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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/05/19/lawfirm.looking/

Lawfirm looking into power adapter complaints

updated 11:15 am EDT, Sun May 19, 2002

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Paul Visco notes a law firm investigating complaints of faulty Apple power adapters: "I personally have gone through two original iBook yo-yo adaptors that have burned out over time. Apple does not address this issue even though my adaptor sparked and melted the wire casing slightly. They told me I could buy a new adaptor for $79 as my iBook is out of warranty. I found out there is a law firm addressing this issue and they are looking for people with the same iBook yo-yo adaptor problems to file a complaint possibly leading to a lawsuit."

by MacNN Staff

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space-e
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05/19, 12:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
I'm going back to Ric's

MacNN-
Please hire people that can spell - the headline for the preceding article has the word "application" spelled wrong -

Ah's had all ah can stand, ah can stands it no more...

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05/19, 12:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
Guarantee

Can the plaintiffs guarantee that every single power source they have used has been clean?

Doubt it.

iChick
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05/19, 12:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Suing

The great All-American pastime.

bunnybee
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Joined: Oct 2002

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05/19, 12:54pm | report spam | close Reply |
Bad for Apple good for...

consumers.

Anyone get their $50 Apple Store coupon from an old lawsuit about Apple promising lifetime free tech support? Well, Apple got sued for Steveing that program and here I am with *FIVE* of these coupons for each piece of Apple hardware I bought during that time.

Yeah baby, yeah!

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05/19, 03:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE:Yeah baby, yeah!

Yep, I always love those settlements that benefin the company in question as well. "Well, you shouldn't have promised that, don't do it again, and as punishment, you have to hand out these coupons that will bring back more money to your stores."

Yeah, makes a bunch of sense, I know...

Patrick_Starfish
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05/19, 04:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
here's my.....

Big who gives a damn,

and a fat

DEAL WITH IT!

(in caps to make the emphasis really stand out!)

try proving that it was the yo-yo and not a bad power source that fried the thing. fsking trial lawyer b******* will jump on any baseless lawsuit to try and pull dowen a piece of silver.

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05/19, 05:35pm | report spam | close Reply |
Electronics Age

There is often a reason why warrantees end at a certain time. This is because electronics break down. Especially those with analog components such as AC-DC power converters.

This is classic! It would be like me trying to sue Apple because my Newton MessagePad 2000 is broken (physically, something broke in it through normal use - 8 YEARS OF NORMAL USE) or because the batteries in my PowerBook 100 don't hold ANY charge at all any more. Maybe I should try to find someone starting a lawsuit over Mac 2 ci (I think) broken power supplies (broke about 6 months ago) or some lawyer who is suing this company that doesn't care for its consumers to the point where they won't replace their StyleWriter 2s that no longer print properly (10 years of steady, reliable use is NOT GOOD ENOUGH for my needs).

I agree with the post above. DEAL WITH IT!

We should consider ourselves lucky that Apple's stuff still works at all after the warrantee expires. Just take a look at all the jerks who buy a PC and then find it perfectly reasonable that their modem, sound card, hard drive and anything else that they have been using since they bought it stops working after about 6 months after they first unwrap it.

Sometimes things stop working after time. No amount of QA can solve that so what would you have Apple do about it?

Sorry, I am just getting really fed up with everyone in the states constantly thinking that they are owed something by someone,
Jeff.

abrody
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 1999

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05/19, 06:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
This is ridiculous

We as customers should demand Apple be the first company to incorporate power supplies in notebooks. Sure it will add to weight, but at least then we wouldn't have to spend $80 on a power adapter. Oh and what happened to the Wallstreet power adapter recall? It is still going. Perhaps someone can just call with a Wallstreet power adapter and order an extra one. Did you see the Powerbook 3400's power port? It is a pain to plug into. Enough is enough, we demand standard three prong ports on all our computers, not just PowerMacs. BTW the Flat Panel iMac is non-standard as well. As if they didn't learn from the Powerbook recall episode at all.

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05/19, 06:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
stop your whining...

If you people had bought AppleCare your power adapters would still be covered under warranty. It's no ones fault but your own if you choose not to buy that extended warranty.

eee

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05/19, 07:04pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
What a waste.

I got a coupon from Apple's last settlement. One of the choices I have is the opportunity to buy an Apple keyboard for $44 (+ tax and s/h) instead of $59.
Big whoop. I can get a better deal pretty much anywhere else. So who's making money? Not me. Not Apple (between the cost of their legal team and the tracking of customers, mailing of cards, etc... they must have spent millions).
As usual, the lawyers. Who convinced some poor idiot he had been wronged, started up this big extorsion campaign, collected huge fees and left the consumers with worthless crumbs.

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05/19, 07:54pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple was eager to...

