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Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Tips to prolong the adapter life

Written by LS from Kirkland

Oct 30, 2009

I've had my MacBookPro since March 2006 and have used it almost daily as a student then as a professional. I have not had to change my adapter until now. It is wise to not allow your computer to be plugged in continually after it is charged, as to prolong the life of the battery (my battery lasted 3 years with cycling and my boyfriend's lasted 1.5 years without cycling) and it also prevents the base of the laptop and adapter from becoming so hot.

I have primarily used the grounded 3-prong cord and lifted the mag connection at the base (I don't pull it by the cord). It is true that the bulky adapter cannot plug into certain outlets well and may block the other outlets so I got used to using the 3-prong cord in the beginning. After use, I wrapped the cord around the ears of the adapter and secured it for transit. Recently I got lazy (past month) and I gathered the cords and put them into a large sleeve in my laptop bag a few times. Needless to say, my cord burned, frayed and became a hazard to use. Yes, Mac should revamp the adapter. Until then, use the 3-prong, let your battery cycle, lift the mag at the base, and wrap the cord around the ears. These should help you get the most mileage out the adapter and battery. Good luck!

7 of 10 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Horrible!

Written by KL from falls church

Oct 29, 2009

I had my laptop for over 2 years. I have been through 3 of these already. The 3rd one stopped working on me and now I have to buy a 4th one. They need to make a new one and recall this back. It's just HORRIBLE!!! I don’t understand why they can’t make a better one.

13 of 14 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Eh

Written by MO from Pearland

Oct 28, 2009

This is my 3rd charger!!! I will admit, the 1st one, I drop a few good times, then I dropped it on a wooden floor and it gave out a few days later, but my 2nd one, I took pretty good care of, and it didn't even last me as long as my first one! The 2nd one broke in less than a year! I misplaced my receipt so I couldn't even do the stupid warranty. I'm definitely putting the receipt for this current one in a good place... and I'm hoping if it gives out, it does so before the 1 year warranty is up, so I get a new replacement! But I'll still treat it like a new born baby, because these things are EXPENSIVE! I'm a broke college student! I almost cried when I had to dish out that 80 bucks, but I need this computer. MACs are awesome, their power adapters, not so much. Oh yeah, college students, there is a 10% discount on these when you go to the store, take advantage!

7 of 7 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

To hot - will it melt?

Written by TS from Jelling

Oct 28, 2009

The adapter - when it's in use - is so hot I can not touch it without shutting down the
Mac Book pro 17 and waiting couple of minutes...

4 of 5 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

WORST POWER CABLE EVER!!

Written by IN from Georgetown

Oct 28, 2009

I am sorry apple but you dropped the ball on this power cable. I have gone through 3 of these cables in the last two and a half years. They have all had the same problem. They fray at the end next to the magnetic end. After they fray they then proceed to catch on fire, but come on apple this problem has been addressed and you still have not created a better power cable. Its awful too because i have no other choice if i want to use my laptop then to buy another one. Thanks a lot apple for creating such an unsafe product and getting me stuck in a viscous cycle of having to buy a new one unless i just want to go buy a dell or something.. Thanks.

5 of 5 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Good but cable does need reinforcement around magnetic plu g

Written by FL from Seattle

Oct 24, 2009

I have had the original adaptor with my MacBook Pro for a long time now. Over two years? I had the battery replaced under warranty because I thought the charge was not holding. Now I can see that the insulation to the magnetic plug has broken all the way around the base of the plug and wires are fraying. Perhaps that was the problem all along. I wish the plug could just be replaced but I get the feeling because of technology I may end up getting a whole new adaptor. It must have lasted its warranty period at least. The insulation around the wire of the magnetic plug could use reinforcement, like thicker insulation or a spring to prevent wear.

7 of 7 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Melting/Burning

Written by LW from San Jose

Oct 22, 2009

My friend's power cord melted on the tip.

My power cord: I was sitting on my bed with the white box sitting on my quilt and all the sudden i smelled something burning.. It was my power cord. =/ Apple needs to fix this..

19 of 20 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

cord stinks

Written by MB from orlando

Oct 21, 2009

My new cord quit working in one month. 0000 stars

16 of 17 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

i wish they would fix this

Written by RD from AMBLER

Oct 20, 2009

Love apple...I like the Magsafe a lot.

I really really dont understand why Apple cannot design the cord such to prevent fraying. I use the computer at work and home. The computer sits on a desk, or my lap. I certainly am not jumping rope with the cord. Regardless, I have burned through about 4 power adapters. One even caught fire. The rest just stopped working. My Apple care has replaced these for free, but still, this is an unacceptable design by Apple. This has been a problem for a couple years. Their engineers have had more than enough time to redesign the product for safety and function.

