Does anyone with a MacBook Pro use a Data Doubler?

[Chris Brennan]

I've now owned my 13" MacBook Pro for about 3 months and am slowly but surely reacquainting myself with working on a Mac... It's outfitted with a Mac 256 GB SSD drive, which I use for my apps and OS, and have 2 external drives set up for data when home and another more portable one for the road. But I'm starting to realize that I want as much as I get all in the "one box" and not have to rely on externals... I'm currently looking at the OWC Data Doubler which will enable me to remove the optical drive (which I rarely use) and put in its place either a small 7200 rpm mechanical drive or perhaps another SSD drive. What I'm wondering is whether any of you Mac folks have done that, and if it's helping your workflow...

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Chris,
I recently bought a 17 inch MacbookPro with 8 gb ram blah blah. I got it from US a day before they dropped the 17inch series. :)

I had evaluated buying the OWC. However, I didn't feel comfortable in messing up with it. If someone in the company would have offered to do it for me, then I would have gone ahead and done it. I am told many people have done it as they don't need the DVD drive. You can always plug in the DVD drive to your USB port.

However, one thing you have to realise is that you will soon fill up your 256 GB SSD, unless you keep on removing it to an external hard disk.

I have got a 4 TB G-Raid. This is primarily for editing films. And have kept my macbookPro clean. A few articles and working documents remain on my MacbookPro. Lightroom is installed and all editing of images are also done using external drives.

Tell us when you get the OWC Data doubler.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Chris Brennan]

Upon further investigation, it appears that Apple will void my warranty if I install a data doubler, so I'll continue to use my externals, which include a 1 GB drive for primary data and a 2 GB for backup as well as a 500GB portable for when I travel. I'll re-evaluate after a year...

[Clemens Vanderwerf]

Easy fix. I just installed two SSD drives (120Gb and 480 GB with Data Doubler) and 16Mb Memory in a 17" MBP. It is a piece of cake and the instructions (videos and manuals) from OWC are really good and easy to understand. You need some special small screwdrivers (through OWC as well), and a steady hand, but other than that an upgrade that is worthwhile and will boost your Mac into space.

[Jay Gould]

Upon further investigation, it appears that Apple will void my warranty if I install a data doubler, so I'll continue to use my externals, which include a 1 GB drive for primary data and a 2 GB for backup as well as a 500GB portable for when I travel. I'll re-evaluate after a year...

Chris, they will not void your warranty. The Apple Warranty provides:

WHAT WILL APPLE DO IN THE EVENT THE WARRANTY IS BREACHED?
If during the Warranty Period you submit a valid claim to Apple or an AASP,
Apple will, at its option, (i) repair the Apple Product using new or previously
used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, (ii) replace
the Apple Product with a product that is at least functionally equivalent to the
Apple Product and is formed from new and/or previously used parts that are
equivalent to new in performance and reliability, or (iii) exchange the Apple
Product for a refund of your purchase price.

Apple may request that you replace certain user-installable parts or products.

A replacement part or product, including a user-installable part that has been
installed in accordance with instructions provided by Apple, assumes the
remaining warranty of the Apple Product or ninety (90) days from the date of
replacement or repair, whichever provides longer coverage for you. When a
product or part is replaced or a refund provided, any replacement item becomes
your property and the replaced or refunded item becomes Apple's property.

Apple knows that everyone is using the Data Doubler. They would have to demonstrate that the Doubler resulted in the problem for which the machine is taken in for repair. simply keep the old parts and if necessary reinstall before taking in for service.

[Charles Glatzer]

I have a OWC data doubler with SSD installed as my second drive. It has worked without fail for over a year now. I had the track pad replaced under warranty without a problem.

DO IT!

Chas

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Chas,
Good to hear that it is working fine for you for more than a year. I resolve to get it becomes stronger. :)

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Chris Brennan]

Chris, they will not void your warranty. The Apple Warranty provides:



Apple knows that everyone is using the Data Doubler. They would have to demonstrate that the Doubler resulted in the problem for which the machine is taken in for repair. simply keep the old parts and if necessary reinstall before taking in for service.

Jay -

I had several conversations with Apple Support about this, and came away with the impression that if Apple sees that internal devices have been tampered with (i.e. removed by non-Apple personnel), they can void the warranty. I called them twice about this. spoke with 2 different techs, and got the identical response... hence my post.

[allanrube]

I installed one on my new 15 inch non-retina macbook pro 2 days ago. I am not technically savoy but it was a piece of cake. I now have 2 ssd drives and I upped the memory from 8 to 16 gb.

[mikeojohnson]

I've been installing 3rd party memory and adding data doublers to my macbook pros since they came out a few years ago. They work very well and are reasonably easy to install. OWC has easy to follow videos.
Great way to add capacity and speed up the laptop.
mike