Apple sues three companies over knockoff MacBook power adapters

33 Comments

1. I’ve replaced my MagSafe power adapter once. Even after babying the poorly designed thing, it broke. There’s no sign of damage, it just wobbles in and out of conductivity.

   Knowing many who own MacBooks and MacBook Pros, I’ve seen much worse. It’s easy to discount their troubles as misuse or mishandling, but that’s just not the case.

   Apple redesigned the power adapters with a different configuration. Rather than just straight away from the computer, it now points to the rear.

   New problem, it’s more susceptible to rotational torque. Electric tape isn’t going to help much with that one as there isn’t much of a stable surface to spread the load.

   MagSafe power adapters are designed to fail.

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2. >Mr. Reeee wrote: The new Mag Safe connector is very nice (MBP 2010). It looks pretty heavy duty. The wires are thicker. The power cable goes straight out the back and isn’t as weak looking as the older style.

   I thought so too and in most cases it is a better designed. However, it introduces another problem. It’s heavier due to the thicker cabling which means it’s also stiffer. That combination adds to rotational torque applied against its connection to the magnetic connector.

   I’ve reinforced my replacement cable with a little electric tape. That helped my original cable last as long as it did – 3.5 years of constant moving from home to office to traveling.

   —
   >LordRobin wrote: …you deserve to get taken for whatever Apple decides to charge…See, you get one free with the computer, and as long as you’re not a retard, there’s no reason it shouldn’t last for the life of the machine.

   1. The adapter included with the notebook is paid for. It’s not free.
   2. There are many reasons why products fail – a big one being poor design.

   —
   >Douglas MacArthur wrote: Apple needs to strengthen or reinforce the wiring on the Magsafe adapter at two points — where the wiring attaches to the magnet end, and where the wiring attaches to the adapter block.

   That’s a great idea! It does help as that’s exactly what I did with my original adapter as soon as I bought it. Having some experience wirelessly mic’ing people for sound, you run through lapel mics like crazy for the same reasons MagSafe power adapters break easily. They’re just not as reinforced as they should be.

   The thicker cabling in the newer version actually compounds the problem your suggestion aims to fix. The weight and added stiffness of the cabling puts even more pressure on a weak joint.

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3. I accidentally bought one of these knockoffs on ebay, thinking it was a real Apple part. It was poorly made and failed within the first few days of use. Fortunately, I was able to get my money back. My first stop after that was the Apple Store. I’m glad to give Apple my money for something that works.

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4. Apple worried about the high profit margins on them power bricks?

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   Reply

6. Power adapters are one of the last things we’d skimp on.

   Amen to that!

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7. 4 power adapters melt? Cords broken? You know how this happens? When you expect to be able to put the adapter where there is no ventilation and when you pull on the cord. I have had every model of mobile Mac and none of this or anything like it has ever happened. I usually buy an extra so I don’t have to carry it everywhere, but the extra has seen 4 newer models of MBP now and still going strong!

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8. I wish they could cut down on the bulk actually. Less is more.

   Reply

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