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

Built to break?

Written by VL from SAINT CHARLES

Dec 3, 2009

I've had my Macbook Pro for a few months and the Magsafe Adapter is tearing itself apart. It is great that it keeps my laptop safe from getting yanked off the table, but I can't help but feel this thing is built to break. In order to wind the cable around the L shaped supports as neatly as described and shown in all the product pictures, you have to wind it perfectly tight. Doing this, however, puts the cable under constant stress which, coupled with the heat, causes the connection to the power box to come loose and expose bare wire. I am shocked now to find that it costs so much to replace, and that I am unlikely to qualify for a replacement due to unrelated accidental damage.

9 of 9 people found this useful

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

they need to reinforce this design STAT

Written by LP from Scottsdale

Dec 1, 2009

I have had this same charger break on me twice now, and they are not cheap. The end that plugs into the computer WILL break and expose the wires. Does not matter how careful you are with them. I really hope they come up with a new design for this. They are lucky i gave it one star, only because i haven't had any other kind of problems with it. Again, though...This is the second charger that has broken in 1 year.

15 of 16 people found this useful

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

Apple's Worst Product Award goes to the MagSafe Power Adapter.

Written by MC from Rancho Cordova

Dec 1, 2009

Beginning one month after ownership of the adapter it would occasionally not charge the computer, and after three months it failed completely.

Apple Care replaced it; However, the new one has wires that are one by one becoming disconnected from the MagSafe connector, and they are exposed about a quarter inch now. The wire jacket is becoming loose on the adapter end as well. This all happened in five months.

Both adapters became dangerously hot, so when I use the extender I have to make sure it's resting on something fairly heat resistance to prevent damage. This excessive heat buildup shows a poor transfer of energy. In other words you're wasting money paying the electric company for lots of heat that should have charged your computer. That's neither economically efficient or green.

I think that $80 is an absurd price to pay for this adapter. Especially for how it performs. Apple needs to address this issue before I will recommend their computers to anyone.

16 of 16 people found this useful

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

Worked fine until...

Written by BH from Provo

Nov 30, 2009

I have never had any problems with this product (Or any product made by apple for that matter) until now. The power adapter has always been plugged into my surge protector and after 1.5 years of use it just died. I went to charge my MacBook Pro this morning and it wouldn't charge. Very disappointed with this product and Apple as well for releasing such a faulty product. I don't mind paying a high price for Apple products if they work well, but this is just unacceptable and I will not pay $80 for another faulty device....Looking elsewhere!!!

3 of 5 people found this useful

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

Early failure

Written by JD from Saratoga Springs

Nov 30, 2009

Had to fork out another $85 for a new Power Adapter due to mine not charging my Macbook Pro. The L.E.D quit working then I noticed my computer not charging back up.
I am careful with all my stuff, no pets and living single. Just outside the warranty by about 3 months.
Why are these so expensive? No place that I could find to rebuild my power adapter from apple. A terrific idea that needs to be made more robust. Adapter needs reinforced at both the magsafe tip and coming out of the transformer.

2 of 3 people found this useful

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

ver poor product

Written by RL from Lake Oswego

Nov 28, 2009

I have bouth two of them and they last about 4 to six months. I like apple but this product has really let me down. Not sure when they will make a change or fix the issue with the adapter.

3 of 5 people found this useful

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

Poor design

Written by HM from Greenville

Nov 27, 2009

My "abuse" is carefully winding and unwinding daily at home and school - resulting in the cable pulling apart. Now I get to spend an additional $80 for another poorly design unit that will no doubt last another couple of years max.

4 of 5 people found this useful

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

Another MacBook Pro MagSafe Power Adapter Early Death

Written by LB from Lynchburg

Nov 23, 2009

I purchased my 17.5 inch MacBook Pro in 2007 and the adapter just died today. The adapter is hot, with no green charging light and the battery will not charge. I ordered a new one today. Apple needs to address the reliability of the power adapter (and battery life) at the earliest. I have little faith anything will be done, as I am on my second PowerBook power adapter and my third Powerbook battery died a year ago! So, Apple has had a long standing power adapter and battery quality problem with it's premium laptops that has never been addressed.

6 of 10 people found this useful

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

Cord melted.

Written by JL from RANCHO VIEJO

Nov 19, 2009

The cord melted rendering my macbook useless because I have no way to charge it. Very BAD product. To bad we don't really have a choice.

