finding out how great the Mac OS really is

[AlphaTech]

I had to ship my TiBook to Apple today (AppleCare work) and have to use the peecee for online stuff until it returns. :( Needless to say, after struggling to get my chat engines to work for the past two plus hours I am ready to put out a contract on bill gates. It was a snap to set up under OS X, but windblows 2000 is just plain nasty. I'm not going to even try and get email on this thing.

If only the hard core peecee users could see how much sweeter the Mac OS is, I think they would convert. As many seem to have lately.

I am now praying that my TiBook is fixed and returned to me before the weekend... Apple will have it on Wednesday, maybe they can fix it on Thursday and then ship it back out for Friday delivery. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[MacAztec]

That sucks man. Apple is usually pretty quick on fixing their stuff. BTW, what happened to your TiBook?

[AlphaTech]

I was having screen flicker in the bottom left hand side of the display. It has been happing for some time now, and I finally had enough over the weekend. It is one of three parts.. either the power inverted, screen itself, or the logic board. I am kind of hoping for the logic board and that they don't have any of the 500MHz rev. a's in stock and that they give me an 'upgrade' to the 667 :D. THAT would be sweeeeeeet!!!! Not counting on that, but I am counting on the problem being fixed before it returns to me. There is also a brightness shift/loss on the left third or so. If you have a page with a white background it really shows up.

Since I do have the AppleCare protection on it, and had called the issue in a while ago, I decided to get it taken care of. This Saturday I get the Harley, and I am hoping to be riding most of the day as well as using it on Sunday. I will still miss having the TiBook, even for the few days it is gone.

I did configure most online things on the game peecee, but it is about 20x easier on the Mac. I didn't have to d*ck around with the Mac to get AIM, Yahoo or ICQ to go online where I did have to fight with the peecee to get those to work properly. I have also lost some of the bud's on the messengers, at least until I get my lovely TiBook back...

I got the extra warranty on that, but not on the truck :D ... shows which I value more at this point. Besides, the truck comes with a three year coverage. I will be getting an extended warranty on the motorcycle though, since it has a one year from the factory.

Here's hoping for dry weather for this weekend, and nice days for next week too.

[eyelikeart]

like I've said...I haven't had any of the problems that plagued TiBook users since I got my Rev. A....

and I know I need to get my AppleCare in soon... ;)

[jefhatfield]

hey alphatech,

what kind of bike? model, engine, etc...

i know this is off topic:)

[AlphaTech]

2002 Harley Davidson Softail Standard (carb. model, not EFI). 88ci engine, with some modifications. Such as Vance and Hines big shots pipes, screamin eagle air filter, getting the carb's jetted for those two items. Also getting a pair of HD saddlebages (leather of course), a windshield and the wide rear tire kit (puts a 150 tire on it instead of the stock 130).

I am really looking forward to finally picking up the bike. Pretty much all the dealerships are sold out of that model, along with a few others. All the way through next year too (for HD's 100th year models). Very glad that I put money down to secure my order when I did a few months back. If I hadn't, then I might not be getting it for months and months, if not longer.

[MacAztec]

My dad used to own a Harley, but he had to sell it. It was a 199...6 dyna-lowrider. It had about 1000 miles on it, and leather saddlebags, big golde and silver eagle air filter, and lots of extras. He spend like 18k on it, but sold it for a little more I believe.

I only got to ride on it about....5 times in my whole life, and it was sooo damn fun. Hey Alpha, if you ever...ya know...are in the area, come pick me up!;)

[AlphaTech]

IF I ever make it anywhere near CA I might look ya up... that, of course, will be right after HFO :) . One of the great things about Harley's is that you can often sell them for more then you pay for them, and have put into them. When I get mine, I could probably turn around and sell it for more then I am paying along with all the parts. The only problem is that I would then be without a ride.

I sold my old ride in order to put some money down. Also sold my G4 tower to use to put some more money down. Both were worthy sacrifices to the great God Harley Davidson :D

It's going to be a good year for me... now if only Apple releases either a chrome PowerBook, or the G5 tower...

[MacAztec]

Wait...*drooling*
sorry, thought of a chromed powerbook.
Napkins anyone?

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by MacAztec
Wait...*drooling*
sorry, thought of a chromed powerbook.
Napkins anyone?

ROTFLMAO!!!!! I would buy one in about two heartbeats... it would take two, since it would stop for a few before that... :D

Better grab a mop... :D

[cb911]

i'm a PC user, but i should be getting a TiBook in a few months. i'm using Windows XP at the moment, and i'd say that it has to be the best Windows ever, but it's all i've ever used. once i have the TiBook i'll be able to post my thoughts as a PC user only just using a Mac. most PC users have never been near a Mac, i'm going to be one of the lucky ones!

[iGav]

I had exactly the same screen problems as Alphatech, exactly the same!!!

I got my Rev A Ti Book 500 last March, in this time, the hardrive completely destroyed itself (it was an IBM one) this took 2 weeks to fix, and then my screen started to play up, weird flashing of the back light towards the bottom left of the screen that made the screen flicker, and then I had so many dead and stuck pixels start cropping up, I called Apple Uk, it took them 8 working days to pick it up, (they said they had a system fault....) this was Mid-November 2001, I didn't get it back till the second week of Jan 2002..... I was so p****d..... I had to keep ringing Apple, and was told they had the parts in, then I was told they didn't have the parts in, lies, damn lies..... :mad:

in the end I got UK trading Standards involved as Apple were displaying a complete lack of Trading Standards, then suprise suprise I get my Powerbook back with a new screen......

It took them 8 weeks from the initial call to them getting it back to me....... There was apparantly a shortage of screens...... but they were completely unhelpful, were not prepared to lend me a machine, even though they screwed up and it took an extra 8 days to even pick the thing up...... (normally I wouldn't expect them to loan a machine out, but they screwed up) I was most annoyed though that they kept lying to me with regards to its repair status..... I hope Aphatech you don't suffer the same service......

I was so hacked off!!! although.... I'll still love em.....:D

[iGav]

The replacement screen they put on my Ti Book has 2 dead pixels and 1 stuck one:rolleyes:

Don they check these things!!:rolleyes:

At least the flashing is gone though!!!!:D

[AlphaTech]

iGAV, Apple has a policy in place related to number of dead pixels on a screen that are acceptable. One or two are well below that number. Do, or did, you have the AppleCare protection policy on the TiBook?? I think that Apple might favor those people first when it comes to repairs, since they invested extra money for an extended warranty along with on-site service (if possible). I have the protection, since I fully intend to keep the TiBook for another two years before replacing it.

