Project 15: Installing more RAM than capacity of a MacBook

Project Description: Install 4GB of RAM into a 3rd generation MacBook. A 3rd generation MacBook has a maximum capacity of 2GB according to apple, and 3GB according to MacTracker.

Cause of Project: My MacBook didn't run smooth on 1GB of RAM

Difficulty: Intermediate

Length of Project: ½ hour

What I did: Installed two 2GB RAM chips. Instructions can be found here. After installation, I started up the computer successfully. In system profiler, the computer recognized two 2GB RAM chips. However, in Activity Monitor, the computer only could process 3GB of the 4GB RAM.

Challenges: Taking out the screws without a Phillips Screw Driver

Status: Completed

Project 14: Reinstalling eMac

Project Description: Reinstalling an eMac

Cause of Project: eMac wouldn't start up

Difficulty: Easy

Length of Project: 4 hours

What I did: Force open the CD driver, insert installation disks, follow instructions. After installation, I copied applications from an iMac and put them onto the eMac.

Challenges: Waiting for the installation to finish

Status: Completed

Podcast Producer

Description: Podcast Producer is a feature of Mac OS X Server

What it can be used for: It uses the server space to upload podcasts. Podcasts can be audio, video or file podcasts. Once the podcast is made using Podcast Capture, it is automatically transferred to Podcast Producer where it automatically encodes the format into MPEG-4. The podcast then can be published to a series of places, including blogs, iTunes and iTunes U.

What you need: Mac OS X Server and a mac with Mac OS X Leopard.

Ease of use: Easy to use like any apple device.

Why it is important: Allowing schools to use server space to host podcasts instead of each individual paying for Mobile Me will encourage teachers and students to create podcasts. The server is also used as a central place where all of the school podcasts are stored, making it easier to manage them.

Personal opinion: If you're a school owning a Xserve, then I highly recommend to enable this feature. But if you're an individual and you're thinking about buying a 360,000 yen server just for podcasts, forget it. Instead, use other pay sites or for the best ease-ability, use Mobile Me instead.

Project 10: Replace SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4

Project Description: To replace a broken SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook with a new one.

Cause of Project: A teacher requested me to exchange the broken SuperDrive.

Difficulty: Hard

Length of Project: 2 hours

What I did: I followed the steps in disassembling the PowerBook to get to the SuperDrive from this manual. Although very easy to follow, the manual misses a few key points:

1) There is a magnet next to two of the screws on the inside of the place where the battery is usually placed. This causes the screw(s) to stick onto the magnet, and becomes very annoying when you have to screw it back in. Especially if you have short nails. Plus, who's stupid enough to put a magnet next to a hard drive??

2) It tells you everything you need to know to disassemble the PowerBook and how to take out the old Superdrive, but it doesn't mention one thing on how to install the new one other than "To reassemble simply follow the directions in reverse order."

3) As a result of 2, it doesn't say that you have to reattach the ribbon on the new super drive.

4) As a result of 2, it doesn't say where in the casing to put the trackpad ribbon through when reassembling the PowerBook. So when you try to put the casing back on, it can cause you to squish/sandwich the trackpad ribbon between the casing and logic board. However, it does say how to reattach the trackpad ribbon back to the connector.

Challenges: Replacing the SuperDrive was easy as pie. It was getting to it that was the hard part.

Status: Completed. I inserted a DVD disk into the SuperDrive and it worked perfectly fine.

Other: If you're not good with your hands, don't attempt this. 

Project 10: Replace SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4

Project Description: To replace a broken SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook with a new one.

Cause of Project: A teacher requested me to exchange the broken SuperDrive.

Difficulty: Hard

Length of Project: 2 hours

What I did: I followed the steps in disassembling the PowerBook to get to the SuperDrive from this manual. Although very easy to follow, the manual misses a few key points:

1) There is a magnet next to two of the screws on the inside of the place where the battery is usually placed. This causes the screw(s) to stick onto the magnet, and becomes very annoying when you have to screw it back in. Especially if you have short nails. Plus, who's stupid enough to put a magnet next to a hard drive??

2) It tells you everything you need to know how to disassemble the PowerBook and how to take out the old Superdrive, but it doesn't mention one thing on how to install the new one other than "To reassemble simply follow the directions in reverse order."

3) As a result of 2, it doesn't say that you have to reattach the ribbon on the new super drive.

4) As a result of 2, it doesn't say where in the casing to put the trackpad ribbon through when reassembling the PowerBook. So when you try to put the casing back on, it can cause you to squish/sandwich the trackpad ribbon between the casing and logic board. However, it does say how to reattach the trackpad ribbon back to the connector.

Challenges: Replacing the SuperDrive was easy as pie. It was getting to it that was the hard part.

Status: Completed. I inserted a DVD disk into the SuperDrive and it worked perfectly fine.

Other: If you're not good with your hands, don't attempt this.