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Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Shoddy design - sparks, smoke, melt-through cord and scorching

Written by BC from Concord

18/11/2009

I am baffled why this product can still be manufactured the way it is. I'm now on my third, although the first "died gracefully," (manufactured in India) after a couple of years, unlike the replacement (Thailand). Aside from the poor design, it seemed like the wire was too stiff and not flexible enough for the application, nor thick enough. Guess that is poor design too.

The first one failed at the junction of the DC cord to the brick, (right around the reinforcement). The second one, basically the same place, but much, much more exciting- o, the fireworks! Scared the living daylights out of me!

Come on Apple, this is just not the level of quality expected of your brand.

12 of 13 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

This is a horrible charger

Written by NG from Roswell

18/11/2009

Buy a cheap one elsewhere online. I'm on my 5th one in 6 years. Why does this product cost the same it did 6 years ago when they don't use the same design anymore? Can apple throw us a bone here? Lower the price of your outdated, poorly designed charger.

9 of 9 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Sparks and smoke

Written by AG

7/11/2009

The adapter is bulky and often falls out of the wall. Also, like many others it sparks and almost caught fire. Now my computer is useless without it. Not a good product.

7 of 7 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Fire Hazard

Written by MM from charlotte

30/10/2009

I have been though 3 of these chargers they all break within a year or two, but this most resent one i have gets EXTREMELY HOT to the point were it burns to hold it! they need to fix that problem and need to lower the price on these chargers. $80.00 is way to expensive for a simple charger, after all we spent over a thousand dollars on their computers you would think they would give us a break. oh yeah and make that my 4th charger I have had to buy.

13 of 13 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Dangerous!

Written by BO from Laguna Beach

19/09/2009

I'm really amazed this has been going on as long as it has. My cord started smoking and my son (already a very anxious kid about fires, thanks to witnessing too many wildfires) freaked out.

If there was ever a recall, I didn't hear about it.

39 of 42 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Sets on fire eventually.

Written by PS from London

15/09/2009

I know they've re-done the charger lead for newer notebooks, but these things are rubbish for those that have older powerbooks. I'm on number 3 now, and actually, I'm gonna buy a Hong-Kong copy. Hopefully that will last longer. Sorry Apple. I'm an evangelist for sure, but this one doesn't make the grade.

Smoke, sparks, fire.

36 of 38 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

HEY APPLE!!! START MAKING CORDS WITH MODULAR PARTS!!!

Written by AW from Chicago

11/09/2009

I am on my third power cord set for my powerbookG4. It is the same problem every time. Sooner or later, tiny fireworks come out of the part of the cord where it meets the plug that goes into the computer.

Never have I had a problem with the brick, extender, or any other part. So why do I have to pay to replace the whole set and trash perfectly good parts? Oh I know, POOR DESIGN!!! Apple fix this! and spearhead recycling of the e-waste that the ill-designed powercord creates!

61 of 62 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

DANGEROUS

Written by JG from Cornville

24/08/2009

This is my second plug, since the first one shorted out too. Last night when I plugged it in, it sparked and caught fire for a second, burned my hand and the wall. VERY DANGEROUS. The original one that came with my Powerbook shorted out, but this one had flames.

43 of 48 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Needs recall/redesign immediately..

Written by DD from Calabasas

28/07/2009

I'm on my 3rd in 1 year. Last night the 3rd sparked and caught fire. Just happened to be in the studio at the time working and was able to put out the fire quickly. God forbid if I'd been asleep or in another room. I'm not buying another Apple replacement part for sure. Very dangerous part.

63 of 69 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

wire fatigue/shorting out problems

Written by MD from SAN ANGELO

27/07/2009

Adapter lasted 4 months,or about $20/month. Wire fatigued and shorted out near the head where it plugs into the computer. I examined the the wire and it appears to be aluminum.

Dangerous fire hazard as it became a small sparkler, when it shorted out and burned through the insulation. I recommend these adapters not to be plugged in, when not in use.

