QuickerTek intros 802.11n upgrade for MacBooks and iMacs

It looks like those who pounced on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or iMac before Apple snuck 802.11n cards into them now have another option besides simply living with their comparatively slower WiFi innards, with QuickerTek introducing some 802.11n upgrade cards to bring the systems up to speed. Those comfortable with cracking opening their computers themselves can opt for a DIY kit that'll set you back $149, with the more faint of heart able to take advantage of QuickerTek's offer to install the card for you for the premium price of $199 (plus shipping). Obviously, you won't be able to pop one of these into your vintage Bondi Blue iMac, but they should be compatible with all modern 17, 20, and 24-inch iMacs, and all pre-802.11n MacBooks and MacBook Pros, with OS X 10.4.8 the only other requirement.

[Via MacMinute]

[Funboy @ Mar 5th 2007 6:21PM]

Too bad Apple doesn't give you more choices. I'd rather buy a sleek Sony Vaio any other day.

[Matt @ Mar 5th 2007 6:43PM]

All 24 inch iMac's have wireless n.



http://apple-group.blogspot.com/

[js @ Mar 5th 2007 7:15PM]

pwned.

[ECH @ Mar 5th 2007 7:19PM]

I just did this upgrade to my MacBook Pro 15" last night with the $43.00 Mac Pro Wireless Kit. It's a pretty simple procedure with detailed instructions at http://www.hardmac.com/articles/71/page1/. Took about a half hour and that was just because I was undoing a million screws.

My local Apple Store sold me the kit no problem, just with a warning that if I did it myself, it would void the warranty. They offered to do it for $75, keeping the warranty intact.

So IMHO, the QuickerTek offering is a total racket.

[felonious monk @ Mar 5th 2007 7:59PM]

No love for the Powerbook. >:(

[LukeA @ Mar 5th 2007 8:02PM]

That $199 doesn't even include shipping, which would presumably be expensive and worrysome. (You should have seen the condition of the box in which my father's new iMac came - corner ripped off, wet - luckily the machine and pack-ins were all fine.)

[J @ Mar 5th 2007 8:46PM]

That is highway robbery, I hope that most purchasers are more savvy than this company assumes. I did this upgrade with freely avaliable information with the use of the $43 kit for the Mac Pro (incidently the Apple store here in atlanta refused to sell the kit to me unless I took my Mac Pro into the store, so I guess your milage may vary, but other authorized apple service providers will sell the kit no problem).

[LukeA @ Mar 5th 2007 8:54PM]

Well, that computer was Fedexed from the factory in China, but I still don't trust shipping companies.

[Moff @ Mar 5th 2007 10:28PM]

Now that is funny.. :)

[Matt @ Mar 5th 2007 10:50PM]

;)

[Galley @ Mar 6th 2007 8:48AM]

If Apple wanted to sell more Airport Extremes and Apple TVs they'd offer to upgrade our 802.11g MacBooks for $99.

[Gary @ Mar 15th 2007 11:36AM]

Haha, you can't get the $43 kit anymore, Apple is out. And to add to that Apple hiked the price to $150, that's what I found anyway....

[Kelly Albertine @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:45PM]

wrong..Applestore just sold me one for $ 43 today.

[Kelly Albertine @ Apr 4th 2007 10:11AM]

btw - I'm no geek, but I just took the easily purchased hardware wireless kit $($ 43) and attempted to upgrade a Macbook Pro 17" 2.16 Intel Core Duo. Now it makes sense "why" Apple isn't really supporting this; and kind of half assed supporting the upgrade endeavor. This upgrade card seems to be reverse (screwed upward from beneath), to the left speaker, which is attached to motherboard attached to seemingly giant amount of layers of hardware just to get to the unit screws. This is an obvioius design flaw, being the first intel based Macbook. I believe, if this were an easy upgrade...Apple would be all over it. I just threw up my arms fearing damaging the machine, being a total novice, but brave....Hardmac should reconsider stating that doing this upgrade to a Macbook Pro "should" be easy. NOT, NOT -