<p>If it works with an external keyboard, then it could be used in that mode indefinitely. When something in a laptop dies (trackpad, keyboard, monitor), it can still be used as a desktop by attaching an external keyboard and mouse or an external monitor if the internal one is damaged. For students, though, portability is an issue and lugging an external keyboard around decreases the utility of a laptop.</p>
<p>“Why can’t they just replace the damaged circuitry,”</p>
<p>Desoldering ICs with a lot of pins without damaging the ICs can be tricky to do. It’s also a lot easier to design a manufacturing process instead of a repair process where things may or may not work. Apple may actually refurbish motherboards if it makes economic sense - they are a very secretive company and I don’t know whether they do this but they still charge the same amount for a replacement.</p>
<p>I’m still quite surprised at the price you were quoted as I was charged $320 for a MacBook Pro logic board replacement (which has more expensive components) last summer.</p>
<p>I still think you should consider having just the keyboard replaced since it’s highly suspect and if the people recommending the logic board replacement didn’t do a temporary swap they probably don’t really know. If you take it to a Mac repair place they should be able to temporarily swap the keyboard to see if it fixes it. The work should take no more than a few minutes. Disclaimer - I’ve only done this on Dell and some other laptops - not a Mac, but they all tend to be similar. Otherwise, using an external keyboard won’t damage anything.</p>
<p>Macs are generally a lot harder to work on than your typical Dell and HP systems and you void the warranty if you open them up. I would only use an Authorized Apple repair shop if I wanted to keep the warranty intact.</p>
<p>I would like to replace the disk on my MBP but it would void the warranty. Normally I wouldn’t care about the warranty but the nVidia issue means that I do care about it and so I won’t be opening up the laptop until the warranty expires. Even there, the MBP model that I have is said to be a bear to replace the disk.</p>
<p>I have a coworker that tried to replace the disk on a $2,200 Sony Vaio. That was a thin and light notebook and everything was packed like sardines. He took it apart, sliced through a ribbon cable by accident and the thing is still in pieces four years later.</p>
<p>Can your D use an external keyboard for now and shop around for a good deal during the summer? Maybe she can find someone new this summer and tell them she wants to know if they can replace the keyboard and make it work, because if she can’t she’ll be replacing the computer with one bought someplace other than the repair shop. (It doesn’t matter if she follows through on the idea of replacing the computer vs. repairing, but it is good to let the repair folks know that at some point you will consider the computer “totaled”.)</p>
<p>Also, since she can use the computer with an external keyboard, please encourage her to make backups of anything she needs. If there is a possibility that she will buy a new computer, she may want to uninstall some applications first so that she can install them on a new computer later.</p>
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I have no experience with repairing the Macs other than seeing a pictorial of a Macbook Pro being disassembled and that didn’t look that bad but it could be worse in person. I’ve been impressed by how easy it typically is to replace most components on the Dells I’ve opened up.</p>
<p>The OP is talking about replacing the laptop with a new one because of this problem so given that, I don’t think the warranty is that much to worry about. regardless, there are Apple authorized service providers in NYC.</p>
<p>For someone comfortable with taking apart a laptop (like BCEagle - probably not the OP), this site seems to have very good info regarding how to replace parts.
[Apple</a> Macbook, iBook, Powerbook Service Manual Repair Guides](<a href=“http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Take-Apart-Repair-Manuals-p-1-c-258.html]Apple”>Mac Repair Guides for Apple Macbook, iPad, Powerbook iPhone & iPod - Service Manual)</p>
<p>I think she will continue to use with an external keyboard for now, and when she gets home next week (!), she’ll take it to an authorized Apple repair shop and see if she can get a better estimate. Warranty isn’t really an issue at this point because it will be up soon in a matter of weeks, and anyway, spills are not covered.</p>
<p>I will definitely pass on the suggestion to back up what she has.</p>
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<p>How does one do this? The only program she will probably want to keep is Word. I don’t think she has Photoshop or anything like that on there now.</p>
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<p>Definitely not the OP. Although I am mechanically inclined, I just don’t have the experience!</p>
<p>mousegray, if you’ve got the original disks for applications on your computer, you can rerun the install application to see if there is an uninstall option or look for a remove tool. For example, Adobe software requires a “key” to unlock the application and includes an option to deactivate the application on a computer you no longer plan to use. Just write down the activation “key” before deactivating so that you can use that key to activate on another computer–perfectly within your rights according to the software license. </p>
<p>Microsoft has a toll free number to call for information about activation keys for Office products like Word:
<a href=“Microsoft Support”>Microsoft Support;
But I think that is primarily for PCs, not Macs. </p>
<p>Indiana U. has a help desk description of uninstalling Word from Macs:
[In</a> Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I uninstall Microsoft Office? - Knowledge Base](<a href=“http://kb.iu.edu/data/aprq.html]In”>In Mac OS X, how do I uninstall Microsoft Office?)</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thank you, Mrs Weasley!
(that was fun to type)</p>