Doug
New Member
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Springfield, Masschusetts.
If you can repair Windows, but you want to learn how to repair Mac OS X, do you have to purchase a Mac OS X system just for experimenting?
Don't know jack about Macs.
- Thread starter Doug
- Start date
Slaters Kustum Machines
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 2,498
- Location
- Iowa
Deleted because it violated MAC EULA, sorry.
Last edited:
xxsilk109xx
New Member
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Savannah, GA
OsX is only 30 bucks
14049752
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 174
It's against the EULA to install OS X into a virtual machine.
My advice for someone asking this question has always been: Pick up a used Mac Mini. They're cheap. Use a usb keyboard, mouse and monitor that you already have. When you're ready to start working on macs, you'll have the hardware needed to do data backups and such. It's a good investment if you plan to work on Macs to help boost your income.
My advice for someone asking this question has always been: Pick up a used Mac Mini. They're cheap. Use a usb keyboard, mouse and monitor that you already have. When you're ready to start working on macs, you'll have the hardware needed to do data backups and such. It's a good investment if you plan to work on Macs to help boost your income.
Vicenarian
Active Member
- Reaction score
- 19
And/or slap an Apple logo onto your PC. 
lan101
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 608
I have a macbook I play around with. I generally like it.
In 3 years as a business, I've worked on 1 mac and helped someone set a brand new imac up. Not a lot of call for it at least in my area. Then again theres very little maintenance that "needs" to be done. I mean you can download and run onyx and that's about all you need.
At least in my general experience with macs. They are definitely worth it to the person who has money to spend and just wants a hassle free computer.
In 3 years as a business, I've worked on 1 mac and helped someone set a brand new imac up. Not a lot of call for it at least in my area. Then again theres very little maintenance that "needs" to be done. I mean you can download and run onyx and that's about all you need.
At least in my general experience with macs. They are definitely worth it to the person who has money to spend and just wants a hassle free computer.
anonymous Mac Tech
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 48
- Location
- Michigan
How did you learn to repair Windows? Did you never own a PC and Windows just came natural without ever having to learn your way around?
ProTech-MN
Member
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Blaine, MN
Slaters Kustum Machines
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 2,498
- Location
- Iowa
MobileTechie
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- UK
Mac Mini's don't seem that cheap really.
I'm not sure Apple really loses on a paid for OS disk installed on an Intel vs a used Mac off ebay. I guess it depends on how much of a EULA geek you are.
I'm not sure Apple really loses on a paid for OS disk installed on an Intel vs a used Mac off ebay. I guess it depends on how much of a EULA geek you are.
ATTech
New Member
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Sacramento Area, CA
Because then you don't have to pay for their overpriced hardware.
MobileTechie
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- UK
True but if you're buying used then Apple get nothing either way.
ATTech
New Member
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Sacramento Area, CA
Unless the person you're buying it from is using the money from the sale to buy another Apple. If the person is just getting rid of it, then you have a point.
MobileTechie
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- UK
That would only matter if there wasn't a large, free market in 2nd hand macs and I was the only buyer. But there is and I'm not.
14049752
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 174
You must not be looking hard enough. I've been able to find and buy a Mac Mini for around $200 (an intel version) every time I've looked. If the goal is to learn, you can get a G4 Mini for about $100 if you're lucky.
wtigger
Member
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Central MA
I've purchased reasonably priced used Intel Mac's over the last year. I got a nice 20" iMac (aluminum case) for $500, and a MacBook Pro for same price 
Patience is what makes it happen.. I don't get many calls for Mac service or support, but nobody within 30-50 miles of me sells or fixes them So it's more revenue...
Patience is what makes it happen.. I don't get many calls for Mac service or support, but nobody within 30-50 miles of me sells or fixes them So it's more revenue...
anonymous Mac Tech
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 48
- Location
- Michigan
Yeah, we have one right now 1.66GHz, intel core duo, 2GB of RAM, can't remember drive specs (I want to say 160GB HDD?) priced at $249. My opinion seems a little high for a Core Duo, but I'm not in charge of used computer sales.
I've came across enough G4 Mac Minis for free that just needed a drive or something stupid.
johnrobert
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 259
- Location
- Vancouver BC
I do a little bit on macs but only get a couple of calls a year mainly to tranfer data from pc.
