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the final cut
an iMac rev B with an internal CD-RW - spend only a fraction of the price of an external USB-writer, and burn CD's with speeds up to 20 times faster or more.
can it be done? the answer is yes - if you're prepared to give your beloved bondi the final cut ;)
This procedure involves doing drastic things like cutting holes in your computer and/or running without the bottom shell part, like I do. (I spend most of the time looking at the screen anyway ;)
here's how I did
1. take the thing apart, slide out the part with the mo-board, CD-reader, and HD. If you don't know how to do this, search the web, there are some nice resources on the subject. It's really not that hard.
2. flip the section around, so the processor faces up.
3. gently push the CD-reader inward and tilt up until it releases. disconnect and remove.
4. unscrew HD-case. There are two small hooks on the bottom of the HD-case which have to be 'released' before you can lift it out. push inwards and check on bottom whether the hooks are free. lift backend of HD case a little and pull outwards and up. disconnect and remove. (If you haven't replaced that old 4GB HD with a new 40+GB ditto yet, this might be the time ;)
5. flip the whole thing around again and start digging. make a nice hole for that new IDE-cable to come out through (If your CD-RW didn't come with one, go get one now). I guess there are other and more cosmetic appealing approaches than the one I chose, but on the other hand my method did not involve excessive vibrations, nor did I have any itsy-bitsy pieces of metal flying around my motherboard/processor. Ugly and blunt as it may seem, it serves it's purpose. The two circular holes in the bottom of the case provide a convenient starting point. Make sure to flatten any sharp edges/corners and soften them up a bit with some layers of (duct) tape, so as not to cut/damage the IDE-cable when it's in place.
6. splice the powercable for the HD, so that you have TWO outlets. make sure the second (new) one is as long as the IDE-cable.
7. connect new IDE cord to motherboard. connect HD with the plug nearest to. this involves some twisting of the cord, but should be possible. connect power to HD.
8. pull the far end of IDE cord and the long power cable through your final cut.
9. slide HD in place (reverse order. But it's gonna be a snug fit, and things are packed in there, so I really didn't care about the hooks *this* time). a bit of pushing should be enough.
10. connect CD-reader to motherboard. slide in place (reverse order) Tuck original HD-IDE cable aside or discard.
11. slide the whole section in place. connect original cables.
12. I guess at this point you could make a hole in the plastic bottom shell for the IDE-cable to pass through. I just didn't bother (the thing has been on and off so many times now) and chose to run the iMac without it.
13. slide the new CD-RW through the bottom stand and connect.
Voila! You now have a Bondi with 'internal' CD-RW :)
The new angle (screen) of your iMac and the amount the new CD-RW sticks out from underneath your iMac depends on the dimensions of the CD-RW and whether or not (and how much) you raise the back end of the iMac (see pics).
Enjoy!
[disclaimer part]: if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it. I will not be held reponsible for ANY dumb-ass move you make, or bad luck you might have, on behalf of this article) -iMok
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