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

Terribly designed, but it's covered by Applecare!

Written by JY from Los Angeles

2/09/2005

It didn't take me long to figure out that this power adapter wasn't going to last too long. The prongs that go into the wall are on connected to a hinge, and every time I would plug it into a wall, I could see that it wouldn't hold up over the long haul. I've had my adapter for one year, and I've gradually seen the prong connection get looser and looser. About two months ago, I began having to put the adapter is weird positions to get a good connection, and now it won't work w/out something pushing it into the wall (unless I find a place to plug horizontally on the floor.)
(Oh, and the ultra-thin cord also seems like it will break quickly if you're not extremely careful, but mine never broke.)

Anyhow, I finally called Applecare; they were very nice, but at first they tried to tell me the battery isn't covered because of standard ware & tear, etc. I pointed out that nothing in the contract absolves them from coverage for anything of the sort (only accident, abuse, neglect, misuse, etc.) I spoke to a senior tech, he agreed, and now I'm getting a new one for free:)

1362 of 1895 people found this useful

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

Nifty, but too fragile

Written by MC from Cincinnati

29/08/2005

The power adaptor is a necessary evil, designed to remove from the body of Apple's portable Macs the weight and bulk of the power supply. The unit is mostly quite well-designed, but the cord is weak at the end that enters your Mac, and both of the ones I own have broken at this point. As of this writing, they still work, but are taped up to protect the exposed wire, as the white rubber casing around the round part that plugs into my PowerBook and iBook has broken.

Apple should redesign this part to stand up to the wear of normal use. It is all too easy for to move one's PowerBook so that the cord is accidentally tugged in ways that bend the plug end too sharply.

1314 of 1799 people found this useful

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

power cord

Written by GW from Malvern

12/09/2005

I have a powerbook g4 and I have gone through 2 power cords because of the cool looking plug that enters the powerboo - As it is extremly vulnerable and bends very very easily, as a result it doesnt work properly and then stops working at all, leaving my with a dead laptop. It may look cool but is no way near robust as it should be for a laptop powercord.

297 of 349 people found this useful

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

Alternative

Written by TF from Beccles

4/11/2005

I agree with all here that these are badly designed and very expensive.

There is a third party adapter available made by Macally which is a lot less cool looking, but also less expensive (about £30 inc vat) and does not have the same stupid "break me" end plug.

270 of 307 people found this useful

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

Burnout

Written by AM from BRISTOL

11/10/2005

Unfortunately I have found that these power adapters have a limited life. I use my G4 laptop every day and often leave it plugged in to the power charger all day. The adapter gets VERY hot, I have found, and as a result it burns out. I've had to order two or three new ones already, which is both irritating and expensive. Potentially, these adapters could become a fire hazard as well, I believe.

188 of 235 people found this useful

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

A Better AC Adapter

Written by JS

22/09/2007

Apple, give us a better AC Adapter! MacWizards and other third party adapters last longer at half the cost - it's doable. Three things you need to improve: make the unit last longer! The darn thing shouldn't burn out in a month. Also, make the cord not fray as easily. Also, get the cost down. Forget the fold out pins, magnetic connectors, and the other fancy stuff - just get the basics working right. (btw, iPod touch... awesome. Can we get the guys that built it to look at the AC Adapter?)

141 of 145 people found this useful

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

Useless Adapter

Written by AS from Smyrna

31/08/2005

My PowerBook is only 13 months old and the power cord has already given way. The cord attached to the round thing that goes into the powerbook is breaking away.

The new one costs $79 and I hate spending my money on it since I know even that one will meet the same fate. Apple should manufature the cord taking into account the normal wear and tear that the item should be subjected too.

273 of 428 people found this useful

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

A Better Product

Written by JR

27/10/2007

Four adapters in 6 months? Apple, you can make a better product... (even Microsoft could make a better product). MacWizards and other third party adapters last longer at half the cost. It's not like we're asking you to make the best computer system in the world, to revolutionize the music industry, to create hundreds of industry changing innovations... you know, hard stuff. We're just asking you to make an AC Adapter that lasts as long as everyone else's. For Apple, this should be easy.

