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Apple Starts Logic Board Repair Program
QuantumSpritz writes "In response to issues with iBook logic boards flaking out, Apple has posted an FAQ detailing the problems and what to do if you're affected. iBooks purchased in the last 3 years are eligible, and you may be reimbursed if you've already had to pay for repairs."
Apple logic boards are dying.
This is a lot better than the $50 rebate on Apple store software that users would have probably gotten with a class action. Of course, the class action might happen anyway -- there's a lawyer to be paid, after all.
What i'm wondering is this: will they replace the board with a newer, better designed board that doesn't exhibit the problem? Yes, it's very laudable that they'll repair them without charge if this is found to be the issue, but i'd rather not have a laptop that dies every 3 months, regardless of whether the repairs are free. At least this means that I can sell my iBook 700 (and 900) and get the G4 model, without feeling like scum. I want to turn people _on_ to Apple, not sell them something that will turn them _off_.
Regards,
John
Falling You - beautiful
Macintoshes don't have motherboards, they have logic boards.
The reason is largely historical -- there used to be two "motherboards" in each unit. They were called the analog and digital (or logic) board.
I think the iBook has a single motherboard, however. More's the pity -- when a headphone jack breaks, the CPU gets replaced as well.
Directly from the FAQ:
Moreover, according to this article from Reuters, these models were manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003.
Ok, every company makes mistakes and distributes faulty components. There is no way around it. Software and Hardware have bugs. More companies need to take action like this (albeit they took a while this time). Saying that they'll not only replace faulty components but reimburse customers (in any way) for some of their expenses is truly great. This is why companies like Apple and Toshiba always have incredible customer satisfaction ratings, unlike companies who make faulty products and don't do anything about it *cough* Gateway *cough* Microsoft. When companies can bite the bullet, admit a mistake, and do something about it, it truly impresses me.
its The iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program is a worldwide program covering repair or replacement of the logic board in specific iBook models manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003
any of those models, are insured for 3 years from their purchase date..
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The story about the Linux geek who got burnt by a fault that affects less than 0.2% of units shipped hits the front page, letting him complain about "hardware lock in". The vendor response about replacing the faulty part, and reimbursing people who've paid to get it fixed, makes only the apple.slashdot pages (ie buried in the paper).
So much for "new media".
-- james
I can't say how happy I am for this. My iBook has a UV316... S# and might be afflicted by the same problem in the future (knocks on wood)... Until now I was kind of scared of being presented to the iBook's now famous "screen of death" and specially sacared of having to pay for this failure. Knowing that for the next 2 years (and a few months) I'll be covered by warranty, if this happens, is a huge, huge releif.
It's thigs like this that will make me use mac's for as log as I can, and that take the reason to all those stupid anti-apple comments. Apple DOES listen to their custumers and helds responsability for their producs, and the errors that they might have... What more can you ask?
Apple uk weren't ready for this replacement scheme, but when I found out this morning, I phoned up and they took a while and elevated my technical support call up the tiers rapidly.
:)
:)
I actually asked if there was many calls, but got told that I was the first in the UK & Ireland to call
But they are picking up my iBook so I am happy
chris at darkrock dot co dot uk
http colon slash slash www dot darkrock dot co dot uk
I've got a 700MHz iBook which started demonstrating the problems when it was 2 months over it's 1 year standard cover. I cursed myself for not extending the applecare and had to buy an eMac in order to get working again.
At this stage I had no idea that it was a common problem - I simply counted it as bad luck.
I was aware the problem could be temporarily aleviated by squeezing on certain parts of the case so I diagnosed it as a loose connection or something shorting out. With nothing to loose I took the whole thing apart and started experimenting with putting presure on the logic board at different places.
I discovered that placing a bit of cork to keep the graphics chip in place I could get the machine to be as solid as a rock. I'm writing from it now - it's just the logic board screwed to a bit of wood with the screen standing in an easel. It's been on and working since Christmas with no crashes. I only need to restart for security patches.
