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HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 12:19 PM

I have a 900 MHz G3 iBook which I bought about a year ago. It's had repeated logic board failures (three); when I got it back after the last replacement, the "sleeping" LED didn't work any more; the right speaker hadn't been replaced like I'd asked it to be (it sounds 'fuzzy'); and worst of all, it seemed to overheat: it'd chug along for a while, but some programs would crash if I was watching, for example, a movie, and then OS X itself would crash. When I rebooted, the chime would sound, the fan would turn on and gradually accelerate to full speed.

So, after having it crash once again, I brought my iBook into First Avenue Computing (instead of Carbon Computing, who had botched the repair last time; also, I am not in Toronto so it's really hard for me to get to Carbon anyways

) and got the techs to take a look at it. That was last Tuesday.

Yesterday, I got a call from Apple Canada; the woman on the other end of the line said "I've got good news for you; we're going to replace your iBook with a 12" 1 GHz G4 iBook." I was pretty happy with that; they were going to give me an Airport Extreme card to replace my Airport card, too. The sticker, though, was the RAM; I had installed 512 MB of third-party RAM as soon as I bought my iBook, but since it was third party Apple had no need to replace it. And, of course, the G3 iBook's RAM isn't compatible with the G4 iBook's (PC100 vs PC2100).

So I chose to repair my current iBook instead of getting a replacement; there's no way I'm paying the $CAN 200 or so it would cost (after shipping, taxes, etc) to get a new 512 MB stick of RAM when I could just get my iBook repaired for free.

dampeoples · May 8, 2004, 12:23 PM

Wouldn't the speed bump/cost difference be worth more than a stick of RAM? Tell Apple to give you your RAM back, since it's not Apple RAM, sounds like you screwed yourself.

CheesePuff · May 8, 2004, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by dampeoples:
sounds like you screwed yourself.

^^

f1000 · 12:40 PM

Originally posted by HoserHead:
So I chose to repair my current iBook instead of getting a replacement; there's no way I'm paying the $CAN 200 or so it would cost (after shipping, taxes, etc) to get a new 512 MB stick of RAM when I could just get my iBook repaired for free.

You could've sold the slower RAM on eBay for $127 US like this person did: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

and then have used the money to buy a $103 US replacement: http://www.18004memory.com/cart/addc...379A1A4A3C2D7C

Chris Grande · May 8, 2004, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by dampeoples:
sounds like you screwed yourself.

thats what I would say

sniffer · May 8, 2004, 12:44 PM

Totally!

HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by dampeoples:
Wouldn't the speed bump/cost difference be worth more than a stick of RAM?

No, that's the whole point. RAM is a much bigger factor in the speed of the machine than the processor for me.

Tell Apple to give you your RAM back, since it's not Apple RAM, sounds like you screwed yourself.

Of course Apple would give me my RAM back. It's not theirs to keep. As it is, I am getting my entire machine back, hopefully working perfectly.

teknopimp · May 8, 2004, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by HoserHead:
...I am getting my entire machine back, hopefully working perfectly.

you're setting yourself up for disappointment. again.

HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by teknopimp:
you're setting yourself up for disappointment. again.

Yeah, maybe. I'm starting to reconsider; I hadn't thought of selling the RAM on eBay. There's no way it'd cover the whole cost, including shipping and customs, but it would defray a large part of the new RAM's cost.

I may try my G3 iBook out one more time, and if it fails again, just get a replacement.

Stradlater · May 8, 2004, 02:02 PM

This is possibly the greatest display of fatuity I've come across in awhile.

512MB RAM is $100. You could have sold your old 512MB. You would have had a faster G4 iBook.

Wow.

amazing · May 8, 2004, 03:14 PM

Hey, listen:
Can you call them up and change your mind?

Barring that, the way the iBook logic boards are going, it'll happen again. Just take your RAM out before you send it in the next time.

HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Stradlater:
512MB RAM is $100. You could have sold your old 512MB. You would have had a faster G4 iBook.

