I don't know. Back before I came to the Mac world, I had to replace a charger for an HP laptop 2 times (because the laptop itself was faulty, bah!) and they were in the same ballpark, if not more.
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MacBook Charger Teardown Highlights Dangers of Counterfeit Adapters
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I don't know. Back before I came to the Mac world, I had to replace a charger for an HP laptop 2 times (because the laptop itself was faulty, bah!) and they were in the same ballpark, if not more.
Manufacturers of counterfeit Apple products often go to great lengths to make their knock-offs look genuine, which brings the added risk of concealing potentially dangerous flaws in substituted electrical components.
In the past we've covered the efforts manufacturers go to when counterfeiting iPhone and iPad chargers, courtesy of product teardowns on Ken Shirrif's technology blog. Now, a new post on Shirrif's site offers a detailed teardown and analysis of the differences between a counterfeit MacBook charger and a genuine unit, providing a great example of how cosmetic similarities can hide major safety defects.
A counterfeit MagSafe 45W charger (left) and a genuine 60W charger (right).
Shirrif notes that counterfeit chargers he's examined in the past have usually had external flaws that give them away, but that this latest MacBook charger knock-off almost had him fooled, too.
Only when Shirrif cracks open the charger are the differences laid bare. A real Apple charger is packed full of complex circuitry, but the counterfeit contains a fairly low density board that uses a simpler power supply with a dangerously small isolation gap between the AC input and the low-voltage output.
Shirrif also identifies a distinct lack of insulation tape between the two voltages on the circuit board, a metal grounding pin not connected to anything, and a fluctuating power output. See his post for the full comparison.
Three years ago, a Chinese woman was electrocuted by a counterfeit charger while charging her iPhone, highlighting the significant dangers these products pose to consumers. Users who suspect they have a counterfeit charger can take part in Apple's third-party charger takeback program to safely dispose of the adapters.
Article Link: MacBook Charger Teardown Highlights Dangers of Counterfeit Adapters
The fake one looks more robust and less likely to suffer from heat failure unlike any Apple computer.
It's not about being rich or not. It's about knowing the value of the dollar and not wanting to overpay for something that shouldn't cost that much.
I'm doing well enough that I don't usually quibble over $80. Yet $80 feels like too much money for a charger. Apple is taking a hefty profit on this device, when they really shouldn't be since at that price they should be durable and not fail.
You don't get into a good financial position in life by throwing money away just because you have plenty of it. People expect expensive things to be durable, and when they're not they will be upset. It's only natural.
I've written to Apple (via Feedback forms) about this. The price is $99.99 here in Canada. Absolutely disgusting how Apple gets away with this. If you're going to charge that much, at least make the low-voltage cable detachable and replaceable on its own, as that's the one part that is usually the reason for replacing. Why replace the entire power adapter block every time? Apple REALLY needs to fix this flawed design!
$99 Canadian is about $75 US right now. Apple actually seems to be giving you guys a break when you consider the exchange rate.
This appears to be the case on all their products; I wouldn't be surprised if you have people from the US crossing the border to buy Apple stuff at a slight effective discount in Canada.
And how safe is replacing the cable on an original charger?
Is it safe to replace a Magsafe 1 cable with a Magsafe 2 cable?
I have a 60W that came originally with an aluminum Macbook from 2008. The Magsafe end broke apart and I had to buy a new one.
A few months ago I purchased a replacement Magsafe 2 cable from eBay and opened the charger and replaced the cable by soldering the new one in place. It works now, but I haven't used it yet because I'm afraid it will damage my computer.
Any thoughts?
Is it safe to replace a Magsafe 1 cable with a Magsafe 2 cable?
I have a 60W that came originally with an aluminum Macbook from 2008. The Magsafe end broke apart and I had to buy a new one.
A few months ago I purchased a replacement Magsafe 2 cable from eBay and opened the charger and replaced the cable by soldering the new one in place. It works now, but I haven't used it yet because I'm afraid it will damage my computer.
Any thoughts?
I know someone who's had to deal with a bunch of these cheap knock-off MagSafe chargers. They failed all the time, and he eventually replaced them with genuine Apple ones.
You already agreed to overpay for the whole computer, though. You buy a Mac because it's a premium item as far as a computer goes. Either it's something you enjoy, so you buy it, understanding that it's not the frugal choice, or you should purchase a less expensive computer.
My low-voltage cable twisted off this weekend (it's been frayed for a while). It should be replaceable. I've spliced it together, and it's lucky I have an old back-up at work.
