Honey I fried the new iMacG5

[Graeme A]

Ow! That has got to hurt! I was looking into getting a 17" iMac G5 from Miami before Christmas to take back to Australia with me but after reading this, I have to re-think those plans.

So, NOW I know why apple charge US$500 more for an iMac from Australia as opposed to the US... It's all to save a couple off cents on the power supplies.

I hope that you get the computer fixed.

 

[andiwm2003]

i do audio work and often buy/rent/borrow gear from america and europe, and yes, the voltage compatibility is the #1 thing to check, but it's annoying. it is the most annoying thing one can think of, and for that reason, the lack of such annoyance immediately makes any gear look better quality compared to others that are fixed voltage.

i'm very close to banning all fixed-voltage gear now, and i'm very surprised apple still does it. APPLE SCREWS YOU AMERICANS, PLEASE COMPLAIN about it as we europeans are now given better apples than you. we get it, you don't, does apple save that much money by screwing its home market?

or does apple think you americans don't travel at all?

i think this is apple's fault, nevertheless the user error that plugged the cord into a "wrong" outlet. however, by today's standards, it's not up to apple to decide what voltage should be used. apple should use universal power supplies everywhere, period.

i totally agree. i pay a premium for "ease of use". that should include voltage, meeting all international standards. i'm in the market for a 20"imac. but i don't know how long i will stay in the US. i might go back to europe soon and then i don't want to deal with converters and all that stuff. for $2700 (thats the model i want) i think its fair to expect a $3 autoswitch power supply.

my two cents,

andi

good luck to photocat with the repair.

 

[point665]

Sorry to hear about the iMac... I am planning on moving overseas, at least temporarily, next year... I have been checking everything that I buy so it will work... I also am buying air tools instead of electric ones... Small stuff but it will pay off later on.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

or does apple think you americans don't travel at all?

i think this is apple's fault, nevertheless the user error that plugged the cord into a "wrong" outlet. however, by today's standards, it's not up to apple to decide what voltage should be used. apple should use universal power supplies everywhere, period.

IMO Apple sticks the US market with non-switching power supplies to protect their overseas operations.

 

[JFreak]

IMO Apple sticks the US market with non-switching power supplies to protect their overseas operations.

well that may be the reason, but it doesn't change the fact that apple sells US customers sub-standard product.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

well that may be the reason, but it doesn't change the fact that apple sells US customers sub-standard product.

Granted. They could do what other manufacturers do, and give different names and warranties for different markets.

 

[davegoody]

OUCH !

Sorry to hear of your plight here, but OUCH was the only word I could come up with that was not a profanity !

 

[kenazo]

🙁 🙁 🙁

I just did exactly the same thing and found this thread on Google. I too have an iMac G4, Powebook and iBook which all are American models 110-240V so I didn't even think before plugging in the new iMac G5. Damn.

Can you please let me know what you did to fix it? Which parts need to be replaced? How much did they cost? I'm in the UK also so if you have found a good supplier please let me know.

Thanks....

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

🙁 🙁 🙁

I just did exactly the same thing and found this thread on Google. I too have an iMac G4, Powebook and iBook which all are American models 110-240V so I didn't even think before plugging in the new iMac G5. Damn.

Can you please let me know what you did to fix it? Which parts need to be replaced? How much did they cost? I'm in the UK also so if you have found a good supplier please let me know.

Thanks....

It is starting to seem that Apple should put a sticker over the US based iMac's warning about the voltage.

 

[whooleytoo]

It's totally unnecessary to have auto switch voltage on a desktop computer.

Evidently it is necessary - or this thread wouldn't even exist.

Working in Apple in Europe, we used to have lots of hardware shipped to us - often a mixture of US and European. Even if you were careful and checked the voltage 99.5% of the time, that's still probably 2 or 3 devices a year get fried.

 

[maya]

I agree with photocat on this issue.

All Apple laptops may it be iBook or PowerBook has auto-switching for the PSU or power adapter unit. Given its a portable.

All Desktop should also have auto-switching for a different reason, what if you reside in the US as a student or for some work related reason or something else buy a Mac desktop and then decide to move to another country. If the desktop has no auto-switching it makes it worthless since you have to sell it and buy a whole new machine. This also goes for external devices.

The iPod has auto-switching adapter and so does AirPort Express, all you have to do is change the prong on the power adapter.

