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What on earth is a Spudger?


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What on earth is a Spudger?
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Frank777
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
 
2009-09-22, 18:43

So I bought a new Seagate 320GB, 7200rpm drive for my MacBook Pro last week.
I figured that the upgrade would be my weekend project.

I went to ifixit and downloaded the tutorial, and then realized I might not have all the tools needed.

The tutorial calls for a Philips screwdriver, a Torx T6 screwdriver and a spudger.

I had the Philips, bought the Torx and then spent the weekend looking for this insane 'spudger' thing.

Best Buy: Huh? Not in our 21-piece tool kit.
Walmart: Nope.
The Source (Radio Shack in Canada): Huh? Never heard of it.
Canada Computes: What?
Home Depot: Nada
Canadian Tire: No.
TigerDirect: Never heard of it.

As a Mac Geek, you have not lived until a young Asian PC guy at TigerDirect looks at you wondering why you want to open up your laptop with some kind of potato peeler.

Someone at the Apple Store said that they don't sell this apparently Mac-specific repair tool, but I really didn't need it anyway.

Is there some retard in Cupertino whose job is to figure out how to incorporate obscure tools in Mac upgrades?

Has anyone told Best Buy that they can add a putty knife, suction cups and a spudger to their $21. tool kit, and sell it as a $40. Mac-compatible tool kit?
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Brad
Selfish Heathen
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Zone of Pain
 
2009-09-22, 18:46

It's a skinny, flat piece of plastic. I just use a flathead screwdriver or butter knife. You're supposed to use something non-conductive, but I live dangerously.

Read the tutorial and look at the pictures. Surely you'll have a suitable replacement somewhere at home.

The quality of this board depends on the quality of the posts. The only way to guarantee thoughtful, informative discussion is to write thoughtful, informative posts. AppleNova is not a real-time chat forum. You have time to compose messages and edit them before and after posting.
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Frank777
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
 
2009-09-22, 18:48

I was told (by the Apple Store guy) that the whole point is to avoid metal, and thus static electricity.

Edit: Ah, I missed that second line.
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Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2009-09-22, 18:54

Two perspectives.

1) You can count on Apple to be so exclusive that they would require obscure tool nobody else has heard of.

2) This is an excellent geek-o-meter test. Could be useful in interviewing prospective sysadmin. "What's a spudger?" "uhhh... spud peeler?" "Sorry, you're not geeky enough for this job."

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Swox
OK Mr. Sunshine!
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Toronto
 
2009-09-22, 18:58

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad View Post
It's a skinny, flat piece of plastic. I just use a flathead screwdriver or butter knife. You're supposed to use something non-conductive, but I live dangerously.

Read the tutorial and look at the pictures. Surely you'll have a suitable replacement somewhere at home.
Ditto. I didn't even see the "spudger" instruction when I did it.
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curiousuburb
Antimatter Man
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: that interweb thing
 
2009-09-22, 18:59

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad View Post
It's a skinny, flat piece of plastic. I just use a flathead screwdriver or butter knife. You're supposed to use something non-conductive, but I live dangerously.
The Deluxe model has wings and optional doodads.
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psmith2.0
Mr. Vieira
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
 
2009-09-22, 19:21

...and comes in five lickable fruit flavors. Collect 'em all...strawberry, grape, tangerine, lime and blueberry (oh, and graphite for any stick-up-their-butt fuddy-duds).
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Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2009-09-22, 19:25

Available via mail order from store.apple.com only at low, low price of $169.

Shipping and taxes not included.
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addabox
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
 
2009-09-22, 19:30

Ahem.

"Spudger? I barely knew her!"
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Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2009-09-22, 19:51

I think a Spudger is a ball used in Quidditch.
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Wyatt
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Near Indianapolis
 
2009-09-22, 20:10

iFixit sells spudgers here: http://www.ifixit.com/Tools#0-Spudgers
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Frank777
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
 
2009-09-22, 22:03

Thanks Wyatt. I saw I could have ordered it online but I really wanted to get the upgrade done on the weekend.

Paul, you forgot Flower Power. We must always remember Flower Power.
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FFL
Fishhead Family Reunited
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Slightly Off Center
 
2009-09-22, 22:43

I've found that a plastic disposable knife will do in a pinch, and meets the non-conductive test. You can probably get one for free from your nearest fast-food drive-thru.

A real spudger, though (like the one ifixit.com sells) will likely become your most-used tool if you take apart Macs on a regular basis. They've got 1001 uses....
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