The adapter otherwise was treated lightly. On my next adapter, I will winding some white electrical tape near the head to prevent bending and shortened life span.

63 of 68 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

.....sigh......

Written by FS from Hong Kong

25/06/2009

I have been using Macs over than 14 years. I have other Apple products of course. Many years ago when someone told me Apple will be a history and convinced me to change to PC. I told him I will use Macs until they stop the whole line and mine died then I maybe change to other computer. See I really a fan of Apple! But I really got disappointed about this ac adapter! I run my PowerMac G5 everyday and use my Powerbook G4 just occasionally that I bought about 3 years ago. Today when I wanted to charge my PB I found that the adapter is not working! I even didn't bend the wire at all and just lay it flat after use so it's not frayed or broken. Some time ago one day when I was doing charging, I got some sparks from between the plug and socket and I thought it's the problem of the plug so I replaced the plug from my camera's charger instead and it worked. But today I use the same plug it's not working so I switched back to the original one and still not working and other plugs, not working! Totally not working!!! So that's why I'm here and trying to find the one for my PB G4 and found all these negative reviews.........(sigh).......and I'm thinking I should buy something else instead if I can find a good substitution.....and I'm totally agree a charger cost USD79 or HK$600 should be more reliable! And Apple really should take action and make better charger if they sell it at this price! And without the ac adapter my PowerBook is useless.......(sigh)!!!!!

2 of 2 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Works for me...for 5 years

Written by MB from Palo Alto

18/06/2009

Mine is still working just fine after 5 years. Not sure what else I can say about it.

16 of 50 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Second adapter in 9 months

Written by LC

15/05/2009

I adore my Powerbook but I wish Apple would design a better power adapter. I replaced my adapter last summer, and am currently facing another replacement. I've gone through 5 adapters since purchasing my Powerbook G4 several years ago. All adapters had the same problems. They wear where the thin cord joins the adapter, resulting in a smoking, sparking fire hazard. I sure wish the adapters were designed to last as long as my Powerbook has!

89 of 94 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

M8943LL/A Power Adapter

Written by PG from Edison

28/04/2009

This adapter is badly designed. I have already changed two and am wondering whether to buy a new adapter or buy a new computer - netbook.

60 of 69 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

DO NOT BUY

Written by PD from Pasadena

25/04/2009

I have used mac laptops for 8 years now. Love the laptops - BUT I have gone through no less than 6 power adaptors. The thin wiring invariably frays and causes a short circuit.
I cannot believe the engineer at Apple who designed this adaptor has not been fired yet and a better model introduced. This product is awful!!!!!!

84 of 90 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

questionable quality and design

Written by AC

21/04/2009

If the cable coming out of the power supply was designed to be detached and replaced, there wouldn't be a problem but it isn't, so when it frays/breaks, the whole unit becomes unusable and indeed, dangerous - little sparks are clearly visible.

I love Apple computers and my iBook's been through a lot and has proved extremely robust in the face of a few impacts but the power supply units just don't measure up.

And why on earth are they so expensive?! Surely it's not based on some previously unheard-of technology. Disappointing.

14 of 15 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

Great laptop - AWFUL power supply!

Written by BM from London

10/04/2009

This is the 3rd power supply I have had to buy for my 4 year old Powerbook G4 at nearly £60 a go. They just don't live up to Apple's usual build quality. In all cases they have failed because the thin power cord has split, either at the plug or where it enters the case of the power supply.

It's a real shame because otherwise the Powerbook is a really nicely put together laptop.

12 of 13 people found this useful

Extra Portable Power Adapter - 65W (for iBook & PowerBook)

good!

Written by AJ from Aabenraa

15/03/2009

My power adapter + cord has worked for more than three years. I even burned the cord (just a little bi) by accident. Now, after more than three years, all of a sudden it is a bit tired. I think that is fantastic!

1 of 9 people found this useful