112 of 123 people found this useful

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

Time to fix the problem

Written by GA from Sacramento

3/09/2005

My iBook has had very little use. I was shocked to see my power cord fraying at the end of the round piece that plugs into the computer. I was even more shocked to read that this has been an ungoing problem and several people have bought more than one repacement cord. I am very disappointed that Apple has not fixed this problem, supplied people with free cords, and shown the same loyalty to us that we have shown to them. I refuse to pay for another cord. So I guess that means that I am on my sixth and last Mac unless they start replacing these cords for free and fixing the problem. G.A.

134 of 183 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)

worst thing ever

Written by JC from NORTH HUNTINGDON

25/04/2008

mine caught on fire today. thank god it happend when i got home. but not only do i have to buy a new love seat i have to spend $80 something after tax for more garbage. love the computer but if your so smart fix these things...

123 of 163 people found this useful

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

Caution! Sparking & Melting!

Written by TH from Milwaukee

1/09/2005

My power adapter also started acting up recently. The cord that is connected to the hard plastic part-the part you insert into the PowerBook-started to melt! Some of the wires are exposed and it started shorting out and sparking while I was using it! The rubber from the cord is melted around that area and it has become a fire hazard! Now I have to buy a new one for $79 so I can use my PowerBook again!

141 of 201 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)

THIS CHARGER IS HORRIBLE!! I AM ON MY FIFTH ONE!!!!!

Written by OD from Columbus

6/02/2009

I wish I could give this zero stars. This is probably the worst piece of computer equipment I have ever owned. I am getting ready to purchase my fifth charger (I've owned the computer since 2005). The sad thing is, I am not hard or rough with my computer and it usually sits on my desk. I have had two of these chargers that have sparked. The plastic coating has cracked or broken off of portions of all of them and left exposed bare wire hanging out. They are loose, do not fit into the computer properly and are constantly falling out. They are simply awful. Shame on you Apple. You should do something to remedy this problem instead of screwing over loyal customers like myself.

75 of 81 people found this useful

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

I had the same experience with cord failure

Written by AS

31/08/2005

This is a handy adapter, but mine failed at the same place (the cord fraying at the part where it plugs in the computer) as the other customers did. I also tried to tape the cord to reinforce it, and got a few extra months of use. As of this morning, however, it has finally quit transmiting power to the computer. This is very frustrating as the unit itself is still in good shape.
I hope that Apple will consider this design flaw in future production and will correct the problem. I hesitate to spend another $79 or so dollars on something that I know will fail the exact same way in just a little while. So a heads up to other customers. I don't know yet if there is any alternative, but if there is it is worth checking into. I certianly am going to.

111 of 154 people found this useful

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

Ridiculous!

Written by HP from London

25/05/2008

I love Apple... support Mac like I do Obama BUT I am thoroughly disgusted in this product. I purchased my Powerbook in 2004 and thus use this adapter. My first one lasted 3 years before finally starting to short out and shoot sparks. Reluctantly I ordered a new adapter in April 2007 and already — only a little over a year later — it is already shooting sparks, smoking, and acting fickle. By no means am I ready to spend another 80 duckets on this adapter but feel I have to. Apple knows there is a problem with it, that is why they replaced the adapter with the magnitized version. Why should faithful Apple users be forced to fork out $80 a pop to continue to replace there adapter due to a design error on Apple's part?

89 of 116 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)

Disappointing

Written by NF from Los Angeles

8/09/2005

I have a PowerBook (G4) and an iBook. The power cords for both are too fragile. The plug into the PowerBook does contain the nice "color" system, however, since, most of the time mine is too frayed to charge the computer, I don't get to see the neat colors.

I have already bought one extra power adapter, and do not want to purchase another. I just noticed the post that said this item is covered under AppleCare. I will check this out, however, it is really important that Apple takes note of this problem and fixes it. A company that prides itself in the quality of its products, its designs, and userability should have great power cords, not problematic ones.

87 of 114 people found this useful