I have sent in different generations of PowerBooks to Apple over the past two years plus, and we typically see them back in less time then we are told. Either way, I was told 5-7 days, not business days (got that confirmed) real days from when they receive the laptop until it is back in my greedy hands. I am hoping that it takes less time, since I am going through OS withdrawal at the moment... My medications of choice are either good coffee or Guinness :D.

I am secretly praying to the Apple Gods that they also replace the logic board, and are out of the rev a 500's and need to put in a rev b 667 :D. I can dream since I don't have much chance of that happening. As long as the screen stops acting up with the flickering and brightness shift when looking directly at it I will be satisfied. I will be truely happy, bordering on estatic, if they give me a logic board upgrade. Granted, one of my memory chips won't work (PC100 512MB chip), but I can probably exchange that for a PC133 from the vendor I got them both from.

If it's not back before the weekend, I hope to be able to get some motorcycle therapy in to help me get through it. I am also praying to the greater God Harley Davidson for that to happen too. :D

[MacAztec]

Originally posted by AlphaTech

I am secretly praying to the Apple Gods that they also replace the logic board, and are out of the rev a 500's and need to put in a rev b 667 :D. I can dream since I don't have much chance of that happening. As long as the screen stops acting up with the flickering and brightness shift when looking directly at it I will be satisfied. I will be truely happy, bordering on estatic, if they give me a logic board upgrade. Granted, one of my memory chips won't work (PC100 512MB chip), but I can probably exchange that for a PC133 from the vendor I got them both from.

Dont count on it. We sent in a Powerbook G3 500 like...last year and they had discontinued them by about 8 months already. But...still...they sent it back very new, but there were some good things.

There was a problem with the computer, so we sent it in (data problem). We got it back about a week later, and it had a new motherboard, in there. We got back, and it still it had a data failure. So we sent it back, and they gave us a whole new computer, but left the RAM in there.

Turns out, when we got it back, we took out that RAM, and it was faulty.

[sparkleytone]

everyday i see a new reason i finally took the Mac plunge. OS X is simply a dream. I have a NOTEBOOK (iBook) going constantly in and out of sleep all day everyday. The screenie says it all.

[iGav]

Hi AlphaTech,

When I was still on my first screen, it came with 2 dead and stuck pixels, when I spoke to Apple UK, they said they'd need to be atleast 3 damaged pixels for them to consider replacement and that depended on where they were positioned!! :rolleyes: I just laugh at the fact that the screen that they replaced the old one with, is already on the borderline!!! :D

After 3 months that's when my screen really degraded, I conservatively estimate that when my screen started to really screw up, there was upwards of 50 either stuck or damaged pixels clustered in the centre of my screen, and the backlight was flickering away in the bottom left of my screen, when the machine went into repair in November it was only 8 months old.... still under the 12 month Apple Warranty, however because of Apple taking their time to fix it, I lost almost 2 months of usable warranty because they'd had it for so long!!! At the time I didn't have Applecare as my machine was still within their 12 month warranty....... I'd be thoroughly hacked off if they were favouring Applecare repairs over standard 12 month warranties....... although I do doubt that as I was told it was on priority status because of their earlier screw up....... Priorty = 8 weeks in the end!!! :rolleyes:

When my machine went dead with a downed hard drive in the summer, (3 months old) Apple's service was pretty good, so I know they can do it, however when it went in with screen problem, they should have put me in the picture with regards to replacing the screen and the length of time it may take to repair, not tell me that things that weren't true!!! and on this occasion the service was sub-standard and totally shocking!! 8 weeks is far too long to replace a screen, I know 15.2" widescreen TFT's don't grow on trees and all, but if they knew they'd be problems with fitting a replacement screen they should have replaced the Ti Book, simple as that!!

I do however now have Applecare and insurance against loss of earnings because of a downed machine.......

I know this isn't usual service from Apple, and I still adore their products.... it was just unfortunate that I had to experience it!!

Oh well.........:rolleyes:

[mcrain]

Hey Alphatech,

I think we've had this conversation before, but I'm hoping for some warmer dry weather this weekend also. You are absolutely right about being able to sell your bike for more than you've put into it. I bought my fairly stock 84 lowrider about 3 years ago, and just last fall (right before it got cold) got it out of the shop. I put into it about what I paid for the bike, but could sell it tomorrow and still profit.

I really liked the bike when I first got it because it didn't look like all the new harleys everyone was riding around. But, it did look a lot like them, thus, I dove headfirst into working on it. Just like computer people like adding ram, changing drives, etc... I went completely nuts with my bike.

When you've replaced enough on the bike that you can build a new bike from all the pieces in the garage with the addition of just a new engine and frame, you know you've got "your" bike, not a showroom bike. I'd need new tires too I guess..., but you get my point.

Now you've got me seriously itching for this rain to stop and the weather to warm up just a little more.

Enjoy your new bike, wear a helmet, and drive safe.

[AlphaTech]

Well, my TiBook returned to me this morning... oh happy dayz. From the included sheet of paper from Apple, they replaced the motherboard as well as my keyboard (was starting to wear in places from using it so much :D ). Needless to say, a one day turnaround is great in anyone's book. I shipped it out on Tuesday, they had it Wednesday and then shipped it back so that I had it this morning. Talk about excellent service. It also might have helped that I did a lot of the trouble shooting for them, but then again, being a tech, I had to :D.

Now, all I need to do is make sure the flicker doesn't return to me with the two or so years that the Applecare covers :D.

I was in serious need of this last night, since I was dealing with the peecee again. That is ok for games, but for everything else, only a Mac will do for me.

[iGav]

Did they fix you a new screen aswell?

3 day turn around is outstanding...... now get on that mac boy!!:D

[AlphaTech]

Same screen that was on it before... I didn't have any dead or malfunctioning pixels before. I guess the flaw was with the logic board somewhere (probably the video card on it). I am on it right now, and man did I miss it. Now the peecee can stay silent until I feel a need to game later. That is, unless I decide to use one of my OS X native games :D.

I didn't expect it back this fast (less then one day turnaround since it got to them yesterday, and I have it today) so I didn't bring my laptop bag in today. I have one here that I can borrow to bring it home safely and then use my other one next time. I am seriously thinking about getting one of the zero hard cases for it now. That way, I KNOW it is protected from just about anything that could come it's way.

