iBook G4 1.2GHz

[xodlike]

Well, back in Summer of 04', particularly, on August 31, my friend convinced me enough into purchasing my first 'real' Mac.

It worked flawlessly, with a format/restore here and there, which I was more than happy with, being a windows user.

However, on the date of 2/16, strange things started to happen. The screen at times went black, sometimes there was distortion on the screen, sometimes it only happnened during boot-up.

By this I mean, there was one gray apple, and one apple made out of hyphens, and at the right of the screen, a ton of vertical lines, of many colors.

Sometimes it would look like the rain you see on TV.

Eventually, the thing stopped booting all together. I took it to the Apple Store a few days after that, and had a Genius by the name of "Terry" look at it. He asked me if this was accidental damage, I said no, because this happened all of a sudden, and I really do not remember dropping it, or spilling anything on it.

After a few checks, he takes it behind the cover, and asks me some info about myself, so he can send it to Apple. I tell all truthfully, and leave. It get's sent to Apple. However, yesterday, I got it back, Via Fed-Ex, pretty sure.

I boot it up, right away. The battery is at full. However, I still see the Gray Hypehnated Apple, and those weird lines. I think..well..that's odd. I look onto the form, looks like my hard drive, and logic board were replaced. This disappointed me some, meaning my school work was gone.

However, I could have dealed, if it was really okay. It was not. I get into software update, update all I can, at once. When it gets about to 98% complete, the thing freezes. Literally, mouse, unmovable, keyboard does nothing.

I power the thing off by holding the power button, however, when I power it back on, it gives me a gray screen, with a Mac looking for a bootable drive. This shocks me some, as strange. So I take off my headphones, and I hear the infamous Hard Drive click of death.

This means this is my second defective hard drive..? since it looks like the first was..

Well, I guess I'll bring it into the Apple Store later today. Somewhat tired now, and its midnight, gonna be up a bit longer. But, as for "Apple Quality", I say, BS. This isn't quality. Or maybe it is just bad luck. Doubtful.

[SojIrOu]

hmm they probably gave you some refurbished ibook.. oh man my ipod mini's battery is dead and i just sent it in.. they said they're giving me a new one.. looks like i'll get some refurbished mini too...

[ahfunaki]

well I don't think apple actually makes the hdd's...

this shouldnt happen, but it does sadly...

I had a dell laptop that went through 3 hdd's...good thing for warrantys is all I have to say...

[ph3412t3h13]

jeez ive never heard of that happening before

but dont let that make u think that apple makes bad quality stuff

maybe u can file a complaint and theyll give u a new ibook

[macman87]

The only advice I can give you is to keep taking the iBook back if it keeps on stuffing up on you. Make Apple give you a proper replacement - not another one that doesn't work. I know someone who had bad luck with an iBook G3 (the logic board stuffed up 4-5 times) and Apple eventually had to give them a Powerbook 12".

[xodlike]

Well, too start.

hmm they probably gave you some refurbished ibook.. oh man my ipod mini's battery is dead and i just sent it in.. they said they're giving me a new one.. looks like i'll get some refurbished mini too...

No, I did not recieve a refurbished iBook G4.

This is mine, I know this for sure, it has my upgraded 128MB of RAM in it, to make 384MB, and the keys on the keyboard, such as "A", "S", and "D", aswell as the arrow keys are rubbed off. (Too much Stepmania :p)

Atleast the thing boots okay from a seperate device (Thank God?), I'll go ahead and buy the cheapest external HDD casing and a 20GB HDD for these kinds of situations I guess.

The only advice I can give you is to keep taking the iBook back if it keeps on stuffing up on you. Make Apple give you a proper replacement - not another one that doesn't work. I know someone who had bad luck with an iBook G3 (the logic board stuffed up 4-5 times) and Apple eventually had to give them a Powerbook 12".

Wow, that must be lucky. @_@. I could so use a Powerbook 15"" :p.

[Vice]

Sounds like you had a Logic Board failure and a Hard Drive failure. Very unlucky!.

If it breaks 3 times they will give you a whole new off the shelf unit (not a refurb ASLONG as you tell them you do not want a refurb no mater what)

[Island Roots]

Sounds like you had a Logic Board failure and a Hard Drive failure. Very unlucky!.

585538460[/snapback]

Yep - I was going to mention the same thing. The weird lines on your screen is a clear sign that you have a logic board failure; I had the same thing happen to my iBook a while ago.

[xodlike]

You know, I'm serious when I say this, and that I don't effing believe it, but, this is the third time it's breaking.

3 Logic Board failures in a row. Wow. @_@

2 Hard Drive Failures

And it looks like they had to replace quite a few cables.

I am now looking at a black iBook G4 screen, with random lines appearing everywhere. Almost brings a tear to my eye. Am I cursed? ><

I'll be going to the apple store tommorow, to demand a new one. I can't get any school work done like this. I'll be sure to demand a brand new one. Do I need to bring all things that came with the iBook, reformat CD's, power cable, etc?

Also, whoa. It just did this odd thing, where it made a white frame around the monitor, and random lines appear in the middle. Wish I had a camera to take a picture of this.

Edit: It booted now, all of a sudden. This isn't good, it freezes at random intervals of time now. Difficult to reproduce. :/

Edited March 5, 2005 by xodlike

[aldo]

This is the logic board issue.

