I broke my flatmates laptop what should I do?

soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 19:41
Last edited 26/02/2015 - 18:41

So basically i'll just write down all the facts here and can people give their honest opinions whether for or against me.

I spilt water on flatmates Mac book pro 2010 and destroyed it, i shouldn't have been using the computer and it was fully my fault it was broken. (And files, photos video lost etc)

3 computer repair people confirmed it is completely destroyed

I admitted to doing it and admit i am responsible for replacing laptop.

i have found similar models sell on Ebay from anywhere between $400 and $500

I offered to either

a) I buy her a replacement and give her $150 for the loss of a laptop for a couple of weeks and loss of files BUT i get to keep the broken laptop to sell for parts (Aprox worth $125 on ebay)

b) I buy the broken laptop off her for $600 and that covers everything (And she is responsible for buying another laptop or doing whatever she wants with the money)

c) i'll give her $500 up front, she keeps the laptop and sells it for parts or does whatever she wants with it.

Am i being unreasonable?

And I guess if you were in my situation or in the reverse what would you consider to be fair?

Cheers

EDIT: Hey for those who want to know we ended up talking it out and decided on something we were both happy with, and it was more then the above options. thanks for all the comments.

Computing

closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2015 - 19:57
    +7

    If it was my laptop, i would be happy with either A or B.
    B might be slightly better as it would give me the chance to upgrade if I decided to.

    On the other hand if it was me who destroyed the laptop, i would probably cough up a bit more as destroying all their files etc would likely be worth some kind of damages. If you used your ozbargain skills and found them an awesome deal on a new MBA (if that suitable) you would probably make them very happy. I've seen MBAs for under 1k so hence the suggestion, MBPs seem to be well over a k so might be stretching it.

    BTW is the HDD really fried? it would seem very unlikely? Have you tried pulling it out and putting it in a external enclosure?

    • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:02

      Hey mate yeah we tried a-lot of different things including a enclosure.

      • ESEMCE on 24/02/2015 - 20:22
        +3

        And you plugged that enclosure into another Mac or a linux machine?
        cause Windows doesn't understand HFS+ formatted Hard Drives.

        • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:27

          we took it to a mac specialist who tried a quite a few things and said it was beyond saving.

        • wozz on 25/02/2015 - 07:10
          +19

          @soundsdifferent:
          Wouldn't trust it without testing myself, I can definitely understand the mainboard dying etc though.

          On original point -
          I personally would give more money or buy a new laptop- I think you should consider this considering the potentially huge inconvenience/issues it would have caused (loss of files etc). I think it is very poor form to offer a replacement on the proviso that she is forced to give you the laptop that you damaged. Thats my 0.8c (I can't offer 2c because i'm on OzBargain sorry)

        • This Guy on 26/02/2015 - 00:43
          +8

          @soundsdifferent:

          Hard drives generally don't die like that.

          Your mac specialist was being lazy.

          The 2010 MBP's HDD bay is machined into the chasis. Water should not fall on the HDD from above.

          13":
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HS6ELFwD3A#t=193

          15":
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eHtKGo0ygc#t=137

          So unless you dropped the laptop in a fish tank or threw it at something the hard drive (and your friends files) should be fine.

      • the-mal on 25/02/2015 - 09:17
        +7

        Agree with others that this is odd. I'd take it to another person to try. Unless you dropped it in a pool or something or it took a severe knock I find it hard to believe the HDD is dead. The mainboards, sure, but HDDs are more mechanical than electrical in the parts that store the files…and I doubt the water would've even touched the mechanical parts of the drive.

        Get a second opinion if she values her files, I'd wager they'd be there.

      • mangolassi on 26/02/2015 - 01:13
        +2

        If there is absolutely no power going to the hard drive it sounds like the PCB on the hard drive may have short circuit. This can be easily removed and replaced. If you are very lucky you may be able to find an identical PCB on eBay and get it working again just to recover the data.

        Just make sure to match the model number listed on the PCB, not the hard drive.

        Also get a bowl of rice and place the hard drive and leave it there until the part arrives so the rice can absorb any moisture from the hard drive.

        If you do manage to get the drive working and only have a PC to recover the data, boot into Linux from a live CD and perform a DD, this can clone either a specific partition or the entire hard drive to another drive.

      • Jesmond on 26/02/2015 - 14:49
        -2

        u wot m8

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2015 - 19:59
    +86

    You should buy here a new macbook pro and stop being an asshole. Teaches you not to use other people's shit. Files are worth a lot more than the laptop to most people.

    • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:04

      When i say shouldn't be using it, i mean it in the way i didn't ask permission, we often do borrow each others stuff.

