Hello there all of you Mac people out there, I have something very
important to ask.

You know that voice in the back of your head that whispers, 'You should
really back up your data right about now?' every once in a while. Well,
I didn't. And I dropped it. And the head crashed. And the other half
of my brain with it.

I took it to a local Macintosh repairman; he analyzed the drive and
basically said the head crashed - @#$(! - and, bottom line is, he sent
it to a company called Drive Specialists out in a galaxy far, far away
who told me the data is 100% recoverable, but it will cost me $2250.

:| (that's the numbness of disbelief)

I don't have that kind of money. My current net worth is less than that
(unless you want to discuss futures). But my life is on that computer, my
mind, my memories, precious things I will never be able to get back unless
the drive is fixed. My heart is breaking.

I know it was stupid of me to let it go for so long without backing it up.
I just bought a DVD drive. I just...things happen, you know? Backing up
data wasn't on my mind, though it should have been - it really should have.

But this is where I draw the line.

So I'm wondering if anyone here knew of someone who could retrieve data
from an Apple drive for a more reasonable price than this 'Drive
Specialists' company in California are asking for. I don't know these 'Drive
Specialists'. Does anyone else around here Are they the best? Or just the
most expensive?

Could anyone recommend a less expensive but equally expert hardcore data
retrieval company? Is anyone here very knowledgeable in crashed drive
data recovery?

Anyone know a company of experienced, perfectionist hackers who have nothing
to do but rescue a damsel in distress at a discount? Or am I going to have
to take out a loan?

Thank you,
Merc