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ventivent · 11:42 AM

Hi there,

I'm a hardcore PC user, having built the last three of my desktop systems. I refuse to let my computer systems die, and upgrade everything I can. That being said, I've been tempted for a long time to play around with a Mac, and the new 12" 1.2GHz G4 iBook looks perfect. Now I don't want to spend a lot of money on my first Apple system purchase, so with the edu discount, I can get the base 12" iBook with Combo/Airport extreme/bluetooth for $994. My thought is:

1. Upgrade RAM from newegg with 1GB SODIMM for $191.
2. Upgrade hard drive from newegg with Hitachi 7K60 for $161.
3. Upgrade to DVD burner from newegg for $132.

The first two upgrades I'm pretty confident about performing, however after reading through forums, I'm wondering about whether or not anyone has upgraded their G4 iBook with a DVD burner on their own. I understand that the iDVD software may not necessarily recognize the burner. That's okay, as long as I can write DVDs with a third party software, such as Toast. Is there anything I should do before I put the DVD burner in? Are there BIOS or firmware upgrades that need to be performed either on the iBook or the DVD burner? I think a fully loaded 1.2Ghz, 1.25GB RAM, Superdrive, 60gb 7200 HD, Aiport, Bluetooth iBook for $1478 is still cheaper than the base Powerbook.

Thanks,
V

discotronic · Oct 27, 2004, 12:12 PM

I can't offer you much advice except if you do the upgrades yourself the warranty is void. Good luck.

MARINEOSX · Oct 27, 2004, 02:25 PM

i have talked to a couple of apple reps at some stores and on the phone they told me as far as the warantee goes that part you replace is not under warantee. As far as upgrading the burner goes i know it has b een done and have seen sites where they talk about it as long as you can fit it and you get the software for your ibook you should be fine.if you look at some of the resent replace hard drive threads i have posted links that show step by step how to take it apart. when i upgraded my hard drive to an 80gig 54k 16mb buffer i was thinking about doing it but i have not found a drive that i like it looks like it would be an adventure to do but a little tricky. if you do it take some pics so i can see how you did it and how it turned out. If you have any other questions let me know an i will be happy to try and help you answer them.

ventivent · Oct 27, 2004, 04:06 PM

Point taken about the warranty, but I've never been a warranty person...I like to take things apart. Seems like Mac people (my brother included) are pretty uptight about voiding their warranties. Is there something I should be concerned about? Is there a chance that my brand new untouched, un-hacked iBook will fail?

the_glassman · Oct 27, 2004, 04:27 PM

I say go for it. See if the drive is supported by Patch burn. If it is, you can use it for all the iapp's.

Kermy · Oct 27, 2004, 05:01 PM

I wouldn't do it. Go to newegg and buy an enclosure, then pop a dvd burner in and use it externally.

the_glassman · Oct 27, 2004, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by Kermy:
I wouldn't do it. Go to newegg and buy an enclosure, then pop a dvd burner in and use it externally.

If he is going through all the trouble to replace the hard drive, there is no reason he shouldn't replace the optical drive while he is in there. What good is an external drive when you're on the road?

MARINEOSX · Oct 27, 2004, 06:43 PM

here is a product that is made spewcificly for the white i book you can look at this this way you know that it is perfectly compatible.

http://www.mcetech.com/dvdrwibkg4.html

and i still have the one year warranty and the extended 2 year apple care and they where still going to fix it for me but i didnt want to send it off so i fixed it myself but they said that if there where a prob with the logic board or something like that i would be able to get it fixed just make sure that you are meticulous about puting everything back exactly i would suggest putting the screws in order on a peice of tape and starting in the top left corner and work your way around clockwise and if you want to you can even draw a square and number estimated positions for where the screws come from. there are a ton of them. but i feel the same way about the dvd burning i wish i would have gotten it with it.

Hope this helps.

ventivent · Oct 27, 2004, 07:39 PM

Cool...thanks for all of the advice. I think I'm gonna try it. Gotta go order the iBook now.

V

Homer1946 · Nov 1, 2004, 02:39 AM

Originally posted by ventivent:
Cool...thanks for all of the advice. I think I'm gonna try it. Gotta go order the iBook now.

