New iBook annoyances...

[OldCorpse]

OP: have some Apple techs tighten the screws on your iBook. I can't imagine why they wouldn't be tight but then again, I don't work in an Apple Labor camp in China. Perhaps someone had to use the loo and was threatened with the whip or something and just couldn't tighten down the screws enough. If it still squeaks -- complain. My chinese made iBook is of lesser quality than my Taiwanese made iBook, I can tell you. (LCD not put together perfect, etc.).

Oh, how do you know where your machine was manufactured? Go to coconut identity card and download it. Will tell you month and year and week and country of manufacture. Also coconut battery will tell you how much oohms you got on your battery. Nice apps.

Thank you California (hey, I'm from LA, a few blocks from the Grove Apple store ) for your advice and kind words.

Yeah, I'll try your suggestions. Incidentally, it said on the box that it was manufactured in China... I assume that means mainland China, so that would explain the funky build quality ... anyhow, I'll still prolly download the "coconut battery ID", just to see what's up .

I love the little lappy, I'd just hope not to have to deal with the little stuff, which to me indicates poor QC... that in itself is worrisome more than the specific problems, as it makes you wonder about the quality of work on the more critical components you can't even see

And yes, I've installed memory and optical drives in PCs (including memory in my Dull Inspiron laptop), so I'm sure I could manage to do it in the iBook, but like I said, I figure that as long as I'm there having them tighten up the keyboard and chassis, why not... involves taking off the keyboard in any case.

Aaah, all this trouble, and then these absolutely perfect Mactels come out in January, totally blowing away the current iBook and have fewer problems to boot (I figure they'd want to be on their best behaviour with the first changeover to Intel, so everyone will pull out all the stops... both Apple and Intel). Still, I went into this with my eyes wide open, so I have no regrets .

Happy Holidays to you and Happy New Year!

 

[omeletpants]

Hey omelet pants.

Uh, I wonder if you could be MORE WRONG than you were in the above post.

Ram is a "CUSTOMER APPROVED" install. I know because I was actually ON THE PHONE WITH APPLE the first time I installed ram in a PB as they guided me through the steps. PLUS I have had Apple techs put in so much third party ram for me I can't even count. (Now I know how to do it myself, which saves some bucks.)

So, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS but don't bother posting on MR when you insult the OP plus give us strange and wrong information.

OP: have some Apple techs tighten the screws on your iBook. I can't imagine why they wouldn't be tight but then again, I don't work in an Apple Labor camp in China. Perhaps someone had to use the loo and was threatened with the whip or something and just couldn't tighten down the screws enough. If it still squeaks -- complain. My chinese made iBook is of lesser quality than my Taiwanese made iBook, I can tell you. (LCD not put together perfect, etc.).

Oh, how do you know where your machine was manufactured? Go to coconut identity card and download it. Will tell you month and year and week and country of manufacture. Also coconut battery will tell you how much oohms you got on your battery. Nice apps.

No, actually you are wrong. Apple techs will not install 3rd party RAM. Additionally, if you send in a unit with 3rd party RAM for any kind of repair they will remove it, stick it into an anti-static bag and ship it back with your repaired unit

 

[California]

No, actually you are wrong. Apple techs will not install 3rd party RAM. Additionally, if you send in a unit with 3rd party RAM for any kind of repair they will remove it, stick it into an anti-static bag and ship it back with your repaired unit

You're mixing things up. When Apple sends back a warranty computer and can't figure out the trouble, their "default" stock conclusion is the third party ram.

As for customers or Apple techs putting third party ram into their computers, it is a customer approved upgrade. Call Apple. I know because I have done so, AND I have watched as Apple techs installed Kingston and other ram into brand new machines that did not violate the warranty. Like I said, don't take my word for it, call Apple. You are allowed to drop third party ram into your Mac. But Apple would prefer us to geek out under the confusion to their benefit on their incredibly expen$ive ram (that is usually just Samsung.)

 

[OldCorpse]

You're mixing things up. When Apple sends back a warranty computer and can't figure out the trouble, their "default" stock conclusion is the third party ram.

As for customers or Apple techs putting third party ram into their computers, it is a customer approved upgrade. Call Apple. I know because I have done so, AND I have watched as Apple techs installed Kingston and other ram into brand new machines that did not violate the warranty. Like I said, don't take my word for it, call Apple. You are allowed to drop third party ram into your Mac. But Apple would prefer us to geek out under the confusion to their benefit on their incredibly expen$ive ram (that is usually just Samsung.)