        • cheng2008 on 25/02/2015 - 14:33
          +49

          Her not backing up is her problem. You losing her files is a completely separate problem and completely unrelated. Therefore, if you lose her files you are responsible for them, just as if she lost her files while the laptop is under her control, it is her responsibility.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 26/02/2015 - 14:20
          +3

          @cheng2008:

          Moral of the story:

          When using other people's property:

          • Check that your pockets are sufficiently deep, and
          • Be very careful, or
          • Wear your fastest running shoes*.

          *Not rly.

    • Kozhutki on 24/02/2015 - 20:12
      -1

      It's nonsensical to assume files that are very important aren't going to be backed up, even to a cloud. If you don't back up your files you are an A grade moron.

        • Axelstrife on 24/02/2015 - 20:18
          +10

          There is nothing wrong with what he said.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2015 - 20:18
          -7

          @holden93: Edited like whoa. Still confused an and a.

      • Axelstrife on 24/02/2015 - 20:18
        +2

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/183244

        NO excuses it was free. Lol

        • Kozhutki on 24/02/2015 - 20:23
          -1

          Exactly!

      • Zondor on 25/02/2015 - 16:07
        +1

        Yep, I store all my work in a clouddrive that syncs to my pc.

        Backing up is something you really HAVE to do these days.

        • tommy-darko on 25/02/2015 - 16:31
          +8

          Whether she backed up or not is beside the point. That's like saying why didnt you backup her files since it was you that destroyed them.. Nonsensical. I don't think you should be dictating to her either, since it was you that f'd up. Do the honorable thing and reimburse her or replace it, if she offers you the old laptop then fine, if not cop it on the chin and be more respectful of other people's things in future.

        • Zondor on 25/02/2015 - 19:14

          @tommy-darko: Im not saying it wasnt wrong im saying you should always backup anyway.

      • DealzEddy123 on 26/02/2015 - 10:48
        +3

        i dont back anything up. but then again nothing in my digital life is that important to me.

    • neonlight on 25/02/2015 - 17:04
      +17

      Buy her new. So you will always remember not to break other people's stuff if you were to use it at all. You will gain points for getting it new. Of course it will burn a big hole in your wallet. Be a man and do the right thing. What if someone broke yours including the file and give you a second hand? How would you feel?

      What if other peoples are also saying because you didn't backup so its your fault having laptop broken and no backups, can't blame anyone?

      Stop being selfish ppls…this IS the REASON why the community and society has deteriorated with lack of honesty, sincere and increased selfishness.

      To backup or not its that person choice. It's not up to you to judge right or wrong.

      PS. this is also the reason why people use Selfie stick. Back in the old days no cameras on phones, what do you do? You still ask people to help you take a picture. Instead people are using one because they are scared of people taking their valuables, that's all because the society gone shitty

  • Axelstrife on 24/02/2015 - 20:02
    +3

    Problem with ebay is the condition of the laptop on there you only see whats in the pictures. If they are the same condition with the same or higher specs then I say this is entirely fair. Can't possibly get lost data back on something completely dead So this seems to best that you could offer.

  • mskeggs on 24/02/2015 - 20:22
    +39

    Very strange that a water spill harmed the HDD. Did you continue to use it while full of water?
    I don't think you are in a good position to haggle over who gets the mac corpse.
    I would apologise profusely for my carelessness and give her more than a replacement is worth (like the value of the next newer model), and offer to help source the replacement as cheap as possible.
    If at the end of it you could say, can I have the dead mac, I might be able to sell it and get some of my money back, then the flat mate might feel generous toward you and say sure.

    I realise sloppy back ups aren't your fault, but your actions did contribute to a huge inconvenience.

    • iridiumstem on 24/02/2015 - 20:33
      +4

      I think what you said is pretty much the logical solution.

      Even if the lack of back up is not the OP's fault, the owner of the macbook pro was inconvenienced by something that OP did. OP's action was the trigger point for this. My experiences with these things suggests that unless the OP compensates more than what he thinks is reasonable, she (the owner) is probably going to stay angry for a while; this will probably pop up in many many fights and OP will have awkward moments with the flat mate.

      Just human psyche, I s'pose, from what I've seen.

    • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:33
      +1

      Yeah i understand that, thats why i am offering to pay well over what the value is worth or even buy her a new one and give her $150. i saw one go yesterday for $404 on ebay. i just want the value of the parts to go towards getting a new one.

      • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:34

        else she is just going to throw it out.

        • iridiumstem on 24/02/2015 - 20:38
          +7

          But what you think is not what she thinks. :P

          The value that she thinks it worth is far more than your options. Is she being unreasonable? Yes in your perspective, but probably not in her perspective.

