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Not satisfied with build quality on ibook...

I've got the creaking to the left of the trackpad too.. but I have to really press down to make it creak. It's as if there's nothing underneath.. which kind of annoys me since the right side feels much, much sturdier. This is only a minor gripe, though. Overall I think this is the best purchase I've ever made. :)
 
I've owned a G3 and G4 iBook; the G4 feels more solid than the G3. I've had what I think was a loose display cable on my iBook G4 (the screen went completely white; video mirroring worked fine). Then again, I tend to abuse mine a little; it goes everywhere with me and is my primary computer (I am considering another Mac to use at home).

My brother's iBook G4's hard drive died, but that isn't really Apple's fault as those things tend to die every now and then.
 
Do any of you guys have the keyboard latch problem on the ibook? Not really a problem, but the left latch doesn't line up as well as the right one (just flick both latches and the left shouldn't return perfectl to it's original position).
 
QCassidy352 said:
well, mine seems to be getting worse... so look out! :eek:
Click to expand...

I will. I'm really paranoid about keeping my ibook perfect especially with taking it to school with me everyday and to work on the weekends. Im gonna be heart broken once it gets that one big scratch on the case (or worse) because i do something stupid. Hopefully yours wont deteriorate any further.
 
Originally posted by Peter Griffin
I found that the piece of plastic which covers the ports on the left side sticking out
Click to expand...

My first and replacement iBooks had/have that problem. Although, I'm not sure it's a problem, at least I hope it's not. I have completely changed my mind about my recommendation to my girlfriend about buying an iBook. I'm surprised no one has jumped into the thread defending Apple by examples of other manufacturer’s shoddy quality. I know laptops in general suffer more build quality issues than desktops.
 
I do have to add that my current new 1.33ghz 14" ibook is absolutely perfect. I love it.

If there is some quirk in the way the book was snapped together, Apple has always been very quick on the draw with me in replacing things. A new used 1.2 ibook 14" I just bought had a trackpad that was slightly askew and Apple is replacing the whole palmrest under warranty. That's what the warranty is for. I love Apple and there has to be an expectation of some problems with all machines.
 
Hi! I had some trouble with my brandnew iBook's quality as well. The Trackpad made really strange noises just when my fingler glided smoothly over it. What was even more annoying was pixel which had turned and stayed red right in the centre of the screen. I phoned AppleCare in Germany and they told me it would be checked by an Apple Service Provider. They informed me that the iBook had been classified as DOA (Dead On Arrival) and that I would get a new one from my dealer. The new iBook is just as expected it to bee.
I think that AppleCare has been very nice and generous, but I think that Apple have some quality problems. Cheers! :)
 
I've had many problems with both of my iBook G3s as well, including the palm rest sqeaking you've mentioned. Apple has definately cut corners with the iBook quality as far as I can tell. I would try calling them to get this fixed as quickly as possible.
 
Hmm... I just noticed that the casing right by the mouse/clicker thingie; if you press down on the grayish plastic it budges a mm or two and but most annoying is that its sort of squeaks. Anybody else?

Should I bring it into Apple? Sucks, it's BTO though. Sigh.
 
brendel95 said:
The spacebar problem is unavoidable in iBook. Keyboard cable is located underneath spacebar. That's why spacebar always have poblem to the right or left end of it.
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i dont have the spacebar problem, or any problems with my iBook. :D
 
I still haven't decided on my next mac - Powerbook or iBook. This thread sure makes choosing easier. I didn't like the iBook's keyboard when I tried it, but have no other experience with it.
How's the fan in the iBook? I hate the one in my Powerbook - it's on most of the time and makes a terrible noise.
 
brendel95 said:
The spacebar problem is unavoidable in iBook. Keyboard cable is located underneath spacebar. That's why spacebar always have poblem to the right or left end of it.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... My spacebar is just perfect. I didn't know these type of things were happening. Wow. To the right of my trackpad, I also can here a noticeable movement and "squeaky" type sound.
 
iGary said:
I beat the crap out of my iBook.

Takes a lickin' nd keeps on tickin'.
Click to expand...

:eek: My iBook does get some damage [not on purpose ;)] also, but it "keeps on tickin'."

Your location cracked me up, iGary. LOLWTFville - lmao
 
While I have complained a lot, there are a few shining moments with my iBook:
Great battery life
Great Wi-Fi reception
The fan has yet to come on and I have used it heavily. I hope it works though, but it sounds like a lot of PB owners have constant fan noise.
The plastic, while prone to scratching, is very sturdy, giving no flex to the screen.

I think it is a really hard choice if you are trying to go between a 12 PB and a 12/14” iBook. Each has its pros and cons, but if you read the boards, you’ll find which has cons that you can live with.
 
