Category: Technology

A few months ago I figured out how to add Wireless AC to my Early 2013 13″ Retina MacBook Pro. I replaced the WiFi module with one from a Late 2013 13″ MacBook Pro (looking around online, and the same module may be in the 15″ Retinas as well).

The installation was simple (make sure you have a pentalobe screwdriver available), and the hardware was automatically recognized because the drivers were already in OSX. I did see some odd behavior when managing the preferred WiFi networks on my laptop, so you may want to delete the WiFi interface in System Preferences before shutting down and doing this swap.

I have seen some descriptions on eBay that say that the module from the newer model will not work in the Early 2013, but I can assure you that mine fits and has been working very nicely for several months. You will want to make sure you open your laptop and visually identify your WiFi module, and compare the size, shape and connector in the eBay/online source of the new module as I cannot be sure that there was not a mid-model internal change. I got mine several months ago for less than $25 shipped, and the prices are around $15-20 shipped now.

My MacBook Info:

• Name: MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013)
• Model: A1425
• EMC: 2672

Original WiFi Module Info:

• Part Number: 607-8360, 661-7013, 607-9689, 653-0194 (unsure what the original part number was, and I am not sure where my original module went to)

Replacement WiFi Module Info:

• Part Number: 653-0029
• Late 2013 Model: A1502

I have been running my computers with my daily-driver account being a standard user, with a separate administrator account on my Windows and Mac OSX computers for a few years now.

This has not been without headache, as it requires a username and password when doing some actions on the computer. Sometimes the prompt came up with the most innocuous of actions, but usually it happens when installing software, applying updates, or making changes to system parameters.

Analysis by a company called Avecto has revealed that my efforts have not been in vain. They have reason to promote these findings to get your business to use their solutions, but anybody can take the fundamental approach of granting only the access that is needed without a costly solution. Their findings are specific to the Windows operating system, but the idea can, and should, be applied to all operating systems.

92% of Windows critical vulnerabilities were mitigated by removing administrator rights, and 60% of all Microsoft vulnerabilities were mitigated by removing administrator rights.

This breaks down to the following critical vulnerabilities being mitigated by removing administrator rights:

• Windows operating system: 96%
• Internet Explorer: 100%
• Microsoft Office: 91%

Their methodology took the Microsoft executive summaries and tabulated the number of critical vulnerabilities that Microsoft had identified as able to be mitigated with standard user rights against the total number of vulnerabilities published in 2013.

By mitigating between 60 and 100% of vulnerabilities, you can bet that I will continue to use a standard account as my “daily-driver” login on my personal computer for a long time to come.

Source: http://learn.avecto.com/2013-microsoft-vulnerabilities-report-c

So let me get this straight. Microsoft charges off almost $1billion of Surface tablets because they can’t sell them to save their lives. Now they’re advertising them on TV as a half price alternative to the best selling tablet… I only see compromises as increased popularity during a fire sale does not indicate a superior product (BlackBerry Playbook anybody?)

iPad vs Microsoft Surface