Redesigned MacBook Pro Power Adapter Coming?

[ibinco]

The delay in the delivery of the power bricks could mean a couple of things:

- They are stocking up to ship with all New Macbooks (more powerful 85W?)

- They are stocking up to ship with remodelled Macbook Pro ( I wish 😱)

- They are planning a recall ( wich would be the right thing to do)

- Theres a shortage of parts supply and simply facing loads of backorders.

 

[thecritix]

personally... i think the magnet is too strong, If it were less powerful, there would be far less strain on the cable, allowing for a far extended life.

Of course you could look at it the other way and just say apple get your cabling sorted..

 

[rychencop]

Unbelievable. Only just bought the latest version because the old version was too big.Must admit that I haven't had any problems with either but those pics are really worrying - no house fires please....

That is why they should just issue a recall before something like that happens. Not only would/could it destroy property, but it endangers life. Both of which would really hurt Apple.

 

[appie57]

So far I have not had any issues with either of my powers supplies and hope I never do. The other day though I had set me MBP on a table at the coffee shop to get another coffee and when I set it down the cord near the mag safe connecter got twisted and stuck underneath. I think this may be the start to a lot of the issues people are having.🙁

I was also thinking why some people have these bad experiences while others, like myself, have no problem (so far, after almost a year, 2 MBP's). My impression is that the adapter is ok with relatively careful use, but is not well enough designed to withstand occasional 'misuse'. Which leads me to 2 conclusions:
(1) I have to be more careful than average with my present Magsafe adapter (2) it seems better to get a redesigned one, if that design eliminates the current weak spots. This expense seems worth the potential risk, although it would be nice if Apple gives at least a discount for present MBP owners.

 

[MattG]

personally... i think the magnet is too strong, If it were less powerful, there would be far less strain on the cable, allowing for a far extended life.

Of course you could look at it the other way and just say apple get your cabling sorted..

I agree. I make it a habit to try prying it off by the plastic piece, but sometimes it can be a bit hard to do, especially if the notebook is lying flat and you can't really grip the plug using the wide ends.

 

[maclincsUK]

well this is good news, I had mine replaced once - and the replacement looks like its on its way out! lets hope it sorted before I go to the States at the end of the month so I can buy one there....

 

[dcv]

I agree. I make it a habit to try prying it off by the plastic piece, but sometimes it can be a bit hard to do, especially if the notebook is lying flat and you can't really grip the plug using the wide ends.

Then don't pull it... push it gently downwards at an angle and it pops off nicely 😉

 

[OllyW]

Then don't pull it... push it gently downwards at an angle and it pops off nicely 😉

That's how I unplug mine, I've had no problems so far.

 

[bytethese]

This is one thing that Apple is not good at. I complained about my PB G4 adapters. (I have 3, each one is burnt and melted and one sparks) I know have to go to the store for them to look at it because what I said over the phone wasn't good enough. 🙄 It's ridiculous.

For power supplies? I'll say yes. I'm on my 3rd power supply with my Macbook Pro. Twice it burned near the end and I smelled something burning with my first one. Could have set something on fire I suppose. The firm I work work has thousands of Lenovo power supplies for our laptops. I haven't seen one go bad in the 5yrs I've been here...

 

[jjd]

The delay in the delivery of the power bricks could mean a couple of things:

- They are stocking up to ship with all New Macbooks (more powerful 85W?)

- They are stocking up to ship with remodelled Macbook Pro ( I wish 😱)

- They are planning a recall ( wich would be the right thing to do)

- Theres a shortage of parts supply and simply facing loads of backorders.[/QUOTE

I really hope they don't go to an all 85W world. Aircraft in-seat power units will not work with the 85W pack - they trip the circuit breakers in the system. I use my wife's MacBook adapter with my MacBook Pro for that reason

 

[shoobe01]

I also like apple design, and think their power adapters are way nicer to pack and use than anyone else's. But they are also demonstrably unreliable. And its not people abusing them. If anything, apple users seem to be more ginger with their pretty, pretty machines.

Until recently (and for years) I worked at a Fortune 50 telecom. Our team had several dozen macs. Of course, we also had like 100 dells and toshibas. Never once saw a bad PC power adapter. Clunky, ugly, hot, etc. but never broken or frayed. The apples? Bad, approaching 100% if you give them time.