[iGav]

A guy I know has a metal hardcase for his Ti Book, it's outrageously cool!! set him back around £100...... as you say though seriously worth it!!!

I recall Apple mentioning something about the logic board on my mac when my screen started flickering...... I had so many dead cluster pixels though that it looked like Elma Fudd had put a shot gun to the screen and pulled the trigger!!!:D

As for games..... I like using my Ti Book one of the most powerful laptops ever for playing Outrun..... it runs so smoothly!!!:D

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Well, my TiBook returned to me this morning... oh happy dayz. From the included sheet of paper from Apple, they replaced the motherboard as well as my keyboard.


So I have to know, with the motherboard replaced, is it still running at 500MHz?

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


So I have to know, with the motherboard replaced, is it still running at 500MHz?

Yeah, it's still a 500MHz version (rev. a). I guess they have enough in stock to cover for a while now. At least everything works properly, at least so far. They didn't have to replace the keyboard on the TiBook, since it was still fully functional, just showing signs of usage. You know, some keys get shined up faster then others since you use them more. Plus the space bar was showing where I hit it :D. Maybe in another year or so, if I need additional service done, they will slide in a rev. b board :D. I won't hold my breathe, since I don't expect to have the issue return.

I am just so very happy to have it back so that I can keep the peecee silent until I need to vent with some good old fashioned fun. The kind that leaves blood splatters all over the arena and such :D.

[jefhatfield]

getting a rev b motherboard is very possible since the cost of keeping old stuff around is prohibitive...you need building space to house all the stuff and every square inch costs time and money...that is one reason why apple care is not $99.00 dollars for three years

now if computers never changed, then an extended warranty would be cheaper but then again, you would never have the chance to get a rev.b motherboard

i have heard of people getting "better" stuff in their extended warranties and if and when something does break down, that shows the positive aspect of an extended warranty

i got an extended warranty for a heavy duty muffler then i heard a review saying don't get an extended warranty for a muffler of that type since they are built to last longer than the car i was repairing

for computers, if you plan to keep it longer than one year like me, an extended warranty is good, but for many computer addicts in the silicon valley, having a machine 12 months is unheard of since many buy machines every time they leave the house and there is this place called fry's superstores which are the size of small cities which cater to the addicts who can afford the new toys...i just go there and drool a lot:p

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Maybe in another year or so, if I need additional service done, they will slide in a rev. b board

I just got my 667 TiPB last Nov., no dead or stuck pixels. I hope it holds up.

But I would expect you to have to return it agian in only a year, that seems a little much, don't you think.

Or do you really work the machine so hard that it will need a tuneup in a year.

[AlphaTech]

Just wondering if anyone else with a TiBook has a brightness loss on the left and right sides of the screen. It is really noticable when you are viewing a page with a white background.

As for a yearly tune-up, this is the only machine of mine that I have had to shop to Apple for work. We have had to ship others in before, but those are from work. Since I sold my G4 tower, the TiBook has become my primary system. With the GB of RAM, and 60GB hard drive it is up to the task. I am rather critical of my hardware, since I expect it to work flawlessly (main reason to have a Mac). If it doesn't, then I get on the phone to find out why, and what can be done about it. I am about to call Apple about the brightness shift to see what they have to say about it. I am not doing any color correction work, so it is not a function critical issue, but I do like things to be the same all the way across the screen. As I said, I am very critical/picky about my hardware :D.

[AlphaTech]

Well, it looks like my powerbook has to go back to the shop again. After being on for a few hours, the flicker has returned. I also have the brightness shift that wasn't addressed. Apple is shipping out another box, and I will be sending it out on Monday. I at least can use it for the weekend and catch up on email and such. One thing that can be said for Apple's support people, they are very understanding and do not talk down to you (at least in my experience).

I asked if the brightness shift was considered 'normal' and was informed that if you can notice it, then it is not normal. I tried it with the lights on and off and even had another person look at it. He also noticed the shift, and the return of the flicker.

I guess I will have to resort to using the peecee again next week while Apple has my baby :(. At least it will be in good hands. Additional information was added to the ticket this time, as well as a statement about this being a loop-back (giving higher priority??). I just hope that it comes back fixed and that I don't need to do this again. I don't care if it comes back with the same version/speed motherboard (as opposed to a faster one) at this point. Just so long as it comes back all better.

[Mr. Anderson]

ouch, sorry to hear that. maybe they'll give you that rev. b now:D

[AlphaTech]

I would love it if they did, but it is very, very, very unlikely... :( I wish that they would, but all they are required to do is replace like for like, unless they find something seriously wrong. It might have a better chance, since this is the second time it will be in for the same issue, but I still doubt that they will do that.

Stranger things have been known to happen though. I will keep my fingers crossed :D

[iGav]

Hey I hope they do replace it with a Rev b one, as a goodwill gesture!! Wishful thinking but as you say, stranger things have happened........

When my screen started to flicker, it'd either do it only from cold, or after it'd been running for hours and had warmed up!! Very weird problem, the weirder thing is that it seemed to only affect the lower left hand part of the screen, and not the whole screen!!! Mulder???

Here's to a speedy repair or a yummy replacement!!;)

[AlphaTech]

iGAV,

I'll drink to that.

The new shipping box arrived this morning, but since they wouldn't get it until Monday, that is when I will send it back out. I need to have it over the weekend since I was without it for those two whole days. Nahhhhh, I'm not a MacAddict... well, maybe I am. At least I am happy to be.

[iGav]

Sometimes things get inconviently in the way of seriously important matters like getting u'r mac repaired!!:D (I had Christmas and New Year)

Don't forget to let us know when you get it back though.... especially if Apple do slip something special under the hood!!!;)

Actually, if Apple do Hot Rod it and (I don't mean with flames on the front), I think everyone with a Rev a. Ti Book will be checking for the slightest problem in the hope of getting a 667 Mhz slipped under the hood!!!

I'm checking my screen as I speak in anticipation of more disgustingly filthy amounts of Apple Horsepower!!!:p

Heh heh:p

[AlphaTech]

But of course I will keep everyone posted. Once the Applecare plan runs out, I might pull a Tim Allen and rewire it.... Uberclock it to some silly number and see how long it runs before crapping out. Then again, with all that I have invested in it, I won't go that far. I would be happy if they could slap the current video card into it.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by iGAV
Sometimes things get inconviently in the way of seriously important matters like getting u'r mac repaired!!:D (I had Christmas and New Year)

Don't forget to let us know when you get it back though.... especially if Apple do slip something special under the hood!!!;)

Actually, if Apple do Hot Rod it and (I don't mean with flames on the front), I think everyone with a Rev a. Ti Book will be checking for the slightest problem in the hope of getting a 667 Mhz slipped under the hood!!!

