Whining and moaning...again

Will · 09-01-2008 6:47pm #1

Anytime i post a new thread here its always due to something on my macbook breaking. Surprise surprise here I am again.

First it was my charger breaking, then my cd drive, then the hard drive crapping out. Each time I got it fixed, each time it was not my fault, each time it cost me money, more money which I dont have.

Now a year and a half after purchasing it, keeping it in the best condition possible the battery decides to not respond. Thats another €139 down the drain just to keep my laptop alive... and its not just me, if you check the irish apple website it gets an average star rating of 3. Check the american site and it gets only 2 stars.

I seriously wanna scream at some apple representative, or just fling my macbook out the window and send a .avi file to El Jobso. Tomorrow I am gonna ring the apple helpline and see if they will give me a free battery, doubt it but worth a shot.

Im sure its not just apple, but a few months back i was helping a friend clean out his garage. He had rakes of computers which were running IBM OS, pre windows 95, dos the lot. Funny thing is, they all booted up, even the old brick of a laptop he had...

This is the last chance im giving my mac, I really do enjoying using it, th speed everything but I'm just growing tired of the stuff.

I am not going to sell it on so dont bother asking, i will however video tape myself flinging it from a very high building, even if it does hurt me so but enough is enough.

Breezer · 09-01-2008 6:52pm

Seems like you've been very unlucky, I haven't had a single problem with my MacBook and I've had it a year and a half as well. Then again I never had any of those famous iPod battery problems either; maybe I'm just lucky. But a lot of people here seem to be running old bricks of Macs quite successfully too.

Regarding the battery, laptop batteries in general run out after a while. There's another thread about this going round here at the moment too. If you've been using the battery very heavily, chances are it's reached the end of its life. Check the battery health metre and see what it says.

Will · 09-01-2008 6:59pm

ive been very responsible with my battery, letting it run down to zero, then charging it fully. never over doing it. just sick of the whole thing, exasperated is the only word i can describe how im feeling right now

BanzaiBk · 09-01-2008 7:00pm

My macbook had similar issues. My friends were sick of listening to me moan about it. In the end I bought a MBP and had no problems til the case warped:p Few months later I now use a M1330 as my laptop and have had no probs. Maybe I was just unlucky. Idk.

Sad Professor · 09-01-2008 7:04pm

Nice rant there, Wilburt. Feel better? Sorry to hear about the problems you've had. I take it you don't have Applecare?

Will · 09-01-2008 7:07pm

nah still slightly p!ssed off, nope dont have applecare, stupidly i thought i wouldnt need it

Sad Professor · 09-01-2008 7:16pm

Did you have any problems with it in the first year? I mean would Apple have a record of these previous issues?

Anyway you're right to be pissed off but I hope you don't let this put you off Macs in general. I've been using them for years and never had a single problem. I have an iBook that's over 4 years old and still working perfectly and it's taken a lot of abuse. You've just been very unlucky I'm afraid.

Will · 09-01-2008 7:23pm

they should have a record alright, tomorrow il find out for sure when i ring em

Breezer · 09-01-2008 7:52pm

Wilburt wrote: »

ive been very responsible with my battery, letting it run down to zero, then charging it fully. never over doing it. just sick of the whole thing, exasperated is the only word i can describe how im feeling right now

Even so, they do run down. Having said that I've been using my MacBook day in day out for a year and a half too and it's only dropped to 83%, so if you've been responsible with it i can't see why it's gone now unless as you say it was faulty. I guess you can only ring them and argue your case. Annoying, I know, but as Sad Professor said, it's not everyone's experience; I wouldn't let it put you off altogether, although I'd understand if it did.

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 8:16pm

genuine question : do you take craps on your comp?

BanzaiBk · 09-01-2008 8:23pm

^Seriously if you don't have anything useful to post then don't bother.