512 MB RAM is $CAN 200+ after shipping, customs, etc. (I know; I've bought it once.) I am a student. There's no way I can get the full price for my old RAM, which means I'm out of pocket. I've spent enough on this stupid machine as it is.

HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by amazing:
Can you call them up and change your mind?

Potentially, and I'm considering it.

Barring that, the way the iBook logic boards are going, it'll happen again. Just take your RAM out before you send it in the next time.

The RAM would be returned to me; it's mine, after all.

rsgunther · May 8, 2004, 08:25 PM

Did you realize the new ibooks have 256MB of RAM soldered on board. The old ibooks (like yours) only had 128MB of RAM soldered on board.

This means you would have had 256MB of RAM, a G4 processor, a faster bus, much faster machine.

You should have taken your replacement, sold the RAM when possible & buy a 512MB RAM chip when you can find one for the right price.

The 256 would get you by on a G4 for a little while. It would still be as fast or faster than your G3 with 640MB. Keep in mind, when you would upgrade the new one, you would get a total of 768 (256 + 512).

IMHO, you made a big mistake not taking that NEW machine!

pat++ · May 8, 2004, 09:02 PM

You definetely should have taken the replacement G4 iBook!!!

ChasingApple · May 8, 2004, 09:10 PM

Hello McFly! Call em and tell em you want the new Book, please for OUR sanity.

HoserHead · May 8, 2004, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by rsgunther:
Did you realize the new ibooks have 256MB of RAM soldered on board. The old ibooks (like yours) only had 128MB of RAM soldered on board.

This means you would have had 256MB of RAM, a G4 processor, a faster bus, much faster machine.

Yes, I knew. I didn't think at the time the increased speed would offset the decreased RAM, and didn't think of selling my RAM for some reason.

The 256 would get you by on a G4 for a little while. It would still be as fast or faster than your G3 with 640MB.

I doubt this, but I may yet find out.

CheesePuff · May 8, 2004, 11:46 PM

So sell the 512 MB PC100 SO-RAM chip and purchase a 256 MB PC2100 DDR chip since the new iBook G4 has 256 MB already soldered on it. Sure, you would lose 128 MB but still... you would gain a faster processor, gain a G4, faster system bus, better graphics card, etc.

sniffer · May 9, 2004, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by ChasingApple:
Hello McFly! Call em and tell em you want the new Book, please for OUR sanity.

Couldn't agree more. HoserHead, I hope you're reconsidering the offer from Apple. This is just one of those stories we just need a happy ending on.

SirRuka · May 9, 2004, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by HoserHead:
512 MB RAM is $CAN 200+ after shipping, customs, etc. (I know; I've bought it once.) I am a student. There's no way I can get the full price for my old RAM, which means I'm out of pocket. I've spent enough on this stupid machine as it is.

http://www.canadacomputers.com

They have a 512MB stick for $145 that I have in my 14" iBook with zero problems. They have a store in Missasauga across the 401 from Square One.

Getting a brand new iBook in exchange for your broken one sounds like a damn good deal to me. Plus you PAID $200 to have it fixed, which would have covered the cost of the RAM!

Lateralus · May 9, 2004, 11:54 AM

Yeah, you're pretty slow dude.

HoserHead · May 9, 2004, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by SirRuka:
Getting a brand new iBook in exchange for your broken one sounds like a damn good deal to me. Plus you PAID $200 to have it fixed, which would have covered the cost of the RAM!

What? I didn't pay a cent for the repair: I'm still covered under warranty, plus I have AppleCare. However, the RAM cost me about $200 when I bought it a year ago.

Thanks for the pointer to the RAM provider, though.

HoserHead · May 9, 2004, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by sniffer:
Couldn't agree more. HoserHead, I hope you're reconsidering the offer from Apple. This is just one of those stories we just need a happy ending on.

I was perfectly happy just getting my G3 iBook back, but the saner and more friendly responses (like yours!) have caused me to change my mind. I honestly never thought of selling the RAM, but that seems like a pretty sane thing to do.