The wallstreet and bronze had an adapter recall for fraying and pulling. All of ours went bad and got replaced.

The saucers did seem to work.

The boxy ones starting with the Ti-books were prone to pulling out of the body, or just popping and dying. My favorite was on a weekend, on a trip overseas. It took 4 months to work out the expense report for buying a replacement from a local electronics store. After three died on me alone, in 6 months, I went to a MacAlly one instead. It worked till I left.

The MBPs we had were, when I left, at about a 50% failure rate, at 3 months average age. Popping and dying, or pulling or fraying. So not even one problem, but everything that can go wrong. Our admin was just buying extras so we could replace immediately, and desperately unhappy that no aftermarket ones were available due to the magsafe patent thing.


Hell, a Cube we had (for the VP) had a PS that just went to hell and had to be replaced.


As an example of how lame the design is, has anyone noticed the current cordwrap tabs are the same size as on the Ti- and Al-books, but the cord diameter is bigger? So now it doesn't really fit, and comes off in transport. Apple seems to put their C-team on this work, and its time to get someone competent.

 

[network23]

I do hope Apple recalls them. I must have missed my Apple reminder email ... the warranty on my MBP ran out in June and I never did get AppleCare (though I had intended to 🙁). I'm not seeing any of the symptoms mentioned here yet, for several months my MBP was really more of a desktop, it rarely got moved, but I have noticed the cord right by the magsafe seems bunched up and twisted just under the cover. I'm willing to bet that's fraying.

 

[guzhogi]

Why is Apple so bad at making power adaptors for their portables? I know of so many people who have had broken ones despite taking good care of them. One of my own started sparking(!), and the one they gave me to replace it with has to be rotated a certain way or the power will cut out. My girlfriend's is fraying right at the plug, and my friend's is breaking at the connection to the brick. The reviews of them on Apple's website are horrible.

Get with it, Apple!

I don't think it matters how other vendors are. We use Macs and Apple's power adaptors are awful. I had to replace my boss' MBP adaptor twice, my own once and my iBook G3's multiple times. I love the idea of MagSafe, but they're made terribly.

 

[Trepex]

Then don't pull it... push it gently downwards at an angle and it pops off nicely 😉

Exactly. Not that complicated 🙂

 

[Squonk]

The delay in the delivery of the power bricks could mean a couple of things:
...
- They are stocking up to ship with remodelled Macbook Pro ( I wish 😱)
...

That thought had crossed my mind as well. Great minds dream alike?? 😕

Wouldn't you think that since Apple's big push for the magsafe connector was that it would pull off in the event of tripping over the cord, that they would have made the cable extra durable since in the event of a tripping or catching maneuver, there would be extreme stress on this part of the cable?

I really hope they don't go to an all 85W world. Aircraft in-seat power units will not work with the 85W pack - they trip the circuit breakers in the system. I use my wife's MacBook adapter with my MacBook Pro for that reason

I didn't know that about the aircraft power units. Good to know thought! Thanks much!

 

[Roessnakhan]

I've had one power adapter replaced due to it melting down by the powerbrick. That was a scary time - reaching down to unplug it and recoiling in pain. The second power adapter I got suffered from fraying at the same point, but the Apple "Geniuses" in Albuquerque can be bastards, so I ended up having to buy a new power brick regardless of how much I complained.

 

[mrweirdo]

I've had one power adapter replaced due to it melting down by the powerbrick. That was a scary time - reaching down to unplug it and recoiling in pain. The second power adapter I got suffered from fraying at the same point, but the Apple "Geniuses" in Albuquerque can be bastards, so I ended up having to buy a new power brick regardless of how much I complained.

I would have pushed the issue more. IE demanding to speak to the manager. I'm sure eventualy they would bend. If not the worst they could do is tos you out of the store 😛 Then its time to call up apple customer relations, local news media, bbb, etc.

 

[henjin]

My MagSafe and replacement will not always charge.

Why is Apple so bad at making power adaptors for their portables? I know of so many people who have had broken ones despite taking good care of them. One of my own started sparking(!), and the one they gave me to replace it with has to be rotated a certain way or the power will cut out. My girlfriend's is fraying right at the plug, and my friend's is breaking at the connection to the brick. The reviews of them on Apple's website are horrible.

