My PowerBook problems continue. On the plane this morning, the “V” key on the keyboard randomly popped out.
I was able to reattach it… but then it popped out again, a few minutes ago. I reattached it again… but this is not cool. It’s especially uncool in the wake of last night’s screen “flickers” and this morning’s kernel panic and weird AirPort and sound-card behavior. (See here, scroll down.)
Meanwhile, technology blog Engadget now has a post about the horizontal-line problem. (Hat tip: Dane.) I agree with commenter #32:
A lot of people will say these problems don’t exist, just because, well because they don’t notice these problems. At the risk of generalizaing, it’s typically the same crowd who claim 1) 30 fps is the maximum the human eye can see, 2) 60Hz refresh (on a CRT) looks no different than 120Hz, and 3) any resolution above 1024×768 is just too “small”. In short, they’re simply ignorant about the problem.But it does seem to be real on at least some PBs. I stopped by my campus store this morning and confirmed it on a display model. If you’re perceptive and care about the image quality of your LCD displays, it doesn’t take a magnifying glass and you don’t have to be looking for it to notice it going on.
I also checked out the display models at the Apple Store in Phoenix, and all the 15-inch PowerBooks had the same problem. The 12-inches and 17-inches didn’t.
Anyway, there are now enough problems that, clearly, I am not going to keep this computer. The only question is when I take it back, send it in, whatever. With finals coming up, this is an extremely inconvenient time to not have a laptop. Does anyone know what the relevant deadlines are for out-and-out replacements of defective machines? I have AppleCare, but even so, I’m guessing that if I wait too long, Apple will become less sympathetic to my demand for another new (or perhaps refurbished?) computer.
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Categories: PowerBook Problems
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November 28th, 2005 at 4:37:16 pm
New ibooks just on the horizon, with Intel chips…
The 15 inch has had a number of problems. You can go back to the barrel and try again, but it seems like you are getting to the end of your rope.
As for the keys, yea that happens. Make sure you get the top and bottom attached or it will keep popping off. There is a snap sound when you put it in–just make sure you hear / feel both sides go down.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:38:41 pm
Brendan, this sounds like conspiracy–the V coming off your computer. Hmmm. let’s see what V stands for… victory!!!!
Beat the Bruins!!!!!!!
November 28th, 2005 at 4:39:57 pm
Well, to the best of my knowledge it is at the discretion of the apple tech regardless of how far into the warranty period you are. That said, I have a feeling that the the earlier into ownership issues are reported the more likely they are to use that discretion.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:42:43 pm
Andrew, you got a source and/or a timetable for this Intel chip business? What about PowerBooks with Intel chips?
As for the keys, yea that happens.
I refuse to accept that it should happen with two consecutive brand new computers. The entire time I had my 12-inch PowerBook (almost two years), I had one key come off, and it was my own fault — I was trying to clean underneath it, and I accidentally snapped it off. Now I’ve had, in the course of three days with two brand-new PowerBooks, an “N” key repeatedly get stuck (also the Apple key once or twice), a “squeaky” spacebar, and now a pop-happy “V” key. LAME.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:43:50 pm
P.S. LOL Roger.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:06:36 pm
Dude, get a Dell…
NOT!
I have to say that, if I had to choose between the two, I would much rather have your set of issues than the set I am seeing with my company’s new Dell laptops. Countless hard drives with bad sectors, bad memory modules, faulty docking stations, the list is too long to repeat.
Oh, and the male power connection that is soldered onto my HP laptop’s mobo broke a couple weeks ago.
Who is left to try? Must I spend tons of $ on a Sony? AlienWare? WTF?
November 28th, 2005 at 5:42:28 pm
Despite wishing it was a powerbook (albeit not the latest 15″ Model) I have had a pretty good experience with my work laptop which is a Toshiba. Sony also makes solid laptops but as you said tend to be on the upper range of the price scale. Then again, you get what you pay for…
November 28th, 2005 at 6:02:18 pm
There is never a “real” source, only rumors and inuendo sites.
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0511intelibook.html
Of course Apple sued these guys before…because they were right. Doesn’t mean that is always the case though.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:06:30 pm
As for the keys, 2 does not a conspiracy make. Odd, yes, but not a total meltdown.
Turn it upside and shake it (while turned off) and see what happens. Maybe your fingers are getting swollen from typing? Or the keyboard is bigger and you are striking the keys at a different angle.
It’s certainly odd. Whack on it a bit more and see if you can loosen any others.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:09:42 pm
It’s not two, it’s four. The N, spacebar and Apple key on the previous computer all had problems, and now the V key on this computer. And combined with all the other problems I’ve described, I’m willing to declare it a conspiracy. :)
November 28th, 2005 at 8:23:56 pm
Yea that is pretty bad.
Blame Canada.
November 28th, 2005 at 8:47:13 pm
I find that Very disturbing. Or should I say ery disturbing.