Be Excellent To Each Other

Thanks to Apple, the new Magsafe PSU I've got for the Macbook has a different connector that doesn't like the hard case my Macbook Pro 15" (mid 2008) lives in.

So no problem, order up a new case. But bugger me, Apple appear to release new models every 2 minutes. Black keys, unibody, etc, etc. What do I have? Mine is a mid 2008 Macbook Pro with silver keys.

[edit snip]

Bloody Apple and their constant meddling!

Have found that no fucker sells them but have managed to find a case that fits on Ebay (a black version of what I have already). My idea is to buy a Dremel and then cut a larger hole in the new case for the power connector. Presumably I am correct in thinking a Dremel is good for that sort of thing?

Obligatory "It just works" post in before the actual help.

Well if you have the model that came out 3 months after mine, it appears it would. Complication number 1 was finding a new case (as mine is battered). Complication 2 was working out the power connector problem.

Apparently the owners of the new models have hit the same adaptor problem but they can get around it easier.

What I am assuming is that a Dremel is the kind of cutting tool I want. I need something that can cut a small chunk out of the new case (after a practice on the old case).

To be fair the new connector appears to be an improvement. It's not Apples fault if aftermarket cases don't work with it (which makes me sound like some arsehole Apple apologist which I'm not).

I've never used one personally, but I hear that all the PC-modders use dremmels to hack bits off their cases, so I'd imagine it is what you are after. I've got a feeling there are quite a few tool-heads to choose from though.

Either that or an angle grinder

A Dremel should work fine for something like that. I'd imagine you'd need the cutting discs for that kind of case mod work, so make sure the model you buy comes with the requisite bit and cutting discs otherwise you'll need to shell out extra for them.

For future reference if you want to find out anything about your MacBook, go into About This Mac under the Apple symbol in the top left of the screen. Click more info, copy the Serial No and then paste it into this.

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

Hey presto, all the model history for your MacBook

An Dremel are a good way to painstakingly make a bloody hash of it, whatever it is. IMO.

A small pair of electrical sidecutters might be a good option if this case is just made of thin plastic.

I love the title of this thread.

It makes me giggle.

Couldn't disagree more really, Dremels are a fantastically useful bit of kit. You just need to know what you're doing, use the right tool and get some practice to get the right speed (too fast and you'll just start melting the plastic). That said buying a Dremel for one job like this is probably a bit over the top. It's hard to say without seeing a picture but you might manage with just a small set of files or something.

Well, I'm just meaning it sounds like a job better suited to handtools. Stanley knife, cutter, file, what have you.

A Dremel just strikes me as an un-neccessary gimmicky tool, in between properly used hand tools and proper power tools. Each to their own though!

There's only one way to find out!

Hippy.

Hippy.

It's not. It's thick heavy duty stuff. Anyway I have the Dremel now.

I had a go on the old case. While not pretty it ain't bad for a first attempt.

I used the cone shaped filey thing rather than a cutter.

Yes £50 is expensive but it would be a handy thing to have around the office.

You could have bought 2.5 Crasters for that.

There should be a bit that looks like a small drill but is in fact a cutting bit, like this:

Are you sure about that? Not only did I recently create all new cable management in my Alienware using a Dremel but I also completely converted a G3 mac chassis to take PC internals.

You need a steady hand, the correct attatchments for the job and practice, but Dremels rule for modding.

Yeah, just an opinion though
Perhaps I'm just cheap, on reflection,.

Stick your opinion in your bio degradable solar powered hash pipe.

I'm cheap dude. My 'Dremel' cost me £21.95 delivered.



It's powerful enough and solid. The only thing that can suck on a rotary tool is if it starts to rattle apart. The cheap ones usually tend to do that but I have abused the crap out of this since getting it and it's not vibrating at all.

First was this



And since then I have used it to grind a plate on the bathroom door (so that the catch went in properly so the door didn't keep opening when it was windy) cut things out of plastic and so on.

I did have to buy some of these as mine didn't come with any



But they cost me a fiver. So, all in about £27 and it saved me from buying another PC case with good cable management which would have been £80+. As I say I also managed to pull of some DIY with it and will no doubt use the crap out of it in the future

Thanks for the pictures, man.

Jesus, I now need more mind bleach thinking about that poor case you posted.

The new PSU worked fine all weekend but stopped working this evening. Faffed around on the Apple site looking for a way to get a replacement (nearly impossible).

Then I found out I needed to apply an update. After an update and an SMC reset it now works fine again.

In 25 years of home computing this is the first time I've had to patch a computer because I changed a power supply!

You'd think Apple might put a note in the box saying 2008 Macbook and Macbook Pro owners would hit problems. But not.

Apple, it just works (except when it doesn't and we won't say why).