Apple Expands (Again) iBook Logic-Board Program

JMZorko writes "Apple has extended the repair program to widen the serial # range yet again for iBooks experiencing the dreaded, dreaded (and did I say dreaded?) video problems. It now includes serial #s up to the UV342 range (which, sadly, mine is in .. here I thought I finally got one that would stay with me for awhile, sigh)."

Comments

grr

[boredMDer]

Three times now, my Dual USB iBook has been in the shop.

Actually it's in right now, the Apple store can ship it out monday, so I should have it by Friday (hopefully, I have them shipping it directly to my house).

Twice now, the LCD (actually backlight) fails to light on start unless there's an external CRT connected...the second time, it was just random freezes and they replaces the logic board.

This time I'm definitely calling up Apple and bitching at them about this...but if it fails again, they'll replace it likely for a 1 GHz G4 iBook...I think that's the lowest end iBook now. Note that mine is a refurb G3 800 (12").

I can understand the initial failure...maybe the second, but come on, three times?

Eh.

Although I still love apple. Don't ask why. Luckily, I got it in February so it's all under the one year warranty.

I know, not informative or insightful but I was bored and I had something relevant to say. Mods, mod away.

Re:grr

[maddvibe]

Mine has had the logic board replace three times already as well. So far about every 6 months it has died. I'm due for another break down in December. :P I'm getting tired of this thing breaking, but I still love it when it works. Last time I brought it in the genius said that if it happens again they'll probably replace it with a new iBook. I would love that, but now that he said that, it'll probably keep running forever. I think I'd prefer it to keep running anyway. I'm just glad that Apple fix my laptop for free even though it is out of warrenty now.

iBook woes

[isd_glory]

Man, I feel lucky that I had my iBook problems well before apple "announced" the issue. My iBook failed for the fourth time around September of last year, and rather than just blindly send it in again, I got on the phone with a customer representative and bitched my way up the phone chain until I got in touch with someone who could help.

After a bit of discussion (namely that I no longer trusted in the worry-free operation of my laptop), I got them to refund the money I paid for my then year-old iBook and use the money to purchase a new PowerBook. Of course I also had to send them a cashier's check for the difference, but I feel that the upgrade was worth it.

Ever since the iBook repair extension was announced, it seems that Apple has changed their stance on this issue. Had my iBook died a few months later, they would have just replaced the logic board again instead of letting me come up with some other options.

Does the problem still exist?

[baywulf]

I'd like to get an Apple notebook but an Powerbook is out of my price range. If I get a recent iBook do the problems still exist or have the manufacturing issues been resolved?

Re:Does the problem still exist?

[HoserHead]

My G3 iBook failed four times (well, the fourth time was a botched repair) before its first year anniversary. I don't know whether that is indicative of a trend, but all the people talking about replacements and repairs indicates to me that your blanket statement "Most ... started faling after about 1 year" should be called into question.

And yes, I did get a replacement G4 iBook which has been running fine since.

Nice to see 'out of warranty' repairs

[amichalo]

It looks like Apple is really going out of its was to honor the quality of the product, even outside the 12 month warranty. I think this is admirable.

But Apple is sort of in a damned if you do/don't situation. They don't have a large market share to begin with and they obviously have a defective product so if they did NOT repair them, it would probably lead to negative publicity (both for not repairing them and having a poor quality product) and they would most likely (in my opinon) lose customers.

My Ti PowerBook (400Mhz G4) was a first gen Ti book and I love the thing but it is starting to show signs of aging (booting the computer always takes a couple trys...odd) but over all, I am very satisfied with the workmanship of this and other Apple products I own. Compared to my Dell, Gateway, and Sony consumer devices, I am happy to spend the premium for Apple's quality and service (when the quality doesn't suffice).

at least it's quick and painless...

[jspivack]

I live in France, and I sent my 700MHz iBook in for logic board replacement when it exhibited the symptoms last month. I called Apple on Monday morning; UPS came by on Tuesday morning; I had the computer back in my hands Thursday afternoon. And the European repair center is in Holland!

I do have a question, though...they reinstalled Panther (10.3.2) and gave me specific Panther CD's (again, 10.3.2) because the new logic board is apparently incompatible with anything lower. Also, the "Details" section of the repair certificate says "Diagnostic, PCBA, MLB, 700Mhz, OASIS, iBook,,A12". I interpret the first two acronyms to be Printed Circuit Board Assembly and Main Logic Board; does the A12 at the end refer to the 12" aluminum G4 PB? Is this motherboard, which only supports 10.3.2 and may be common with a PB mobo, perhaps upgraded or faster than the original? (sounds too good to be true...it probably is) Is there any way I can tell?