Company to install RAM, Los Angeles, CA

Question

hi
I'd like to have a company install RAM in my two iBook G4s. I live in Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley. Any ideas of reputable companies/individuals is appreciated.
Chuck S

Answer 1

Almost any reseller with a repair department, who claims to
be able to do authorized Apple portable computer work,
should be able to install the RAM; it is not hard to do.
{The info provided through links below should allow you to
upgrade both machines by yourself; and a link to where I
bought Apple certified RAM (from california) follows. It is
not the least expensive, it is original equipment quality.}
And if you buy RAM from some retail places, they can
probably do the task for an additional fee; simple or not.
You can do the work yourself by looking at the following
page link's download do-it-yourself .pdf document pages
and see how to remove the keyboard (& replace it) in one
and also how to add RAM to the upgrade slot beneath it.
Depending on the exact iBook model you have, the details
may vary; some have a place for (and have/not have) an
AirPort wireless card in a location beneath the keyboard,
and others do not even have a place for that card in there;
since the last model iBook G4 mid-2005 series has a wi-fi
component on the logicboard, instead.
There is a small bit of plastic on the keyboard among the
top row of keys and this has a tiny screw in it; a standard
chisel-point screwdriver is used to rotate the screw only
a small distance to unlock the plastic tab so the keyboard
may be flopped over (wires still attached) to gain access.
Two other tiny tabs among the top row are spring loaded
pressure sensitive locks to hold the keyboard in.
The keyboard will tip out away from the display and toward
the palmrests. Do so carefully. Also you may touch the metal
inside there beneath the keyboard to ground yourself prior
to installing the RAM; and be sure to not touch the RAM chips
on their metallic contact sides, because this may short them.
See the pages here and download/read them. You can do it.
Apple Support Manuals - iBook (.pdf downloads)
http://support.apple.com/manuals/#ibook
If you have the mid-2005 iBook G4 12" 1.33GHz or 14" 1.42,
the first item should have the info on the keyboard/RAM in it.
If not, the other items on the download page should suffice.
And if you can't get the keyboard to unlock (it may have been
already and subsequent efforts may have locked it) you could
ask someone at an authorized service provider, maybe over
the phone or in person, which way the screw turns to unlock it.
I have forgotten this, and when I bought upgrade RAM for my
iBook G4, it was under warranty, so I took it to an authorized
reseller and asked why I could not open the keyboard to see
what kind of RAM fit in there, & someone there opened it, free.
At first a clerk tried to pry the keyboard open with a lever thing
and I said, the computer is under warranty and if the screw
thing is already defective, I'd want to know before it's opened.
So the clerk took it to a tech who knew the correct size driver &
how to turn the lock screw the correct direction; it was undamaged.
One of those inexpensive small screwdrivers or sets could be used.
There should be no pressure or torque required since this is weak.
A fair place to buy RAM in the LA area, and does a reasonably good
business outside of the region, is OEMPC-World. The RAM I bought
from them (by first class mail) is this Samsung LH 1024MB chip here:
http://www.oempcworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1.0G-S O2700LH-Samsung
Hopefully this helps, as it should be relatively easy with DIY instructions.
Good luck & happy computing!
{edited: to add info on iBook DIY & CA source for RAM}