MacBook Super Drive

[Billy Merle]

Back again, liked the description of taking apart a laptop. Not
everybody's cup of tea and even experienced technicians are taxed to
do every-time. Note that Oakbrook Genesises send equipment to another
building at Oakbrook for actual repairs and transfers of entire
contents into new Macs. Don't know for sure but suspect this is a
third party contract shop with fixed price lists which may include
common troubles found in say CD\DVD malfunctions. Also shops are
unlikely to do simple basic internal part bends or fixes when
replacing new is most likely not to return. (some observations of
corporate 3rd party repairs of 13,000 employee base)

Now back to the optical drive in question. Apple store is best bet
for completing repair with some warranty assurance, BUT another to
consider is OtherWorld Computing with replacement drive and video
guidance to making the repair. They also have external super drives
in their offerings. (absolutely I have no connection but being a
devoted customer to OWC [and am not a congressperson or governor who
will be found by the press of link in any form to OWC])
Billy
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/MacBook_Pro_17

[Ed Danley]

The repair center for Apple in Oakbrook IS APPLE, and it is the same
geniuses you meet face to face in the store. It is hidden only because
of space. It is a back room in a slightly different part of the mall,
one that doesn't face customers, hence the rent is cheaper. The
Geniuses rotate through one of 3 different stations, often all in the
same day. Originally all was done in the physical store but Oakbrook
outgrew their space so has had to expand to 3 locations in the mall.
Not many Apple retail stores face the same space/volume issues as
Oakbrook which makes their setup unique.

Honestly, I would not compare Apple with any corporate repair/support
center. You are right in the way corporate works. This is also why
Apple doesn't fit into that mold nearly as well. IMHO, Apple would
rather loose money on a specific repair and gain a long term customer
than make a quick buck. It just isn't the Apple way which is also why
Apple had so many local followers during their down years.

Another good third party shop is Mac Specialists in Villa Park (also
in Chicago). They have been around for a long time.

(Billy - in case you haven't figured it out, I worked part time at the
Oakbrook store for around 3 years, I left In April of this year (I
think). )

Ed