Just a little update. I decided to put in the RAM myself, figuring that if I do something wrong, I'm bringing it in anyway. But, it was a piece of cake. Anyhow, I did go to the store (Santa Monica 3rd St. Promenade one). The genius was nice as can be. He looked at the 3 problem areas (I didn't bother to even mention the space bar key problem). His verdict: within spec. Here was his take: all of the iBooks have these problems, to one degree or another. My degree was moderate. So, he said, you can go ahead and try to get it exchanged, but at best, you'll get another unit that has the same problem, but to a lesser degree... is it worth it? First, if the rest of the computer works perfectly, you're taking a chance that you'll get a unit with better profile on your 3 problems, but maybe something else is worse. And then of course, the hassle of exchanging etc. Anyhow, before I got to the bar, I checked out the other iBooks in the store, and indeed they showed the same problems (some less, some more than mine). While at it, the genius pointed out another problem I hadn't even noticed... the lid of the computer is set at a slight angle... so that on one side (the latch side) it doesn't quite cover the bottom chassis (by about 1mm) while in the back, it overshoots slightly... and he said, to be careful with how I carry it in the bag (I have a slingpack), because he's seen when people set down their bags, if they don't have enough protection in the bottom (I do), the lid can gradually shift and eventually be really far off the chassis!

He did however advise to inform Apple that I'm experiencing these problems - make a record of it. That way, if anything related to these issues goes wrong, you can point out that it had nothing to do with user error, but was inherent there from the beginning.

I guess, I'm going to live with it. I really want to use my iBook, and I put many hours transferring files and configuring it, and I don't want to bother with exchanges. So, it ain't perfect, but like a child, you love it anyway.

Thanks to everyone for the moral support!

P.S. California, I have a friend in Europe, who's begging me to install skype, so we can talk. I guess I'll have to give in. So... I was quite interested in your thread on the same subject... keep us updated

 

[California]

He did however advise to inform Apple that I'm experiencing these problems - make a record of it. That way, if anything related to these issues goes wrong, you can point out that it had nothing to do with user error, but was inherent there from the beginning.

I guess, I'm going to live with it. I really want to use my iBook, and I put many hours transferring files and configuring it, and I don't want to bother with exchanges. So, it ain't perfect, but like a child, you love it anyway.

Thanks to everyone for the moral support!

P.S. California, I have a friend in Europe, who's begging me to install skype, so we can talk. I guess I'll have to give in. So... I was quite interested in your thread on the same subject... keep us updated

Sounds like you got very good advice from a true Apple Genius.

P.S. Old C:

My friend I'll be Skype -ing won't be in the UK until second week of January at which time I'll let you know. I'm going to start with using simple headphones on the iBook and take my chances with the built in microphone on the iBook lid. (The mic on the Powerbook is set down on the topcase near the speakers -- bad positioning methinks for Skype calls.)

If that fails -- as the reported echoing back of the other caller's voice -- I'm looking at some bluetooth headsets. Though without much Bluetooth experience (I hear that the battery issue on BT devices sucks -- always changing batteries) maybe i'll try the usb solution with a headset. None of this is worth it if one has to pay over fifty bucks to Skype properly, though, IMHO.

Can you believe I've yet to go to the Apple store near you in the Grove? Why'd you trek to 3rd street?

 

[OldCorpse]

None of this is worth it if one has to pay over fifty bucks to Skype properly, though, IMHO.

Can you believe I've yet to go to the Apple store near you in the Grove? Why'd you trek to 3rd street?

I just moved to my present area (Melrose/LaBrea), a few months ago... I used to live in Mar Vista, and I still have a mailbox there which I've paid for till May (at which point I'll get one closer to my current place)... so from time to time, I go there to pick up mail... and that's just 10 minutes away from 3rd Street, so I figured I may as well go to the Apple store there, and grab some coffee on the promenade. Plus, the Grove Apple store is a real zoo, I kind of like the 3rd street one better. I think they opened an Apple store in the Beverly Center as well... haven't been there, it's about equal distance for me from the Grove. Also, I sort of got to observe the various geniuses during my many visits to the 3rd street store over the years... most are ultranice, a couple are hardaxx sticklers for little meaningless rules... so I know whom to avoid... the Grove folks, I don't know at all, I've only been there like maybe 4 times.

I haven't looked too deeply into skype... yeah, I can get a dialaround for about 5c/min to Britain... so if it's too expensive and too much of a hassle, I'll have to re-think the whole skype business...