The overall design is awful. I travel frequently for work, but I am not perpetually on the road. Coiling up the cord puts too much stress at the attachment point. I have to carry the long high-voltage cord because the brick causes plug adapters to fall out of wall sockets and because I often need the extra length. However it is impossible to coil both cords neatly (using the smaller cord to wrap the longer one is a recipe for damage)
For close to $100, I want a much more elegant portable charging solution
The overall design is awful. I travel frequently for work, but I am not perpetually on the road. Coiling up the cord puts too much stress at the attachment point. I have to carry the long high-voltage cord because the brick causes plug adapters to fall out of wall sockets and because I often need the extra length. However it is impossible to coil both cords neatly (using the smaller cord to wrap the longer one is a recipe for damage)
For close to $100, I want a much more elegant portable charging solution
The poor quality and inconvenient design of the charging cord is an annoyance when I am paying for a premium item such as my MacBook Pro. Good design is in the details, and a premium user experience requires that all components be equally pleasant to use. Apple's entire accessory range (dongles, charging cables for laptops phones and iPads, and headphones) is poorly designed. It is not elegant to travel with a sack of tangled cords and a bushel of loose adapters. ... Of course, Apple's refusal to provide convenient accessories sets us up for a more transformational experience when we finally go wireless... But I don't want to wait that long.
What an ignorant statement. Yeah, it's of course the user's fault, as always with Apple. Sure, Apple couldn't just cease to use the flimsiest cables they can find in all their products (especially their lightning cables and EarPod cables). Or make the connector cable of their MagSafes detachable as it's the reason of 95% of all MagSafe failures. No, the user has to buy a whole new device for something as trivial as a broken cable. I bet they make some good money with failing MagSafes.
Did you actually verify this - or is it one of those "I know a guy who has a friend whose mom's boss....."?
Spend $1000 upwards for a computer but too miserable to get a secondary backup AC Adapter - sounds like people don' care about their safety or the safety of their system. I'm in Australia and the 85w versions costs $119, but hey its the real deal and the original one hasn't died yet. I would never chance electrocution or my safety for the cost of an AC adapter.
In fact if anyone uses a non-genuine AC adapter, any power based issues should not be supported and no information should be provided until they get a genuine adapter. Especially if the non-genuine one caused another fault or issue, and Apple cannot be held liable.
In fact if anyone uses a non-genuine AC adapter, any power based issues should not be supported and no information should be provided until they get a genuine adapter. Especially if the non-genuine one caused another fault or issue, and Apple cannot be held liable.
I had a knock off that was sold on eBay as the real thing several years ago. I ended up tossing it since I felt like the thing was going to burst into flames at any moment. It was incredibly hot, to the point that the plastic warped and it put out heat even when the laptop wasn't connected so I'm sure it was sucking down juice 24/7. They're not worth the savings.
I'm not saying this can't happen with cheap electronics, and I wouldn't trust an $8 charger with a Macbook, but so far I have not seen any conclusive evidence on video or from someone I know to be trustworthy. It's all after the fact or "friend of a friend's boss' son" stuff. None of the URLs you cite have anything actually "caught on tape":
1) "the charger turned black and, it’s where the USB cord connects to the outlet, had a mini explosion,” said Tyrrell. “It kind of bruised the fingers inside where I plugged it in.” His main problem was he got an infection compounded by his diabetes.
2) "...after he said a knockoff iPhone charger exploded in his hands" - yeah OK - any proof?
3) iPhone "blew up" in a guys pocket - nothing to do with a charger.
How did yours fail? Serious question. In 8 years of using MagSafe cables I've yet to have one fail on me.
I have seen friends cables fray apart at the connector to the laptop. However, they constantly use the cable at a 90 degree angle and this destroys it over time. The key is to let the cable run naturally away from the laptop in the direction it is designed to.
Did you actually read the article, or did you just stop at the headline?
autrefois
macrumors 65816
If you have money for a ~ 1000+ $ Macbook then 80 bucks shouldn't be problem for you
Apple has around $200 billion in cash. Charging less than $79 for their chargers shouldn't be a problem for them.
This is how you properly wrap your power cable - If you're not, that's why it's failing.
If you connect the mag safe adapter to your computer like this - you're doing it wrong and it explains why it will not last long.
It should be straight out the back with minimal degree of bend.
If you connect the mag safe adapter to your computer like this - you're doing it wrong and it explains why it will not last long.
It should be straight out the back with minimal degree of bend.
And so is building an adapter that is so complicated that you want to charge $80. Engineers Gone Wild.
Yeah totally accaptable to have a 33% chance that a charger gets broken right?
Not sure if serious...
Point is, if you treat your things like **** its going to break. If I throw my console controller on the floor after being done instead of placing it down and it breaks 3 times a year is it my fault or the manufactures?
Myself, sister, cousin and I'm sure I can find PLENTY of people I know. We all have managed to have a charger last a minimum of 3+ years.