What I've done would have voided my warranty - but I didn't have one any more when I started taking it apart. The wording on Apple's page seems to imply this has nothing to do with the warranty anyway.
I feel that I am due some sort of compensation from Apple but I don't really know how to approach them. Should I ask for a new logic board? A new iBook? Cash? It is their fault that I had to butcher my iBook - so I feel justified that I am due something.
What do you guys think I should do?
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I have an Ibook purchased in that time frame.. It seems like EVERYONE is having ibook problems.. Yet mine keeps working like a champ and I use it a lot. Its even hit the floor a bunch of times before we got rid of the ethernet cable...
After having replaced my third logic board only days before my 1 year Apple Care expired, I opted to buy the 2 year extension for fear of it happening again. Now that these problems are covered can I return my unused "Apple Care"? How can a company with such great products have such lousy business policies?
From the terms and conditions at http://www.apple.com/support/products/proplan_term s.html
7. Cancellation
You may cancel this Plan at any time for any reason. If you purchased the Plan in the United States or Canada, cancel by sending written notice to AppleCare Administration, P.O. Box 149125, Austin, TX 78714-9125, U.S. Your notice must be accompanied by a copy of your proof of purchase of the Plan. Unless state law provides otherwise, if you cancel within 30 days of your Plan purchase, or receipt of these Terms and Conditions, whichever occurs later, you will receive a full refund less the value of any service provided under the Plan; if you cancel more than 30 days after your receipt of this Plan, you will receive a pro-rata refund of the Plan's original purchase price, less (i) a cancellation fee of U.S. $25 or 10 percent of the pro-rata amount, whichever is less, and (ii) the value of any service provided to you under the Plan. Unless state law provides otherwise, Apple may cancel this Plan if service parts for the Covered Equipment become unavailable, upon 30 days' written notice. If Apple cancels this Plan, you will receive a pro-rata refund for the Plan's unexpired term. For Plans purchased and enrolled/activated outside the U.S. or Canada, please contact the regional Apple subsidiary for the country of purchase.
Because no known issues means we don't have a user fix, nor a systematic fix in place. Apple may have known there is a problem for the last half year, but that doesn't mean they knew the specific problem or what to do about it yet.
T Money
World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
I work as an Apple Tech in a Mac shop.
We've had many of those iBooks come in. One customer who had bought about 40 of them had 12 of them with the issue - about a 33% repair rate, which is definitely abnormal. We know at that point that there was an issue.
But we've had almost no repeat repairs for this issue. We had maybe one or two which came back for slightly different problems (one was overheating, the other had a keyboard issue) for which we had to replace the logic board but was unrelated to the original issue.
Apple, a few months ago, issued a program to add to those iBooks a small plastic holder around the video chip on the backside of the logic boards. Most boards coming in for replacement already have those, and we've been instructed to install them as a preventative measure on any unit we open and on any new logic board which doesn't have them yet. I suspect (although Apple have not confirmed) that this measure is related to the logic board issue, as most symptoms are related to video. So far all iBooks which have shown the video issue did NOT have this little plastic parts installed.
So I can confidently affirm that repeat failures should not occur if the technician follows the Apple procedures.
If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
as stated here and in an above post. you can return apple care
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Have they actually identified the problem and found a way to stop it from reoccurring? Free service or not, continuing to be plagued by faulty logic boards would suck.
Also, since they're specifying machines made within a certain date, and with a specific serial number, does this mean only those machines were susceptible to logic board failures? I personally haven't had any problems with the iBook I bought in July, and neither has my friend's that was manufactured in March 2003, though his serial number is different than those listed as eligible for repair. How is it that certain machines (like my friend's) manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003 aren't eligible? What exactly is different in how his and mine were manufactured that make them 'safe?' From the looks of his serial number it may be a refurbished machine.
Just curious. Maybe someone with experience disassembling them can shed some slight on this.