ibook screen has gone almost black

[dirtpatch]

I can barely see anything on my computer screen. It has gone almost completely black. I went to the apple store yesterday and they told me to contact apple care to get this fixed. However, it is only two years old and i am wondering if i am better off buying a new ibook. It seems that i have issues with my battery as well as the screen. I was wondering also if anyone knows if i can fix this screen issue myself of need to contact apple care anyway. thanks for your help.
heather

::are we there yet?::

[Wes]

It sounds like your backlight has died on the screen.

http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/04/01/14/228225.shtml?tid=137&tid=180

[zimv20]

my ibook developed a problem where if i opened the lid more than 45 degrees, the backlight would go out. apple fixed it for free, post-warranty, under the Expanded iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program (http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/)

[seamuskrat]

This same problem happened to my coworker. Although under normal circumstances you have to pay for this repair, its best to call Apple and claim its under the Logic Board issue. Info here http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/ . At the least you will have given it a shot.

The problem is from your backlight. They SHOULD last much longer than 2 years under normal use, so there IS a problem there. But as the warranty is 1 year and you did not buy AppleCare extended warranty, this may be an issue. In the case of my coworker, he had to do some calling around within Apple, but after 4 calls, got the problem taken care of and just sent his iBook off to be repaired free of charge.