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dreilly1 · Oct 4, 2003, 02:00 PM

I've been having some problems with my 12" 800 iBook recently. I just sent it in to Apple last week to fix something that was obviously a logic board problem, and they replaced that under warranty, and a bunch of stuff relating to the display, too.

A few days after getting it back, I noticed some of the backlight problems that others have reported: when the hinge is in a certain position, the backlight goes out. Moving the hinge out of that position turns the backlight on again. It struck me as odd, since I never had this particular problem before.

Is this the type of thing that an authorized repair center or Apple Store could fix? I don't want to have to send it back to Apple again if I can help it (especially since a tech there obviously didn't do the job right when I sent it in last time), but would they be able to fix it on the spot, or would they have to send it out to Apple anyway?

jessejlt · Oct 4, 2003, 03:35 PM

The answer to your question is NO.
YOu have to do some checking around however, to find an apple store that will repair your iBook...Most opt to send it in no matter what. I live in Portland, and there is only one shop that I know of that will touch these things. It's especially unfortunate considering how problem prone these things are. Mine is a complete pos and spouts problems like a well groomed lawn does weeds. Total pain in the ass.
jesse ;-)

Detrius · Oct 5, 2003, 11:09 AM

I am an Apple Certified Laptop technician. Something to keep in mind is that your local tech shop has to put food on the table. Some of these laptop repairs can take upwards of three hours straight work. Considering what Apple pays for warranty repairs, these types of repairs are often not worth our time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you only need one Apple Certified Desktop technician to have your facility considered an Apple Authorized Repair Center. If the center does not have a portable certified technician, they have no choice but to send the laptop off to Apple.

As far as I'm aware, there are very few of us that go ahead with the portable certification.