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

Quality when taken care of

Written by PD from marble falls

Nov 18, 2009

There are extensive negative reviews for this product, but if you take good care of your product, it is well built and will last. My first one lasted a little more than a year, however, this was with me wadding it up, unfurling it by holding one end and dropping the adapter (both kinking and twisting the cable), so of course it failed.

Since, when treated apporopriatly, coiled not wadded, and uncoiled, not dropped, this product works excellently. The magsafe adapter has been invaluable for avoiding gravity centered laptop crashes.

2 of 5 people found this useful

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

Don't know what all the whining is about...

Written by DW from Calgary

Nov 8, 2009

I have had my charger for going on 5 years now and yes it has bitten the big one, but until now it has worked fine! It has made the trip across 9 different countries countless drops and overuse. For a charger it has held up, and yes that connection at the base of the cable can seperate a little, but that never caused a problem.

5 of 11 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)

Hot, too hot, NO MELTDOWN

Written by JC from Spokane

Sep 26, 2009

Hello All.

I've had my MacBook Pro 17" for almost two years. I use this machine four to five hours a day, online, DVD, youtube (heats up my video processor like a game) etc.

The power adapter and magnetic connector get hot but never a meltdown. I always use the three prong, grounded extension and try to plug it into a surge protected device. But, frankly, I've used it in another country with foreign adapters and it has never melted down. When I can, I position it on glass, metal or something so it breathes but I often forget and find it on my bed under a blanket!

I'm buying a new one today because adapters eventually need replacing after so many hours of use. I'll write if, after testing it, I get any difference in usage.

Apple should be replacing the ones I've read about that melt; and they should find out why and where, so it doesn't happen to others. These computers are amazing! The magnetic connector is the best invention to prevent expensive hardware repairs that I've seen in a decade. Way to go Apple; now stand up for those users who got a meltdown...

JC

3 of 8 people found this useful

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

No problems, stop whining

Written by SW from Candler

Sep 4, 2009

Only reason i give 4 stars is because overall the magsafe is not as durable and sturdy as it could be. Mine doesn't get hot, isn't frayed and is well over 2 years old. Everyone complaining sounds like the people who come into my cell phone store and say that they don't understand why their phones dont work after they dropped them in the swimming pool. Seriously! Baby Spit, a laptop sitting on a bed? If you are dumb enough to use your laptop on a comforter then you deserve to have a fried logic board, not just a messed up power adapter. Get real and get some reasonable expectations....Power supplys are a WEARABLE ITEM, not designed to last for years and years of daily use and travel. Stop complaining about a nice product or get a Dell.

26 of 43 people found this useful

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

Good product, I love the Magsafe because I have needed it a couple of times

Written by DS from Riverside

Aug 27, 2009

I have had a macbook pro 17 for about three or four months now. I have not had any problems with the charger that came with the computer. My Mother has had a Macbook pro 15 for over two years without any problems with the charger either. No problems at all. For the people that are having problems with their chargers I need to ask if you are leaving the block in a bag or somewhere it cannot get ventilation. The block can get hot and needs the air flow around it but other than that I have not found any problem with any of mine. The heat is the only reason I gave the charger four stars.

I have four of these charging blocks, One for each computer at home and one for each computer on the go. I have not seen any fraying or poor craftsmanship from these units.

For the people who do not see the point of the magsafe connection try using the computer on a couch with other people around ro at a public place on a table. It is very useful.

33 of 38 people found this useful

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

My Solution to Melting Charger Land

Written by AA from Freehold

Jul 20, 2009

First of all, I understand all of your concerns. My charger has lasted me close to 2 years now and nothing has gone wrong. What I do is I take the extender (long cable provided with the charger) and use that instead of the foldable metal tabs. Then I keep the charger on my table to keep clean. As a side effect the charger gets air to keep cool even after charging for hours on end. Lastly, you CAN wrap the wire around the tabs they give you, just be gentle and kind of slow. It keeps everything neat AND it keep the charger from over heating and melting down. Truthfully, I was extremely shocked at how all of your chargers melted down. Maybe it is just my room. I don't know. Just follow what I did and tell me if it made a difference! Enjoy!

80 of 86 people found this useful

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

MagSafe Power Adapters Work Fine for Me

Written by BP from Georgetown

Jun 30, 2009

My household has 3 MagSafe power adapters and we have not had any problems with them. I am careful with the cords having experienced cord/connector problems with the pre-MagSafe generations of adapters. Rather than winding the thin cord around the provided "ears" I loop both cords without kinks and secure them with a velcro strip that I attach to the AC end of the adapter.

Never had a problem with heat.

One drawback is the cost.

92 of 102 people found this useful

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

So far, so good...

Written by ES from New York

Jun 14, 2009

The new adapter, with minor design enhancements (smaller brick, thicker jacketing) is fine improvement. I think this one is going to be ok. Don't abuse your cable and it should last for years.

83 of 93 people found this useful

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

85W mag safe power adapter works fine.