          I seriously think you'd have problems later with your flatmate if you resolve this problem like this, though this is from my experiences so YMMV.

        • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:41

          @AznMitch: Really it is too late. things have already gotten dirty… i am planning on moving in the next 6 weeks either way. I am just trying to do the right thing because its the right thing, if she broke my laptop i would expect her to replace it or give me money to replace or fix it. so i am doing the same back to her what i would expect her to do to me. the real issue is the data she hates me already and there really is no going back

        • iridiumstem on 24/02/2015 - 20:46
          -4

          @soundsdifferent: There there, I feel your pain. To be honest, I'd say it's her fault for not backing up in the first place, but unless you've been in a situation where you've lost important data, it's hard to think that the HDD can fail on you without warning.

          I was going to suggest that you ask her what she wants you to do then work your way from there, but by the sounds of it, it's going to make you guys fight again.

        • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 20:53

          @AznMitch: Yeah she wants a-lot more money and i simply can't afford it. it has been two weeks now, at first i just let her be angry at me, i understood she would be and i thought by now we could have a rational conversation about it but it just hasn't happened.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2015 - 21:13
          +2

          @soundsdifferent: i still cant over the fact that the HDD is fried from a water spill…worth trying a generic computer repair shop? Not a fancy mac one?

        • mskeggs on 24/02/2015 - 22:42
          +1

          @poop:
          Agreed.
          I don't want to say mac support is full of morons, but read any support forum and message after message is painfully computer illiterate.

        • ozhunter on 24/02/2015 - 22:43

          @soundsdifferent:

          How much more? Get her a 2012 model or give an equivalent amount of money.

          I personally always prefer to get laptops new, maybe she feels the same way.

        • soundsdifferent on 24/02/2015 - 23:07

          @ozhunter: well according to what a similar model of hers went for on ebay $200 more

        • bargainy on 25/02/2015 - 07:10
          +1

          @soundsdifferent: don't want to afford it. Use some of the money you saved for overseas trip.

        • bondy28 on 25/02/2015 - 12:21
          +1

          @AznMitch: Someone uses your laptop without your permission and it's their fault for losing because they didn't back it up? I just want to make sure I read that right…

        • iridiumstem on 25/02/2015 - 13:02
          -6

          @bondy28: No, but if it was that important, she should've backed it up at least. HDD failures can happen anytime, so with or without OP, it would've died eventually. Of course, I was not denying shares that OP has taken in, thus my suggestion about he should let her say what she wants, but I don't think it's solely OP's fault, at least the data loss.

          Though this being said, I know how hard it is to even think rhat HDD fails without any signs unless ir has happened to you.

        • bondy28 on 25/02/2015 - 13:34
          +31

          @AznMitch:

          She can do whatever the hell she likes. Maybe she had it turned off sitting on her desk awaiting a friend to come over and setup dropbox the next day as she was worried about data loss. It's completely (profanity) irrelevant. The OP destroyed his housemates laptop which would not have occurred if he showed the slightest amount of housemate etiquette. Making the assumption at some point there would be data loss due to HDD failure is also irrelevant. I'm in IT mate and your flawed logic makes me weep for your parents. If you and I shared a place and you left your car keys on the kitchen bench and I took it for a drive and crashed it. Is it partially your responsibility if you only had 3rd party and not comprehensive insurance? Such flawed logic. The fact you can even fathom leaving an ounce of responsibility on her shows me you were raised poorly.

        • cheng2008 on 25/02/2015 - 14:37
          +2

          @AznMitch: It is solely the OP's fault though. Other people have made the comparison to borrowing a car, just because the owner doesn't have insurance doesn't mean you can shift the blame if you get in a crash.

        • iridiumstem on 25/02/2015 - 15:17
          -6

          @cheng2008: I am not denying that OP is the cause of the problem. What I am saying is, backing up is like having an insurance. So what I am saying is that she have risked losing her data, so OP is not solely (not meaning 50:50, it might be OP has 90%+ share of the blame, but I am simply pointing out that she should've backed up) to blame on the loss of the data. Every actions have a cost attached to it, including responsibilities etc.

          That being said, I have said that OP should talk to the Macbook owner and let her tell him how much he should compensate for it and I have said that macbook owner would want more than what OP is willing to give; if I thought OP had no fault on it, I wouldn't have said this. I am not blatantly saying that OP had done nothing wrong.