I'm checking my screen as I speak in anticipation of more disgustingly filthy amounts of Apple Horsepower!!!:p

Heh heh:p

those apple techies need those holidays off so they can work on their own machines

many techies work computers all day simply to come home and work on their own projects...while living the IT life 24/7 is good for students and kids, it does not work for a married adult:D

neither does buying a new mac every time there is a new model:p

[Mal]

AlphaTech:
A loop-back is extremely high-priority and I would not be surpised if they send you a new TiBook. It won't be an upgrade however. There are still Rev A's in Apple's warehouses.

[Mr. Anderson]

Not that it couldn't happen, but assuming he has data on his harddrive, prefs, docs, apps, etc., it would be a pain if they sent him a new one with a new drive. Now if it was a rev. b, well that might be ok, so long as everything is backed up.

Is it all backed up Alpha Tech?

Let us know what happens...

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Just wondering if anyone else with a TiBook has a brightness loss on the left and right sides of the screen. It is really noticable when you are viewing a page with a white background.

As for a yearly tune-up, this is the only machine of mine that I have had to shop to Apple for work. We have had to ship others in before, but those are from work. Since I sold my G4 tower, the TiBook has become my primary system. With the GB of RAM, and 60GB hard drive it is up to the task. I am rather critical of my hardware, since I expect it to work flawlessly (main reason to have a Mac). If it doesn't, then I get on the phone to find out why, and what can be done about it. I am about to call Apple about the brightness shift to see what they have to say about it. I am not doing any color correction work, so it is not a function critical issue, but I do like things to be the same all the way across the screen. As I said, I am very critical/picky about my hardware :D.

in some pc magazine somewhere, they liked the tibook but complained that the screen was uneven and not uniformly bright like an active matrix screen should be...i think they shaved off a half a star or star for that one

the tibook was still their favorite

i have noticed the 12.1 inch ibook's screen does look more "even" than the tibook

[iGav]

I don't get a uniform brightness on my screen either, not really that bad...... nor overtly distracting.....

I also have quite washed out contrast on my default screen settings, so it's taken a while to calibrate the screen to get it spot on for colour correction work..... its pretty accurate now though!!!;)

Actually Alpha tech, when you run out of Apple Care, send it to these guys to chrome it!!

http://www.hytekfinishes.com/process.html

Chrome..... all shiney!!:D

[AlphaTech]

Well, the TiBook ships back out tomorrow, so I will be resorting to using the peecee again :( . I might try and bring home a loaner laptop from work (we have an iBook that gets very little use). I won't bother to set up email on it, but at least I can set up for chatting and go online with the better interface that is Mac.

At least I have my Harley in the driveway now :D. As long as it doesn't rain, I will be riding it. I need to go through the break in routine as soon as possible, so that I can get that first service out of the way before mid-June.

I just hope that this is the last time I need to send my TiBook in to get repaired. With all the other things I have now, I won't be able to get a new computer until sometime next year, at the earliest. Oh well, at least I have the TiBook to use until I can get a new tower, or a newer PowerBook (chrome???).

[iGav]

What happens to a Harley if it gets wet???? do they shrink??:p

Are they really difficult to ride in the rain?? Or do you just want to keep it in pristine condition?? (don't blame you for doing that, they're pretty fantastic machines!!)

I'm not a bike man myself, tried it once and got all the pedals and levers the wrong way round....... like nobody told me that the left hand lever doesn't operate the brake......:p Splat I went......:D

Chromed Ti Book though.... does sound nice doesn't it......:D

[AlphaTech]

Not much would happen to the Harley, but I don't feel like getting soaked. I rode through the rain in Florida, and decided that I wouldn't do that again. Getting soaked to the skin a few times was enough for me. Besides the fact that the gloves take a day or so to dry out, and the boots take longer.

I have been riding for over 6 years now, and never got the controls messed up. Who's bike did you ride, and why didn't they tell you what does what?? The salesman I was dealing with gave me the run down on the Harley before I left the dealership, making sure I knew where everything was located. They even have a fuel gage (not just a warning light). The only thing that I wish they had was a tach. but I might add that later on.

[iGav]

And they're evil!!!:D

I used to be a bit of a mountain biker in my youth, most of friends used to have either horses or Moto x bikes!!! (I used to live in the country!!):p

One day I met up with them in this field, and they asked if I'd like ago!! Always up for abit of a challenge I did...... they didn't mention anything about where the clutch and brakes were, so I tootle off (I know where the throttle is, I used to watch Streethawk!!) then built up a nice Wayne Rainey style pace, and went to hit what would be the back brake on a Moutain Bike, turned out to be the clutch on the crosser!!! Not funny at all!! then I completely forgot and messed up the controls and Bamm!! went straight into a ditch at about 40Mph!!!:p

My so called friends just laughed their nuts off, came and dusted me down, before explaining alittle about what does what!! Serves me right, I shouldn't have presumed it was as easy as it looked!!:rolleyes:

Never been on one sice!!! I fear them........:p

[jefhatfield]

i realized the ease of macs and their os updates when i had to put windows 2000 on my old pc laptop from '98

i couldn't get the modem to work and it was a motherboard/flash memory/modem thing with no firmware or software fix

it was compaq's way of wanting me to buy a new 2001 or 2002 era compaq laptop on the windows 2000 hardware compatibility list (called the hcl in windows-speak)

what a crock!

at least i can run os x, slowly on my old '99 era rev a ibook, and i don't have to worry about an hcl or firmware/software update which is non-existent

with apple you can move forward at a leisurely pace, but windows only lets you "fully" use their latest operating systems on the latest pc gear and that is a racket

so any criticisms i may have had about running os x on a g3 powered machine are small compared to the windows/pc world of having to get a machine every year to year and a half (by necessity)

[AlphaTech]

excellent points jef... I had a bear of a time updating an older stinkpad to run win2k not too long ago. Turns out that IBM at least released bios updates that fixed issues and would allow me to install win2k onto the laptop. As bas as windblows is, at least the 2000 version is gobs better then the 98 perversion.

I just called Airborne to have them pick up my lovely TiBook :(. I just hope that it comes back fixed this time. It's going to be a rough few days until it returns to me. I just hope that this is the last time, and that it is just as speedy a return as the first run thoguh. It was bad enough being without it for two nights, I don't know how I would handle longer. Just relizing how addicted to the Mac OS I have become. How many people can say the same about windblows????

