[neonfunk]

When I've sent a laptop to AppleCare, they're very explicit about the possibility that they won't return the same drive, and that you should backup your data. That said, they've never actually taken a drive from me. So Winer's claim that "they take the old drive" isn't well researched.

Beyond that, Winer straight up doesn't know what they do with the drives; it's pure speculation. What he's really saying is that he doesn't trust Apple. If that's the case, he should take it to an independent Authorized Apple Service Provider that he does — it's just that simple. [Edit: not only can you still get AppleCare coverage at independent providers, but you can easily negotiate with a technician to keep your drive. At the place I worked, the drives that customers abandoned we took great pleasure in destroying!]

Further, when Winer says, "If Steve thinks it's confidential, maybe he should take some steps to protect the info?" — is that not exactly what he's doing?

[K3G]

I believe that Winer is talking about cases in which the hard drive will be replaced. If you know your disk has issues, but it still operates, shouldn't you be able to keep your old drive?

It seems shady to me to give over an old drive full of personal information without giving the user the option to keep it.

[neonfunk]

Yeah I guess you're right, looking back at this. I mean, why not just give the original drive back? There's no good reason. You're right.