[Eug Wanker]

My friend's iBook is going dark by itself as she's typing. She says she'll then move the screen and it will come back on. I'll tell her to get to a service centre soon, but is this a known problem?

[Nerozwei]

Sounds like the problem I had. See my page for details: http://www.onda-media.com/jani/archive/ibook/

It's a known problem. I get around 10-15 hits a day via Google with keyword combinations like "ibook backlight problem", "ibook screen backlight problem", "ibook backlight cable", etc, etc.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by Nerozwei:
Sounds like the problem I had. See my page for details: http://www.onda-media.com/jani/archive/ibook/

It's a known problem. I get around 10-15 hits a day via Google with keyword combinations like "ibook backlight problem", "ibook screen backlight problem", "ibook backlight cable", etc, etc.

Cool, I'll forward the info, thx.

[Eug]

My friend FINALLY took it in after the screen went dark completely, and now they tell her it's the logic board and it's gonna cost $$$$$$ to fix.

I don't believe it, esp. since the computer still seems to boot fine. I'm convinced it's the cable.

I've advised a second opinion.

[Eug Wanker]

By the way, who the most reputable repair centre in Toronto? I'm not convinced about the store she went to.

Also check out my thread about booting the iBook's hard drive on my TiBook:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=194839

[polendo]

Hi there,

You might want to check the Apple discussions board. There was this guy called Peter Hilleard that fixed his Ibook by replacing some cables.

The name of the post is "90 degrees and black out!!!!"

Check under the "dual usb" Ibook section.

This is problem is getting scary. It seems that normal wear and tear will bring this problem to anyone. My warranty is about to expire and I'm not sure If I should buy applecare or sell mine before this things happen.

[Eug Wanker]

Uh oh. Apple logic board problem is supposedly common.

[polendo]

Yeah! those problems are common now. They weren't, but as time passed by people are getting affected left and right.

My rationale tells me that it is a lost case. Do not spend a dime on a bad thing. Let it go. Then again, it already has like 1500 US dls in it with memory and airport card. I do not have Apple care, and I'm willing to take my chances. That Ibook isn't worth 600 US dls now, it would be madness to invest 40% of its value in a warranty. I would really feel bad If i sell it, since the new owner could suffer these things.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by polendo:
Yeah! those problems are common now. They weren't, but as time passed by people are getting affected left and right.

My rationale tells me that it is a lost case. Do not spend a dime on a bad thing. Let it go. Then again, it already has like 1500 US dls in it with memory and airport card. I do not have Apple care, and I'm willing to take my chances. That Ibook isn't worth 600 US dls now, it would be madness to invest 40% of its value in a warranty. I would really feel bad If i sell it, since the new owner could suffer these things.

Unfortunately, she can't afford a new laptop. It's either fix this one or else go without a computer, or buy a new PC.

Some additional info:

From macintouch.com:

David Shanahan offered some important tips for avoiding trouble with iBooks:

I recently had the video die on my 800 MHz G3 iBook for the first time when it was almost out of warranty. It was fixed, though apparently because of the high demand for iBook logic boards it took three weeks to get it back. So far it's working fine but based on others' experience this is unlikely to last.
I started reading the Apple support forums on the subject of video failures in iBooks while I was waiting for mine to be repaired. It seems there are two basic flaws in the white (Dual USB) iBooks (both 12" and 14" models) which Apple seem to be studiously ignoring despite complaints about them being widespread for over a year now:

The hinge design is faulty. Backlight, video and power cables pass through the hinge from the logic board to the screen and the holes are too small for the cable assemblies resulting in stress and friction on the cables each time the screen is opened or closed. Eventually one or more of the cables either break or the insulation wears through resulting in a short and the backlight/video fails. This is often accompanied by fuzzy lines on the screen or users finding that the screen fails when tilted at certain angles and works at others. If your video works fine when you plug the iBook into an external monitor then this is most likely your problem. There are links in the Apple support forums to a site describing in detail how to disassemble your iBook and replace such broken cables, though you'd want to be pretty confident to try this as it will of couse void any warrenty you have left.