[iGav]

You need to seek solice in your hour(s) of need whilst your Ti Book is far away......

May I suggest contacting your good friend Mr Jack Daniels, he's always there in times of need!!!!:p and can help ease you through this dark, dark period in your life!!!

I think they'll just bolt on a new screen onto your Ti Book..... or as I said, if the part isn't readily available, I think they'll replace your machine!!!:D

What jefhatfield said about ease of upgrading a PC, is so spot on!!;)

[AlphaTech]

Not into mr. JD... I do have a few Guinness and Caffrey's to take me through these dark hours. I might give Mr. Evan Williams a ring later on though.

I will be calling Apple later today to see if I can get a status, what they are doing/did to it, and when will I see my child again...

Mac's are better then children in many ways. Among them, they never talk back to you, don't total your car, if you want to sell them in every few years you can and no one thinks any less of you :D. Then you get a new one and people ooooh and ahhhhh over them :D

[iGav]

Yum indeed.......

although my favourite tipple is Strongbow....... oh pure liquid heaven!!:p

I agree about your coment on children... personally can't stand the things..... Evil all of them!!!:p

Hope Apple have some good news for you buddy..... hopefully along these lines of "Mr AlphaTech this is Steve Jobs here, sorry for the inconvience caused by a fault..... we do apologise.... please except this 667Mhz with Gig of RAM and 60Gb hardrive!! Sorry again!!!":p

If that does happen...... I'll also tell you next weeks lottery numbers aswell!!!

Mystic iGAV!!!!!:D

[AlphaTech]

iGAV,

I already have the gig of RAM in my TiBook, along with the 60GB drive... I would be happy as a pig in ***** if they sent back a 667 unit with the one chip in my 500 that will work on it (PC133 chip) along with one from Apple to bring me back up to the GB level. Slap my hard drive inside of the new system, or ship it seperate, don't care either way since I can put mine back in no problem.

As long as I still have the protection on it, I will be good. After this fix attempt, if it has to go back in again, it might qualify under the lemon law. I hope that I don't have to do this again. It is such a pain to be on the peecee at home for anything except games.

[quanta]

i've heard of fiascoes such as yours in the PeeCee World, in fact i had a two month wrestling match with a Packard Bell which left me with that bitter, bitter taste in my mouth. That was right before i got my 9600/300.

i'm looking forward to getting a TiBook for myself, but all this talk about monitor and pixel problems makes me nervous. Especially if they are going to come out with new technology for it, what if it's faulty and then instead of having a reliable workhorse i end up with a hassle and a distraction.

This would not be good come crunch time at the end of the semester here at RMCAD (where i study graphic design).

Please tell me that the TiBook would be a good buy. i'd be getting the top board (whatever that will be at purchase) with 1GB and a small HD.

Thanks! :p

[AlphaTech]

quanta,

Go for the fastest one, and get the biggest drive you can (don't skimp there, you WILL regret it later). Of the thousands and thousands of TiBooks that have shipped, I haven't heard of too many issues. Apple is very good about fixing them as well. DO get the AppleCare protection for your TiBook, it is well worth the money. Consider it this way, the BASE repair on an out of warranty TiBook is over $300 with logic boards costing about $800 and screens running over $1000. One repair pays for the protection. It also gives you that level of protection for a total of 3 years (two on top of the original one). You also get better service on the product (you are considered a priority since you spent the extra $$ to get the plan). The first run through, was a single day turnaround. I am hoping for the same this time, and with whatever needs to be replaced done to fix it right.

Apple also has very good phone support people that can call on higher level of tech's to make sure the issue warrants bringing the computer back to Apple. If a software fix is available, they point you there. I have only good experience with Apple's phone people.

[iGav]

how I'd love a GB RAM and a 60 hardrive in my puppy!!! truely outrageous!!!

I really hope they suprise you with something cool!!! We'll have to wait and see!!! And I'm not the most patient of people either!!:p

quanta the Ti Book is truely superb, on another post I've praised everything about it..... I think only the Rev A have had problems, first generation machines normally have iggly problems...... especially when they're as radical as the Ti Book....

I use mine religiously as does Alpha Tech by the sounds of it, infact most people who own one have probably never had problems with theirs at all!! these things just happen, and the experience hasn't put me off buying Apple, (just Rev A ones thats all!!!:D

I use mine for freelance design, DV and post work, also for lecturing work (teach all the previous!!) and plan on using it when I venture back into fulltime consultancy work in about a months time!!! And the machine has been a revelation!! And stood up very well to day to day pressure cooker that is New Media Land!!!

I'd say..... go buy one now!!! You won't regret it, and the latest ones are almost certainly more reliable than any PC laptop equivilent!!!

In short I love the Ti Book!!!:D And I think that all the other Ti Book owners would agree with me!!!

[AlphaTech]

I just checked online and my TiBook is in repair. I intend to keep checking all night and hope that it will be shipping back to me for tomorrow.

As of tonight (just before 10pm), it has been picked up by Airborne so I should see it tomorrow morning. Gotta love how fast they turn them around. Now to see what they did to it when it arrives at work in the morning.

[jefhatfield]

hey lets hope this time you get a 667 motherboard since all high tech companies cannot hold on to old gear a long time...each square inch in silicon valley, taiwan, or hong kong costs a company an excruciating amount of money each year and it does not bid well to use up a lot of space for old gear

when my rev a ibook power adapter gave out after a year, apple no longer had any left and sold the contract to vst who makes them and supplies old ibook users

the good thing is that this adapter is so much sturdier than the apple made unit and i was pleasantly suprised when i got my vst made ibook adapter for my old rev a ibook...so unexpectedly cool things happen since companies can't afford to keep too much backstock these days

in a kind of related note, i had a really cool ibanez electric guitar i had to return to the company for repair, and they sent me a brand new model with better specs on it (that was twenty years ago so even then, companies had problems keeping old stuff around

good luck

[iGav]

Apple US is on some serious ******.... how quick turn around do you get!! That's blinding!!!

I keep my fingers crossed for excited tales of hot rod motherboards and graphics cards.... in the morning!!

Fingers crossed buddy!!!:)

[AlphaTech]

I have it back already (was here by about 9:30 am). They replaced the power inverter as well as the screen (Display Clamshell Samsung). It looks better, but I have only been running for less then two hours now. The real test will see how well it holds up over the next week or so. If this fix is the final one, or if I need to call them again for additional.