I had Applecare with both the MB and the MBP, that's the only thing that saved my money really. Some batteries are just duds aswell, the 1st batt in my mum's MB was faulty and lasted maybe 20mins on a full charge and it was replaced (obv) free of charged by Apple. Still though, it's hard lines when your computer starts falling apart once it's out of the year warranty. Try Coconut Battery and see what it says Coco Battery

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 8:26pm

no genuinely

ive never had any problems with anything expensive i bought (except a nwa300-but that was pure crap)

how , with a large part played by yourself , do you break these so much?

whiterebel · 09-01-2008 8:27pm

Breezer wrote: »

Even so, they do run down. Having said that I've been using my MacBook day in day out for a year and a half too and it's only dropped to 83%, so if you've been responsible with it i can't see why it's gone now unless as you say it was faulty. I guess you can only ring them and argue your case. Annoying, I know, but as Sad Professor said, it's not everyone's experience; I wouldn't let it put you off altogether, although I'd understand if it did.

Without going looking for it, the "expected" ;ife cycle is about 500 charges for an AppleBattery (???) if its on battery every day for 1.5 years, you would be on or near that now.

BTW AppleCare won't cover batteries, or at least it didn't used to.

Breezer · 09-01-2008 8:33pm

whiterebel wrote:

Without going looking for it, the "expected" ;ife cycle is about 500 charges for an AppleBattery (???) if its on battery every day for 1.5 years, you would be on or near that now.

BTW AppleCare won't cover batteries, or at least it didn't used to.

Yeah it's about 500, and I know the maths work out but for some reason mine's on 167. I use it mainly for college so I guess you can take out the summer months and other holidays, where I'd mostly have it plugged in. Good point though, if it were to be run solely on battery every day it would be reasonable enough for it to be around the 500 mark now, so definitely check this OP.

Sad Professor · 09-01-2008 8:34pm

conor2007 wrote: »

genuine question : do you take craps on your comp?

Well that certainly isn't covered by Applecare

Actually my iBook battery was recalled by Apple over a year ago and replaced. Apparently a few of them had exploded! :eek: Sony got the bill.

Will · 09-01-2008 8:34pm

322 charges, says the health of the battery is full, weird.

440Hz · 09-01-2008 8:40pm

conor2007, please keep your comments on topic, users have found this one offensive, no need for it tbh.

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 8:42pm

My Powerbook is 45 months old and the batt will charge to 94%. Never changed it at all. Meant to have a good 3years in them before giving any problems. I feel for anyone who has issues with the Mac!

Breezer · 09-01-2008 8:45pm

unclebill98 wrote: »

My Powerbook is 45 months old and the batt will charge to 94%. Never changed it at all. Meant to have a good 3years in them before giving any problems. I feel for anyone who has issues with the Mac!

Mine was like this for just over a year, then collapsed to about 83-85% overnight. It seems to have stayed that way ever since though.

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 8:46pm

my bad - didnt mean to offend

but come one , thats the only cause i can see to cause that much damage with such expensive sh..stuff

Sad Professor · 09-01-2008 8:58pm

conor2007 wrote: »

but come one , thats the only cause i can see to cause that much damage with such expensive sh..stuff

Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's any less likely to develop faults.

Breezer · 09-01-2008 9:01pm

Sad Professor wrote: »

Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's any less likely to develop faults.

Vista costs £329.98 on Amazon

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 9:04pm

haha
never said that it does/'nt

likw throw a bag around or a ball - not something that costs at least 800 euro or more

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 9:28pm

Breezer wrote: »

Mine was like this for just over a year, then collapsed to about 83-85% overnight. It seems to have stayed that way ever since though.

Thats not good. Was told when changing the batt for my 12"PB that you should get a good 3 years with the battery?

conor2007 wrote: »

my bad - didnt mean to offend

but come one , thats the only cause i can see to cause that much damage with such expensive sh..stuff

I really dis-agree with you. Like i've said here before I've gone through 4 12" PB before getting one that worked. I only ended up with a the 12" cause i replaced the 15" PB that died. The one i have now is a refurb from the US and apart from a key falling off its run perfect. You can just get a dodgy laptop.