          Using other's PC is something that you really shouldn't do without permission and spilling water implies that he was not being careful with it as well. I am simply saying that the macbook owner risked loss of the data from her end as well by not backing up. As I mentioned it's hard to expect a HDD crash or loss of data normally so people tend to get negligent on backing up. However, not anticipating and not acting has some consequences that I think the macbook owner should accept. Let me be clear on this, I am not saying that if data recovery or anything is available, she should be the one who have to pay it completely. Definitely not. OP ruined her laptop, he should at least compensate to a point where it was or at least try to compensate to that point or more (for the inconviences caused). That's why I've said, OP should listen to the girl and get her to tell him what she wants.

        • iridiumstem on 25/02/2015 - 15:24
          -3

          @bondy28: If I left 10 bucks on the table in public, I would've known that there is some risk of doing that. If someone takes it, don't get me wrong, I think that person is a horrendous person and he is mainly the cause of the problem. That being said I would have some share of the fault. Maybe it's less than 10%, maybe 5%, but it's there nonetheless.

          On your analogy, I will say this. I will use my words I've used before. The owner should be the one who decides how much is enough to compensate, at least, she should have set where the starting point of this compensation is, as I've mentioned before. BUT, I am not going to deny that I have some parts of the blame. Especially looking at what OP has said. If I knew that there is a culture of sharing things that are outside and if I haven't specifically told OP to not use the car, I have some bits of blame. It might be minute, but it's there. I'd probably pay the fees for getting it delivered or something minor like that, if it was like that. Though I'd expect an equivalent or better car as a compensation.

        • bondy28 on 25/02/2015 - 18:50
          +10

          @AznMitch: Plain and simple, you are an idiot if you leave $10 on a table in public. Are you actually making the comparison of her residence to a public location?
          Dude… quit while you are not too far behind. Your logic is flawed. I'm sure you're a nice bloke but you MUST be trolling. Look at it like this…

          Touches laptop = loses data
          Doesn't touch laptop = doesn't lose data

          Now you shall argue… "but you're not God! Something else may have immediately\eventually happened"

          My question is… AND?

          Then it wouldn't be this blokes fault and we would be none the wiser.

          No more replies. Retort till your heart's content.

        • bondy28 on 25/02/2015 - 18:50

          duplicate post

        • Dan_ on 25/02/2015 - 19:10
          +9

          @AznMitch: Actively putting your belongings at heightened risk is absolutely not the same as neglecting to mitigate risk of loss.

          That is not at all a good analogy. OP has 100% responsibility for the data loss.

        • Aneurism on 25/02/2015 - 19:22
          +6

          @soundsdifferent:

          There is a saying: Don't touch what you can't afford.

        • iridiumstem on 26/02/2015 - 10:24
          -2

          @Dan_: I am getting the feeling that me posting would get me nowhere other than getting negs but I will talk about in detail where I am coming from. At least then I will have some sense of leaving this without just leaving a blank space. If you think I am trolling, I am not. I am simply trying to show where my opinions come from, if you think otherwise, that is fine by me as well. I had no intention of convicing people to begin with. This started with someone talking about my reply.

          First of all, OP have mentioned that the house has a culture of sharing things. I've been in a homestay house, in a share and in a barrack, since primary school. One of the things I've found is there is variations in approaches on using other's stuff. I don't use others stuff and I expect others to not use mine. I've kept to this concept since middle school. I've never even touched anything that my subordinates owned or my younger brother's stuff without their permission and without them knowing, unless it was absolutely necessary to do otherwise. So my point is, I am not exactly a person who condones invasion of privacy and private properties. That being said, I've observed many people taking different approaches, some places were fine with people using whatever that is left out in the common area, some places were very stingent about it etc. I specifically tell people that I hate people going through my stuff and that usually stops most, if not all, of those happening.

          That being said, if there is a culture of people sharing stuff, then it's not hard to deduce that if I leave something outside in common area, people are likely to use it. That was where my comparison came from, not from data losses alone. Also common area is somewhere accidents can happen without anyone intending to do anything wrong. There clearly is higher risk of people damaging your laptop there. If OP ran into the girl's room, took the macbook, destroyed/damaged it, then I'd consider OP to be a borderline criminal and if that was the case, I'd call the cops.

          I've said this before, the negotiation on the amount of compensation should at the very least start with the macbook owner's demand. I don't deny that OP is the cause of the inconvieniences and that probably would lead to OP needing to compensate more than the value of Macbook Pro or what he perceive it worth. If data can be recovered, OP should pay full amount and he/she should compensate for that as well. The compensation at least should put the Macbook owner where she was before the incident. That being said, I've said these beforehands, if I were at the Macbook owner's position, I'd probably waive some small fees and pay the small fees myself because I know that there were some faults from me, from what I've said in the previous paragraphs and replies.

