Question for PB 12" and 15" and iBook 12" owners

Year-and-a-bit old 15" PB. No screen marks but I've used a Screensaverz since I got rid of the packing plastic the PB came with. Dropped it on a stone floor when it was about 3 months old. Dented the corner but the machine worked fine. Replaced the lower case because the dent broke the seal between the upper and lower cases and I work in some pretty dusty places.

The case can get very hot depending, it seems, on ambient air temperature.

Got those tingly little shocks thru the case as described by others in other threads when I had it plugged in at home. Just crappy grounds I suspect as it doesn't happen at work where we have more stable and conditioned power. Never happens on battery power. Also, my first addition (before the machine arrived actually) was a Kensington power adaptor so I haven't used the stock power adaptor at all. Judging from comments elsewhere, I've saved myself a lot of aggro.
 
The screen imprint problem isn't oily finger residue (as is often stated and restated), its the result of the keys touching the lid and abrading the screen surface - caused by the relative movement between the screen and the keyboard when it is closed and opened, and possibly when it is being carried around (as the lid flexes). A Radtech ScreenSavrz cloth (a sort of fake chamois leather material) will prevent it.
 
OK, thanks to all of you who replied I've managed to find out where my problems lie.

Regarding the electric shocks I get from my zapping Pbook, the culprit is definitely my power adapter. I only get zapped - good and proper - when I'm connected to the electric supply via the adapter. When I'm on battery, its a different story.

I bought the Pbook second-hand from an American journalist, so I guess the adapter prefers the electricity Stateside, not the Middle East.

So, my next question - if anybody is reading this of course (heck we're already on page 2 of this post) - is this; are any of you who own a Pbook or iBook circa 2004 or newer, and who live abroad, suffering from electric shocks when plugged in to the mains? if any of you live in Israel, your answer would be that much more appreciated....

And what I found real fascinating reading in these posts were the comments about how much cooler the iBookis compared to the Pbooks. Hmmm, worth investigating a little further before I take the plunge and buy a new laptop.

Thanks again to those that replied. I'm really pleased I posted to this forum. Feedback was fast and efficient.

Jezza
 
Common problem

Jezza said:
This isn't a finger print issue, its the key imprints. It's as if my keyboard has been pressed hard against the LCD. The rims are now a permanent fixture on my screen!

Jezza
Click to expand...

Sadly, quite a frequent issue with the TiBooks. I recommend either placing a piece of paper or screen protector inside the laptop when closed.
THANKFULLY, Apple recessed the screen on the aluminum models, which solved the problem. I have never seen an aluminum powerbook have this issue (well, I did once, but that was because the guy frequently carried it UNDER a stack of hardcover books in his bag to 'protect' it).
Feel relieved in knowing all Apple laptops now have this problem fixed.
 
Jezza said:
Regarding the electric shocks I get from my zapping Pbook, the culprit is definitely my power adapter. I only get zapped - good and proper - when I'm connected to the electric supply via the adapter. When I'm on battery, its a different story.
Click to expand...
Actually the problem is you. You aren't receiving a shock from the PB or its power adaptor, you're delivering one! You are building up a static charge on yourself (due to dry atmosphere, artificial fibre carpet etc) and then discharging it through your computer. You could just as easily be discharging it through your washing machine or kitchen sink. Its harder for you to deliver this static charge if the computer is isolated from the mains completely (ie on battery power) or if it has a plastic case (eg an iBook).
If you have some humidifiers in the room, lay a 100% wool carpet and ground yourself on something metal and connected to earth you won't have a problem.
I'm surprised your computer hasn't posted a complaint about you on this forum for ill-treating it.....
 
Jezza said:
Hi,

Last year I bought a used 15" PB Titanium circa 2002, one of the first of its breed. While I love the thing, I can't really use it on my laptop as it zaps me with nasty electric shocks. The only way round this is to put it on a table and/or make sure I'm not barefooted (I live in the Middle East where the heat can be unbearable and you want me to keep my shoes on?).

Over the past year I've noticed the LCD has acquired permanent imprints of the keys from the keyboard which I'm not impressed with whatsoever. To make matters worse, I recently bought a clapped out IBM Thinkpad circa 1990's whose casing resembles a war zone, but whose screen is spotless, no indentations from the keyboard. Hmm. I'm impressed with the durability of these Thinkpads.

This tells me two things; the PB has a lid-closure not-enough-room-seperating-the-keys-from-the-screen design flaw; and the PB has an electrical design flaw. Well, at least mine has.

I'll be in the market for a replacement laptop in the coming year. I'd like to hear from any PB or iBook user in this forum, whose machine is circa 2004 or newer, if they suffer from similar complaints. I want to know if Apple fixed the two design flaws mentioned above in their more recent machines.

I'm really hot for a 12" PB. No use geting one if the thing is going to fry me each time I put it on my lap...and the new Thinkpad X41 is real tempting...

Thanks to anyone reading this for your time, especially if you reply,

Jezza
Click to expand...

Call Apple immediately. This shocking thing happened on my old 400mhz Tibook and they replaced everything. I, too, noticed it was only when it was plugged into the wall. Even if it is not under warranty, they will replace your logic board and check it all over for 300 plus bucks. I know, because I have that same 1ghz machine in to Apple right now for 349. It is worth it because you could sell the machine with the new warranty.

PS the keyboard imprint is a known PBTi problem. Tibooks have a little rubber bumper on the top of the screen and if they wear down, etc., the keys will smash into the lcd. Make sure your keyboard is locked down and take some h20 and elbow grease to the screen. Then replace or put some kind of rubber bumpers on the screen. Some companies sell these aftermarket Tibook accoutrements.
 
Never been shocked... you may have some ground loop issues, btw.

also, I am wanting to sell my 12" Powerbook if you are still interested..........
 
Jezza - israel

Hi there

I am sitting in Jerusalem wondering how to use my 12" Powerbook while getting all these electric shocks (exactly how you described) .... would be great to have a chat with you asap... Did changing the adapter to a 3 pin solve it for you?

thanks
Lem
www.oi-va-voi.com
 
LemezLovas said:
Hi there

I am sitting in Jerusalem wondering how to use my 12" Powerbook while getting all these electric shocks (exactly how you described) .... would be great to have a chat with you asap... Did changing the adapter to a 3 pin solve it for you?

thanks
Lem
www.oi-va-voi.com
Click to expand...

Lem you opened an eight month old thread. Confusing to the rest of us; try a search on shocks.
 
i have a 12in powerbook that i bought about a year ago (circa 2005). It has never given me an electric shock, and the screen is in great condition. HOpe this helps
 
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