There is something to be said for looking after the laptop, but i've seen some horrid things done to powerbooks, mainly by musicians on stage/studios etc...They seem to run fine till they upgraded them to newer models. Most people don't even set the batt up correctly when they get laptop/phones etc How many people on the mac forums find out the looking at you laptop in bed with the thing on a pillow will result in the laptop over heating!

So yes, when your one of those people that do look after it and you still have problems.....I feel you pain :mad:

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 9:32pm

i dont really look after it
i throw it in a bag-left the bag in the rds during an exam
its on my couch now not overheating - two huge scratches on the back covered by stickers

i just dont juggle/kick or eat of of it

Breezer · 09-01-2008 9:35pm

unclebill98 wrote: »

Thats not good. Was told when changing the batt for my 12"PB that you should get a good 3 years with the battery?

Doesn't worry me too much, I assume the capacity gradually reduces over the 3 years rather than running perfectly all that time then collapsing completely. If it continues to decline at the same rate it'll still be holding around 65% charge after the 3 years, which I will consider more than my money's worth.

whiterebel · 09-01-2008 9:36pm

unclebill98 wrote: »

Thats not good. Was told when changing the batt for my 12"PB that you should get a good 3 years with the battery?

Nobody can tell you how long a battery should last until they can tell how much you will discharge/charge it. Lithium batteries are "dying" from the moment they are produced, the rate of wear grows the more they are used.

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 9:48pm

conor2007 wrote: »

i dont really look after it
i throw it in a bag-left the bag in the rds during an exam
its on my couch now not overheating - two huge scratches on the back covered by stickers

i just dont juggle/kick or eat of of it

:D:D, thats like the muso guys!

whiterebel wrote: »

Nobody can tell you how long a battery should last until they can tell how much you will discharge/charge it. Lithium batteries are "dying" from the moment they are produced, the rate of wear grows the more they are used.

Well, guess you need to call the apple support team and tell them that

The 12" PB was dying after 20mins being unplugged, called them and they said that, i ordered new battery.

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 9:50pm

muso guys?

ye . . .

whiterebel · 09-01-2008 9:55pm

unclebill98 wrote: »

:D:D, thats like the muso guys!

Well, guess you need to call the apple support team and tell them that
The 12" PB was dying after 20mins being unplugged, called them and they said that, i ordered new battery.

Having worked there, that person will probably get an arse kicking next time his call is listened back to by the Tech Coaches.......

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 9:58pm

conor2007 wrote: »

muso guys?

ye . . .

whiterebel wrote: »

Having worked there, that person will probably get an arse kicking next time his call is listened back to by the Tech Coaches.......

I see, inside exp... Maybe they'll listen to him someday

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 9:59pm

ye

that explains my question - ?

whiterebel · 09-01-2008 10:01pm

unclebill98 wrote: »

I see, inside exp... Maybe they'll listen to him someday

I doubt it, some other poor bastud will probably get it in the neck when your battery packs in after a year and a half.......:D

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 10:06pm

conor2007 wrote: »

ye

that explains my question - ?

sorry, muso = musician

I've seen them dropped and stood on:(

conor2007 · 09-01-2008 10:27pm

its how you compress the music

kicking re vamps it back to full quality

unclebill98 · 09-01-2008 10:35pm

conor2007 wrote: »

ye

that explains my question - ?

conor2007 wrote: »

its how you compress the music

kicking re vamps it back to full quality

Must try that our then

Not!

Hotblack Desiato · 10-01-2008 5:12pm

Wilburt wrote: »

ive been very responsible with my battery, letting it run down to zero, then charging it fully.

Deep discharging kills them faster.
There's no point in deeply discharging them as there is no memory effect on Li-ion batteries. So it's best to avoid it if power is available. Of couse it shouldn't be on the mains all the time either...

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery2.htm

HowStuffWorks wrote:

Lithium ion chemistry prefers partial discharge to deep discharge, so it's best to avoid taking the battery all the way down to zero. Since lithium-ion chemistry does not have a "memory", you do not harm the battery pack with a partial discharge. If the voltage of a lithium-ion cell drops below a certain level, it's ruined.

Whining and moaning...again

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