Quite sometime ago, Macbook complained about how tired she was with the current configuration and eagerly wants a performance boost.

Half a decade old external harddisk taken from my old PC and fitted with a metal casing survived til few days ago. Copying big files to and from the harddisk will now and then result in a stupid ‘-36 error code’, which signifies problems with the disk – mostly damaged. I wanted to change it quite sometime ago but did not want to since it is still working (just a little painfully). Macbook decided to do the dirty job in attempt to chase this old junk away. She somehow made the disk not usable and I had to open up ‘Disk Utility’ for a diagnostic and results ? – Unrepairable and requires a clean format. This is not the first time. Thankfully my important backups (MY FYP) were already on Dropbox. So… I sourced for a ‘cheaper faster and better’ external harddisk. I ‘offered’ babe to buy this for me as my upcoming birthday present and she agreed without hesitation – no need to headache what to buy (and we are both very practical). Thanks babe! I love my pressie! =D

Western Digital My Book for Mac. Or how I rearrange it: ‘My Western Digital for Mac Book’.

WD My Book

Opened up

Quick Manual

Fat and black. Not as cool as the FreeAgents.

Oh, thanks for reminding me! -.-

Back view

After copying all the heavy files to it and completed the first Time Machine session about 10% is used up. Subsequent backups will be smaller and I hope this fella will last me at least till USB3.0 is out and has matured.

Like all HDDs, I suppose I have to endure the screeching sounds because I do not intend to switch-on-only-when-i-need like how I did to my previous one – probably that is how I killed it. Not sure.

One thing good though, whenever I put my macbook to sleep, it automatically goes into standby mode also. But then again, I do not know if it is good to cut the power supply while it is on standby mode. I can’t seem to find proper articles on best practices for your beloved HDD.

Unlike my dead HDD, this one actually stands vertically instead of horizontally. I can no longer hide it inside my cable box. Which also means more visible cables on my desk. Eww. But I have tried my best to keep most cables hidden from…

Like this. Potential eyesore.

To this. With magical IKEA product.

Macbook suffered from short-term-memory and often has to page-in and page-out, which resulted in slower data fetch for CPU processing. It became obvious when my Dock is filled with icons especially those from Adobe. Worst when I virtualized it with Win7 – totally not usable. Simple fix – more memory. If only human brains can do such a fix. Damn.

New memory!

Stupid shop Uncle tried to cheat me into buying a nicely packaged ‘RAM for Macbook and Macbook Pros’ and more expensive one. Luckily I double-checked with friends before hoot-ing.

Installing was easy and intuitive. Get out the screws, slot the RAM in, and screw it back. Properly drawn instructions were printed on the macbook’s battery cover.

Step 1 - Turn it over.

Step 2 - Remove batt and hdd.

Step 3 - Unscrew and remove base cover.

Step 4 - Remove old and insert new.

Step 5 - Do Step 1 to 3 in reverse and bootup!

Companion 3 – MagSafe 60W. It is the power adaptor + cable for macbook and it is freggin expensive compared to other notebooks’ power cable. I got it with a discounted price though. I reckon I require that mobility soon as final semester approaches and IA right after that. Removing the nicely tugged adapter from the cable box and force pulling the tight ‘extended’ cable head from the adaptor is not something I would want to do everyday – inconvenient and damaging. So, bite the bullet and got it off the online store. Can sell it off online next time should I not need it anymore – key is to keep the boxes in mint conditions!

MagSafe 60W

The usual eyegasmic packaging.

What is really really eyegasmic is this little next companion I got for Macbook. The MAGIC MOUSE ! Courtesy of my brother. He got one for himself too!

Apple's Magic Mouse !

Nicely caged in a crystal clear mouse trap

I so dont feel like opening it. Sleek!

But I have to... sleekier!

Back face. I have no idea how this spotlight effect appeared.

eyegasm!

Even the included batteries are not the cheapo ones.

Some of the downsides, in my honest opinion:

Comparing to my old Logitec MX518 (wired), the sensitivity of the MM is definitely lower. If I shift the MM a little, the cursor on my screen does not always follow exactly. I guess the same problem goes with every other bluetooth mouse out there. It creates the feedback that your mouse is not exactly doing what you want it to do. It is annoying when my cursor is just 2mm away from target and all I need is to move that 2mm towards it – but sadly the mouse does not always respond to that level.

Also, the MM is a little flat compared to my comfy but bulky Logitec. Of course, a 34C feels better than a 32A, right? =P A gap between my palm and the mouse surface will be there – not quite possible to grab reasonably without leaving a gap. It also means I am clamping it with my thumb and pinky finger and lifting the weighted mouse which is somehow more tiring. Probably not used to it yet.

However, not as comfy as my old one does not mean it IS NOT usable at all. I am starting to get used to it and loving it as I write the blog with so many copies and pastes from flickr.

Apart from these that I have observed for the past few hours, it is a mouse I am proud to own. Did I mention I have less one cable running along my desk now? =)

Still in the midst of trying it out. The basic multi-touch gestures are very limited. There are additional gesture setting files written by external developers and they require you to buy it.

So. Pocket burnt. But a happy man.

Now Macbook, I hope you are satisfied.