In-City crashness Saturday night / Mac geekery

[danaeris]

I am trying to set up interviews for housing both Saturday and Sunday. I'm hoping that I can find someone who can let me crash at their place in the city Saturday night. Please please pretty please?

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My iBook perversely started up fine at the store, but then stalled again. We're not entirely sure what's wrong, but we suspect it is a case of consistent overheating, in which case some of the components may be damaged and need to be replaced. Thus, total cost of repair could be minimal, or could be prohibitive. I've left it with them for a diagnostic, at the cost of $49.

My father is thinking about getting an iBook, so there has been some discussion of him buying it off me and paying for the repairs so that I can upgrade. See, the battery and charger on mine are problematic. For someone using it around the house, no biggie. But, using it around the city in cafes and so forth, they need to be replaced. So, for my father, that's $270 in costs that don't need to be done that I would need to do eventually (but would get out of a new laptop). Add to that the upgrade to Tiger (which I'm told is very useful, but probably would make no difference for him), and the cost of repairs... well, we'll see.

I'm concerned about this overheating, however. Did I do something to cause it? Or is it a problem in the hardware design? If the latter, has it been corrected in newer models? Is it a problem that exists with all laptops, all Apple laptops, or just iBooks?

I still need to figure out Powerbook vs. iBook for myself.

So, lots to chew on there.

Comments

Powerbook vs. iBook

[nathanjw]

Focusing on the 12" models:

Powerbook advantages:
- DVD burner (the iBook only has it in the 14" models as an option).
- Slightly faster (1.5GHz vs. 1.33GHz CPU, 5400 vs. 4200 RPM disk, more video RAM)
- DVI output (better for desktop LCDs)
- Dual-display support (internal and external displays can be used for different things)
- Audio line-in jack

iBook advantages:
- US$500 cheaper.
- Slightly greater RAM limit (1.5GB vs. 1.25GB).
- Slightly better battery life.
- Slightly better wireless reception.
- (IMO) Physically more robust case.

I've been recommending the iBook almost exclusively, unless dual-display support or portable DVD burning are killer features (external DVD burners are about $80 now, and will only get cheaper).

Re: Powerbook vs. iBook

[random-vamp.livejournal.com]

Given that the highend iBook (14") is roughly equivalent in power and features to the low end (12") Powerbook and is several hundred cheaper, I ended up going with an iBook recently. Practically speaking, the only reason to go with a PowerBook over an iBook is if you actually need the greater speed or resolution of the upper end Powerbooks. Which basically means gaming, serious graphics work, or scientific computing.

If you're primarily using the laptop for internet and word processing then I can't think of a reason to get a Powerbook over an iBook other than earning a few more coolness points.

[jnanacandra.livejournal.com]

My experience with iBooks is that they're fantastic computers for the first 3-5 years, after which point they just start to die piece by piece. The logic board seems to be the most common point of weakness. (My logic board died and was replaced, and then it turned out the one they replaced it with was faulty and it had to be replaced again... along with the hard drive and some other little things.)

My next laptop will definitely be a powerbook - I know of no one who's had any trouble with those. And as I said iBooks really are pretty spiffy machines, just not very long-lifed.

Depending on the cost of the repair, you may also be able to sweet-talk them into taking a trade-in of the current machine as something towards the cost of a new one.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

my apartment is currently a mess because I'm doing major removations of the place; new bookcases, which means a lot of old bookcases being moved and things crammed into places where they ought not to be (and the futon is piled in things making the shift). New computer, but the old one hasn't gone yet, so it's making for 2 desks in a space that was crowded with one, etc. I don't want to offer my place up as your first choice, however, if you don't find anyone else, you can stay here, you just gotta realize what you're getting into. :-)

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

I wanted to thank you for your kind offer. I really appreciated seeing it. I decided that it would be easier for everyone for me to rearrange my housing appointments schedule than to come in for one housing appointment and then impose on someone who wasn't really set-up to have a house guest.

We should hang out though at some point. Dunno how busy you are nowadays. Also, I need to kick boywhocantsayno's ass about gaylaxicon; he STILL has not gotten back to me at all. Nor has anyone else, other than you.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I'm concerned about this overheating, however. Did I do something to cause it? Or is it a problem in the hardware design? If the latter, has it been corrected in newer models? Is it a problem that exists with all laptops, all Apple laptops, or just iBooks?

It's not just you.

http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/45900.html

If you search google for 'imacs overheating', you'll find almost 1000 hits on that.

I always had real problems with my powerbook; an hour on and it was FAR too hot to sit in my lap, or to pick up for a minute or two after shut down (and even then, I had to close it and flip it up to let a little heat escape). I have no idea if they've corrected that, but I find that Macs run VERY warm. I know there was a battery recall on some powerbook batteries because of overheating, but I don't recall the details; it was, I'm afraid, after I'd given up on Apple because so much of what I do is dependant on the server's OS, not the one in sitting in front of me. Using Macs is a joy; I really did love them to pieces, however, the delight is not as important as saving money to me right now :-). But I'm sure you can find info on the recall pretty easily and judge if they've taken care of it sufficiently to make you confident.

[lousy-timing.livejournal.com]

I don't know how old your iBook is- did you look up the serial number at the .mac site for recall info? There have been some for overheating, mostly due to the battery unit on some models. I'd check it out just to be certain- it never hurts. Mine was just outside the range; it was one of the first corrected models but I still keep an eye on it.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Well, the battery is not holding a charge as long as I'd like, which is a normal battery issue.

The charger is (sort of) my fault. A friend tripped over the cord and pent the prongs. According to the guy at the shop, who straightened it for me, there's something inside that's broken (knocked out of kilter, I think) and can't be fixed. It still charges, but erratically. I can still manage to get the laptop to full charge, but it gets knocked out of place so easily that the laptop often runs out of power because I didn't know it was knocked out.

[polywolf.livejournal.com]

gee its too bad you dont know anyone who is handy with electricity/electronics who may be able to repair that cord in some way.

A bend prong, is it on the wall plug end or the other end that goes into the computer?

[freefloat.livejournal.com]

Just like the other offer, my house is a real disaster zone right now. But there's a couch and/or a blow-up mattress available for your use should you decide you need it :)

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer, sweetie! I hope your weekend of having to work hasn't sucked tooo much so far.

As I told thespian, I've elected not to come into the city. It just seemed like too much trouble on everyone's part for too little return.

[freefloat.livejournal.com]

Awww...

[jackspryte.livejournal.com]

You ALWAYS have our place as well...if you can get there! Take the Route 1 or route 3 to Hurontario and get on the 19 down to Sherobee (it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes alot of Mississauga transit ends at 12:00 or 1:00 on Saturday.

http://www.mississauga.ca/ecity/download/?repositoryKey=Ecity&itemDesc=file&dataName=data&mimeTypeName=mimeType&id=51800031

There pretty much isn't any time you aren't welcome.

*hugs*

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the open invite, dear one! *sends you super hugs*

After some thought and phone calls, I decided to reschedule my Saturday interview for Tuesday in order to lessen the inconvenience for everyone.

BTW, I dug out my sparkle pens for Monday night. *squee*