Re: TiBook runs only off the battery

In article <1129290572.290009.297990@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
spinoza1111@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Matthew Kirkcaldie wrote:
> > In article <1129191751.501240.62230@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> > spinoza1111@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > > I leave it to the other responders to assist you. I'd only comment that
> > > I have been thinking of replacing my Sony with a Mac because of related
> > > power and motherboard (mamaboard) problems. But comes now this account
> > > which indicates that my troubles might not end.
> >
> > The PowerBook in question was current three and a half years ago - the
> > entire enclosure and motherboard have been redesigned and the range has
> > been updated four times since then. So it's not exactly relevant to
> > whether the current model will suit you.
>
> ? Sony's track record shows me that I cannot trust them to design a
> laptop for someone who doesn't plan to upgrade in parallel with Moore's
> Law. I will add memory but why should I have to buy a new laptop?

[snip]
> Far more than users will admit, especially "power" users whose
> sexuality is confused with their computers, desktops and especially
> laptops under conditions of actual phenomenological use are apt to
> develop unexplained problems in the same way as automobiles, for in
> fact both products are designed for obsolescence, with this fact being
> covered-up in the computer business by Moore's "law", which may be
> about to be falsified owing to physical limits.

You claim that laptops and autos are designed to fail: this strong claim
could use some backing evidence.

Now then, if you are simply pointing out that devices used hard wear out
faster, then no trouble. One of the features of complicated machinery is
that when problems develop, they can be somewhat mysterious. I think
that it's fair to call a portable computer a complicated device.


[snip]
> as the victim for his deficiencies. Meanwhile, however, the modern PC
> interface was being designed in such a way (using fixed assignments of
> ports and memory) that the architecture of the PC is uniquely suited to
> develop strange problems which become by default the fault of the user,
> who is blamed as the victim in a culture that blames victims.
>
> My first Mac delivered as per its PRINTED specifications. It died on
> schedule with the Sad Mac icon just as soon as the temperature in
> Mountain View hit 105 in my non-air-conditioned apartment (back in the
> 1980s, before all this global warming, you did not need an air
> conditioner in Northern California). But other than that, it booted up
> and worked even though I treated it as a laptop, carrying it with me
> like a dork to conferences.

My first new mac was a G3 Powerbook. I abused that thing for 4 years,
after which the CPU failed. I call that fair. Since I sold the parts for
almost as much as a complete, working unit, I'm pretty satisfied with
that purchase.

I replaced that machine with a 15" AlBook. I've had that for just over a
year, and no trouble yet.

Now then, do my experiences allow me to claim that computers are not
designed for obsolescence/failure? I seriously doubt that you'll change
you mind about that claim, no matter how many people chime in with "I
owned these machines, and they work great!"

> The original poster deserves to be able to keep his Mac alive and not
> have to sell its parts to buy another Mac if he doesn't need one. He is
> having trouble because even at Apple, insufficient thought is given to
> a ruggedness which allows a laptop to function over time in the real
> world, because this would not force enough customers to "upgrade".

Apple, even at that time made a "rugged" portable computer. They called
it the iBook. The original iBooks were known for being built like tanks,
and barring those logic-board problems, the design is still pretty
robust. PowerBooks were known for needing to be treated more carefully.
It wasn't too long after the TiBook came out that people realized just
how fragile it was. Sure Apple could have built the PowerBooks to be
more robust: they would cost more, be heavier, and larger. IIRC, the
original G4 Powerbook was sold as much on its size and weight as
performance. That doesn't mix well with being rugged.

Now, if you want extra physical ruggedness for your machine, consider
investing in a hard-case for it. Compushell makes an Aluminum briefcase
for around $300 that provides substantial protection for your machine.
You shouldn't have to buy extra protection for the machine you say?
Would you pay an extra $300 for your PowerBook? Most PC users freak out
about Apple's prices as they are, an extra $300 would not go over well.
Don't forget the extra size and weight added by such armour: that makes
the PowerBook even less attractive to most users.

On the other hand, the original poster got 3 years use out of their
(unusually fragile) TiBook. That's not great, but not bad either. It
might be possible to solve his problem, but unless the OP can do all the
work himself it simply won't be worthwhile to do so. The OP can probably
sell his machine (will get more if he sells parts individually, but
again that requires being able to work on the machine) for a reasonable
amount of money, and use that to seed an upgrade.

Not only does that upgrade buy improved performance, but it will give
the OP a machine whose design is an improvement on that of the TiBook
(which would require that those "planned obsolescence" engineers at
Apple be _extra_ tricky, since the original flaws were fixed).

--
Later,
John

johajohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'indiana' is a 'nolnn' and 'hoosier' is a 'solkk'. Indiana doesn't solkk.
.

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