Seems Apple has gotten cheap and quite cheap with the iMac G5. I had one and within a week to 2 weeks max the PSU started to give a "frequency" sound that was just painful to my ears. And it was not the fan(s) noise I can live with that this was quite different.

A damaged PSU most likely however I am not taking that risk again with a rev a, Apple product. Tried to get the PSU replaced would take a week. A week to replace a PSU what age are we living in 1900's. Stock issues whatever 🙄

Put in an Auto-Switching PSU for all your products that was its bought in bulk and the cost is the same if not cheaper for non-auto switching PSU.

Even the SuperDrive on the iMac G5 is SLOWER than the eMac G4, WTF?

iMac G5 = 4x SuperDrive
eMac G4 = 8x SuperDrive
PowerMac G5 = 8x SuperDrive
PowerBook and iBook = 4x SuperDrive

Why is Apple being so cheap in this regard with a new product they toot as being able to work with all the iLife applications.

Once you take away the cost of the 17 or 20 inch lcd it seems they are making a hefty profit on the new iMac G5. Since they buy and re-brand they lcd screens and have been using the 17 and 20 inch for quite some years.

I also have noticed that the iMac G5 frame that surrounds the screen can and has a lot of space to be Thinner.

I believe its a bad move on Apples part to have the PSU in the casing and not as a wall plug as the portable line, it adds more heat to the system and size.

I also hate the ports on the back of the iMac G5 is non-logical, why or why they want to market it as SIMPLE then run one wire and have it "SPLIT" like the Cinema Displays have done it looks like fingers and keeps the nice clean look of the iMac G5 intact.

When the sleep light comes on why have it on the side make the Apple logo light up and also have it as the power button it will look far better.

the iMac G5 rev A is not perfect and it seems a few changes here and there such as:

1. Shrinking the lcd frame to be snug.
2. Have one wire come out of the iMac G5 and have the wire split as the Cinema Displays have.
3. Apple logo should be the power button and also light up. (nothing needed at the back).
4. Use a wall PSU/ Adapter rather than have it housed in the unit and auto-switching for heat and cross country compatibility.
5. With the extra space by removing the PSU unit add more ram slots so it reaches 4-8 gigs in order to use the G5 64-bit system and put it to good use for future proofing.
6. Relocate the speakers please, the bouncing off the wooden table answer is not working for me. Use BT speakers or something, since at present the sound from the speaker sound like the audio is resonating in a hollow box. Or move it to the sides or something, at present its not working with sound reproduction and consider when the fans start to rev up forget it.
7. Where the heck is the MIC housed on the new iMac G5.
8. Cut the weight of the iMac G5, seems the PSU and stand are to blame for this.



Jon. Ive is slipping in his product design. The design is not original of housing all the computer behind the lcd however make a few changes to make it work even better. Love the simplistic look however it needs work, it seems rushed. 🙄

 

[andiwm2003]

I agree with photocat on this issue.


1. Shrinking the lcd frame to be snug.
2. Have one wire come out of the iMac G5 and have the wire split as the Cinema Displays have.
3. Apple logo should be the power button and also light up. (nothing needed at the back).
4. Use a wall PSU/ Adapter rather than have it housed in the unit and auto-switching for heat and cross country compatibility.
5. With the extra space by removing the PSU unit add more ram slots so it reaches 4-8 gigs in order to use the G5 64-bit system and put it to good use for future proofing.
6. Relocate the speakers please, the bouncing off the wooden table answer is not working for me. Use BT speakers or something, since at present the sound from the speaker sound like the audio is resonating in a hollow box. Or move it to the sides or something, at present its not working with sound reproduction and consider when the fans start to rev up forget it.
7. Where the heck is the MIC housed on the new iMac G5.
8. Cut the weight of the iMac G5, seems the PSU and stand are to blame for this.



Jon. Ive is slipping in his product design. The design is not original of housing all the computer behind the lcd however make a few changes to make it work even better. Love the simplistic look however it needs work, it seems rushed. 🙄

1.) agree
2.)don't agree. this allows me to quickly connect a card reader or so....
3.)don't care. use cheapest solution.
4.)absolutely agree!!!!!!
5.)don't care (2 gig are enough for me, but i do no video stuff and i plan only for 3 years. so i can see your point)
6.)don't care
7.)see 6.)
8.) agree

you make some good points. but your best point is:"Love the simplistic look however it needs work, it seems rushed." I totally agree here!

my $0.02,

andi

 

[srdashiki]

I dont understand any of this gibber jabbin.