I was happy to see it return, and the screen is new (I had made a boo boo last year which put a small ding in the screen). Maybe there was a bad batch of screens early in the TiBook's life (which would explain things), and the new one will not give me grief.

I am already feeling much better, since I won't need to power up the peecee at home until I want to play a game now. I can now get my daily OS X fix, and chat so much easier with people I know. :D

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
quanta,

Go for the fastest one, and get the biggest drive you can (don't skimp there, you WILL regret it later). Of the thousands and thousands of TiBooks that have shipped, I haven't heard of too many issues. Apple is very good about fixing them as well. DO get the AppleCare protection for your TiBook, it is well worth the money. Consider it this way, the BASE repair on an out of warranty TiBook is over $300 with logic boards costing about $800 and screens running over $1000. One repair pays for the protection. It also gives you that level of protection for a total of 3 years (two on top of the original one). You also get better service on the product (you are considered a priority since you spent the extra $$ to get the plan). The first run through, was a single day turnaround. I am hoping for the same this time, and with whatever needs to be replaced done to fix it right.

Apple also has very good phone support people that can call on higher level of tech's to make sure the issue warrants bringing the computer back to Apple. If a software fix is available, they point you there. I have only good experience with Apple's phone people.

that is so true...get the extra extended warranty

there are only two groups of users i know who don't need the warranties for over one year

1) high end mac gamers like the local gaming club where the users buy a new mac every six months or more and resell the old gear (which is not old at all) so they can buy a new mac only to sell it again and get a new one once steve jobs dons his jeans and black turtleneck

i know this one user who got a rev a graphite ibook, sold it and got a key lime ibook, sold that and got a ruby imac with all the bells and whistles and i wouldn't be suprised if they got rid of that and got a powermac...these people are into animation and they are not happy with the field yet and these animation types still see all the errors in a movie like final fantasy...hey, i still think aki ross was a babe and she looked real enough for me ;-) woo-hoo

2) high end graphics labs that redo macs more often than anybody...one minute they get g4s and months later, they are on quicksilvers, and some say they will get quicksilver duals soon

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
I have it back already (was here by about 9:30 am). They replaced the power inverter as well as the screen (Display Clamshell Samsung).

Whoa, that is fast service, I'm impressed. How's the new screen? Any bad pixels?

Glad your back up and running.

[iGav]

Fast..... thats an understatement!!!!

Glad to hear it's back..... Any prototype parts from the next generation Ti Books fitted then!!!???:D

Glad you're back in the realm of the OSX, the last thing you would have wanted would be to get used to Windows........ That'd be like crossing the streams!! This would be bad, very bad!! As Egon would say!!:D

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


Whoa, that is fast service, I'm impressed. How's the new screen? Any bad pixels?

Glad your back up and running.

No dead pixels, and I am still evaluating the new screen. I will post more info tonight when I get home and have a chance to look at it under better lighting conditions. The lighting in my office is rather bright, and the screen always looks nicer when I am at home. I don't have as much light there, and it is almost all indirect (not beaming off my skull).

Gotta give props to Apple for the fast turn around.

[AlphaTech]

As of right now, the screen flicker has not returned, and the brightness is pretty much even all across the screen. It looks like their last repair took care of the issues.

I am very glad to have it back. Considering that they have replaced the logic board, power inverter, keyboard and screen, there is not much left of the original computer. Now I just hope that I don't need to send it out again, and be without it for the three days or so that it takes. Well, two really, considering how I shipped it out Monday afternoon, and it came back first thing this morning. :D

[quanta]

Thanks to all of you for your information... i do have some other questions though.

As a student i'm going to have to take a loan for all of the equipment which i want (which includes replacing my serial and scsi externals as well as a digital camera) so i have to limit my budget somewhat and i came up with a package at around 4500 dollars which included everything i wanted. i put a small HD in the TiBook and put the equivalent amount into a 120G external firewire for back up and storage. Do you all have any recomendations or warnings about firewire drives? i've heard bad things about some of the IBM drives but don't remember which ones.

Also i didn't include Applecare in my budget, so i guess that i'll have to review that too.

And if anyone knows where i can sell/trade my old system, that would be helpful as well.

9600/300, 4gig 128 RAM (12 RAM slots, 6 PCI)
Microtek SCSI 32bit scanner
Epson Photo Stylus (six color)
17" PT series Viewsonic aperture grille
Kensington Turbomouse Trackball

BTW it's good to know that you got your TiB back in pristine condition. i know what it's like to go through those kind of hassles, and i've got my fingers crossed on your behalf that this will mark the end of your ordeal.

q.

[AlphaTech]

quanta, here's the advise that I can give.

Don't skimp on the internal drive. Do the opposit and get as much as you can handle. The internal drive is used for many things, a scratch disk is one of them (used by applications such as Illustrator and Photoshop along with others).

Get the standard amount of memory and then boost it right away by adding at least another 256-512MB. RAM is one of the things that a computer can never have too much of.

As for FireWire drives, I have one from VST that has done well by me. Granted it is only 30GB, but it is the slim one which gets everything from the FireWire bus (data and power). I also put one of my spare 40GB drives into a firewire enclosure, and have had good results there. I would say, get the extra space as you need.

Instead of spending the money on the firewire hard drive, get a cd-rw drive. That way, you can burn cd's of what you want to archive. CD's have a low failure rate, and hard drives can go bad. I have a QPS burner that is the second one I have purchased. I sold my 12x10x32x so that I could get the 24x10x40x, there was, and is, nothing wrong with the 12x, I just wanted faster. You can get the 24x that I have (brand new) for about $200 I believe. If you can spend a bit more, you can get even faster. Check and see what speed media you can easily get in your area. If only 24x is available in quantity, get a 24x burner. If you can splurge for the extra money, then shoot for the 32x. Just be aware that faster media probably costs more. I can burn a 700MB cd in about 3 to 3-1/4 minutes, which is plenty fast enough. I believe that the 32x burner does it in 3 minutes, or a little less. Unless you are burning many cd's you won't miss the little extra time, but you might miss the money you spent.

Do get the Applecare protection, unless you plan on getting rid of the system within a year or so. I will get that with every Mac I get now, especially since it just saved me gobs of money.

I am assuming that you are getting the 667MHz model, which I would as well. I always go for the top end on laptops, since they have lower speeds then the desktops. Also, that way, you don't feel too bad when the next speed bump comes out and you are close to the new low end model (if not the same speed).

Hope this helps you out.