Since there are no alternatives, we are stuck with this product. It almost isn't worth reviewing. Sigh....

Function>>>>form.

19 of 22 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Way too hot !

Written by SL from fort lee

Oct 18, 2009

I love the look and size of this unit, but because the power supply is encased in a plastic air tight casing it gets very hot, especially if the laptop is running graphics and the power supply is not in a well ventilated area.

I highly recommend Apple make this a vented unit, with possibly a aluminum casing.
I once fell asleep with the power supply on a pillow on the coach and when I woke up the unit was so hot I could barely touch it.

11 of 12 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Ugh...

Written by RB from Raleigh

Oct 17, 2009

Have had MacBook Pro for a little over a year and the adapter finally bit the dust (confirmed by testing with a known working adapter). It provides pwr, but doesn't charge the battery. Friend has gone through 3 in a little over a year and two batteries (overheating, etc).

While I enjoy the laptop, the adapter is a joke. Previous usage with work pc's have never shown such a big problem with the pwr brick. The 85w MagSafe is an oxymoron. It's not really safe. One of the ones that failed for my friend, threw sparks before melting. Fortunately he was home.

Potentially paying for a new one every year or year-and-a-half is pathetic. If Apple really had the customer in mind, they would lifetime (or at least 5-10yr) guarantee these things. Instead it's just another profit point with the high replacement factor. Having a great laptop is a bit pointless, if the charger is junk.

15 of 17 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Frayed cord, sparks and smoke!

Written by CM from Farmington

Oct 17, 2009

Two weeks ago, I noticed my mag connection fraying. My MacBook Pro is a year old. I don't travel with my laptop, and I only USE my notebook, I don't abuse it. Last night I noticed it starting to smoke, it sparked, and would of started a fire if I didn't notice it. You shouldn't have to baby these cords. You should be able to replace these cords instead of the entire charger. My Gateways had connection problems too, and that's one reason I tried an Apple. $80 bucks for a new adapter to replace a $10 cord?

7 of 7 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Fryed cord

Written by EP from Newport

Oct 16, 2009

I have had this for a few years, but the cord has completely fryed at the mag end. I thought i left it under the cpu, wich is extremely hot. But for none other then the cord has completely fell apart.

8 of 8 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

APPLE NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS CORD!!!

Written by MM from LEHI

Oct 15, 2009

I've had my Macbook Pro since May (about 5 months ago) and I have no complaints about anything except the power cord, it has stopped working. It looks like the outer prongs have either fried or lost stiffness to connect with the laptop and it just wont charge, and $80 for a new one! Extremely over priced for a poor product.

14 of 14 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Cord problems - broken exposed wiring

Written by JF from Chesapeake

Oct 13, 2009

I have the MagSafe for my 15 inch MacBook Pro and almost as soon as I got it the cord started coming apart. I am very careful with my equipment and always take care so this type of thing should not happen. It ended up breaking after about a year of use - the wire frayed apart and then stopped working not to mention open wires hanging out in plain view. Its funny that they charge 80 dollars for something that after a year breaks, what gives? Guess they got ya when after a year you have to buy a new plug to keep your computer running.

22 of 23 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

really bad, no excuses

Written by JF from Dover

Oct 13, 2009

I've noticed all of the positive reviews here are from people who just purchased this adapter. It does look cool and work well at first.

After about a year, I noticed that my MacBook Pro wouldn't charge even when it was plugged in. I guess either the magnet doesn't hold it in tight enough, or the cord is messed up right around the connector. The only way it will charge is if the cord near the connector is at the perfect angle, which means that every time I use my laptop I have to bend it around until the cord until the light comes on; and often something moves while I am using it and I have to do this over and over to not lose my charge. I'm worried that my charger will catch on fire if I don't replace it, but $80 is a lot of money to spend on something so poorly made. At the same time, this is probably destroying my battery.

I love my laptop, but this charger is terrible.

13 of 15 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Gets extremely HOT!!

Written by SC from Reno

Oct 12, 2009

The power block get extremely HOT!! I can't even hold it for more than a few seconds. If you have any children in the house, they might burn their hands if they touch the power block. Apple needs to fix this because it seems like there are too many people with problems with it. Everyone that has a complaint about this should write their feedback immediately to Apple on the feedback page so something gets done about this not so safe Magsafe power adapter. Type feedback in the search bar to find it.

5 of 9 people found this useful

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Design something better!!

Written by CC from Franktown

Oct 10, 2009

I am on my third power cord in 3 years because the two outside prongs keep frying. At least come up with something that replaces just the magnetic top part that you could splice into the existing wiring.

5 of 6 people found this useful