        • Abaddon on 26/02/2015 - 11:20
          -4

          @mskeggs:

          If they were smart they wouldn't have a mac in the first place. Get the drive hooked up to a linux box quick.

        • Pinchie on 26/02/2015 - 11:39
          +1

          @AznMitch: While you do have a reasonable point, it doesn't overcome the issue that upon taking possession of her property (even temporarily), he is 100% responsible for that property. That makes him responsible for replacing the item, recovering the data if possible, and also any reasonable expenses that the owner might incur from having their computer broken. That could include hiring another computer in the interim. As well as that, they have a fairly hefty moral debt above the physical item, and the morality:AUD exchange rate is particularly bad.

          She's owed a computer, plus additional compensation for her time and lost data, and an immeasurable amount of sucking up and apologising. Frankly, I still don't think that that will be enough.

          There's no room for negotiating on a debt like this, and it seems really weird to want to buy her broken computer to on-sell as parts later. It looks strange that they're trying to mitigate your losses, when the only loss that should be considered here is the owner's.

        • iridiumstem on 26/02/2015 - 12:25
          -2

          @Pinchie: If you read everything I've wrote, which I don't expect you to do since it is long, I didn't imply that OP's approach was reasonable one. I simply said that the owner has some blame in data loss. If I leave my laptop outside in the common area knowing that my room mate and I share a lot of stuff together, it's likely that he's going to use my laptop if needed. I personally think that she exposed her data to a vulnerable situation without any precautions. This being said, I am not denying that OP is to blame in this matter.

          I was simply implying that if I were the owner, I would be slightly, not a lot but slightly, lenient towards the OP because I know that the data loss (damage to PC of course is 100% his fault) is not 100% his fault (this doesn't mean that he's free of guilt, obviously), even though he's the cause of the whole incident.

          I may have been reading between the lines too much but from what I've read, she basically is not willing to talk because OP caused everything and data loss is the main problem that her anger stems from. I simply found that little bit unfair, that's it. I haven't implied that this should be the norm nor the consensus, it was simply my opinion. I have not expressed any opinions about OP's choice on compensation, as far as I remember. I haven't implied that she should pay for the data recovery or be happy with what OP is offering. I've said that the girl should be the one who sets the price she wants to be compensated with then they should start talk from there. Not implying that she's being unreasonable but people's judgment on value differs hugely depending on the position of seller and buyer, therefore some talk would be necessary to adjust the value of good where both parties can be happy with, that was what I was implying. Though this being said, I don't disagree with you on your point about the compensation, compensation should at least be on par with what she owned before + some more for inconvieniences, which I've also said before.

          I don't know, some people simply were insulting me, bringing up my parents and stuff made me slightly peeved, but I really should've expected those kind of language from the net. I didn't even want to start this whole argument. I didn't intend to make it into a long arduous argument where one has to judge morality and such out of such biased details from the OP. If I were in OP's situation, 1. I would never touch someone else's PC to begin with unless it is something urgent and even then, I'd still ask for permission. 2. I'd probably have a talk and try to get something that the owner would want. 3. Apologise a lot.

        • bondy28 on 26/02/2015 - 14:02
          +1

          @Dan_: Well put good sir. You managed to concisely write what I could not haha

        • Scrooge McDuck on 26/02/2015 - 14:56

          @bondy28:

          Whether you are right or wrong in this debate, you're still wrong because you've been rude and nasty about it.

        • Jackson on 26/02/2015 - 15:02

          @bondy28: I (like others) agree, but surely you can get your point scrims without personal attacks and bringing someone's parents into it

        • Scrooge McDuck on 26/02/2015 - 15:09
          +2

          @Pinchie:

          I agree.

          OP, you're a good OzBargainer, but there are times to put that aside. This is one of those times.

          You're going to be out of pocket anyway, so what's 20 % more if it means the difference between satisfying the other party and not? If you really can't afford it you need to explain that to her. Two weeks is far too late and you should've been more proactive in resolving the issue.

          Forget about getting the best deal for yourself, do what you honestly think is right, live and learn.

    • Jackson on 26/02/2015 - 14:55

      I agree, but if he buys her a new one it's his machine. That's how every insurance company operates. He could take the hard drive out a small give it to her if she thinks she will try to recover the data or if he wants to try himself.

  • captobvious on 24/02/2015 - 20:25
    +27

    Take it apart and bake the logic board in the oven. Make some Apple pie

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2015 - 21:29
    -6

    You're a good person for replacing it. Certain people don't replace the things they spoil, and just say it was faulty when they received it. Cheapos!

