spudger
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Reinventing the Spudger
Here's a basic Apple geek test. Spudger. If the word means nothing to you, move on to the next post. Okay, just us now? If the term spudger means something to you -- and you know in your inner geek heart that it does because you're still here reading -- just wait 'til you hear what we have for you. TidBITS reports that the folks at Newer Technologies have re-invented the spudger! The soft, thin, pliable manipulation tool has been reimagined as an ultra thin, stainless steel weapon of Mac destruction. It's handmade in Italy of the finest rare Tuscan steel, so you can be assured of years of quality spudging (OK, I made up the "rare Tuscan steel" bit. So sue me.) Retailing for US$9.99 (slighly less street price), the iSesamo (great name, yes?) is reportedly "ideal for pros and DIYers." I haven't had an opportunity to try one out, but the TidBITs write-up suggests that it easily surpasses the standard nylon units I have in my toolbox. As a final note, a TUAW investigative team has discovered that CultOfSpudger.com, TUSpudgerW.com, 9to5Spudger.com, and SpudgerRumors.com are all available for anyone who wishes to create a dedicated spudger blog.
2011 Mac mini gets the iFixit teardown treatment
I love the iFixit site. They jump in where wimps like myself fear to tread, and give us the courage (and instructions) to pop open our Macs and see what's inside the Apple-logoed aluminum box. Yesterday we gave you the iFixit details of the new MacBook Air models, and now the site has lovingly disassembled a mid-2011 Mac mini to show you its electronic entrails. The first thing that iFixit pointed out in their post was the lack of a SuperDrive. As if we needed any more of a sign that Apple is abandoning optical drives, the removal of the SuperDrive from the Mac mini is a real indication that the company wants to move bits, not atoms. iFixit points out that there's an empty hard drive cable port that's easy to get to, and that there's even enough room to pop in another drive (as found in the Mac mini Server model). The only barrier to that additional drive is availability of a special SATA hard drive to logic board cable, and I'm sure that someone will find a source for that component shortly. In terms of repairability, iFixit gives the new Mac mini a score of 8 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest possible device to service. That should give any potential Mac mini modders out there the impetus to grab their Torx screwdrivers and spudgers, and then get to work on creating the ultimate Mac mini.
Tracking the mysterious 'black stick'
In its hardware repair instructions and videos, Apple frequently mentions the "black stick," a plastic tool that can be used to pry things apart without damaging our precious glossy exterior finishes (or the sensitive electronics inside). The problem I've found is that nobody seems to have these, instead opting to use credit cards, pens, screwdrivers, chisels, circular saws, or whatever else is handy to crack open the case. My beautiful girlfriend Michelle is a chemist, and she brought home a giveaway nylon lab spatula (pictured) from a trade show. I found it perfect for use as a black stick. Best of all, it was free. Other companies sell black tools online. PowerbookMedic offers black nylon "flat probe tool spudgers" for $2.90 apiece. These, they claim, are the same style as Apple uses in its repair videos and documentation. Stanley also offers a nylon soldering tool that works just as well, and it's less than half the price at $1.30 each. If anyone else knows of any other ESD-safe, non damaging pry tools (especially for cheap!), feel free to share in comments.