Keep on sending it back. They have to replace it and give a new warranty on the logic board they replaced (at least under UK law, could be different on your locality).

[NeoXY]

soon enough Apple will be "screw this" and give you a new one...just keep sending it back...:laugh:

[xodlike]

Sorry to rebump this, just saying one thing..

Now the logic board failed, and theres a possibility of a hard drive failure aswell, but on top of that, a external apple 128MB RAM chip has failed.

This is the third time for the logic board, third hard drive, and first ram failure. On top of this a FLUX cable or something failed.

What kind of quality is this?

[+StevoFC MVC]

i have no problems with mine at all what so ever.

if i had to guess i would say you are doing something to it, such as slamming it around or not being very careful with it to cause it to break constantly.

[Bling3k12]

Jeez... call up Apple and practically demand a new machine, especially since this is the third hardware fault, at least the third hard disk failure.

iBook quality control seems to be on the downside lately.

Never had any problems with my iBook 700... until I broke it myself :x

[xodlike]

Eh? I practically treat the thing like it'd by me own kid!

Slamming? Hah.

If I had a PB I'd maybe do that, as I expect reliability from one of those things, and with the movement sensors, it'd be all good.

I should do that, eh. But, waste my one call covered on the warranty when I can get turned down? No.

[lilrabbit129]

In my experience with my 12" PB I think the PB's are actually more fragile than the iBooks. The metal casing is thinner and easier to dent. Though I have an older revision without the shock sensor, so I don't know what effect it has.

Definetly get yours replaced.

[Vice]

Shock sensor just puts the head inside the hard drive into a lock position so when you drop your powerbook the head does not scratch the platters causing either loss of data or a broken drive.

Your Powerbook will still get broken to bits but you will be able to swap the hard drive with a new powerbook and keep all your data.

[iconboy]

hey just wondering what kind of warranty you have? applecare or default warranty? do u guys think the applecare is worth it?

[xodlike]

Okay. I have sent this thing in FOUR times. I am sick and tired of this business, with apple.

The thing still boots to a ncie black screen, with the uber white frame of death.

The default warranty is what I have, I don't think applecare would make much difference.

This is seriously starting to get on my nerves. Apple refuses to replace anything until I get 4 failures of the same part. So far, apparently I've had 4 failures from different parts, and I'm just reading the page wrong.

I am a bit glad that apple gave me a extra 128MB of RAM, but this is starting to get ridiculous. I want a useable laptop.

[aldo]

This is absurd.

You need to get onto 'customer relations' and escalate this. If this fails, you need to start looking into legislation regarding product quality.

[Yvo]

Best way to get into Customer Relations is to file a BBB complaint with the office where the headquarters are located at (cupertino, ca). I had TONS of issues with my HP notebook and I kept getting a runaround with customer support until I finally was fedup and sent in a complaint to the BBB. Two weeks later I had someone from Executive Customer Relations calling/emailing me daily to find out if I was satisfied. She offered me a different (refurbished none the less but superior configured laptop for free but it was superior in everyway EXCEPT the SXGA screen, it only came with XGA) laptop, but I opted to get mine fixed for the fourth, but final time. My laptop is coming back Thursday but this time it should be fixed or HP will give me a new laptop to my choosing (as long as it doesn't exceed the amount I originally paid for)

So again... FILE A BBB complaint... it really does help and boy it fixes things quickly. That is probably how someone knew someone on this thread that got a PB for all their troubles. You have to stand your ground and don't be swade easily. Sometimes being a pain is just the right thing to do!

[Rudy]

i say call apple directly

[Yvo]

i say call apple directly

585727933[/snapback]

Unfortunately when companies get big, getting a hold of someone with a little authority becomes a pain. From grocery store service to cell phone customer support. It is a pain. The only way is the BBB and thankfully they have accomadated the 21st century. Online complaining is easier then ever and it really takes less then 10 minutes.

Apple Computer's BBB file:

Customer Experience

Based on BBB files, this company has been responsive to consumer complaints brought to its attention by this Bureau.

The company's size, volume of business, and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.

The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's file was opened on May 01, 1990 or over the last 36 months, whichever is less. Apple Computer has had 402 complaints. 87 were closed as Resolved. 212 were closed as Assumed Resolved. 97 were closed as Administratively Judged Resolved. 6 were closed as Unpursuable. Of these complaints: 35 were concerning Selling Practices. 37 were concerning Advertising Issues. 59 were concerning Service Issues. 11 were concerning Credit or Billing. 26 were concerning Delivery Issues. 29 were concerning Refund Practices. 93 were concerning Product Quality. 53 were concerning Guarantee or Warranty. 53 were concerning Repair Issues.

[Elliott]

I believe the only thing Apple actually manufactures is the casing and the logic board. The rest is from companies like Samsung, LG, Hitachi, Motorola, and IBM. I've never had a problem similar to this. The only thing I've had that's gotten close to this is the dumb Geniuses in my store not figuring out that the logic board in my G5 was bad. They replaced memory, sent it back. Replaced a fan, sent it back. Finally they replaced the logic board and gave it back to me. Everything was fine. Took three weeks, but I don't blame Apple itself. Some of their employees are just bad.

[divinatum]

email [email protected], explain your story. include a phone number & best time to call, youll either get a email, or a call from someone in executive customer relations (or something similar) and explain to them you want a new machine, and they should get you one