[quanta]

The 667 comes with the combo drive (DVD/CD-RW) so i will have that, not sure what speed though... also i was going to get the gig of RAM, and as a second plan just get the 512 on one slot so i could upgrade to a gig later.

i hadn't thought about the scratch disk issue, but it would be cool in case i wanted to do DV editting on the road...

And i wanted to be able to back up my entire hard drive with room to spare just in case something untoward were to happen... theft, catastrophic failure of the machine due to contact with an immovable object, or the unthinkable... hard drive failure. i've already been burned by that one and lost a great deal of artwork and home-movie footage.

But alas it will all come down to how much money i want to be in debt for...

Ayaiii...

[quanta]

Just wondering, how does one become a Macrumors Member? Is that an accumulation of posts, or is there more to it?

[jefhatfield]

thirty posts for macrumors member

one hundred for macrumors regular (formerly senior member)

five hundred for macrumors 6502

one thousand for macrumors 68512

the latter two are chip designations

and if you buy a macrumors mug, you become a macrumors demi-god, the higest of the high

i think these numbers are up to date:)

[Mr. Anderson]

But you forgot the gods.

Arn and Blakespot, the moderators, are MacRumors Gods, higher than the highest.

I'm still pushing for 'Titan'

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by dukestreet
But you forgot the gods.

Arn and Blakespot, the moderators, are MacRumors Gods, higher than the highest.

I'm still pushing for 'Titan'

and then there are the famous evil flamewarriors of the past three years like spikey, kela, anonymous coward/poster, monkeybusiness, bullsdrfr, john123, and joeyj (and others)...none of whom i have seen on these boards lately

they are the ones who like to use words like ****, ****, ****head, ****head, asshole, ****************, pc user, etc

but sometimes their points are the most valid stuff i hear on macrumors...and sometimes they flame for the sake of flaming

i know some of these people off the site thru email and they are a lot more coridial but don't tell anyone...he he:cool:

[quanta]

Ahhh... so many posts to get the revered status...

i guess i'll have to bide my ****ing time!

:D

[chibianh]

Hey quanta, just realized you were from Denver.. so am I!

:)

[quanta]

Yeah, i've lived here in Denver since January, but i've lived in several places on the Western Slope for a lot of my life. Ouray, Durango, Montrose....

So what do you do? i'm a student studying graphic design, but i love sculpture too, so i might have to double major.

[chibianh]

wow.. that's cool.. I've lived here most of my life (kinda sad, isn't it) and a freshman at the School of Mines studying electrical eng.

I wonder if anyone else here is from Colorado..

[jefhatfield]

denver...i thought you guys had the lame sports teams...except for the nuggets and rockies

then you won the stanley cup!

and then old john elway helped the broncos win back to back superbowls!

so even me, a die hard 49ers fan, has to salute your new found greatness in sports:D

[AlphaTech]

Here it goes again. Called Apple becuase there are wrinkles in the screen substrate. ARGH!!! A box will be arriving to take it away tomorrow :( which means I will be back on the peecee tomorrow night, and Thursday too. I just hope that I have it back for Friday (via Apple's current same day turnaround time). At least that way I will have it back before the weekend and won't suffer too much.

The chances of getting a new system from Apple is slim to nil (asked the tech on the phone about it, doesn't happen from them :( ).

I would be happy if it just came back 100% and didn't have to go out yet again. This will be the third time it goes to Apple... At least with the AppleCare protection it isn't costing me a dime. The Airborne Express shipping alone is probably adding up to what I paid for the protection plan.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Here it goes again. Called Apple becuase there are wrinkles in the screen substrate. ARGH!!!

Oh my God! How is it possible that you've been having so many problems with this machine? I feel for you. :(

Good luck!

[jefhatfield]

when i was the county's dell/compaq/apple on-site tech, i never got apple work and my partner got an imac or two

getting a laptop fixed three times was dell territory, but not what i would hear from an apple product...i am shocked

though the techs can't make the final call on this, i hope they give you a brand new laptop

keep us posted and good luck!

[AlphaTech]

Well, considering how it went out the first time, they replaced the logic board but that didn't fix the issue. They got it again, replaced the screen and power inverter, which resolved the original issue, but came back with the wrinkles. I was hoping that they would even out after some use, but didn't. So I called again...

It is rather frustrating to have to send it in more then once, but at least I didn't have to wait on the phone more then a minute or two before getting someone. In all the calls I have placed, every person has been pleasant, and understanding. I might be super picky about my Mac hardware, but who among us isn't??? If something isn't as it should be, we expect it to be fixed.

The best advise that I can give to anyone getting ANY new Mac, get the AppleCare protection. It IS worth the extra money. You can also track your system online so that you can see where it is. They don't show online what has been done to it, just where it is, and when it ships back to you. I checked last time, and was able to bring my carry bag in for when it returned (didn't know if they were going to send it back as fast as they did, but the tracking showed it would be arriving that day). If you are paying a few grand for a system, and intend to keep it more then one year, get the protection. If you will be getting rid of it in under one year, then don't bother. Then again, it could be a good selling point for someone buying your old system. :D

[iGav]

Bummer, bummer, bummer.......

I hope when you finally get it back this time it's perfect........ either that or the courier loses it, and they have to supply you with a new one, alittle like what happened to dukestreet, Fed-Ex and Apple, but quicker!!!

I don't think you're any different from any other user with regards to a perfect mac, even the littlest probably with my mac, bugs the hell out of me......... especially when macs are so expensive......... I expect perfection!! Simple as that!!!;)

Apple makes are the Aston Martins of the computer world........ :p

As ever though... keep us up-to-date!!!:D

[AlphaTech]

Just grabbed a status update online of my TiBook... I guess they got motherboards in (damn) and it is now in repair. I could have it in as early as tomorrow, or Wednesday. I am still hoping that it will come back upgraded to the newer, but those hopes are sinking.

I will post again when it arrives, and I see what it is. It will either be the 500MHz model I shipped out (with almost entirely new guts, except for the RAM, HD, and airport card). Or it will be either the 550 or 667MHz model, where I might need to exchange the PC100, 512MB memory chip for a PC133 before using it.

Only time will tell, and that bastard is being tight lipped about it.

[Mr. Anderson]

apple = heinz

anticipa-a-a-a-tion!

good luck

[AlphaTech]

I received a call from Apple just a little while ago (under 15 minutes) about my TiBook. It has been repaired and is shipping out to me. I should have it back tomorrow, at which point I will see if it has the 500MHz motherboard or if it has been updated/upgraded. I doubt that it will be the newer/faster one, since they got the 500MHz motherboards in (damn). The rep that called, same one I talked with last week about the TiBook, told me that he placed comments within the work order about making sure it is 100% before shipping it back, since this is the third repair.

