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MCE OptiBay Drive: Review


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MCE OptiBay Drive: Review
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tobes
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2007-04-03, 02:44

For a while I've been struggling to contain all my data in my MacBookPro - external drives were proving a pain to use (I spend a lot of time working on trains and planes) and I rarely need a DVD drive. Finally I took the plunge in January and ordered an MCE OptiBay 160GB replacement HDD and a portable external DVD.

The parcel arrived in the UK 3 days after I ordered it, and was very well packaged indeed. What do you get for your money?
- a 160GB Hitachi HDD mounted on a plastic caddy
- a screwdriver and allen keys
- printed instructions, which are specific for each size of PowerBook/MacBookPro.

In addition, there's the external DVD. The slot-loading drive is mounted in a very nicely machined aluminium case that has an industrial feel to it. It has a a special USB cable, since it requires both USB ports to power it (or the included power supply). One of the ports has a 'USB through' connector so that you can still hook up to other devices.

So far, so good. However, the HDD unit I was sent seemed to be very poorly made, there was plastic swarf all over it and the solder job looked like a Friday afternoon special. Nevertheless, I earthed myself and waded into the instructions.

However, it pretty soon became obvious that the packaged screwdriver was not up to the job (I successfully stripped the head off one screw, and it wouldn't engage with another), so I switched to a high quality set of engineers screwdrivers. The job involves removing about a dozen screws and lifting off the keyboard. Disconnecting the superdrive was simple enough, although one of the screws simply refused to give, so I had to leave part of the mounting in place. Once out, the superdrive connector is fitted to the HDD and the whole lot drops into place very easily. Then it's just a case of putting back together. I used threadlock to ensure that the screws stayed put.

Whilst the instructions were clear and simple to follow. It's not complex, and anyone with a modicum of common sense could do it. That said, I still broke a sweat in the process - open MacBook surgery isn't for the faint hearted! The disconnection of the superdrive is probably the riskiest piece of work, since one slip would damage the motherboard.

Then my problems began. The MBP simply wouldn't recognise the HDD, couldn't initialise it, and no amount of hacking around with disk tools would help. So, I took it apart again and refitted the unit - three times. In each case, it wouldn't work. Finally I refitted the superdrive and gave in.

I contacted MCE, and this is where things went wrong. The email technical support was sporadic, terse, and not very helpful. It included classic lines such as "This is your RMA# 12395. Thank you" and "I understand". Only when I lost my temper did they respond properly, and sort the returns number, although to be fair they offered me a full refund if I returned the package. Not much use, seeing as I'd already voided the warranty on my MBP.

MCE provided a FedEx return number, but FedEx wouldn't recognise it here in the UK so I returned the drive via registered post, and surprise, surprise it never arrived. We then enter into a month of messing about courtesy of MCE's accounts department, but I guess that's not relevant to the story. The outcome was, I was finally in receipt of a brand new HDD.

This second unit was a much, much higher quality piece of kit. The moulding and solder finish were impeccable and made me realise what a duff unit the first drive had been. I fitted it as before, and the MBP recognised it immediately. Format took a minute or so, and I now have a second drive with 148.73GB of usable space

In operation, the MBP runs at the same temperature as before; the fans run at the same speed; and the battery lasts just as long. I'm delighted with the finished result. The external DVD works well, although I'm having difficulty making it work with iDVD, but I'm sure that's a configuration issue rather than a problem with the kit.

My conclusion: if you need more HDD space, and don't make much use of the superdrive, then this is a brilliant solution. Use a decent set of drivers to fit the HDD, and have some threadlock to hand for closing up again. And try not to do anything that requires tech support from MCE, since that's not going to be so much fun.
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Majost
monkey with a tiny cymbal
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lost
 
2007-04-03, 09:22

Sweet! Reviews and experiences with these drives are terribly hard to come by... thanks for your story.
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2007-04-03, 09:29

Thanks for taking the time to give your input. I'll have to consider something like this later as my need for space grows.
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beardedmacuser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: eastmidlandshire
 
2007-04-03, 09:37

Thank-you! I'm very tempted by the MCE Optibay, and I also am here in the UK. Some useful points to consider...
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Majost
monkey with a tiny cymbal
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lost
 
2007-05-26, 22:05

Bump-ity bump bump.

Well, I took the dive. And since there's so little about it available online, I wrote up my experience, with photos and all. Although I did eventually get things working, it was *really* disconcerting that I had the exact same problem as tobes.

My experience with their tech support wasn't quite as lacking, but an RMA (or better yet -- pre-shipping the replacement with a label to ship the defective one back) would have been friendlier than a raw FedEx account number. They still weren't the most proactive, but neither was I.
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2007-05-26, 23:05

Thanks for the update. It's enough to ensure I skip that upgrade myself.
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2009-01-03, 12:45

Think about trying this out now. Anyone have recent input or experience with one of these mods?
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ianhadden
 
 
2011-04-07, 04:40

I tried to buy an optibay from MCE but they didn't ship, nor did they reply to my followup emails. Awful customer service from them, I've no idea how they survive.
  quote
ScottRiqui
 
 
2011-04-21, 03:18

Quote:
Originally Posted by ianhadden View Post
I tried to buy an optibay from MCE but they didn't ship, nor did they reply to my followup emails. Awful customer service from them, I've no idea how they survive.
Did you ever end up hearing back from MCE? How long ago did you order your Optibay? I just ordered one earlier this week, and now I'm nervous after having read all the customer-support horror stories about them.
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kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-21, 17:54

We ordered 2 of these guys on Friday, got them on Tuesday, sold one on Tuesday to a guy who installed it himself. No complaints as of yet.
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Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-21, 18:38

Quote:
Originally Posted by kscherer View Post
We ordered 2 of these guys on Friday, got them on Tuesday, sold one on Tuesday to a guy who installed it himself. No complaints as of yet.
Two new posters bumping a four-year-old thread to make their first and only posts, both of which are about a company's allegedly horrible customer service, making vague references to "having read all the customer-service horror stories" that don't seem to actually exist? Smells like astroturf...covered in shit.

and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong
  quote
Xaqtly
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
 
2011-04-22, 00:04

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robo View Post
Smells like astroturf...covered in shit.
Yeah, Astroshit. Man, I hate that stuff. It smells and feels terrible.
  quote
kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-22, 00:44

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robo View Post
Two new posters bumping a four-year-old thread to make their first and only posts, both of which are about a company's allegedly horrible customer service, making vague references to "having read all the customer-service horror stories" that don't seem to actually exist? Smells like astroturf...covered in shit.
Appears you might be right. But, hey, darned things are neat as hell! You can order a Macbook Pro with a 750GB HDD, and then stuff another 750GB HDD in there. Sweet!

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
  quote
turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2011-04-22, 01:01

Really, a 750GB fits now? 9.5mm tall? Or does the MBP take 12mm?
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PB PM
Sneaky Punk
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Send a message via Skype™ to PB PM 
2011-04-22, 02:24

Toshiba and Seagate make 1TB 2.5 drives now, but they are 12mm. The biggest 9.5mm drive is 750GB.
  quote
kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-22, 09:49

Quote:
Originally Posted by turtle View Post
Really, a 750GB fits now? 9.5mm tall? Or does the MBP take 12mm?
Yes. 9.5 and fits like a gloveā€¦and in 7200rpm goodness, too! Two of them, if you are so inclined.

Mirror them, stripe them, wrap them up in bubblegum! You can even concactinate them. Woot!

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
  quote
turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2011-04-22, 10:31

I feel so behind the times.
  quote
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