I am sorry. The temptation was too great! A couple of weeks ago, I saw a sale on TradeMe (NZ local ebay equivalent)... someone was selling his 2009 Macbook Pro for NZD400! The seller said there was a problem with the computer - the fan is constantly spinning at high, the battery is not charging, the power must always be connected! I did a long in-depth research, and speculated that it was a problem with SMC. Meaning it could be as easy as resetting the factory SMC, and all could be solved! The worst scenario was that there could be a corrosion with the logic board! Changing the logic board would cost approximately about NZD400 (making a total of NZD800, which is still cheaper than what is on the market for a used Macbook Pro). However, after checking the computer, I think that even if there was a corrosion, it was a very minor one because everything else works fine. The only issue was the battery charging! I was still skeptical about the computer (who would sell it so far below market rate!), and did not bid on it! It was sold to another person.... I was disappointed, but I told myself - it's probably not meant to be! However, a week later, the laptop appeared again on TradeMe. The seller commented that the previous buyer wanted to run a photo editing software that required a certain hardware, and unfortunately, the buyer does not want to invest in new hardware for the laptop. So here it was again...for sale!
I gave in! I bought the Macbook Pro! I migrated everything (programs, files, documents, pictures etc) to the new Macbook Pro. Now my IBM sits in a climate-controlled dry-box! :) I run the PC programs (the only ones I need to run on the PC are Primer and Scubase) off VMware and it still runs faster than the IBM. I reset the factory SMC, and now it runs with the fan low...no longer spinning at fast speed constantly! Also, although the LED light on the charger doesn't light up, it is charging the battery (at a VERY low rate).
So, sir... I am sorry. I have converted and joined the gang in the family who owns Macs. I have persisted for a long time, even with my IBM running at his sub-optimal, taking 10mins to start-up, not being able to run 2 programs at the same time, and not able to run any major statistics! I had hoped that things will take a better turn with the IBM, but we knew it is near its end! And it's as if someone is listening, and send this Macbook Pro my way. I couldn't pass it at NZD400. However, this is no ordinary Macbook Pro..it has the old IBM in it... so in a way, I feel I still am holding on to the working portion of it, and making it better!