Every mac ive owned has a little RED switch right next to the power plug in the back. 110/220 it says.

HMMMMMMM!? Wats that you say? The answer to yer problem? Damn you FRIARS (LOL!) must not look before you leap, or read anything before you do something.

Oh well, another fried mac. Another moron who'll buy another (what apple wants and knows youll do) Mac or who'll go buy a Winblowz.

Im ranting and raving so lets keep going:

Dont expect apple to give a rats ass about any one but themselves. All they care about is reputation, and a fried mac because of some ignorance, isnt going to put a dent in Apples rep for building good machines.

But every good machine, needs a good operator. Most of us take electricity for granted. And we also take our cars for granted.

Most people buy a computer and dont think twice about how it works, or will work. Same thing with cars, 90% of people buy a car and dont know shiiiit about how to change a tire, oil, brakes etc etc. And besides a home, a car is the biggest investment we all make, and we dont even care if we can fix it or know how it works.

And yet we buy computers and do the same thing? Anyone who fries their computer deserves to lose that $2000. Moron, you spent $2000 and just BAM plugged it into an "alien" socket you knew better than to, and you did it anyway. You werent a newbie to the UK, nor a Mac or coimputer noobie. BUt like the car folks, you bought it and expected it to work no matter what. MORONS!

 

[takao]

I dont understand any of this gibber jabbin.

Every mac ive owned has a little RED switch right next to the power plug in the back. 110/220 it says.

looks like the imac g5 does not ...at least i havn't spotted one on the picture

persoanlly i haven't come aroudn a pc who doesn't have a switch or auto sensing...

 

[MattG]

Even the SuperDrive on the iMac G5 is SLOWER than the eMac G4, WTF?

iMac G5 = 4x SuperDrive
eMac G4 = 8x SuperDrive
PowerMac G5 = 8x SuperDrive
PowerBook and iBook = 4x SuperDrive

Why is Apple being so cheap in this regard with a new product they toot as being able to work with all the iLife applications.

The 4x SuperDrive doesn't have anything to do with Apple being cheap...the iMacs use the smaller form factor optical drives (like the Powerbooks/iBooks use), and AFAIK, those are not available in 8x yet. If the iMac G5 could fit a full sized drive (like a regular G5 desktop), I'm sure they'd have the 8x drives.

 

[Rod Rod]

I dont understand any of this gibber jabbin.

Every mac ive owned has a little RED switch right next to the power plug in the back. 110/220 it says.

HMMMMMMM!? Wats that you say? The answer to yer problem? Damn you FRIARS (LOL!) must not look before you leap, or read anything before you do something.

Oh well, another fried mac. Another moron who'll buy another (what apple wants and knows youll do) Mac or who'll go buy a Winblowz.

Im ranting and raving so lets keep going:

Dont expect apple to give a rats ass about any one but themselves. All they care about is reputation, and a fried mac because of some ignorance, isnt going to put a dent in Apples rep for building good machines.

But every good machine, needs a good operator. Most of us take electricity for granted. And we also take our cars for granted.

Most people buy a computer and dont think twice about how it works, or will work. Same thing with cars, 90% of people buy a car and dont know shiiiit about how to change a tire, oil, brakes etc etc. And besides a home, a car is the biggest investment we all make, and we dont even care if we can fix it or know how it works.

And yet we buy computers and do the same thing? Anyone who fries their computer deserves to lose that $2000. Moron, you spent $2000 and just BAM plugged it into an "alien" socket you knew better than to, and you did it anyway. You werent a newbie to the UK, nor a Mac or coimputer noobie. BUt like the car folks, you bought it and expected it to work no matter what. MORONS!

this has my vote for the nutso post of the day. you say there's a red switch on every mac you've owned, and yet your sig states you own a dual 1.8GHz G5. credibility? zero.

 

[maya]

The 4x SuperDrive doesn't have anything to do with Apple being cheap...the iMacs use the smaller form factor optical drives (like the Powerbooks/iBooks use), and AFAIK, those are not available in 8x yet. If the iMac G5 could fit a full sized drive (like a regular G5 desktop), I'm sure they'd have the 8x drives.

If you are certain that the iMac G5 indeed uses a portable sized DVD burner than I stand corrected. 🙂

 

[kenazo]

I dont understand any of this gibber jabbin.