Yoyodyne said:
While I have complained a lot, there are a few shining moments with my iBook:
Great battery life
Great Wi-Fi reception
The fan has yet to come on and I have used it heavily. I hope it works though, but it sounds like a lot of PB owners have constant fan noise.
The plastic, while prone to scratching, is very sturdy, giving no flex to the screen.

I think it is a really hard choice if you are trying to go between a 12 PB and a 12/14” iBook. Each has its pros and cons, but if you read the boards, you’ll find which has cons that you can live with.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree with everything you said. The ibook has many great pros, not the least of which is that it's 2/3 the price of a powerbook. Overall, the ibook is a great computer.
 
If I press the narrow strip between the keyboard and the left side it squeeks and seems a bit fragile, also if I press on the left side in front of the keyboard. I am worried that if I do that too hard it will break or crack. There was also a tiny sharp bit at a joint, very slight misalignment I think that has rubbed away now. Apart from that everything seems fine. This is a replacement iBook, it doesn't get as hot as the previous one did.
 
The iBook is a great value, and mine works for me--but the build quality is really in another calibre compared to that of the PowerBook. Even well-abused demo models and friends' PowerBooks are sturdier-feeling than my iBook was brand new. They're just flimsier. You pick it up from the corner and you can see the frame slightly bend and the display wobble. They are not as solid at all compared to the PB G4s. Then there's the gaps between the plastic seams on the iBook--sometimes as large as a fingernail. I haven't put mine through undue rigors, but the display LCD does a weird popping-in-and-out thing with the display bezel. There are creaks and sounds sometimes. The latch very often does get jammed, bent, or misaligned--and then stops working. (Though that particular example is just as likely in a PowerBook for all I know.)

They're great little machines, extremely affordable and cost-effective, and for the most part (like 99.9%), they do everything a near-comparably-equipped PowerBook does. Just with a little less zing which you may not notice. And, of course, they're somewhat plasticky and flimsy.

On the other hand, some may like that more than the chance of their PB getting scratched or these infamous dents, which of the dozens of PowerBooks I've seen the last year or two, only one has exhibited. :)
 
My one month iBook suffers from the left side squeaking problem (and top right) as well. I also find that the mouse button click rattles and typing sounds rather tinny/toyish compared to my dead TiPB. I figured that this is what you pay for when you get the lower end model.

But then my Dad fell in love with the form factor of the iBook and purchased one himself (downgrade from 17-inch PB). His iBook is absolutely flawless. No movement or squeaks in plastic at all. Mouse clicks sound very tight and solid as is when typing on the keyboard. It could be that the type of plastic used in his iBook is different as it appears to be a shade of grey darker. When I compare some of the values in System Profiler, my iBook is PowerPC G4 (1.2) whereas my dads is PowerPC G4 (1.5).

Does anyone know if Apple has change the material of the plastic? Do you think I would be able to get this resolved through warranty?
 
Apple shipped my new 12" iBook yesterday, but I'm a little nervous now :( . As long as it runs well, I'll be happy. This is an upgrade from a nearly stock Cube!
 
My ibook is excellent. I suppose if I wanted to nit-pick though I could say the spacebar is ever-so-slightly lopsided (left side being about .001mm higher), and I have a sharp point on the left side where the join is on the side panel and the front, that is all everything else is excellent :D
I'm very happy with it, battery life is even not to bad, about 4.5 hours or so with my current settings (4.3 with airport on).
 
Knock on Wood

I recently replaced my (ancient) iBook G3/500 with a new iBook G4/1.33/12" after the screen cracked on the old one.

So I had the earliest "white" iBook as well as the latest one. Apple has taken some cost-cutting steps in the design and manufacturing the last three years.
Most notably, molded in color for the case vice clear case, painted on the inside and painted trim (i.e. painted hinge and painted top case) and a white keyboard vs. a milky colored one. The other obvious change is the shift from a tray loading to a slot loading drive.

Overall, the two seem to have comparable build quality, though of course the new iBook is new and the old one was very trouble free.
 
This is why I won't buy an ibook. My powerbook is absolutely perfect. Well except for the space between the lid and the keyboard when closed. :eek:
 
so i went to my school's computer store today and got the apple technician to take a look at my messed up keyboard (it was stuck and the pull tabs weren't working) and he replaced the keyboard for free! it took 5 minutes.

he also explained that most ibook users will have problems with their spacebars (having either side higher than the other) due to poor design. the metal heat plate above the ram slot is the culprit. he said making that tight allows for more room for the keyboard connector which in turn allows the spacebar to rest properly.
 
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