Powerbook G4 adapter issues - Answers/replacement suggestions?

[Punkrockemu]

I'm thinking about replacing my 2.5 year old Powerbook G4. I've had a LOT of trouble with the power adapters, and the plug-in where the adapter plugs into the laptop recently. (I've gone through 3 adapters in the last 3 months and no one I talk to can tell me WHY..) The adapters get stuck, start sparking, stop working, you name it.. it's been a rough couple months between me and my G4.

If I could figure out why I'm going through adapters this quickly, I'd be glad to stick with my so-hot-you-could-fry-an-egg-on-it G4. But, given that I'm not incredibly rough with it (it makes it's trip from bookshelf to lap, a journey of roughly 3 feet, several times a day) I just don't understand how I can be destroying adapters this quickly.

Anyhoo, I had a couple questions for people who have replaced their Powerbooks with the new intel mac laptops. Do the Macbook's and Macbook Pro's get as hot as the G4's do? I'm getting rather sick of burning my knee, lol. And, has anyone had any trouble with the new magsafe chargers? That is a HUGE selling point for me, given what I've gone through.

 

[Jezza]

Here's what I ended up doing with my PowerBook 15-inch G4 that sufferred the exact same problems that you seem to be sufferring.

Re the Heat issue
I had my Powerbook serviced - there was a problem with the fan. Since the day it was returned, the heat issue has much improved, still hot on the thighs mind, but the actual titanium area that surrounds the keyboard is now cool; it was once so hot, I could cook me a real BBQ on it...

Re the Adapter issue
No matter how I tried, simply placing the adapter into the wall socket was not enough to flow electricity from the socket to the Powerbook; I needed to twist the thing and would often succeed to get the flow going when the adapter was placed at crazy angles, half hanging off the main "white square" part; crap. Not to mention the sparks and crackling noises that frightened the bejezus outta me too.

A week ago I had a brainwave; I took a thick and strong looking elastic band (I'm from the UK, don't know what the American term for Elastic Bands is, apologies) and wrapped it around the adapter so that the adapter is now real tight and snug to the "white square" part. Now, for the first time since owning the Powerbook, when I plug the adapter into the wall socket and pop the other end into the Powerbook....electricity flows immediately.

And the best thing of all is the popping, crackling and other fireworks noises, have dissappeared.

I really hope this post helps you solve your problems; I know how you've been feeling (I sufferred this crap for the past three and a half years).



Jezza

 

[phrint]

I'm thinking about replacing my 2.5 year old Powerbook G4. I've had a LOT of trouble with the power adapters, and the plug-in where the adapter plugs into the laptop recently. (I've gone through 3 adapters in the last 3 months and no one I talk to can tell me WHY..) The adapters get stuck, start sparking, stop working, you name it.. it's been a rough couple months between me and my G4.

If I could figure out why I'm going through adapters this quickly, I'd be glad to stick with my so-hot-you-could-fry-an-egg-on-it G4. But, given that I'm not incredibly rough with it (it makes it's trip from bookshelf to lap, a journey of roughly 3 feet, several times a day) I just don't understand how I can be destroying adapters this quickly.

Anyhoo, I had a couple questions for people who have replaced their Powerbooks with the new intel mac laptops. Do the Macbook's and Macbook Pro's get as hot as the G4's do? I'm getting rather sick of burning my knee, lol. And, has anyone had any trouble with the new magsafe chargers? That is a HUGE selling point for me, given what I've gone through.

I upgraded from a PowerBook G4 1.67 to a MBP 15" 2.8 a few weeks ago. The MBP does not get anywhere near as hot as the PowerBook. The MBP will get warm with extended use but it does not burn the legs like the PowerBook. I laugh every time I read someone complaining on MR about the heat from their MBP as I think about the PB G4.

I have not had any issues with the new Magsafe charger but my MBP is only a few weeks old. My original Apple charger on the old PB lasted about four years until it croaked. I replaced it with one from OWC from MacMall for about $16.00 off retail. They look to be out of stock but you can order one directly from OWC for a premium price

http://www.macmall.com/p/Other-World-Computing-Power-Adapters/product~dpno~7490733~pdp.egbhejf

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer Technology/APLPBI65W/

It comes with a three year warranty.