Just a few things
I've been suffering from this problem since my first 400mhz Ti and it's still just as bad with my 800Ti. As I sit here in France with my feet on a plastic mat for insulation, I'm still getting zapped when my elbow touches the window frame. If my foot strays off the mat, BZZZZ. If anyone has any doubts about the validity of the claim, tote your Ti to the garage, where there's bare concrete, plug it in, take off your shoes, plant them on the floor, and then run your wrist over the case. Unplug the power and the problem goes away. The same effect is even more exciting when you touch a cold water pipe!!
Measuring the voltage - You'll need a high impedence volt meter or an oscilloscope to measure the leakage. I used an oscilloscope and measured 60 volts AC. I wasn't able to get a current measurement but it's pretty small. If you try this, measure between the PB case and a cold water pipe or ground-pin on an electric outlet (make sure you know which pin that is). A door knob or most metal in your house won't work.
The problem got really bad when I moved to France and the voltage doubled (230 volt over here). I live in a newly-rewired flat that has all new electrical service, outlets, wire, circuit breaker box, etc. The problem wasn't with the wiring in the house in the US and it's not the problem here in France.
The problem is the Apple power supply. I've read that in the design of "Class III power supplies" they often couple the AC line to the ground pin/wire on the DC cord (the cord that connects the PB to the power adaptor) through CAPACITORS which would explain why you get a high voltage shock with almost no amperage. I've had 60 volt/20 ampere AC shocks from CATV distribution equipment and they'll knock you on your butt.
I am now convinced that this is a design defect, regardless of whether the US government approves the Class III spec for power supplies. I've read hundreds of posts about this and it's a real problem on a large scale. Any electric shock is dangerous to some people. Anyone with electronic implants (pace makers, monitors, etc.) is at risk from even small electric shocks for example.
Apple's support website has quite a collection of posts on the subject but hasn't addressed or so much as answered a single one of them. This is an admission of guilt by omission in my opinion. I've had their forum experts answer my posts in less than an hour when my problem was a TCP/IP issue. Apple always goes silent on issues like this, right up until the USCPSC forces a recall (
http://www.cpsc.gov/).
People are getting shocks from their metal-clad Apple P-books. End of discussion. Contact the USCPSC, Apple, ZDnet, every publication you read and get some action going. This is not a "maybe it's just me" thing. I am paying for AppleCare on a machine that gives me a painful electric shock unless I use it with my feet on a plastic mat. I don't need any more proof.
otherwise you will be the ground connection.