The video chip on the motherboard comes loose when its solder gives way leading to video failures, usually with no warning. This may be triggered by flexing of the case putting strain on the chip until it eventually comes loose (some have suggested never picking up your iBook by the left-hand side alone as this is where the video chip is). If after a video failure you plug in an external monitor and it doesn't work this is most likely your problem and you need a new logic board. Some people have tried pressing down hard on the left-hand side of the case just below the option key to the left of the track pad and managed to get video back temporarily (apparently this reseats the video chip). Others have reported some success sticking rubber bands/thin foam insulation on the underside of the shielding over the video chip to protect it from flexing/pressure from the case. Seems like the case really needs to be reinforced to stop it flexing like this and/or the location and soldering of the video chip changed.

These problems appear to be common with every model of white iBook from the original 500 MHz up to at least the 900 MHz G3s. The new G4 iBooks may have the same problem(s) but they're so new it's probably too soon to tell for sure (the hinge design has apparently not changed).

[Eug]

Well, both the internal and external video is gone. Fsck!

[Quadra]

Originally posted by Eug:
Well, both the internal and external video is gone. Fsck!

Just another sad tale about a sad computer computer company, its sad and sorry product, and it's sad customer care.

This is going to prove to be Apple's Waterloo...wait and see.

By the time Apple tries to speak about this, they will be paying up.

Woz is rolling over on his web cam.


- Switched Back

[James L]

Hmmm, let's see.....

At an optimistic point, let's say that the iBooks make up 25% of the number of Macs sold in a year.

This problem is affecting < 1% of all iBook users who own the models in questions.

So, here we have a problem affecting something like 0.25% of all Macintosh users.

....and this is going to be the Waterloo for Apple?

I think not.

I work in a company that has at least a dozen iBooks, all G3's except for 1. NONE of them have this problem.

My best friends machine does.

Mine doesn't.

While it certainly sucks for people who have the problem (and I hope my iBook doesn't get it), to say that this will be the downfall of Apple is a ludicrious statement. I defy anyone to take any computer company and show me a year of products with no problems.

Chrysler, Mazda, Honda, Ford Chevy... they are constantly issuing recalls for parts of vehicles that should be replaced. None of those companies are going out of business. I know the problem with a lot of people is that they feel Apple should admit there is a problem.... but in the grand scheme of things this is NOT a huge number of people who are having these problems.

[polendo]

Originally posted by James L:
Hmmm, let's see.....

At an optimistic point, let's say that the iBooks make up 25% of the number of Macs sold in a year.

This problem is affecting < 1% of all iBook users who own the models in questions.

So, here we have a problem affecting something like 0.25% of all Macintosh users.

....and this is going to be the Waterloo for Apple?

I think not.

I work in a company that has at least a dozen iBooks, all G3's except for 1. NONE of them have this problem.

My best friends machine does.

Mine doesn't.

While it certainly sucks for people who have the problem (and I hope my iBook doesn't get it), to say that this will be the downfall of Apple is a ludicrious statement. I defy anyone to take any computer company and show me a year of products with no problems.

Chrysler, Mazda, Honda, Ford Chevy... they are constantly issuing recalls for parts of vehicles that should be replaced. None of those companies are going out of business. I know the problem with a lot of people is that they feel Apple should admit there is a problem.... but in the grand scheme of things this is NOT a huge number of people who are having these problems.

Marketing wise is really a bad thing. On average a "bad experience" being communicated is around 6-8 times. In other words for every one affected person, there are going to be 6 to 8 other people being communicated about this problem. Those 6 to 8 persons ain't buying that product, if you ask me.

[James L]

Hey Polendo,

not disagreeing with you at all, as a matter of fact I agree with you!

To say that something like this will be the Waterloo of a billion dollar company that has survived events MUCH worse than this though is a stretch.... I was simply commenting on the fact that people overreact.

Look at it this way... if Apple does the right thing and "issues a recall", then great!, I will get a recall on my machine too probably. If they don't, then they will lose 1200 customers, and you could multiply that number by 6 - 8 and say they lose 10,000 customers.

A blow...sure. Some bad P.R.,.... sure. I would wager a bet, however, that Apple will still sell a couple of million machines a year, as they are now.

Did Ford have their Waterloo when people drove on underinflated tires in 100 degree weather and some blew? No, of course not. They finally admitted a problem, paid out lots of dough to replace tires, took their lumps, and continued making tons of $$$.

... so will Apple. That is life when dealing with a corporation that sells mechanical products.

No offence to anyone affected by this. I have the same machine, and maybe one day I will have the same problem. I will always keep my perspective, however!