    • Jesmond on 26/02/2015 - 14:52
      -2

      What the.

  • boonanza on 24/02/2015 - 21:38
    +8

    I'd say give her $1000 & a bunch of flowers

      • nailsforlunch on 25/02/2015 - 00:32
        +32

        Your flatmate would love to live without her laptop but she can't afford that.

        You have inconvenienced her for a while now and the files are worth more than you are placing on them. Doesn't matter what you can afford make things right. $1000 seems fair to me.

        • Charity on 26/02/2015 - 10:57
          -4

          only $1000?

          I would give her $1 Million cash and $10 Million of Interflora stock.

          And tickle her in the right spots.

  • Ughhh on 24/02/2015 - 23:57
    +12

    Tough situation, if I was her I would be really pissed off too. Even though the laptop may only worth $400-500 on the market, it would worth a lot more to the original owner as people tend to get attached to their belongings (or maybe its just me?). Even though my current laptop is well over a year old, its still 'new' to me as I'm the first owner of the laptop, someone elses used laptop wouldn't compare in my heart.

    Why not treat her with a massage/spa/pedicure pamper voucher first to get her in a good mood, then negotiate?

  • ukmark on 25/02/2015 - 01:31
    +39

    If she had it from new you cannot expect her to be happy with a second hand macbook. Have you seen what some people do infront of their computers?!? Don't take a black light to one!

    I personally wouldn't ever take a second hand laptop off anyone, not even for free. Plus, a lot of the ones on eBay are amatuer refurbs - that are working just long enough to pass the Paypal dispute window.

    You broke it, you had no permission to use it, buy a new one. Can't afford it, tough. You shouldn't have used it without permission in the first place. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but you have to do the right thing.

    • Windows7forever on 25/02/2015 - 14:51

      I buy 2nd hand laptops all the time off ebay and have yet to encounter any problems with them. Just give it a good clean up at home and make sure you test it before you hand over the cash.

      • ukmark on 25/02/2015 - 15:26
        +7

        But that is your choice to do that, and if it works for you then great. I am sure you are careful what you buy and aren't a germophobe.

        You cannot force this on someone else though when you break their stuff. (I am using "you" as the general term for someone in this situation, not you wolfie)

        As we all know, something might have sold for a cheap price on eBay for a reason. Because of this, it is not fair to use this as a guide price. Also, if it did go to court or mediation, and the judgement was made you are to get the second hand price - this is not the eBay or auction price.

    • drsplodge on 25/02/2015 - 19:52
      +5

      Sometimes its interesting to see the logic here on ozbargain.

      You need to replace the laptop with a new equivalent model. Equivalent being same or more storage.

      Providing compensation based on what the laptop is worth on ebay is not how its done.

      If you don't have the money, you need to find it. I have a feeling you're using this forum to try and reason your wrong logic?

      Ukmark - I accidentally negged your comment. Can't work out how to undo it!

  • blindm0nkey on 25/02/2015 - 02:01
    +37

    Obviously she has rejected your 3 offers since you are asking us on this forum.
    Yes, to me they are unreasonable.
    You should buy her a brand new replacement laptop of similar specs and hope she forgives you for the lost files.

    If you can't afford the $1500 or so, you'd better hope she doesn't take you to court for minor civil disputes of property damage where she will probably win.

    If she ends up taking that path, then I suggest you file for bankruptcy, since you can't even afford $1500.

    You broke her laptop, get her a new one!

    • Windows7forever on 25/02/2015 - 14:53
      -4

      Why does she deserve a brand new laptop? The laptop was 5 years old when it broke, therefore it is an older machine and has depreciated in value significantly. Would it really be worth the court costs involved with a civil dispute over a $400~ laptop?

      • Richardc on 25/02/2015 - 15:26
        +4

        In court will not just for 2nd hand laptop, but data recovery and laptop rental .with 500gb easy go over 2k.

  • Serapis on 25/02/2015 - 03:05

    Try this for water damage first:

    http://www.makeuseof.com/answers/save-macbook-pro-wet/

    First comment
    'Once you’ve unplugged it, removed the battery, and gotten rid of as much of the water as you can, you just have wait to let it completely dry before booting up again.

    The rice method should help out a lot. You could also try taking the MacBook apart and using a hair dryer. There’s a guide here: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-deal-with-liquid-spills-…

    If its mainly about the files then always try every method of fixing, the one above worked for my laptop when i spilled water. Only thing broken was the HDD, did something where i froze it in the freezer and it worked for a few days, recovered all my files before it died again and just replaced HDD. Laptop been working fine ever since.

    However I made sure the laptop had no power going to it whatsoever as soon as the water was spilt, not sure if this is the same case.

