Oh nooooo. [Macbook query]

[ukcalico]

HELP. My Macbook Pro magnetic power charger has started to only charge when wiggled into certain positions. And it's only 18 months old, which strikes me as rubbish. >:(

A quick look at the Apple store suggests new ones: £60. (And ahaha, wow, those are some terrible reviews

Comments

[sheldrake]

I can't tell you about Mac stuff in particular, but this happened to my Dell charger a while back. I bought a cheapo one from ebay and it's still going strong. And actually, there was a time when I thought the same thing was happening to that one, so I panic-bought a new cheapo one. Turned out I was mistaken, but now I've got a cheapo-one and a spare cheapo-one, and probably all for less than a new 'spensive one would have cost.

But, like I say. That was a Dell story.

[mandalaya]

I have a similar Dell story, but about an off-brand battery from Amazon. Still going strong.

[ukcalico]

Good stuff. If I can't get a new one under warranty (which now I think about it, I surely ought to be able to) then this makes me less nervous of dipping a toe in the eBay water. *g*

[ukcalico]

This is good to know! Thank you!

[tavella]

I got a cheapo mac charger from ebay, and then a mac store one when I was stranded without one and had to buy one as an emergency, and they've both worked fine. The cheapo one is larger and uglier, but that's all.

[ukcalico]

This is v useful to know, thank you! :)

Having thought about it, I think the warranty should still be valid, but we'll find out tomorrow...

[funkyreunion]

Is it the kind that kind of looks like ----[ , or the kind where the connection is more L-shaped? If it's the first kind, it may actually be under replacement warranty, since they redesigned them because of that very problem.

[ukcalico]

The former! Right: totally on it re: visiting Apple tomorrow and finding out what's what. Thank you!

[lobelia321]

I've not had any experience with the magnetic ones. But my old ibook one started not working unless wiggled. Until I sat in the Apple Store for TWO HOURS transferring all to an external hard drive as the 'genius' informed me that if I moved the laptop it might all die once and for all.

I did get a charger (not magnetic, the old type) via amazon (as they didn't make them anymore at Apple) and it worked for a while but definitely was not the same quality. Still, though. You need it. So get it. I'd go for the Apple store one. Keep the receipt. Gives you a reason to visit the genius bar.

[ukcalico]

Aha, thank you. I will go to Apple tomorrow and see what's what!

BY THE WAY. I got your feedback on my phone and grinned for like, hours, but I want to write an intelligent response (and justify things! *g* Some of them anyway) so I hope you won't mind if that waits until tomorrow as well. But don't think it didn't make me squeakily happy, cos it did. :D

[lobelia321]

Are you up for moot in London with Sheldrake on Sat 18 Feb? :-) We would like to visit Baker Street and Speedy's in not!Baker Street and National Gallery. U wont 2 join us for any or all of that?????

[ukcalico]

Hee, potentially! I am going to a valentine's boat party/ball thing the night before, so the morning is probably out... but could almost certainly hook up with you guys in the afternoon. :)

[blythely]

I bought a generic cheaper one for my last *book (not magnetic) and it was just as good. I really do think that Apple don't put much care into the design of their electrics for the chargers ... they always overheat, the connections go loose. Hate that kind of annoying bottleneck.

[ukcalico]

*nod nod* So annoying. I stared at it when it first started acting up, going "but--but--if you don't work NEITHER DOES THE LAPTOP. And she's fine! AARGH." - for quite some time. :/