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Apple Addresses iBook Logic Boards

Grrrrrr. I just found out the my iBook 900MHz is covered by that program. Now I am scared. How big are the chances, that the logic board will die ? Are there any anual failure rate numbers available ? I guess not. But it would be interesting to find out.
 
Our iBook 900 has had 2 logic board replacements--the first one died in my wife's hands, the second one while in the care of Apple. We have been without out iBook for nearly 1 month out of 9 months of ownership.

I'm very pleased Apple is stepping up to the plate... I would have rather been offered a trade $$$, but I think this is an acceptable and stand-up solution.

Now if we could just get this thing back, I'd be much happier. [🙂]
 
Reimbursement for past repairs too!

Note - if you read the FAQ Apple posted - they will reimburse folks who have already paid out-of-pocket to get their iBooks repaired. This is a GREAT move by Apple and will restore loyalty in their fan base.
 
Huh my ibook died last week and I sent it in and whata know a fired logic board. Its kinda funny that this woulf come out now oh well they did pay for it.
 
Originally posted by vixapphire
Dude,
you sound like you're trying to write a commercial for apple.

but re. your pointer; i'd call that basic commonsense. seems to work pretty well no matter who one's dealing with!
Click to expand...


You would be surprised how often common sense goes out the window when a buyer has a problem.

And then you are the next person who calls in to the poor person who just was raked over the coals by an irate purchaser. You often pay for the those who went before.
 
Originally posted by iJed
What about the original dual-USB iBook 500?

I had my iBook 500 logic board fail about a year ago in the way everyone has been claiming that the covered models fail. Why then is the iBook 500 not covered here?

It would also be nice to have my incredible ripoff £315 (~$580) reimbursed that i payed a couple of months outside my warranty.
Click to expand...

unfortunately it has to be identified as a production problem or defect problem more than just the random event. There is likely a given % that has to be reached before the problem is considered wide spread. The motherboard problem is likely tied to a particular board lot or rev number.
 
Its nice to be reminded that Apple is still one of the few companies that actually cares about more than just short term monitary gains.....forget the fact that this is gonna help them keep customers...this was the right thing to do, and I'm damn proud of them for coming through for their customers.
 
I seriously doubt Apple did this out of guilt or care for the customer.

After the OS X/G3 lawsuit, I don't think they like the term "class action," which this problem had the easy availiblity to become.
 
What I find quite interesting is that the law suit against Apple was very much in the news. But nothing or mostly nothing about this move. Quite unfair.
 
😛

Well, I'm happy! Tuesday I was sitting in a Denny's in Japan sending e-mail, when ZAP! My logic board again! (1st time was last summer six months after I bought my iBook.

Got home, checked the warranty, YIKES!
Expired the week before! I'm gonna trash this thing! Next day I go to buy a Power Book, store closed, drive to next city, they
don't have what I want. Go home, decide to buy from Apple Store by phone, dial Service Center by mistake, grumble about
iBook Logic Board and end of Warranty.
They: Did you say logic board, iBook...well... . They pick it up Thurs. 6:30pm, Saturday 11:00am ding, dong...
Yes! It's back and I'm in another Denny's
writing this! Lucky!!!
 
my iBook broke down for the 2nd time in less than 6 months a week and a half ago (tuesday). I called them up on tuesday, they sent me a box on thursday, and UPS picked it up on friday. According to UPS the package only arrived the following Monday...

Now it's Saturday, so I called up and asked what was going on, and apparantly they had to ORDER SOME PARTS!! So they didn't even start on it till thursday - how can they run out of logic boards?!? They've gotta have loads in stock!!

Annnnyway, now I have to wait till tuesday at the earliest... So that's a whole 2 weeks i've been HAVING to use my PC :'(

Anyone know of any applicable UK laws I can quote to get my money back? I think i'll just go buy a powerbook....

Hob
 
OMG - I believe that my iBook has the problem !

OMG - I believe that my iBook has the problem !

Today I discovered that when I close the lid the screen starts to behave strange. The screens flickers a bit and moves to the right !!! What do you guys think ? Is this the logic board ?

If so - what are the next steps ? How long will the iBook work before it fails completly ? If I have to send it to Apple - how long will it takes before I have it back ?

Thanks and Cheers
 

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And what I really cannot understand why this problem can still occur if the logic board already has been replaced ???? 😡 😡 as some users report. Why can't they really finally fix it ? If its really true that it cannot be finally fixed than I will definitly ask for a new one. Any chances to get the G4 iBook instead ?
 
Yeah, but has anybody who has had their logic board replaced, heard from Apple about getting reimbursed? I called AppleCare the day that the program was announced, and they said to wait to be called.

