Apple’s perpetually melting and fraying MagSafe adapters—apparently these things are made out of Styrofoam and rice paper—continue to cause trouble. Christine, call Apple and explain your problem, and see if they’ll replace it for free.
Hey Consumerist,
I’ve been using Apple products for years. I’ve always been satisfied with their customer service and exceptional products. Naturally, I was upset when I noticed the MagSafe power adapter on my Intel Core Duo Macbook (ca. 2006) was fraying by the magnetic port, rendering it mostly useless (or at least, useless if I didn’t want to set my house on fire charging my Macbook with exposed wires).
Cursing my luck, I tried to reconcile making myself buy a new charger when it was just this small part of the product that was faulty and wondered how this could have happened after extremely meticulous care of my notebook (to the extent that I can count on my hands how many times it’s left the house). I went to Apple’s online store to check the price ($79) only to discover that there appears to be literally hundreds of complaints from people claiming to have used their adapters for even shorter periods of time, or at least very carefully, before being forced to replace them, and demanding that Apple address the issue of its poorly fortified MagSafe ports.
Forcing that many people who have already invested a large amount into a reliable product to buy replacement parts so soon seems like an easily resolved situation that would save Apple a lot of headaches in the future and, more importantly, goes against their image as a company that sells sturdy, easily managed products.
Please help! I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I have to spend that money so I can actually use my notebook but would sleep sounder knowing that the money was going toward something that would last me longer than a Dell charger would. I certainly feel like I’ve paid for that privilege.
Here are some of the many angry reviews from the Apple website:
Right now I am typing this trying not to move my computer too much so the 2 steel wool thin wires that are still attached will charge my computer. I am in love with this computer… with power. I smell melting plastic too.
The Magsafe adapter on my MacBook Pro, unlike the one on my deep fat frier, has an extremely limited life span. The one on my frier has a reinforced neck where the wire meets the adapter.
the adapter never laaves the house…..however, base connecting point of the AC adapter’s nifty magnetic head just started to smell of melted rubber; now it is looking melted and i can see the wires inside!
Apple, perhaps it’s time you look at how other power cables are made and follow those examples! See, they’re not supposed to melt or fray.
[Apologies to Trai_Dep for the second anti-Apple post in a week.]
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I’ve had problems with the power adapter on every laptop I’ve owned — IBM Thinkpads, Dells, and MacBooks — except one. That was my old Toshiba Satellite Pro, which had the power adapter *built in to the computer* so all you needed to carry was the AC cord. I miss that design feature.
@trujunglist:
I don’t think that’s exceptable for a $2300 laptop.
I had a few power adapters go bad on me which were all replaced. The last one I received is some kind of superman power supply and appears to be indestructible.
I bought 4 new power adapters for m powerbook. What a shame to learn the mag safe adapters stink also.
By the way I just retired my old powerbook for a new macbook pro 15 inch few weeks ago.
Great thing about the MagSafe connector – it’s patented by Apple, meaning that no one else can make it. And of course that means that MacBook owners have only one place to get adapters.
Thanks Cupertino for all the gouging.
I wrote the Steve Jobs email at Apple and had a call, some not-so-weird questions, and they sent me a new one and threw in a new duck head as well. They were kind, having a new adapter was helpful, obviously.
I did/do not abuse my adapter or the wires, but they just aren’t designed well enough to stand up to regular use. It did last a good eight months before giving out, though.
The thing about wire abuse accusations that bothers me is that it’s a *laptop* – of course I’m going to wind up the cord carry it places. For more than 8 months.
I’m really careful when wrapping up cords on things, anything, really. I just make sure that I leave a little slack so there’s not much tension on the cord leaving the charger, or device. I just leave a little loop. I also make sure I don’t twist the cord. I always make sure that there very little tension on the cords all the time. Much like when you untangle your iPod, or whatever, headphones. I’m just careful and I make sure that I don’t over tighten.
Not that it’s his fault, just be careful.
I don’t have Applecare, but when mine fried itself, I just called Apple, explained that it had been smelling like burning, and they replaced it, no charge, no questions asked.