V

I replaced the HD, installed a DVD burner, and internal Bluetooth in my new iBook. Took about 1 hour. (I had an advantage with the parts).

You can see some photos of the iBook taken apart at http://slicedapple.ath.cx/ibookupgrades.html if it helps. It is not hard.

the_glassman · Nov 1, 2004, 02:41 AM

Originally posted by Homer1946:
I replaced the HD, installed a DVD burner, and internal Bluetooth in my new iBook. Took about 1 hour. (I had an advantage with the parts).

You can see some photos of the iBook taken apart at http://slicedapple.ath.cx/ibookupgrades.html if it helps. It is not hard.

Edit* Cool you added internal bluetooth!

fishguy · Nov 1, 2004, 10:57 AM

Where can one find the internal bluetooth part(s)?

MARINEOSX · Nov 1, 2004, 02:29 PM

Looks like you did a great job. I am glad that everything worked out for you. The pictures are great and will help alot of people out. Did you have to find another iBook to get that bluetooth?

the_glassman · Nov 1, 2004, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by MARINEOSX:
Looks like you did a great job. I am glad that everything worked out for you. The pictures are great and will help alot of people out. Did you have to find another iBook to get that bluetooth?

I think the donor was the Powerbook he sourced some of the parts from.

MARINEOSX · Nov 1, 2004, 06:49 PM

I think we can all appretiate this link great attempt and good inititive but poor judgment. It is a little to fubar.

http://www3.telus.net/thewitt/BT/

Homer1946 · Nov 3, 2004, 12:25 AM

Originally posted by the_glassman:
I think the donor was the Powerbook he sourced some of the parts from.

Yea, I had a powerbook that took a BIG fall which destroyed the screen and logic board. I pulled out the RAM, HD, SD, Bluetooth, and AP for use in this iBook. The RAM and AP went in a while back but it took about 6 weeks (and my wife getting annoyed with using a dongle) before we talked ourselves into violating the warranty.

I have heard you CAN get the parts from certain Apple repair centers for self install but without warranty. You can also take apart a bluetooth dongle and remove the board and use the built in antenna, or solder a wire to it.

BenG · Nov 4, 2004, 12:45 PM

What kind of plug is the internal motherboard USB connector? The Amazon rebates on iBooks (plus no tax or shipping) is too much to pass up, just for internal Bluetooth. I'd be nervous soldering on a motherboard, but if it's just a matter of soldering a connector onto a cracked open BT dongle, I'd certainly be up for that...

Ben

Homer1946 · Nov 4, 2004, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by BenG:
What kind of plug is the internal motherboard USB connector? The Amazon rebates on iBooks (plus no tax or shipping) is too much to pass up, just for internal Bluetooth. I'd be nervous soldering on a motherboard, but if it's just a matter of soldering a connector onto a cracked open BT dongle, I'd certainly be up for that...

Ben

Just a standard mini 4 pin connector like you have inside desktops for the power leds or audio, etc, but slightly smaller. You could stop by any electronics supply house and pick up four small female single micro connectors.

Think about the jumpers on hard drives. There are generally two sizes that require either the big jumpers, or the small jumpers. These pins are the size of small jumper pins.

Look at the picture on my website and compare to the full size iBook photos and you should get the idea.

Homer1946 · Nov 6, 2004, 04:06 AM

OK, an update.

Further testing showed the iBooks Bluetooth range to be short. OK for mice and keyboards, but a little short for networking or pairing with the cell phone. On my PowerBook there is really just one antenna with two leads, one for airport and one for Bluetooth. This makes sense since they both operate at 2.4 GHz. Considering this I spliced the Bluetooth antenna lead end-to-side into the Airport antenna. The result was greatly increased Bluetooth range and preserved (not shortened) Airport range.

jamil5454 · Nov 6, 2004, 07:20 AM

This makes me want to take apart my new iBook and put a SuperDrive in there! But, my warranty is holding me back. It's my first mac too, so if I destroyed it I'd shoot myself. Looks like I'll be saving for an iMac or PM G5...

Homer1946 · Nov 6, 2004, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by jamil5454:
This makes me want to take apart my new iBook and put a SuperDrive in there! But, my warranty is holding me back. It's my first mac too, so if I destroyed it I'd shoot myself. Looks like I'll be saving for an iMac or PM G5...

