The new 2011 iMacs get a failing grade when it comes to hard drive replacement. That may surprise a good many readers; after all the iMacs haven't had user-serviceable hard drives for many years. While Apple's policy has been hands-off when it comes to the inside of the iMac, many DIY enthusiasts have been swapping out hard drives in their iMacs for years. It was never that difficult a job for the handy handyperson, but starting in late 2009, Apple made it a bit more difficult by using internal hard drive temperature sensors. You could still swap out drives, but you had to use the same brand to ensure that the temperature-sensing connections were the same.
Now Apple has gone a step further: The 2011 iMacs use a combination of custom-embedded firmware within the Apple-branded hard drive and a SATA power connector cable that uses additional pins to monitor internal temperature. The SATA power connection doesn't look any different; it's still a 15-pin connector. But the old power connectors only used four wires: ground, +3.3v, 5v, and 12v. The new Apple cable uses seven wires; four for power and an additional three for temperature monitoring.
The result, according to our friends at Other World Computing (OWC), is that you can't replace the internal Apple-supplied hard drive without the iMac either failing its power-on test, or causing the fans to run at full speed. OWC even tried replacing the drives with identical hard drives, just drives that weren't Apple-supplied. The results were the same. This indicates that if the hard drive lacks Apple's embedded firmware, the iMac will either fail its self-test, or go into fan overdrive.
If this report from OWC is indeed correct, which it appears to be, then Apple has gone too far. I'm reminded of when some printer manufacturers put coded chips in their ink cartridges to prevent the use of third-party cartridges. This appears to be no different; just an attempt to prevent third-party upgrades of the iMac.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Sounds like time to go back to Microsoft. I already have too many big brothers watching over me.
Darn,
And I was all set to buy one. Its always a good idea to wait a couple of weeks on new models. You really don’t want the very first one, the production crew is still learning how to build them. And there are lots of problems that show up early and get fixed later.
I’m now very glad that I waited. Otherwise, I could have been stuck trying to return it, or dump it on eBay. This is absolutely unacceptable. And I will NOT buy any model with proprietary hard drives. This is just stupid. And it is exactly the kind of behavior that got Microsoft in trouble. Those who said Apple was no different don’t have to look far for evidence.
Thank You for this valuable information!
I too WAS considering the purchase of a New MAC. Now, I will have to really consider this action by Apple. Do I want to support such policy and behavior by a manufacturer? It seems so unnecessary and certainly not “customer friendly”.
Too Bad – Looks like I’ll be limited to refurbs of previous models. I’m hoping that some enterprising hacker will develop a work-around. Terrible move on Apple’s part. I’ve been a Mac user since 1986 (Mac Plus) and this move saddens me.
Not that I’ve ever had to replace a HD in any of my iMacs, anyway, but it sounds like what Apple is trying to do is extend the life of the HD even more. I don’t like proprietary stuff, either (SONY!!), but this is just not that bad a thing—and certainly not bad enough to make me switch to Windoze. Any excuse to jump all over Apple….
This is another example of Apple’s self-serving perspective.
Although I would never use anything but a “Mac,” I never cease to be amazed by the successive versions of Mac OS and machines that leave buyers forced to buy a newer Mac to avoid being “stranded.”
From my first 68040 performa, to another, to a G-3, to my present G-4 a Mac owner is confronted with eventually being forced to buy a new Mac.
I guess I will have to consider getting a used imac when it comes time to switch from my 20″.
I can’t believe Apple would have resorted to this and I hope the feedback is enough to get them to create a workaround. If not, they might as well bank on losing at least some of it’s followers that left Windows in the first place. The only questions will be: how many will leave and will Apple care?
Apple will lose customers, like me for example.
I enlarged my MacPro with 3 1TB HDs that are aftermarket and more affordable than Apple brand.
The PC world (Linux & MS) are still out there. They could gain customers.
Reminds me of the “Parity” memory issue a few years ago, when Apple released a firmware update, after which, you had to use Apple supplied memory. Was a parity bit check, and the aftermarket had fixes in days.
Bad move on Apple’s part. Same crap has been played by PC makers.
A reminder – In a Supreme Court ruling against Xerox Corporation several years ago, manufacturers cannot block aftermarket parts in their products. That includes toner and ink cartridges.
Sounds like it’s time to go to court again.
This is yet another attempt by Steve Jobs to top get rich off the people who back the Apple product. But to look at it from another angle, most iMac machine have no problems to the average user. Therefore we will never have to deal with that situation. As for the technogeek they will always find a way to do as they pleaseno matter how much technology Apple incorporates.
Hello there,
I agree entirely with the sentiments mooted in the article. Basically it is wrong, and possibly illegal, for Apple to attempt to place any embargo on any machine by restricting the replacement of any component to their own approved manufacturer.
At the very least, it is restrictive practice which, I thought, had largely been banned some years ago.
You can’t easily replace batteries on a mac laptop either – and actually I think that is fine.
Why has nobody asked what is the reason for the ‘apple’ hard drives?
On the plus side could be: it might improve the performance / make the machine more energy efficient / make it quieter / or something different I haven’t even thought of.
On the negative: you can only upgrade with an ‘apple’ drive (do they even exist?) / don’t mock around inside our product.
I have only ever had a Mac. Loved it until now – but this is too far – I may have to look into a windows machine when my current mac dies…
I noticed that the writer says “If this report from OWC is indeed correct, which it appears to be, then Apple has gone too far” it means that he has not verified this himself and is going on the word of another without verification. That is poor journalism and helps to give rise to conjecture and rumors. In fact he states no proof at all. That is irresponsible.
There are others online who are finding that they can change the hard drives no problem and others who have jump out the pins for this seven wire cable (2 and 7) It also seems that on macs that come from apple that have an ssd drive these wires are also shorted out.
So from my research it can be done. I wish before people would wright stories they would verify all the facts so people won’t take their conjecture as gospel.
Just my two cents.