I am amazed at how many people are highly recommending that people should pay for such a pricey extended warranty with AppleCare, on top of the highest markups in this industry.
If the issues are so diverse and common as to make the warranty so predictably “worth it”, isn’t that evidence that the quality of the product is extremely lousy?
And do you really think Apple is losing money with AppleCare?
I had one fry on me, which really surprised me. I’ve been doing IT work since I was a little kid, and so problems that most people have don’t usually come my way.
partially rabid apple fanboy alert,
I have been using the macbook since 2006, and I have had the poorly designed adapter cord fray twice. Both times I called apple (USA and Europe). In their defense , they replaced the adapter promptly. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. i would recommend people call apple before spending the hard earned money. The company really does believe in serving its customers.
See, I told ya partially rabid
Forgot to add:
To stop the small cable from crimping on my new adapter, I took some white 3M plastic/electrical tape and wrapped it thickest near where it comes out of the adapter and gradually wound it more loosely as I went out (approx. 6″ or so). Not the ideal solution by any means, but it stiffened up that part of the cable, and I haven’t seen any signs of crimping there after several months.
Aesthetics go out the window doing that, of course
Talked to a friend that supports dozens of computers for a school (Windows, the poor bast*ard). Winding the cord around the brick IS a big no-no and will probably fray the cord before its time where it connects with the brick. Better to leave it looped loosely or coiled freely.
Not the problem that some of the MagSafe connections are having (I’d guess, don’t yank by the cord, and especially along the horizontal axis, if you can help it?), but thought I’d pass that on to all you others with bricks that do that…
@bougatsa: Everyone, including Consumer Reports, who HATE extended warrantees, say that it’s not a bad idea for any laptop. Not just Apples.
@Trai_Dep: Threatening a small claims suit against the manufacturer for when your gizmo fails 1 month out of warranty is just as good as an extended warranty and costs nothing. Moreover, there’s nothing immoral, slimy or underhanded about it.
Apple sold me a $1200 computer. For that money, it should last more than 13 months (the drive did not). I did not buy the warranty. That is because I don’t enjoy it when people say things like “it would be a shame for something bad to happen to your computer 1 month out of warranty” – the basic jist of an extended warranty pitch. Where I come from, we call that a protection racket.
Instead, when my MacBook died 1 month out of the base warranty period, I gave Apple an ultimatum: repair it for free or defend itself in a small claims suit. I explained that 8 people from Brooklyn would probably agree that a $1200 computer should not die in 13 months. Likewise, when my launch-day XBox 360 died after 14 months (2 months out of warranty), I explained that a 14 month-old $600 piece of “next-gen” equipment should not cost $120 to repair – especially when the manufacturing defect was already admitted. Similarly, iPods are not disposable. Just because you can get one for $200 does not mean that it should last only 90 days (which is its warranty period).
Extended warranties are little more than shakedowns. The more the equipment costs, the less reason to buy one. This is because, as stated, the best argument is that an expensive piece of equipment should be sufficiently well-made that repairs should not be expected within months of purchase. If someone says otherwise, that person has low expectations. You paid good money for quality; stick by your guns that you deserve either quality build quality or quality service.
Small claims courts exist to resolve disputes of often less than $5000. That will cover most electronics that one purchases. Additionally, many States, like NY, have laws stating that corporations cannot appear or defend themselves pro se – meaning that some clerk cannot appear. Rather, even small claims need to get routed through legal departments, resulting in attorneys’ fees which can exceed cost of repair within a day. On top of that, in the world of products-liability, the last thing any manufacturer wants is an adverse verdict.
Threaten litigation in a calm, cool manner and be willing to hold. You can often get a repair even outside of warranty.
Just so there’s some balance to this complaint, I’ve had 2 MagSafe adapters for my MacBook Pro for about 18 months. I haven’t had a single problem with either one of them. I use them both regularly, and abuse them both occasionally. To me, they seem well designed and quite solid. I show them off to all my non-Mac-owning friends at every opportunity.