Every mac ive owned has a little RED switch right next to the power plug in the back. 110/220 it says.

[SNIP]

MORONS!

Maybe you missed some of this thread. The new iMac G5 when bought in the US or Japan does not have a manual switch 110/240 nor an autoswitch 110/240. As I said my iMac G4, PB G4, iBook G3 all have autoswitching 110/240 and foolishly I didn't check the new G5. Even my iSub has 110/240 🙁

 

[kenazo]

For anyone interested I searched around Sheffield yesterday for someone willing to take a look at the psu and repair it. I finally found a guy who would take a shot at it and he successfully repaired it the same day. It cost me £40.

His name is Pete Harteley in Sheffield, 238 London Road. The shop is called Harteley Electronics or something like that. His number is 07890744230.

 

[jadam]

Why didnt you just buy it in the UK to begin with?

You have no reason to complain considering you bought a US product designed to work in the US and used it in europe without using a converter. Also trying to use the fact that certain previous apple products have autoswitching won't help you. Like I said before, it is a US product designed to work ONLY in the US, if you use it anywhere else you have to make sure Apple says it will work or else its your own fault if anything breaks.

 

[Rod Rod]

Why didnt you just buy it in the UK to begin with?

You have no reason to complain considering you bought a US product designed to work in the US and used it in europe without using a converter. Also trying to use the fact that certain previous apple products have autoswitching won't help you. Like I said before, it is a US product designed to work ONLY in the US, if you use it anywhere else you have to make sure Apple says it will work or else its your own fault if anything breaks.

The above sentiment should have been dispensed with in the first page of this thread. But as I said before (and you would know if you would read the thread - and if you can't be bothered to read the whole thread before responding then don't bother responding at all), this is a bad attitude to take. There is no need for the above quoted comment. Obviously the people who have gone through this travail have already suffered plenty without your nonsense. The reason the original poster shared her experience was to warn others. Now more of us know to not expect consistency in Apple products when it comes to auto switching power supplies.

 

[cawiddis]

I run a data center here in the Philippines (220v) where we've installed over 1500+ HP desktops in the last 12months. The last few batches have all had a red sticker covering the power input on the PC "Check Power Voltage". Simple... couldn't cost more than 5c a unit.

In today's "globalised" market, where PC's are shipped all over the world - you would think the companies could take a more globalised approach.

As to why they don't include an autosensing PSU... who knows? These HP units are not auto-sensing, but are voltage selectable (via the trusty old red switch). I think the answer might be in one of the very first posts... about heat transfer when stepping down 220v to 110v??

My last 2c... I see this all the time with Americans coming OS... people blowing up Cell Phone chargers, Hair Dryers etc. I'm and Aussie and used to 240v... we never fry our stuff - the worst we can do is not get enough juice. But having said all that, I am victim of frying a $5000 Router that was shipped from our office in the USA. I was so used to working with locally supplied products, I just forgot to check.

As they say, if all else fails... read the manual!

Chuckles
__________________
I'm not laughing at you - thats my name!

 

[andiwm2003]

I run a data center here in the Philippines (220v) where we've installed over 1500+ HP desktops in the last 12months.

1500+?!!!! I hope that gets you a HP iPOD for free!

andi

 

[mixmastermateo]

Auto switching voltage

Well, it's true and bad news for thoese customers who move around a lot. I have owned 7 apples and all of them were auto or manual switching. I was totally psyched to buy the new g5, and now I will not. The auto switching is crucial for me as I live abroad frequently. If you look on this link http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75099 you will see out of 26 models, only 2 are not. Why the change on a super product? I can still pay a fortune and get a dual G5, auto switching. I hope a rev b will change this.

M

 

[pianojoe]

Same thing almost happened to me when I set up a HK receiver I ordered in the states for my sister to use over here in Germany. I glanced over the spec plate by mere accident.

These machines are not auto-switch, and now she needs a transformator to operate it. But, with high-end audio gear, a trafo is a good thing to have anyway because it cancels out strange things your electricity gets contaminated with on the way.

Anyway, bad luck for the original poster, but, hey, if you order in the States, you'll get a device that is operational in the States. And U.S. forces facilities in Germany usually have 110V/60Hz and U.S. sockets. I know a couple of U.S. army people who live outside the barracks, and they all have transformators to operate their gear.