Lots of my best customers alas have bought macs and I never hear from them again.
They are too Fisher-Price for my liking
Lots of my best customers alas have bought macs and I never hear from them again.
They are too Fisher-Price for my liking
Without descending into the same old Windows vs Mac arguments (which I'm a bit disappointed to see on a site like this, and the OP didn't seem to ask for), hopefully this will be of some help.
Sure, there are software and hardware differences, but troubleshooting theory and the basic concepts you're dealing with are much the same, e.g. how would you determine whether the LCD or the GPU is at fault? You'd work it out in much the same way regardless of what OS is installed.
In terms of hardware, a hard drive is a hard drive, so you'll be used to dealing with these commodity bits already. Ease of actual repairs varies just like it does with PCs, but common stuff like RAM and HDDs are usually (but not always), fairly straight forward to replace, and if you do LCDs on laptops, I'm sure you'll manage on a MacBook.
There are some specifics you'd need to know of course, but if you don't have access to Apple's internal service stuff, there's still good resources around like iFixit, and of course Google is always your friend. Just like I'm sure there are problems you come across frequently on certain PC models that you spot immediately that I would need to troubleshoot or research, the same goes for Macs - a lot of things you'll pick up by experience the more you see them.
There are a few reasons that getting a Mac in would be useful. General familiarity of course - while the basic concepts are the same, there are obviously differences in interface that would be useful to get to know when troubleshooting your customer's machines. There are also practical reasons - Target Disk Mode alone can be a lifesaver, and if you start dealing with Macs more regularly it's not a bad idea to get a hold of some useful stuff like a MacBook power supply (85W - it'll do all the MagSafe machines), and maybe put together a HD (FW/USB preferably) with install and boot partitions for a few versions of OS X. Lastly, you might even grow to like it!
Here are some useful links:
http://kbase.info.apple.com/
http://macosx.com/
http://ifixit.com/
If you have any other questions Doug, let me know.
Sure, there are software and hardware differences, but troubleshooting theory and the basic concepts you're dealing with are much the same, e.g. how would you determine whether the LCD or the GPU is at fault? You'd work it out in much the same way regardless of what OS is installed.
In terms of hardware, a hard drive is a hard drive, so you'll be used to dealing with these commodity bits already. Ease of actual repairs varies just like it does with PCs, but common stuff like RAM and HDDs are usually (but not always), fairly straight forward to replace, and if you do LCDs on laptops, I'm sure you'll manage on a MacBook.
There are some specifics you'd need to know of course, but if you don't have access to Apple's internal service stuff, there's still good resources around like iFixit, and of course Google is always your friend. Just like I'm sure there are problems you come across frequently on certain PC models that you spot immediately that I would need to troubleshoot or research, the same goes for Macs - a lot of things you'll pick up by experience the more you see them.
There are a few reasons that getting a Mac in would be useful. General familiarity of course - while the basic concepts are the same, there are obviously differences in interface that would be useful to get to know when troubleshooting your customer's machines. There are also practical reasons - Target Disk Mode alone can be a lifesaver, and if you start dealing with Macs more regularly it's not a bad idea to get a hold of some useful stuff like a MacBook power supply (85W - it'll do all the MagSafe machines), and maybe put together a HD (FW/USB preferably) with install and boot partitions for a few versions of OS X. Lastly, you might even grow to like it!
Here are some useful links:
http://kbase.info.apple.com/
http://macosx.com/
http://ifixit.com/
If you have any other questions Doug, let me know.
altrenda
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 740
- Location
- So California
I see lots of macs, especially laptops. They are extremely popular in the entertainment industry.
Open them up, which isn't that easy for iMacs, and they are just PCs inside.
Failed drives, bad ram, power supplies are typical problems. I have replaced broken laptop screens as well.
I also find it easier to do remote support on a Mac from a Mac. I went the used mini route, very cost effective. Just make sure to get a Core 2Duo so you can run Lion.
Open them up, which isn't that easy for iMacs, and they are just PCs inside.
Failed drives, bad ram, power supplies are typical problems. I have replaced broken laptop screens as well.
I also find it easier to do remote support on a Mac from a Mac. I went the used mini route, very cost effective. Just make sure to get a Core 2Duo so you can run Lion.
Similar threads