(I have a PB17 but my dad - a switcher - had just bought a used iBook that failed after a few weeks - the night before MacWorld SF, actually)
 
Originally posted by CmdrLaForge
And what I really cannot understand why this problem can still occur if the logic board already has been replaced ???? 😡 😡 as some users report. Why can't they really finally fix it ? If its really true that it cannot be finally fixed than I will definitly ask for a new one. Any chances to get the G4 iBook instead ?
Click to expand...

The problem isn't in the logic board itself. The problem is that some wires have RF shielding that sometimes gets exposed and short to ground, which is what's actually damaging the logic boards. As for non-logic-board display issues, the wires in the hinge that run from the video card to the screen are frequently not of sufficient gauge to withstand being twisted around inside the hinge, and so they break.
 
Originally posted by Daveman Deluxe
The problem isn't in the logic board itself. The problem is that some wires have RF shielding that sometimes gets exposed and short to ground, which is what's actually damaging the logic boards. As for non-logic-board display issues, the wires in the hinge that run from the video card to the screen are frequently not of sufficient gauge to withstand being twisted around inside the hinge, and so they break.
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If thats really the case and I really have this problem (from what you can see on the picture above ? I am still not sure if this is the logic board ) I will definitly ask for a replacement.

What I cannot understand from your explanaition is why only a dedicated serial number range is affected.

Cheers
 
Originally posted by CmdrLaForge

What I cannot understand from your explanaition is why only a dedicated serial number range is affected.
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Companies change the ways they do things. So for a while they built computers that way, but hopefully now they see the error in their ways and are doing it right.

And to see if you have the problem for sure, bring your machine into an Apple store, or call the Apple service center and chat with someone who knows the whole story.

I just sent mine in last Tuesday, and it's on the way back; should have it all fixed up tomorrow (Monday). Sure did miss it this weekend...
 
Originally posted by iJed
What about the original dual-USB iBook 500?

I had my iBook 500 logic board fail about a year ago in the way everyone has been claiming that the covered models fail. Why then is the iBook 500 not covered here?
Click to expand...

I feel the same. iBook 600 (Late 2001). Just took it in to the Apple Store in Santa Monica.

I was having random kernal panics (even with a clean install on an external HD and no foreign RAM), and my battery had become completely useless (i.e. lasts for litterally 5 minutes when unplugged), and my Hard Drive would freeze up my computer and start clicking and whirring.

The Genius there said some of this might be a logic board problem. If that is what they find, I think I'll ask for the $340 in repairs back.

I think it's kind of crummy that Apple has listed only the serial numbers of a small group of iBooks, when problems are occurring across the board.
 
Originally posted by mac4drew
and my battery had become completely useless (i.e. lasts for litterally 5 minutes when unplugged),
Click to expand...

so is this battery problem related to the logic board? Mine was doing the same thing, is there reason to believe that when I get my laptop back that my battery will work and isn't really dead?
 
Originally posted by SlowX
Companies change the ways they do things. So for a while they built computers that way, but hopefully now they see the error in their ways and are doing it right.
Click to expand...

Yes sure. They change things. So if they found the root cause in the iBook and they fixed it by a dedicated serial number, why can't they repair it in a way that it will not break again. Thats all I am asking for ! Things can go wrong and companys ship products that might have problems. But once the root cause is found - they should be able to fix it for ongoing production as well as for the repairs. Period.
 
There could be another part of the design that prevents them permanently fixing the problem on affected machines. My guess as to why the wires aren't of sufficient gauge: the hole for them to pass through in the hinge is too small for a a larger wire to fit through. Any techs that have worked on iBooks care to affirm/dispute?
 
Originally posted by Counterfit
There could be another part of the design that prevents them permanently fixing the problem on affected machines. My guess as to why the wires aren't of sufficient gauge: the hole for them to pass through in the hinge is too small for a a larger wire to fit through. Any techs that have worked on iBooks care to affirm/dispute?
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But still, why can't they make those holes a little bit bigger ! That would be much more cost effective for Apple then repairing over and over again and getting customers angry.
 
Do they not have Apple...? Then give them LEMON!

Just as I'm curious, well and it affects me too - what ARE lemon laws? I'm thinking of getting a full refund on my 6 month old iBook and i don't know if there's any way I can do it with UK laws...?

Hob
 
I had my iBook 900MHz sent in 2 weeks ago for very poor airport reception. It came back fine.
Its now in again for the logic board. When i look at the write-up on the applecare, it says that the logic board was also replaced when i sent it in for the airport antenna.

The genius at the apple store - woodfield knows me by name now.
 
Originally posted by iElvis
I had my iBook 900MHz sent in 2 weeks ago for very poor airport reception. It came back fine.
Its now in again for the logic board. When i look at the write-up on the applecare, it says that the logic board was also replaced when i sent it in for the airport antenna.

The genius at the apple store - woodfield knows me by name now.
Click to expand...

And this really shows that they cannot really fix it. That sucks. 😡 😡
 
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