Apple power supplies have been crap for years. Ever since that clamshell notebook (first gen iBook), my mom’s been replacing her frayed power plugs every 6 months on every MacBook/iBook she’s owned. We’re very careful with them, the plugs stay in one place in the house at all times (behind a desk), but the wires still get damaged from light use.
@ToddBradley: So can not being a jackass. I had a power supply die on my iMac 6 months out of warrantee, and without asking they fixed it for free, in a day. Words to live by: sugar attracts more flies than vinegar, baybie.
And makes you more popular.
Eww: flies. Unless you’re Renfield. Or a goth.
Hm. I’ve had a laptop with a mag safe for a year and a half now, and I haven’t had any problems yet. In fact I didn’t know they had problems until just now. I’ll have to keep an eye on it.
The power cord design they used before the Magsafe was terrible. Mine lasted about 6 months before it just stopped working. Then I replaced, and it lasted about four months. I then got a third party knock off, which lasted another 6 months. Another brand lasted until I got a new laptop.
I love Apple, and think they make really good products, but they do seem to have problems like this from time to time.
@Trai_Dep:
Technically, vinegar actually attracts more flies. But I get what you’re saying and you make a good point.
Late a night, couldn’t sleep, have given up Marathon Rubicon for awhile, so here I am.
An observation and a comment …
First, to establish my “credentials,” I’ve owned a Macintosh “Portable” [Editorial comment: "Ha!"], a PowerBook 100, PB 140/145/150′s, 2300′s, 540′s, Lombards, several iBooks, both clamshell and white, three MacBooks, and, at the moment, am working on a MacBook Pro.
Historically, Apple has always designed lousy power connections for their laptops. The “bricks” are larger than necessary, the cords are either too thick or too thin, the “coiling function” is usually a joke, and the male/female connections on the computers themselves are mechanical abominations, their disaster potential best summarized by the instructions carefully given by all Apple laptop owners as they hand their precious machines to friends, acquaintances, relatives, or admiring co-workers, “Please … be very careful of the power connector … don’t bump it … don’t press against it … don’t pull on it … don’t put any pressure on it …”
In this sense, for all it’s failings, Apple’s new magnetic connector is a quantum improvement over what we’ve suffered.
Now, my comment. I’ve also owned HP’s, Dell’s, Compaq’s, and, once, a most elegant Sony. None of them were any better than Apple when it comes to connecting their laptops to the wall! None had better “warranties” on their products, none provided any better customer service [in truth, if available to you, the Apple stores' service desks are a consumer's dream come true]. Apple changes power supplies/connections like I change my shirts … but, if you’ll do a websearch with the terms “Dell laptop power supply,” then do the same again using different brand names, you will find that Apple is simply one of the gang!
Apple “fans,” you want things to improve? Is easy: one of you needs to get Steve Jobs to have to use a MacBook with the power supply attached to the wall. Get him to have to pack the little brick into his laptop case, carry it with him wherever he goes, and, yes, get Steve to notice that after relatively little use the cord begins to show an inordanant amount of wear. Remember, people, in the beginning Steve didn’t like “fans,” so, as is his way, he simply ignored them … things haven’t changed when it comes to power connectors, cords, and ac/dc convertors.
Is almost humerous, if you think about it. Magazines award Apple little trophies for “design,” even the conservative Wintell business world raves about Apple’s focus on look/feel, yet, like the flashlight industry with its “D-cells,” after twenty years or so of laptop design and improvement we’re all still stuck “pluggin’ a brick into the wall!”
Here’s a question: How many of you would accept, oh, let’s say a ten percent increase in your laptop’s size if it meant you only had to carry a standard coil AC cord to get power?
I have fried out 2 magsafe adapters and apple has replaced them both. Mention the possibility of fire and they pretty much have to send you a new one. The second sent was even after my warranty ended.
Comment on Apple’s MagSafe Adapters Still Fraying, Melting, Sucking Apple’s power supplies are small and stylish, but I have had numerous
problems with the power supplies on my G4 PowerBook. I bought two
power supplies and each developed similar fraying problems. Getting
tired of the $80+ dollars per unit, I bought and iGo power supply
instead. I haven’t seen a magnetic tip yet…