1. You give them this hard drive which has all your data on it that is possibly fully recoverable. My hard drive was still working so I backed up then formatted. But it’s still recoverable so I’ve read. I guess it’s just unnerving to let it go like that for me personally.

2. Apple replaces the HD with the same specs as the HD that came with the laptop… possibly a whole 2 or 3 years after you buy laptop.

3. Once your Applecare expires, the warranty on the hard drive expires.

SO in hindsight I think it would have been better to do the replacement independently because:

1. I keep the hard drive that’s dead and know I’m the only one that is handling my own data.

2. Depending on make and model I can buy a faster, bigger HD.

3. Most importantly I can buy something like a Seagate HD that carries a 5 year warranty. Your free Applecare new hard drive might die again after Applecare expires – forcing you to do it on your own with your own wallet anyways.

Now I know Powerbook HD’s are easy to replace on your own. I know nothing about the newer MB / MBPs – but I think you could find a repair place somewhere that does it at a fair price.

Lastly… why aren’t you using SSD yet? Perhaps your video takes up enough space and all but if I were you I’d go SSD then have mirrored external (RAID) mechanical drives at 1 TB a piece.

Also – yea it’s technically inaccurate to say your “laptop” died as in logic board failure or something but I don’t get the need but why the total crabby pants attitude?

Cheers!