I would never advocate SOMEONE ELSE voiding their warranty, but these things are much less delicate than you think. In general the hard part is to not scratching the case since you have to pry to top and bottom half of the case apart. (Well, not pry, but slide a small screw driver in there to pop the clips.)

If someone is going to go thru the trouble (and scratch risk) I would upgrade whatever you want (like the HD) while you were there.

If you decide (against better judgment) to do it send me an email if you want some help or moral support.

jamil5454 · Nov 6, 2004, 08:07 AM

LOL, thanks. I've taken apart plenty Compaq and Toshiba laptops but never an iBook. I'm definitely deciding against it at least while I still have a warranty.

NYK Ace · Nov 8, 2004, 09:48 PM

just ordered the hard drive and superdrive mentioned above, im planning to install them myself.. hopefully everything goes smooth!

NYK Ace · Nov 18, 2004, 06:59 AM

well i got everything in there, the hard drive, the ram, and the superdrive.

havent tried burning any dvd's yet but im more conserned with my bigger problem.... i forgot to plug the trackpad back in so now i have to go back in there to replug it

but other then that everything seems to be working smoothly

Homer1946 · Nov 18, 2004, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by NYK Ace:
well i got everything in there, the hard drive, the ram, and the superdrive.

havent tried burning any dvd's yet but im more conserned with my bigger problem.... i forgot to plug the trackpad back in so now i have to go back in there to replug it

but other then that everything seems to be working smoothly

Hehe...

Taking it back apart is a requirement for all laptop upgrades. We always forget something. I just plan for it now.

NYK Ace · Nov 19, 2004, 01:51 PM

haha true true i should of expected it

well i opened er' back up and rehooked the trackpad and now everything is going good

i just have to test iDVD next....

Homer1946 · Nov 19, 2004, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by NYK Ace:
haha true true i should of expected it

well i opened er' back up and rehooked the trackpad and now everything is going good

i just have to test iDVD next....

I should have taken the time to write down and post this information before considering that it would be REALLY useful to know for someone using a dongle, but here is the pinout for that USB motherboard connector.

http://slicedapple.ath.cx/bt_usb_pinout.gif

Abbas · Dec 14, 2004, 04:06 AM

The URL for hard drive replacement doesnt seem to work. Would you mind posting the correct URL?

Thanks
Abbas

NYK Ace · Dec 20, 2004, 09:58 AM

works in iDVD too! just burned off a couple DVDs

Phossil · Dec 23, 2004, 12:03 AM

I have a similar question - I bought the new G4 iBook 12" two weeks ago to use until around august when I will be getting the new powerbooks (assuming they are out by then). I will be selling this iBook then and I am wondering if I could get away with upgrading it to up its resale value. I am completly confident in my ability to upgrade the HD and add a superdrive without damaging the iBook, so how would an apple rep know that my warrenty was voided?

Homer1946 · 05:47 AM

Originally posted by Homer1946:
I should have taken the time to write down and post this information before considering that it would be REALLY useful to know for someone using a dongle, but here is the pinout for that USB motherboard connector.

http://slicedapple.ath.cx/bt_usb_pinout.gif

Just an update for those interested. I posted some info on the USB pin out for the OEM BT board and the motherboard USB connector that may be of use to some people. It is on my iBook page at http://slicedapple.ath.cx/ibookupgrades.html

More important is some feedback on how it is working. The superdrive and the HD are, of course, doing fine. My wife does not complain of reduced batery life so the impact must not be overwhelming. The BT range on the iBook (with the BT antenna spliced into the AP one) is indistinquisable from my PB G4 12. The iBooks airport range remains better than my PB.

So far the upgrade has been problem free and has allowed us to use air BT cellphone for interenet access without a problems.

I am in email contact with someone who found the OEM parts for BT aftermarket. He sent me photos and some differences between the PB and IBook antennas was obvious. Whereas the PB uses a combo antenna for both BT and AP (as we are in our upgraded iBook) iBooks with the factory BT have two separate antennas for BT and AP and at least the BT one appears to be a single lead.

Hope this helps somebody.