I had a problem with one of my power adaptors for my PowerBook sparking (it zapped me one evening) so I took it in to the Apple Store and they were quite eager to replace it as it was an electrocution risk and fire hazard. Sounds they are not talking to the right person.

Daniel

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05/19, 07:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple was eager to...

I had a problem with one of my power adaptors for my PowerBook sparking (it zapped me one evening) so I took it in to the Apple Store and they were quite eager to replace it as it was an electrocution risk and fire hazard. Sounds they are not talking to the right person.

Daniel

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05/19, 09:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple isn't perfect.

After all, what kind of design decision did they go through to use a non-grounded power supply unit? I'm going to ask Apple for a replacement power supply unit when my iBook goes in for repair next week, just in case.

And to those of you who complain that the people with problems didn't buy AppleCare, well, guess what? To some of us $249 isn't easy to come by. I've got until November to get mine, and I just might. But that's a pretty significant chunk of change.

Power supplies have always been problematic, not only for Apple but everyone else. And unfortunately for buyers, Apple is the only one making a supply with the connector Apple chose to use.

This is one of those times when the 'Benevolent' monopoly that Jobs and Apple have over the customers isn't as benevolent as it could be.

MacNN.com Reader
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05/19, 09:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple isn't perfect.

After all, what kind of design decision did they go through to use a non-grounded power supply unit? I'm going to ask Apple for a replacement power supply unit when my iBook goes in for repair next week, just in case.

And to those of you who complain that the people with problems didn't buy AppleCare, well, guess what? To some of us $249 isn't easy to come by. I've got until November to get mine, and I just might. But that's a pretty significant chunk of change.

Power supplies have always been problematic, not only for Apple but everyone else. And unfortunately for buyers, Apple is the only one making a supply with the connector Apple chose to use.

This is one of those times when the 'Benevolent' monopoly that Jobs and Apple have over the customers isn't as benevolent as it could be.

apfeljung

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05/19, 09:38pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Powercord

I had a powerbook duo 280c powercord that has lasted me since 1996. Ironically, I use it for my clamshell iBook which has gone through three of the crappiest power supplys I have ever had for a laptop. I am not poor and not looking for quick money or any sort of get rich scheme but I am on was on my third iBook power yo-yo until I started using the duo cord.
I take really good care of my iBook which is behaving perfectly, but hated constantly buying a new power supply. The last one I had sparked green inside the wire casing until it burned out. I feel they are obviously defective. Do you really find it so hard to believe that apple has made a mistake? Remember the iTunes 2.0.1 upgrade or the power bricks that melted? If the power yo-yo so great why have they changed the style of the powercord to be more similar to the old one?

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05/19, 10:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
I'm not surprised.

Americans are fat lazy f**** that want everything handed to them on a sivler f****** platter. Buy the extended f****** warranty next time you fat lazy f****** idiots and this won't be a f****** problem in the f****** future.

I think those that bring f****** suits like this should be taken out back and f****** shot in the f****** head. That would be f****** justice... and as a f****** bonus the gene pool would END for those f****.

MacNN.com Reader
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05/19, 10:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple was eager to�.

Apple was eager to replace my PowerBook adaptor after it sparked and zapped me one evening. I took it into the local Apple Store told the Genius that the cord sparked and zapped me and he happily replaced it with a new one.

Guess I was just lucky.

Daniel

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05/19, 10:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sorry about the multi

Sorry about multiple posts, stupid IE.

Daniel

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05/19, 11:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
cost

Apple has gone to the cheap route for all their products, thats why they break more often now than what they used to. Look at the power switches on the cube, the firewire connectors on the iPod, the mold lines on the cube, this is only the beginning, unless you want to pay double for all the products to pay for qualility that is a lower priority above all else.

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05/19, 11:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
cost

Apple has gone to the cheap route for all their products, thats why they break more often now than what they used to. Look at the power switches on the cube, the firewire connectors on the iPod, the mold lines on the cube, this is only the beginning, unless you want to pay double for all the products to pay for qualility that is a lower priority above all else.

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05/19, 11:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
cheap

their level of quality is just going down down down

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05/19, 11:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
Poweradapters

GIVE OUT. My goodness, anyone with a lick of electrical experience knows that anything that has repeditive wear like this, WILL WEAR OUT! I've replaced the ends on countless apple and other power adaptors includeing yo-yo's and the black 'bricks' (both 5300-3400 & PB g3 series) As well as Duo powersupplys.

Freakin Lawyers.

impierced
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05/19, 11:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
3 year warranty !!!

If PCs are such off the shelf c*** and Apple makes such excellent hardware then why is it that Apple only offers a 1 year warranty standard when everyone else offers a 3 year warranty standard?

