Comments on: MacBook Pro dual hard drive install (timelapse)

By: Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:10:00 +0000

I ended up using the MaxConnect.

By: Jamie Morphy

Jamie Morphy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Hey Eric,

Just wondering what optibay enclosure you used for the 1 TB drive? I am looking to put one in my 17" MBP as well.

By: Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:37:20 +0000

Great info, Cor. I typically try to ground myself once before I start, too.

By: Cor Bosman

Cor Bosman — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:51:49 +0000

The parent company of the company I work for has done extensive research into ESD safe work environments. (they're the incumbent telco of The Netherlands). I even had to do an ESD course :) In the 80s en 90s this meant all work spaces that dealt with electronic components were ESD safe, with coats, grounding straps, the works.

In the last 10 years or so this has changed. There doesnt seem to be any damage to modern components when it comes to static electricity. Most datacenters in our company no longer require ESD safe work practices.

Like Eric, I never work ESD safe anymore. Of course, I dont wear wool sweaters and rub my feet over the carpet before I start. Actually, I generally try to ground myself once before I start. But ive opened a zillion devices (iphones, MBPs, nokias, desktop PCS, expensive multi-million dollar routers) without being fully ESD safe. It all still works.

By: Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:45:26 +0000

I should also say that I would expect nothing less from an Apple guy, Rogier! :)

PC people open their machines all the time and hack 'em, even at home, where not everyone has an "ESD-safe mat."

By: Rogier

Rogier — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:44:43 +0000

True I know you know what you are doing. But my worry is for all your followers who don’t…. I have seen plenty of injured computers at my work as a result from various diy projects….

By: Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:40:32 +0000

You make good points. But I have been changing out hardware like this for 20 years with no problems. shrug

If I start doing this more often for other people, I will do it ESD safe.

By: rogierdiver

rogierdiver — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:32:54 +0000

Unless you are grounded with an ankle strap you are not working ESD safe.
All viewers be aware that as cool and easy this looks like. Please be aware about what you are doing. Don’t wear synthetic clothing or wool and ground yourself using a wrist strap connected to a good ground (test it before you start working on sensitive electronics!).
Also your work surface should be a an ESD save mat that is grounded as well. All component should be stored inside special bags. and never placed on top of plastic or other metallic surfaces.
Even if the component(s) don’t immediately fail. Damaged chips cause intermitted issues. Causing all sorts of trouble that can look like hard or software failure.