Written by EH from Rockford

May 28, 2009

My wife and I bought new Macs around Christmas time 2008. One 15 inch MacBook Pro one 13 inch MacBook. We use the Macs many times throughout the day. We have one adapter upstairs and one downstairs. They mostly lie on desks until we plug in the Macs.

I just checked both adapters and they look fine, esp. the insulation and the mag safe end. Never had one get hot.

91 of 102 people found this useful

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

Needs sturdier plastic

Written by CF from Monmouth

May 11, 2009

I have a macbook pro which is 2.5 years old, and my first power cord lasted about a year or so. It developed a short right behind where the magsafe connector attaches to the cord. I am responsible for fourteen 3-yr-old teacher macbooks at our school, and we have had 4 cords fail by the plastic splitting and exposing the wires down by the brick. From other comments, it appears that my first cord was a fluke, but the cord needs to be reinforced down where it enters the brick -- when wrapping the cord around the flip-up holders it makes a sharp bend, and that eventually breaks the plastic.

But, anyway, I feel bad complaining at all! My previous laptop was a compaq with a right-angle power plug, and the force of plugging and unplugging broke the solder joints that attached the connector to the motherboard. So, after just 20 months of use, the PC was useless. We have now fixed it, after a couple of trips to the Radio Shack, completely taking apart the computer (always a bit hair-raising with a laptop!), some redesign and some jury-rigging with speaker wire, soldering on a new connector, building a new power cord...

The magsafe connector is a fabulous invention that doesn't just protect the computer from being yanked off of a table, it also protects the power connector from being wriggled off of the motherboard -- a huge achilles heel of all other laptops. It just needs a little redesign where the cord inserts into the brick, and probably up where it inserts into the magsafe connector, too. A tenth of a penny more in plastic, and it will be a cord worthy of the brilliant connector it is attached to.

29 of 108 people found this useful

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

Meltdowns?

Written by BP from Vancouver

May 7, 2009

I am surprised to read all these "meltdown" reviews. We have 4 magsafe adapters in the family and I have never seen one even get hot. I think people don't take enough care wrapping up the cord thereby breaking the wires at the plug or adapter end thereby causing a short.

92 of 112 people found this useful

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

Weak-point at cord-magnet interface

Written by GF from LOMA LINDA

Apr 28, 2009

I love the MagSafe Power Adapter. It has saved me (and my kids) on multiple occasions, and may be that's the reason it has worn down - first the protective plastic sleeve, and then finally the cord itself - after 2 years of intensive use in multiple locations every day. Yesterday the inevitable happened - some sparks and then dead silence... Time for a new power supply (after ~ 3 years of use). I see I'm not the only one who has discovered this weak point and would therefore appreciate Apple's engineers working on improving this weakest link in the otherwise excellent power supply.

13 of 86 people found this useful

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

Get it some love...

Written by EK from Valley City

Apr 2, 2009

Wow, according to the reviews I am unique in that I love the power adaptors for the Mac Book Pros. I have had my 15" Mac Book Pro for almost 3 years and am just now ordering a new one and to list the abuse my first one took would take pages. The MagSafe is a feature I would not live without and the overall build is sturdy and takes abuse from my 3 year old and my dog. I only dropped one star because of the heat it gives off, but it isn't that bad. I work with other Dell's and Lenovo laptops all day and comparing power adaptors, Macs are by far the best!!

57 of 64 people found this useful

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

No problems

Written by AF from Springfield

Feb 24, 2009

I've had my MacBook Pro for a year and a half. During that time, it's been in almost constant use, which means my power cord has also been used a ton. I've never had any problems with it at all. Guess I got lucky!

13 of 21 people found this useful

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

Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter

Written by BN from White Plains

Feb 20, 2009

I think this adapter is getting some bad reviews because people are mistreating it and its breaking. I have no problems with it. I like the idea that it pulls off the computer if someone trips on the line. No damage to your computer. If your going to unplug it and wrap the cord around the adapter do it nicely and don't rap it so tight. Its only reasonable that it will get worn and the cord will eventually come apart if its abused. Get the Mac Magsaver too. It will save your plug.

13 of 25 people found this useful

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

No Problems So Far

Written by JH from Akron

Jan 27, 2009

I've had the new macbook pro for over three months now and have had no problems so far with charging, melting, or overheating of the power cord. There is also no fraying near the adapter itself where the this wire is but then again I didn't ever use the clips to wind up the cord. (tried it once but looked like it stressed the cord to much). All in all though it looks like a good product and appears to have many years left in it.

5 of 12 people found this useful

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

The Magnet is Very Handy

Written by CT from Cochrane

Jan 9, 2009

All in all this is pretty good. I haven't had problems yet, and the mag saved me from about 4 spills. 4 incidents that without it I'd be out of a several thousand dollar machine (all not my fault, funny enough). The magnet is a fantastic idea. However, as with most all Apple Products, the price to replace one is a little bit ridiculous.

10 of 12 people found this useful