I will know more tomorrow.

[AlphaTech]

I just got the TiBook back a few minutes ago. Now I need to give it the acid/fire test and make sure that everything is kosher. I REALLY don't want to have to fire up the peecee to go online again, ever.

[iGav]

So what's under the hood bad boy??

Is it smokin' hot or wot? :p

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
I just got the TiBook back a few minutes ago. Now I need to give it the acid/fire test and make sure that everything is kosher. I REALLY don't want to have to fire up the peecee to go online again, ever.

Well, well!?
Is it still 500MHz?

I still can't believe all the crap you've had to go through. Congrats on getting it back. Third times the charm, right?

[iGav]

Third times the charm, right?

And fourth time is the trash can........ :p

Eww!! Americanism.... I mean dustbin...... :p

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


Well, well!?
Is it still 500MHz?

I still can't believe all the crap you've had to go through. Congrats on getting it back. Third times the charm, right?

Yeah, still just a 500MHz G4 :(.... lol....

Depending on what Apple releases by MWNY, I might be putting this one onto the selling block and get a brand new one. That would put it at 1-1/2 years old, with 1-1/2 years of protection left on it.

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by iGAV


And fourth time is the trash can........ :p

Eww!! Americanism.... I mean dustbin...... :p

Actually... I have been known to call it the sh*tcan :D. Many names for just one item.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Actually... I have been known to call it the sh*tcan :D. Many names for just one item.

One of my favorites, circular file. First time I heard this I actually looked around the office for a round file cabinet.:D

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


One of my favorites, circular file. First time I heard this I actually looked around the office for a round file cabinet.:D

LMAO!!! You can also 86 it...

[iGav]

Yeah, still just a 500MHz G4

Mind you, the luck you've had with it in the last month or so, I'd be thanking my lucky stars Apple didn't slip a 450Mhz in because they've ran out of 500Mhz..... The grass is always greener as they say....:p

I'm waiting to see what the new range of tiBooks will be like!! if it's just going to be 800Mhz, better graphics and a bigger HD, I'll probably wait until A: Apple wham it up to 1 Ghz, as technically it'll be twice as fast as what I've got now.. so a worthwhile increase for me!! or B: they wham a G5 in it, and do the puppy chrome...... :D

Then I'll part with my cash!!!:p

[AlphaTech]

iGAV, if they downgraded my cpu, I would have been rip-*****.

I have a feeling that no matter what processor they toss into the PowerBook next (speed or G level), if it's chromed, I will be getting one.

I still like the idea of going to the park and blinding people that are using peecee laptops :D. All while playing UT with slammin headphone on. Unless they decide to put sweet speakers into the laptop too, that would be too much. First time you hear it, you might get too much reaction LOL.

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
iGAV, if they downgraded my cpu, I would have been rip-*****.

I have a feeling that no matter what processor they toss into the PowerBook next (speed or G level), if it's chromed, I will be getting one.

glad to hear u got the thing back again...any chance on getting money back from Apple??

and btw...congrats on 1100...he he he ;)

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by eyelikeart


glad to hear u got the thing back again...any chance on getting money back from Apple??

and btw...congrats on 1100...he he he ;)

Tanks, and congrats on hitting 1800+

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by eyelikeart

glad to hear u got the thing back again...any chance on getting money back from Apple??

Do you honestly think Apple would give him a refund?

I don't think so.

[AlphaTech]

Refund for what??? These repairs didn't cost me a cent...

[jefhatfield]

but they gave you a lemon, what if harley did that to you

i have owned a dozen machines and only one was bad, but i bought it used

[AlphaTech]

jef, If they hadn't worked on fixing it, I would be pissed (more). As long as the system stay's fixed I will be happy. If it does come back, then I will be more then a little upset. It will be interesting to see, considering how much has been replaced. The LCD has been replaced twice, the motherboard also twice, and the power inverter once (provides the power to the LCD).

I am just very glad that I have the Applecare protection on this laptop. I will get it on all the Mac's I purchase in the future, even if I can't do it at the time I purchase them.

Oh yeah, and if Harley did that, they would repair whatever was needed. Also, in MA, we have a lemon law. If it isn't fixed within 3 attempts, they have to replace it (that would be after the third try).

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
jef, If they hadn't worked on fixing it, I would be pissed (more). As long as the system stay's fixed I will be happy. If it does come back, then I will be more then a little upset. It will be interesting to see, considering how much has been replaced. The LCD has been replaced twice, the motherboard also twice, and the power inverter once (provides the power to the LCD).

I am just very glad that I have the Applecare protection on this laptop. I will get it on all the Mac's I purchase in the future, even if I can't do it at the time I purchase them.

Oh yeah, and if Harley did that, they would repair whatever was needed. Also, in MA, we have a lemon law. If it isn't fixed within 3 attempts, they have to replace it (that would be after the third try).

they need to have a lemon law in california...my partner in our computer repair business used to say, in most cases, the problems present themselves right away and if the machine is problem free after a month, chances are it will stay that way until the end of the life of the computer in the majority of the cases and after three years, it has held true almost every time mac or pc

...my guess it that they dropped you machine very hard at some time along the shipping phase since the damage to your tibook is so extensive...it could have got very wet since the rains in taiwan where many of the componenets are made are notoriously prone to floods and water is the enemy of computer components...you should see what can happen behind the scenes in high tech manufacturing

i hope you can live out the remaining year and a half with your laptop and after you get another machine, you can keep your machine as a net surfer and word processor for another two years or more

i have never really heard of a laptop in working condition before 1998 with all the features intact..they are delicate machines though and much more than the average desktop

but the portability of laptops make it workth every dime since a desktop is ususally just destined to be stuck on a desk forever

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
i have never really heard of a laptop in working condition before 1998 with all the features intact..they are delicate machines though and much more than the average desktop

but the portability of laptops make it workth every dime since a desktop is ususally just destined to be stuck on a desk forever

But just the fact that they are portable, you end up moving them around a lot more than a desktop. Everyday, I put my TiPB in my bag and bring it to and from work. This will no doubt have an effect on how well the laptop holds up. I baby it as much as I can, but I'm also not going to let it just sit around, I have to have it with me. I just hope it last for a few years and then I'll get a new one.