Macbook Pro Caught Alight!

[smartalic34]

You'd think by now they would have either done it right or dropped the idea. The fact that the current problem, though slightly different, is still with the adapter/connector should tell them something. They need to spend far more time and money to get it right or simply stop wasting time and move on.

Can't say I want to be one of their guinea pigs.

the prevalence of this new issue is nowhere near the scope of the 2006 issues. back then, the weak connector near the magsafe end couldnt support the strain most users subjected it to. most of the articles online are about this issue. apple redesigned the adapter with a stronger and longer connector and the issue went away. in other words, apple fixed the problem.

this new problem that has cropped up is quite different from the previous issue. it may have similar symptoms, but it is not due to the weakness of the connector near the magsafe end. there haven't been widespread problems for over 2 years now. as far as I know, the OP's issue is not widespread either.

yes, the design could be improved more... as others have said, the end near the brick could use some strengthening, but I think it's faulty logic to state the adapters havent been improved since their introduction

it's possible the newer models have design flaws the older ones did not

 

[SatoriGFX]

the prevalence of this new issue is nowhere near the scope of the 2006 issues. back then, the weak connector near the magsafe end couldnt support the strain most users subjected it to. most of the articles online are about this issue. apple redesigned the adapter with a stronger and longer connector and the issue went away. in other words, apple fixed the problem.

this new problem that has cropped up is quite different from the previous issue. it may have similar symptoms, but it is not due to the weakness of the connector near the magsafe end. there haven't been widespread problems for over 2 years now. as far as I know, the OP's issue is not widespread either.

yes, the design could be improved more... as others have said, the end near the brick could use some strengthening, but I think it's faulty logic to state the adapters havent been improved since their introduction

it's possible the newer models have design flaws the older ones did not

Well, it doesn't matter where the problem is to me. I don't care what end starts burning, only "that" it starts burning. It seems obvious to me that the power supply is of questionable quality. Perhaps because of their efforts to keep their power supply small and sexy Apple have ended up supplying a subpar power supply.

It's a laptop. It's meant to be moved around. If the cable on the power supply can't take a good amount of abuse then perhaps Apple ought to find someone to make them a better power supply. Wouldn't you agree?

The stupid thing is, it's such an easy fix. Better cable strain relief. Every wall wart I own has better strain relief than the Macbook power supplies. Apple has no excuse. It's not rocket science.

The more I read about this simple to fix problem the more ridiculous the actual existance of the problem seems.

 

[drake]

Its just like the 1st gen ipod nanos! I had a couple of them and one got so hot one day it burnt my hand. I called Apple and they sent a replacement right away and asked if anything elso was damaged. I said my pc was acting weird after the incident and they offered to replace it with a black macbook but there was no burn marks or anything on the computer so I had to decline. (Didnt want to commit fraud)

Buck..buck...oh...I mean, you did the right thing.

 

[MacModMachine]

Well, it doesn't matter where the problem is to me. I don't care what end starts burning, only "that" it starts burning. It seems obvious to me that the power supply is of questionable quality. Perhaps because of their efforts to keep their power supply small and sexy Apple have ended up supplying a subpar power supply.

It's a laptop. It's meant to be moved around. If the cable on the power supply can't take a good amount of abuse then perhaps Apple ought to find someone to make them a better power supply. Wouldn't you agree?

The stupid thing is, it's such an easy fix. Better cable strain relief. Every wall wart I own has better strain relief than the Macbook power supplies. Apple has no excuse. It's not rocket science.

The more I read about this simple to fix problem the more ridiculous the actual existance of the problem seems.

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/securitymonkey/yet-another-dell-laptop-catches-fire-10794

http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Dell_laptop_blamed_for_house_fire

they dident issue a recall....its not just apple....


they dident even offer there customers free notebooks.

so....your "im not buying it because it has a chance of catching fire" is a waste...anything can catch on fire....especially a sony notebook with there exploding batteries...you dont hear about them anymore because no one buys there batteries anymore....

 

[SFStateStudent]

Congrats OP, enjoy your new Mac; sorry to hear about the toasting thing....

 

[RiCEADDiCTBOY]

What a BS response. How are you supposed to "be very careful" yet not have it "on material of any kind" ?? Why even bother having a power adapter if it can't be placed on anything nor pulled out of the plug- you know, what it was designed to do.

i remember getting harassed because i was reporting this issue as problematic and apple should address the matter. no consumer should be advised to use any plug-in adapter carefully. nobody should ever have to be paranoid about any product randomly combusting...

 

[SatoriGFX]

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/securitymonkey/yet-another-dell-laptop-catches-fire-10794

http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Dell_laptop_blamed_for_house_fire

they dident issue a recall....its not just apple....


they dident even offer there customers free notebooks.

so....your "im not buying it because it has a chance of catching fire" is a waste...anything can catch on fire....especially a sony notebook with there exploding batteries...you dont hear about them anymore because no one buys there batteries anymore....

Well, according to at least one of your links Dell "did" issue a recall. From your first link right at the end of the article:

"If you own a Dell laptop, please go over to Dell's Battery Site and make sure your battery hasn't been recalled."

They give a link to:

http://support.dell.com/battery/

I don't see the holdup. Drop the Magsafe connector if it's a problem and improve the cable strain relief at both ends of the cable.

The fact that faults happen with other manufacturer's products is no excuse for Apple not to fix something which is easily fixable.

 

[jdaco6]

Congrats OP, enjoy your new Mac; sorry to hear about the toasting thing....

Thanks, ill post some pics when it arrives!

Just hope this issue doesn't happen to anyone else!

 

[niuniu]

You got firewire with your early 2009 Macbook and you complain? Bunch of ingrates.

 

[SatoriGFX]

You got firewire with your early 2009 Macbook and you complain? Bunch of ingrates.

"Fire"wire is right.

 

[MacLadybug]

Sounds Good!

Sounds like they are making it better than right, which seems to be Apple's way. Let us know how your new MBP is.

 

[EMKarelia]

WOW! Thats scary!

Poor Macbook Pro. Hopefully you had warranty on this mac. I wonder what went wrong with it. I think that it might be something wrong with the power.

 

[vardamir]

WOW! Thats scary!

Poor Macbook Pro. Hopefully you had warranty on this mac. I wonder what went wrong with it. I think that it might be something wrong with the power.

As people have already pointed out, whether they had warranty or not, it is still Apple's duty to fix the problem, free of charge.