IBook
From Appledefects
The correct title of this article is iBook. The initial letter is capitalized due to technical restrictions.
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The iBook Release Date: 1999 Base Price: USD$999 |
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Apple iBook
Comes in older 'clamshell' or 'toilet seat' colored variety, or the more recent 'icebook' all white ibook, in 12" and 14" variety, with older versions having G3 processors and newer having G4 processors. All models have had problems, some less than others with varying severity. The iBook has been replaced by the MacBook in May of 2006.
Battery Recall
Apple has created two battery recall programs due to safety concerns with batteries for the 12-inch iBook G4 and certain PowerBooks:
- iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange Program (2006)
- iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange Program (May 2005)
Video Failures
iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program
The official web site for the repair program is at http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/. It covers iBook G3 computers with certain serial numbers that exhibit one of the following symptoms:
- Scrambled or distorted video
- Appearance of unexpected lines on the screen
- Intermittent video image
- Video freeze
- Computer starts up to blank screen
Although the repair program covers iBook G3 computers, there is an online petition to encourage Apple to acknowledge that defect exists in iBook G4 computers as well.
Other Problems
Screen problems
- Apple shipped some iBooks with poor quality screens, dead pixels, or other odd display artifacts and discolorations - this is not to be confused with the above logic board failure. Apple doesn't guarantee that screens will be free of dead pixels. One dealer said as many as a half-dozen were "acceptable" as long as they weren't in a cluster.
- Issues also included pinched wiring between the main unit and the screen which resulted in the screen going dead. Although it was possible to oneself splice the three wires to get the screen working again, Apple otherwise refused to address the issue (fix the three wires) other than to require replacement of the entire screen for a cost roughly equivalent to an entire new computer.
Keyboard issues
Characters wearing off of keyboard
- With the iBook 12", in about five months the most frequently typed keys start to wear off. In one case the keyboard was replaced twice within the warranty period. The third keyboard now has some completely blank keys.
- Problem isn't specific to screen size. 14" iBook G4/1.33 lost commonly used key display in under a year. Even with extended AppleCare, Apple considers this problem to be "normal wear and tear." AppleCare reps won't respond to challenge that other Apple keyboards, some as old as 15 years, exhibit no sign of this problem. Anyone whose keyboard was replaced even once in warranty period should consider him/herself blessed. They certainly won't do that now.