Yeah Lawyers suck and people are whinners, but sometimes, just sometimes companies need to be held accountable.

H&KMP5

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05/20, 12:14am | report spam | close Reply | delete
How dare

anybody sue Apple. They are perfect ! No c*** has ever left those hallowed halls. Maybe just the ,Airport base station's power source , The Cracking Cube, The won't charge IPod, hinges on G3 Powerbooks , bubbling paint on G4's and lousy Airport range on same ( who woulda thought metal would hinder range). Who are the nerds going to defend next Star Wars II ?

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05/20, 01:22am | report spam | close Reply |
test

te

iBorg
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Joined: Jun 2000

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05/20, 02:52am | report spam | close Reply |
Lawyer scumbags

"...I found out there is a law firm addressing this issue..."

ROFLMAO!!!!

List *one* single "issue" that some scumbag lawyer isn't ready and raring to sue someone about! When you've traded your conscience and soul for a J.D., you'll do *anything* for a buck. A suit doesn't need to have merit - only a reasonable chance for the lawyer to f**k someone out of some $$$$.

As Shakespeare said, "First, let's kill all the lawyers!"

wirewyrm
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05/20, 06:00am | report spam | close Reply |
What a mess!!

You poor Deluded Mac Fans. You appear to have all been sucked in by the "Mac vs PC" rubbish... again. I have a Mac. A Nice one. Most of the parts in it are from a PC. I'm not dumb enough to buy a new machine, or to shell out for expensive Apple parts. Posters at xlr8yourmac.com know this. Not here it would seem. To the posted who Said

"Power supplies have always been problematic, not only for Apple but everyone else. And unfortunately for buyers, Apple is the only one making a supply with the connector Apple chose to use."

Bollocks!!! I Sell Macs and PC's for A living. Eletrical spikes are the most common fault of all power problems. Heck, I blew up the adaptors on a Powerbook and a Zip drive. To the Idiot who said they should be internal so he would't have to pay $80 for a PSU, do you think it would be $80 to sent the machine to Apple (Laptops have to be sent to Germany for repair Guys, Apple insists on this" to replace the internal PSU. Or would you take it to your local repair man and invalidate your warranty.

"Apple is the only one making a supply with the connector Apple chose to use."

Apple are the only company making apple PSU's. Correct!! In most cases, sony are the only people making sony PSU's, toshiba only make toshiba PSU's and this applies to most companies.

(PS most people come into the shop, and if you ask them if they have tested their Power supply they will say Yes. A few more probing questions will reveal that they tested it by plugging a light in. Idiots. Lights are mush more tolerant to spikes than anything. Computers are the least tolerant of spikes!!)

waffffffle
Mac Elite

Joined: Sep 2000

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05/20, 06:06am | report spam | close Reply |
Coupons?

I have a Performa 6400 that I believe was supposed to have included lifetime support. Can I get something from Apple for that? A $50 coupon would be better than nothing.

MacNN.com Reader
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05/20, 09:40am | report spam | close Reply |
Mine was replaced

No AppleCare and no questions. Two year old power supply. They know the problem and immediately offered to send me a new one. I'm happy about that.

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05/20, 09:45am | report spam | close Reply |
Proprietary cords

Replacement SOny Vaio power cord is about $100. Everyone uses proprietary designs as far as I can tell. Even different Vaios don't use hte same exact cords. We had these problems with our Wintel laptops at work, too, and I can tell you Sony, IBM, Compaq, and Toshiba are even worse than Apple. Like I said,on the phone, Apple replaced my cord immediately. Maybe the original lawsuit guy should call again and play "Apple support roullette." (I used to do that to get out of warranty repairs on my Dodge Neon - call Chrysler once, get a dork, politely thank the dork, hang up, call again, get out-of-warranty coverage for free. Don't know how much I saved - if I had dealers do work on out of warranty cars, probably about a thousand dollars. Not a bad idea for Apple. If 800 number doesn't work try the store...)

mattg
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Joined: May 2002

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05/20, 10:29am | report spam | close Reply |
This is serious

There was a guy on Mac Opinion who said that his daughter died in a fire and the investigations revealed that it started in a 3 foot radius in which her iBook was sitting. This is a serious problem, I know mine yo-yo has sparked every time it has been plugged in from new.

MacNN.com Reader
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12/13, 08:01pm | report spam | close Reply |
Bad adapters

I've gone through a couple of these adapters, too. They are not well built at all. The ground wire shorts out after a few months and they start spraying sparks everywhere, then eventually just die. This is a well documented problem all over the web and on Apple's support forums. I wish they at least made ones that are of a useable quality quality so that we didn't have to pay a $70 annual tax just to keep using our machines.

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Lawfirm looking into power adapter complaints

updated 11:15 am EDT, Sun May 19, 2002

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