Get with it, Apple!

I hope they fix the MagSafe refusing to connect issue. Simply the worst design even if for the best of intentions. The constant problem has forced me to bench my MacBook Pro and use my Dell for travel.

Apple's so called satisfaction lead is total bunk. If they really had great hardware there would be no need to have a repair center.

I love the new Macs but really miss the old quality control.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

So far I have not had any issues with either of my powers supplies and hope I never do. The other day though I had set me MBP on a table at the coffee shop to get another coffee and when I set it down the cord near the mag safe connecter got twisted and stuck underneath. I think this may be the start to a lot of the issues people are having.🙁

I take care of my MBP adapter, and make sure this never happens, as I lost a power cable to my old laptop from behavior like this... and today, just now, while my mac was sitting on my bed, I looked over and saw the LED was out.. I figured the brick had come unplugged.. rather the brick was still charging the computer, it just wasn't showing it...

I think once it's official, I'm going to all Apple and complain about the power adapter, my mouse feels weird, and a speck of dust that's under the LCD screen..

I love the new Macs but really miss the old quality control.

I hate the new macs.. their design doesn't feel Appleish anymore 🙁

 

[MattG]

I really hope they do a recall on any adapters known to be subject to issues; these adapters really make me nervous. My girlfriend purchased a Macbook about 4 or 5 months ago, and I convinced her to stop leaving it plugged in when she's not home because of the issues with sparking/shorting out. I feel bad because I kind of sold her on buying the computer, and I feel like I convinced her to buy a flawed product. My original adapter still seems okay, but I still don't leave it unattended very much. Make good on this, Apple.

I would have pushed the issue more. IE demanding to speak to the manager. I'm sure eventualy they would bend. If not the worst they could do is tos you out of the store 😛 Then its time to call up apple customer relations, local news media, bbb, etc.

It really angers me when I read stories about Apple stores being so stubborn about a problem that's clearly widespread -- I mean, anyone who reads any of these Mac-news type sites knows about them at least, which means surely Apple knows about them. They track all the trouble tickets they get I'm sure. Yet, they'll vehemently deny the existance of a problem until an official recall is posted. I mean, I don't expect them to advertise that there's a problem without a recall, but you'd think they wouldn't be dicks about fixing something that's clearly their problem.

 

[flopticalcube]

I really hope they do a recall on any adapters known to be subject to issues; these adapters really make me nervous. My girlfriend purchased a Macbook about 4 or 5 months ago, and I convinced her to stop leaving it plugged in when she's not home because of the issues with sparking/shorting out. I feel bad because I kind of sold her on buying the computer, and I feel like I convinced her to buy a flawed product. My original adapter still seems okay, but I still don't leave it unattended very much. Make good on this, Apple.

You did sell her a flawed product but don't feel bad as you didn't know it was thusly flawed when you sold her on it and TBH all products are flawed in someway or another.

 

[MattG]

You did sell her a flawed product but don't feel bad as you didn't know it was thusly flawed when you sold her on it and TBH all products are flawed in someway or another.

Well yeah...but most products aren't flawed in a "might set your house on fire" kind of way 😱 😉

 

[bigandy]

i've been pretty damn careful with mine, but it's still showing signs it'll fray soon.

the minute it does, off to the apple store and scream until they replace it. i'm not buying another because of their design flaws, i've treated this thing like a baby.

 

[clintbradford@m]

Only Working MBP on the Planet

>>I'm honestly surprised why a recall hasn't been issued for this yet...

Believe it or not, my power supply for my 13-month-old 17" MBP has worked flawlessly for me. Actually, I have two of them: one at my desk, and one for travelling.

Should *I* be demanding a recall, too?

Let's expand this concept. A few folks are having case problems. And screen problems. And keyboard problems. Should I call AppleCare and demand some new parts...parts that have NOT failed me (and most certainly will NOT be failing...).

I dunno. This is my first Apple computer, after 20+ years using that other OS. I couldn't be more pleased. And I do not believe that MINE is the ONLY MacBook Pro on the planet that is working excellently.

Clint Bradford
909-241-7666

 

[richard4339]

I was going to order one this morning, and now I wonder if I should just hold off...