12 of 13 people found this useful

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

Died after 1.5 years

Written by ES from Ames

Nov 18, 2009

I bought a new 15" MacBook Pro in March 2008. This week, the MagSafe Power Adaptor gave out. It can still power the computer but will not charge the battery. The light on the adaptor doesn't work. The Menu Bar in Snow Leopard says "Power Source: Power Adaptor and Battery is Not Charging". In System Profiler it says the AC Power Adaptor is connected but there are jsut zeros for the rest of the information.

In order to be sure the problem wasn't with the laptop or battery, I tried a friend's MagSafe adaptor and it charged the battery properly. With that knowledge I have ordered another 85W MagSafe Power Adaptor. This is in addition to the battery, which needed replacement a week ago (it lasted about 15 minutes on a charge!). So, I'm forced to pony up over $200 already for a laptop that I expected to last me 4 years. As a college student, this is a significant and unplanned expense.

Despite these problems, I can't say I am unhappy with the computer purchase. In general, the laptop has exceeded my expectations and I couldn't imagine my life without OS X. The MagSafe Adaptor is an ingenious concept for powering Mac laptops and worked great while it lasted, but Apple needs to improve the durability of these adaptors...

9 of 11 people found this useful

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

fell apart

Written by JC from Kansas City

Nov 18, 2009

The adapter itself is a great design. The magnet and ability to wrap the cord up neatly. However, within a year, the protection around the cord started to split, and a month after applecare ran out it fell apart. Another $79 for a great design, but poorly made power supply that is just gonna fall apart.

10 of 11 people found this useful

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

Cord frey

Written by KT from Ames

Nov 18, 2009

I'm with everyone else on this one.... 4 months and... my cord is freying??? I am a graphic design instructor and push Apple products - but this is truly a disappointment that such a critical part is so weak.
RECALL SOON, PLEASE!!!

8 of 8 people found this useful

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

Another one bites the dust

Written by DM from Greenville

Nov 17, 2009

I have had my MacBook Pro for just over 3 years and I am on my forth power cord. The first one lasted the longest...aprroximately 2 years. But the rubber sheathing began to pull away from where it connects to the magnet, exposing the raw wires. I replaced the Magsafe power adapter before I got electrocuted. The second cord only lasted 4-5 months before the same thing happened. The third one lasted another 4-5 months, but this one pulled away form the adapter unit, not the magnet.

I love the design, but they really need to fix this problem. It is a potential shock/fire hazard.

7 of 7 people found this useful

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

Failure...

Written by DW from Cooksville

Nov 14, 2009

Bought a Macbook Pro 15 in 2006, and the battery burned up in 2008 and now the Magsafe adapter burned up just now. It made a LOUD POP then no lights when I plug it in and it was VERY VERY hot to the touch. Enough to burn skin. It was well ventilated as well. Maybe it just ran it's course after 3 years? Either way, looks like I am stuck buying a new one!

I expect the laptop to break before the MagSafe!

3 of 3 people found this useful

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

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

Written by BG from RIDGEFIELD

Nov 11, 2009

Poorly designed charger. Good idea but needs to be modified. the connect part pulls from cable and shorts out. Very dangerous. I am surprised that there has not been a recall. Could easily start a fire.

9 of 11 people found this useful

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

Looks melted and works when it wants to

Written by AW from SWANSEA

Nov 10, 2009

I bought my computer 2 years ago and the charger is completely off and the battery lasted for not more than a year.
The charger looks burned inside and it can get so hot I can burn myself on it.

6 of 9 people found this useful

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

POOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE POWER ADAPTER

Written by DI from GLEN BURNIE

Nov 4, 2009

After only 12 months of use I noticed the cord coming out of the shrink tube near the head of the cord. It appears less than 1/8th of the cord was inserted into the shrink tubing making it easy to pull out; along with the heavy outlet connector, the power cord is quite below standards in quality and should be upgraded.

11 of 13 people found this useful

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

Roughly 6 months and cord already falling apart

Written by JM from Lithia

Nov 3, 2009

I bought my laptop brand new from the Mac store and have taken very good care of it. After every use, I would unfold the two clasps on the charger, wind up the cord, and store it in my case. Well I had to stop winding the cord up because at the base the rubber cording started to pull out and the wires were exposed. This started happening within 6 months of purchasing my Mac.

12 of 15 people found this useful