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cylack · Feb 21, 2006, 07:19 PM

I have a first gen imac g5 (bought it in dec. 2004). So far I've had three major problems with it:

1. After 6 months of use, the power supply burned out and had to be replaced.
2. 3 months later the well known video problems due to faulty capacitors appeared. The midplane board was replaced.
3. I was out of the country for 6 months; after the midplane board was replaced in August my imac was sitting unused. Booted it up yesterday and the computer would just hang. Took it to the genius bar at the apple store today and was told the logic board has to be replaced. Luckily, though the computer is out of warranty, Apple has extended the warranty for this specific problem.

At this point, I am very frustrated. I am going to call Apple and request that they replace my imac with a new one. It is obvious reading the posts here and Apple's boards (before Apple's board monitors started censoring and delting posts that address these problems - my post on the Apple board yesterday was deleted by the monitors) that many users have had lemons with the first gen imac g5. I consider three major problems in less than a year to be symptomatic of a "lemon".

If Apple doesn't replace lemon imac g5's what are the alternatives...I wonder if they would buckle if enough people threaten a class action lawsuit. Something must be done to alert the general public about this problem.

Tuishimi · Feb 21, 2006, 08:41 PM

Yeah, the originals had some probs. My wife has one. I've replaced the midplane. I want to get the fans replaced next - they whine like a jet airplane.

My 2nd gen 20" iMac G5, on the other hand, is sweet. Still, I am on the new mini when it arrives! Maybe I'll give my son this one.

mavherzog · Feb 22, 2006, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by Tuishimi

Yeah, the originals had some probs. My wife has one. I've replaced the midplane. I want to get the fans replaced next - they whine like a jet airplane.

My 2nd gen 20" iMac G5, on the other hand, is sweet. Still, I am on the new mini when it arrives! Maybe I'll give my son this one.

You'd give a 20" iMac G5 up for a Mac Mini? Not me!

(however, I would for my new 20" iMac Intel!)

HazMacFan · Feb 22, 2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Tuishimi

Yeah, the originals had some probs. My wife has one. I've replaced the midplane. I want to get the fans replaced next - they whine like a jet airplane.

My 2nd gen 20" iMac G5, on the other hand, is sweet. Still, I am on the new mini when it arrives! Maybe I'll give my son this one.

I wouldn't go that far, my 20" iMac ALS (Rev B) is being repaired now. It locked up a couple of days ago. I powered it off then on, and the fan just started blast-off. I chatted with Apple support and they had me re-set the PRAM, SMU, try to boot from CD. Nothing. They told me to take it in. I did yesterday. I bought it last August.

Don't know whats wrong with it.

My iBook G4 is still kicking after more than a year though.

cylack · Feb 22, 2006, 12:27 PM

Apple said they would not replace it, and I cannot buy Applecare once the one year warranty has expired. I am far from some newbie to Apple. I have owned Apple computers continously since the Apple IIgs back in 1986; this is my 12th Apple I've owned. When you pay a premium price on a product, you expect premium service. This isn't some cheapo $500 Dell; I paid $1900 for this computer. Instead of doing the RIGHT thing and recalling the machines, Apple has decided to screw its loyal customers over. Apple told me the new logic board should fix all the problems; I asked the customer service guy what happens if the computer breaks down again...would you replace the computer then? He said they deal with it on a case by case basis, but its rare that they replace a computer thats out of warranty.

It really pisses me off that Apple would act like this. I got a ton of calls from Apple before the warranty expired asking me to sign up for AppleCare. They KNOW about these machines and still won't recall them. People, don't be blinded by your love of Apple and ignore shoddy customer service. If this computer breaks down again, and they won't replace it, I will sell it on eBay and take a loss...and buy a new Windows Vista machine...at that point Apple would have lost a customer who did 20 years of business with them. Apple won't get by just on ease of use much longer, and Itunes does work on Windows.

Three major problems in one year is RIDICULOUS. Apple is supposed to be superior to Windows boxes, and they are supposed to be "friendlier' than the Windows vendors, but they are all the same...just out for a fast buck and screwing the customer over.

quiklee · Feb 22, 2006, 12:47 PM

I guess it's one of those lessons that you learn . . . return it before the 3rd strike or you're out! . . . . . good luck man!

BladeRunner80 · Feb 22, 2006, 01:04 PM

I had the same problem with my rev. a iMac G5. I took it in for a logic board replacement, got it back, then my burner went bad, took it back and an hour after I got it home, the display was toast. I told them after the second major repair I wanted my money back, they said I hadn't reached the "magic number" of repairs, but I was close. When I got the machine back after my display fried, I think it was the logic board that went bad again, I can't remember, during the whole process I think I visited the apple store like 10 times or something. This was during a one or two month span. Anyway....after three major repairs I was told I could get my money back or recieve a replacement, so I opted for the iSight iMac. This all started to happen about six months after I had purchased it. You just have to be persistant with them. Good luck!

mavherzog · Feb 22, 2006, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by cylack

If this computer breaks down again, and they won't replace it, I will sell it on eBay and take a loss...and buy a new Windows Vista machine...

Ouch. So you are going to punish YOURSELF for Apple's customer service issues???

mavherzog · Feb 22, 2006, 03:05 PM

We don't have an Apple store near here, but there is a really great small computer shop that is certified to do Apple repairs. I recently brought my RevB G5 iMac (17") which had a fried power supply. They replaced the mother board and power supply with a turnaround time of LESS than 24 hours! (and didn't cost me a dime)