    • ilikeradiohead on 25/02/2015 - 11:51
      +1

      I tried the rice thing when I spilt liquid on my MBP about 2 years ago. It got most of the water out, however I had foolishly tried to boot it before it was fully dry and fried the motherboard.

  • BobD on 25/02/2015 - 07:39
    +22

    You were using her laptop without permission and broke it. Now you want her to accept a second hand machine of unknown quality. You broke it and now you want her to suffer for it. Replace it with a new one and be done with it then get out of her life.

  • woodwa on 25/02/2015 - 08:07

    That data is still recoverable…. by a professional or a very game amateur…

    buy the identical model hard drive carefully take out the platters… and replace with the platters of the old hard drive… do not touch the platters with anything!!! this is more delicate than brain surgery.. there is plenty of guides on the net on how to do this..

    • zeomega on 25/02/2015 - 15:04
      +2

      Easier said than done. The disks with multiple platters need to be aligned in the perfect same order it was taken out. Any degree of variance between platters and your done.

      If it's single platter, then it's feasible.

    • Wallyt99 on 25/02/2015 - 18:41
      +5

      That isnt required. Just replace the logic board. The hdd itself is a sealed unit (water resistent not proof) and wont have water from a spill.

  • Geewhizz on 25/02/2015 - 08:29
    +1

    As already stated, it's not reasonable to expect her to accept a second-hand computer. You might just have to get creative as to how you pay for a replacement ….. interest free finance perhaps?

    • [Deactivated] on 25/02/2015 - 08:49
      +1

      Use the 14month interest free nab balance transfer deal and pay it off over that period. You probably won't even notice 100 a month.

  • ozeebee on 25/02/2015 - 09:01
    +20

    OP stop being an ass, you owe her a brand new MBP and more.

    To some people, the files stored on the laptop is worth more. Whether she backed it up or not to an external HDD is irrelevant. It's her laptop, she is allowed to do as she please.

    I would personally cough up funds for a brand new unit and hope the flatmate relationship comes back to normal one day.

  • WD TV andSOUND on 25/02/2015 - 10:07

    After buying a NEW similar speck Mac Book. Take the old Mac Book and HDD to a hard drive repair specialist that will cost you for the new drive and about $200 for his trouble, where if "only" the drive motor failed in the HDD they will buy an identical drive and rebuild it. It then can be put in to an external case and connected to the new Mac Book to return the Mac back to its original running condition. Mac uses what is called Time Capsule software the backs up and returns everything back to how it was!!!!!!!!!
    Get a proper Mac external HDD Time Capsule to backup everything so she will have 2 copies of everything so when the Mac dies again, the Time Capsule will return the replacement Mac to the same as before, Files, photos, music and all in a mater of minutes!!

    The other option is to back up all to the iCloud (her music in iTunes should be backed up there waiting to be downloaded now) if you have regular internet.
    good luck

  • wog_ta on 25/02/2015 - 10:12
    +5

    Buy her a new laptop and say sorry end of story. You need to grow up and take responsibility for your actions, given that you broke her laptop does not give you the luxury of choosing how you want to replace it. If i was her i would not except a second hand laptop.

    **On a side not unless you dropped the laptop in Niagara falls i find it very unlikely that the HDD is dead.

  • raffaharley on 25/02/2015 - 10:27
    +1

    Why are you even asking these questions. Just ask the person that matters,(ie flatmate) and just do it and be done with it.
    Simples!

  • cupcake on 25/02/2015 - 10:57
    +3

    You shouldn't use someone's laptop without their permission.

    You shouldn't have drinks near laptops.

    If it were me, I'd expect a new model laptop. Not a second-hand one of the same model.

  • ahly92 on 25/02/2015 - 11:21
    +2

    YOU COULD STILL RECOVER THE HD…
    I had a talk with this company that said they can prob recover some information from it.
    The have Free inspection
    BUT IF U WANT TO RECOVER it will cost $300-$500

    http://www.datadetect.com.au/?gclid=CPuix5To-8MCFYKWvQodtJUA…

    there might be cheaper places (THAT SPECIALIZE is DATA RECOVERY) out there…do some research

    • This Guy on 26/02/2015 - 00:54

      OP should google how to do it themself. It's pretty easy, just time consuming.

  • cloudy on 25/02/2015 - 11:32
    +1

    Hey OP, it seems like you are copping a bit of heat from some views of ozbargain. So I thought I'd chip in with my own views.

    In short I think your offers are reasonable.

