I've just been checking out this Apple knowledgebase article outlining memory upgrades and specifications for the Mac Mini.

Note the phrase "Additional memory should be installed by an Apple Authorized Service Provider"
... should? Can I assume that installing memory into the Mac Mini can indeed be done by end users, and will not void the warranty of the machine if you do so?

JB

One of the Amigans on another forum phoned Apple to verify the warranty-voiding of a Mac mini end-user memory install.

"I called Apple today. I talked to a manager and he says Apple's "official position" with memory installation with the Mini is if you break the computer while installing the memory you aren't warrantee covered, but just putting memory in will not, in itself, void the warrantee. Also any authorized service provider or Apple Store could install your 3rd party RAM for you for a price."

It's a bit of a grey area I think. if you go sticking RAM in, do it yourself, and then 3 months later your GPU fails it looks like Apple aren't going to come along and go "ha! we saw end-user fingerprints on the inside of the case. NO WARRANTY FOR YOU". That lines up with what I've heard other Apple techs mention.

Either way, it's a grey area that you'd be leaving it up to Apple to decide on the black & white of. What if you put the RAM stick in and it's such a defective stick that it nukes the memory controller, and would have nuked the memory controller -anyway-, even if it was put in by an Apple tech?. Are you covered or not?

Personally... I'd probably risk putting RAM in myself if I knew how to get the case on/off, and accept the consequences of doing that. I wouldn't recommend that anybody else here do the same without considering the grey area of warranty voiding though.

I'm the same ... if it can be done with some difficulty but does not damage the outer shell, I'd prefer to do it myself - and why not, every other computer I've come across has allowed me to do so!

Was readling on the XLR8 forums that there are many little tabs you have to pry open to slip off the top shell, this could be achieved with a credit card or the like.

Although, 1GB sticks of DDR memory are quite expensive at present - so might just go with the Apple 512MB install (which is quite reasonable), then upgrade to 1GB once prices drop.

JB

I'd be comfortable with that - use it with 512MB for a little while, and then go to 1GB after the first few months burn-in, to make sure any of the brand-new-machine warranty problems don't pop up

I think I'd do the same Dana. Go with 512 at ship time.. then go 1gb as prices get better, while retaining the 512 for some burn in time..

I keep forgetting - the only reason I'd buy a mini is to put it inside a Q605 case and have the damned coolest little beige mac. I'd be killing the warranty anyway

dana

Dana, if you actually do that, then you'll be officially crazy ;D

But in a good way. But look on the bright side, at least you wouldn't have to coax the original '040 into running PearPC. :P (did you ever get PearPC to finish booting on a 68k?)

i think apple is taknig that position on ram just to protect themselves aginsts dumbasses who break parts when they screw up there install.

Kinda reminds me of a pc who posted on another forum about how one of his family members got a powerbook and he was like the "computer guy" in the family so she got him to install the ram. Then he started compaining about how it took him about 3 hours to put in it in because he had to remove the keyboard, optical drive, and other components to get to the ram slot. Anyone else read that? It got posted around a few places. Well its people like that who apple are trying to steer away from installing their own ram.

praise teh google.

http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=81280&cid=7145947

dana

Thats something we can all laugh @ for the rest of our lives! :P lol
So thats wat pc does to you!!! It makes you not think logically!

WAT AN IDIOT!!!!

lol
BJ