURAGES ease of opening and meddling even for the people who are not completely tech savvy.

      --

      @Whee

    2. Re:The Monitor is for the new iMac! by KitFox · · Score: 4, Informative
      This "you open the case, you have no warranty" belief is an urban myth.

      If you have a warranty contract that states that intrusion into the system voids the warranty, then what is the situation then? Where precisely is it REQUIRED for them to warrant their equipment? It's not here. If they said "you are buying this 'As Is'", then there would be no warranty anyway, with the exceptions of implied warrantee (Such as in product specifications, claims, etc.) Because a lot of places do not legally require warranties. (These are usually noted in the Warranty text as "Warranty void if ... except in or other places where prohibited by law.")

      It seems that you also come from AU, or are possibly thinking of that country, which likely has differnet laws in effect than other places. In the US, they can and do legally say "We will warrant this as long as you don't open it." So overall, it has a huge dependancy on where you buy it.

      It's right up there with the popular belief that stores have the right to search your bags just by sticking up a sign "a condition of entry is that we can search your bags". Nope. They still can't search your bags. They can't negate your right to privacy with a sign.

      Again, you seem to have forgotten difference in laws. It depends on whether 'search of personal property' requires implicit or explicit permission. In many places, it requires only implicit permission. As such, by entering a store with a PROMINENTLY placed sign stating "By entering this property, you give us the right to search your bags" or anything of the sort, then you have effectively given them permission to search your bags.

      In all cases, the permission issue is the key. If asked for permission to search your bags, and you give this permission, then you have just given up the right to privacy within your bags. You cannot then watch them search it, and say "How dare you search my bags!?" and sue them, since you directly gave permission. heck, this is even apparent with police officers, who, without due cause, cannot search your person. That is why they ask "Do you mind if I pat you down?" or somesuch, with the understanding that MOST people will just agree, which then means you have relinquished your right to privacy in that specific case. You -DO- technically have the right to say "I do not want you to search me." (Though of course this will make them suspicious of you, and could make matters worse in the future.)

      The other consideration is that if they require you to allow a bag search upon ENTRY, then they have another thing to go by. You cannot just walk in, refuse a bag search, and then expect to still be allowed in the store. They are private property, and they have the right to require you to waive any waivable rights (Right to privacy is a waivable right) you have in order to gain access to their private property. Failure to comply can and WILL result in denial of access to the property. And if you insist, then the owner or any agent thereof can have you arrested for trespass.

      I used to work at Fry's Electronics in California. Believe me, we were seen as the Gustapo just because we had signs like you mention, and because we looked through all outgoing bags. Now the funny thing is that the PRIMARY meaning of "By entering this premises, you agree that we have the right to search all bags" was for the shopping bags that were leaving the store. But we occasionally had to search backpacks too. When somebody objected (99% of the time they had stolen something if they did), we would simply place them under citizen's arrest and call the police. By entering the store, and staying in it with no intent to actually allow search after giving implicit permission advised by the prominent sign, they were trespassing. With the police present, they were given a choice. May we search your bags, or do you want to go to jail on charges of trespassing? The 1% that ddid not steal anything would generally allow a bag search at that point and be released, albeit g

      --

      @Whee

  4. Linkey to the blog by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.kodawarisan.com.nyud.net:8090/imacg5/im acg501.html

    This is one server that really won't survive a slashdotting too well, so better use the CDN!

    --
    Online backup with Mozy, sounds like Ozzie, but more!
  5. Coral cache link by p0 · · Score: 5, Informative


    Save the guy's website! Use this coral cache link instead

    --
    This is my sig. There are thousands more, but this one is mine.
  6. mirror of images by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    mirror of images here

  7. Re:Coral CDN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Technically, Akamai has more bandwidth than Jesus. I know Apple uses them for their movie trailer site; they probably use them for everything else too.

  8. Re:For those not using Macs... by Phroggy · · Score: 5, Informative

    and for those not using windows and winzip?

    StuffIt Expander is available for Linux/x86, Solaris/Sparc and Solaris/x86.

    --
    $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
    $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
  9. iMac G5 Diagnostics by SeaFox · · Score: 4, Informative

    Does anyone else find the iMac diagnostic page's instructions a little interesting?

    If you follow the instructions exactly as specified, nobody is going to be able to diagnose their iMac.

    It says in step one to turn off the machine and remove all cables. Then in step seven it describes how to read the status LED's. The problem is the instructions never tell you to plug the computer back in and turn it on while it is open, so none of the LED's are going to function.

  10. Re:For those not using Macs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The point of hqx isn't compression.

    hqx does two things. First, it allows the resource fork of a file to be transported along with the data fork (remember that all Mac files can potentially appear as two files to the file system). Second, it then allows for the resulting mess to be sent over systems that can only handle the low 7-bits of a byte.

    Think of it as a way to uuencode two files into one.

    I'm so happy I'm using Linux today.

  11. Re:Another limitation by serviscope_minor · · Score: 4, Informative

    Is it just me, or does that thing only take 1 HDD? If this is the case, how do you upgrade?

    1 connect a USB or FireWire drive.
    2 Go out on a limb and *replace* it.

    Seems like in some ways, Apple clearly favours form over function.

    In some maybe, but not all. Form _is_ function in other ways. The iMac is quite and requires a small amount of space. That is being functional without intrusive.

    My current, beige-box PC has 4 hard drives... if I run out of space, I just slap in a new one for $50-$200 depending on what size I need and how rich I am. As far as I can see, if you run out of space on the G5 iMac, you have to buy a new iMac or at least replace your hard disk with a new one.

    1 Your beige box is noisier, takes up a lot more space and probably has a rats-next of wires coming out the back.
    2 4 Hard drives ?! That must be noisy as sin. I used to have 3 and that was bad enough.
    3 Well, you can just slap in a new one too, as long as you "slap out" the old one first. So, your point is...?

    But the 5200 is not exactly a sizzling card. Meybe that's why they chose it -- for thermal reasons.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  12. Re:Important Part of Aesthetics by CountBrass · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's literally quieter than a whisper. All those fans are there so that the Mac can turn on only the ones it needs for the bits that need cooling at that moment. The PowerMacs have something similar (although on mine it's spoilt by the crappy, loud fan on the 9800pro video card.)

    --
    Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
  13. Photo of the 20 inch version here. by Amiga+Lover · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've seen many photos of the 17" iMac, from Apple's own documentation (the 10MB tiff) to some other disassemblies, but This spymac image is a picture of the insides of the 20" version.

    The fans are laid out differently, the HD and inverter in a slightly different position, and looks like there would be room for a dual CPU if apple were so inclined.

  14. Re:Pomp and circumstance... by Udo+Schmitz · · Score: 3, Informative
    Por ejemplo, these all-in-ones have been around for a few years. They have also universally sucked. We got a chance to demo two models (one from Omnitech now MPC and another from Gateway) back in June. Each one was nearly 40 pounds. They were *beasts*.

    For everyone to compare here are pics of an iMac G5 and a Sony Vaio all-in-one:

    http://www.macbase.de/Xchange/vaio_vs_imacg5.jpg

    From a site called Sonystyle:

    http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/e n/imagesProducts/MoreImages/PCVV100G_4.jpg

    And a sideway tray-loading CD-ROM:

    http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/e n/imagesProducts/MoreImages/PCVV100G_7.jpg

  15. Re:porn roundup by magarity · · Score: 3, Informative

    Duh, people porn is people with their covers removed. Computer porn, in this case iMac porn, is a computer with its cover removed. This should be stunningly obvious. Please feel free to think before posting for a change.