    I would like to know, if it's clear that her laptop is ok for you to use? Do u regularly use it, does she regularly see you using it without asking, etc? I ask this coz the heat from ozb seems to surround this. I think it's great to share goods with house mates. I mean, I'd hate to own the a tv, and not share it with my house mate. But I know laptops can be different, but if it's generally acceptable between you and ur friend that the laptop can be used. I think u owe nothing more than being reasonable in ur offers, be very sorry for your slip up, and not spoil a friend ship over something that can easily happen to anyone.

    On the hand, u grabbed her laptop, know ing she would be pissed off if she saw u with it (ruined or not), and u have ruined it, well, I think that's a different story.

    • soundsdifferent on 25/02/2015 - 16:07

      Hey if she saw me using it she wouldn't care whatsoever, she uses my stuff all the time like speakers phone chargers etc, what i meant was in this instant i didn't ask permission to use it, but if she saw me using it she wouldn't care.

      • cloudy on 25/02/2015 - 16:46

        That's what I thought. And since that's the case, I think you've made very reasonable offers to redeem your misfortune of spilling the water. But it's a honest mishap that could happen to anyone.

        I think u r being reasonable.

  • ilikeradiohead on 25/02/2015 - 11:53
    +11

    After reading comments in this thread I think I should back up my computer to the cloud.

    • Abaddon on 26/02/2015 - 11:29

      Just remember it doesn't need to be the cloud. Depending on the amount of data you might find it cheaper to buy some external storage to back up to.

      I have an external hard drive I regularly back up to. It lives at work in case my house burns down.

  • grogling on 25/02/2015 - 11:56
    +16

    To be perfectly honest, the fact that you used the laptop without permission is irreverent. Even if you had permission and you damaged it, you are still responsible of rectifying the situation you created.

    Notice I say "rectify the situation" not "replace the laptop". It is your responsibility to make every effort to get this person back to the same situation they were in before your actions. That means making every effort to get closest to having the same laptop with the same data. Providing somebody with a blank 2nd hand laptop is not even close to this.

    The issue of backups is a little paradoxical. If the owner of the laptop is said to hold any responsibility due to lack of backups previous to you using it, then you are also responsible because you as the user have also not performed a backup. Any argument against them equally applies to you. The only difference is it is you that has done the damage. If you borrow somebodies car, you should ask if it's insured, if not and you don't organise your own insurance, you wear the responsibility, if you have an accident, it's you who has to rectify.

    The answer here seems clear to me, you should be buying this person a new laptop and paying for PROFESSIONAL data recovery. This may run into the thousands of dollars. If you don't have the money, it's time to start selling stuff or take out a personal loan to find the money.

    You have stated you went to a "mac specialist". Apple specialists tend to be specialists in one thing, Apple's processes and procedures, this doesn't mean they are any better at hardware then anybody else. You need to go to a professional data recovery company. If it was your own laptop, you could try the data recovery yourself, but in this situation, you need to make good and have it done properly. They may even charge you a lot of money and recover nothing, but that is the risk YOU took when you used the machine.

    It's very clear your trying to weasel out of your responsibilities by misdirecting the conversation towards "but I'll buy her another laptop". That's not good enough.

    • soundsdifferent on 25/02/2015 - 16:09
      +2

      Hey but if someone borrowed your second hand 5 year old car and crashed it, there is no way you could expect them to buy you a brand new car.

      • Ughhh on 25/02/2015 - 16:19
        +2

        But is your flatmate the first owner of the laptop since brand new, or did she buy it second hand? If its not the latter, then your point is irrelevant.

        If you crashed my brand new car, I'd expect a brand new car. If you crashed my second hand car, I wouldn't expect a brand new car.

        • soundsdifferent on 25/02/2015 - 16:49

          Yeah she did own it from new, but i still would disagree with you, if you crash a five year old car and wrote it off there is no way you could expect a brand new car in return even if they had bought it new. i would certainly expect them to pay the cost it would be be to buy a replacement possibly with warranty from a dealer, and what i gave her in the end she could buy a refurbished with warranty.

        • ukmark on 25/02/2015 - 17:37
          +6

          @soundsdifferent:

          Why are people comparing this to cars? They are nothing alike and you cannot apply the same logic to them.

          There is a very well established second hand market for cars, I am sure would outsell new cars per year. Mechanical inspections are easy for cars, parts are cheap compared to the cost of the car, second hand value is based on condition and kms.

          None of these things are true or comparable for second hand macbooks, or tvs or anything low value.

        • ozhunter on 25/02/2015 - 18:54

          @soundsdifferent:

          Laptops are more of a personal item. Not saying you should buy the latest model brand new, but the model she had brand new, and if that isn't available, then the next newer model.

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