I've called back the person at Apple who originally called me and left a message on her voicemail. We'll see what happens.

I'm happy either way, but I wouldn't say no to a replacement now.

Justin216 · May 9, 2004, 06:13 PM

Good decision. The mere fact that it is a G4 instead of a G3 outweighs any Ram issues. If you can make back half on the old PC133 ram you'll be setting pretty.

SirRuka · May 9, 2004, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by HoserHead:
What? I didn't pay a cent for the repair: I'm still covered under warranty, plus I have AppleCare. However, the RAM cost me about $200 when I bought it a year ago.

Ahh, sorry, I misread your last sentence there and thought it was out of warranty and you paid for the fix.

heresiarh · May 9, 2004, 08:03 PM

you should have gone for the g4 ibook.

CheesePuff · May 9, 2004, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by heresiarh:
you should have gone for the g4 ibook.

Gee really? I don't think anyone could have come to that conclusion after the 23 other posts.

Lateralus · May 9, 2004, 08:19 PM

He is just on a mission to up his post count at any cost. Check his post history.

freakboy2 · May 9, 2004, 09:31 PM

isn't adding a post about someone else posting just to up their post count kind of the same thing?

fb

ps +1 on my post count

Cadaver · May 9, 2004, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by freakboy2:
isn't adding a post about someone else posting just to up their post count kind of the same thing?

fb

ps +1 on my post count

Perhaps you're right

/end hijack

discotronic · May 9, 2004, 10:13 PM

Originally posted by PowerMacMan:
He is just on a mission to up his post count at any cost. Check his post history.

I'll take a +1 myself and agree with PowerMacMan. I called heresiarh out a few days ago on another thread. All his posts are BS and do nothing but add to his post count. Check out his post history. A whole lot of typing with no substance. Just like this post I guess.

HoserHead · May 10, 2004, 02:00 PM

Thanks to the friendly people who suggested I just sell my old RAM, I reconsidered and am now getting a replacement 1 GHz G4 iBook. Cheers to you.

Jeers, however, go to the jerks who called me stupid in several different ways (among other things). Some "friendly Mac community."

Lateralus · May 10, 2004, 02:11 PM

People learn by having others tell them that what they did was stupid. You may be pissed that we all yelled at you, but the fact is that you did a stupid thing.... but because we all yelled at you, you probably wont do it again.

That's what were here for.

iREZ · May 10, 2004, 02:15 PM

I dont think they were calling you stupid, but the decision you made at first was rather stupid if you ask me. That's like a car company offering you a new car because your old one has had one too many problems, why wouldn't you take the new car, just like why wouldn't you take a G4 over a G3? I mean you can't honestly blame people for thinking what you did was below par on knowlege, can you? I'm glad to hear that you ended up with the G4 though, and I'm almost certain your experience will be much much more positive then you expect. Have a good one and remember, were not mean....not that mean anyway.

HoserHead · May 10, 2004, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by iREZ:
I dont think they were calling you stupid

That's exactly what people said. "fatuity." "pretty slow." Pretty unfriendly.

I had a very well-reasoned thought: I don't want to pay for an upgrade, and I'd have to because of the RAM. I hadn't thought of selling my old RAM; it just never occurred to me.

I hate forums, but they're like a car wreck: I can't draw my eyes away.

freakboy2 · May 10, 2004, 03:06 PM

hoser my friend.. you have to realize that everyone here lusts after getting a new computer. to have apple offer you one for basically free (even like 100 bucks) is quite appealing to them.

in all honesty i don't disagree with you.. the upgrade you get giong to the g4 is not that huge. however, since the old g3 was busted and since you're resetting the new ibook in terms of age, its a REALLY good deal.

new battery, new everything.

have fun with it.. personally i think you were very logical. if you don't ahve money for a new machine, and they should fix the g3, then why should they say "yeah here's a new machine but you'll need to spend 200 bucks to get it working".

i'd say no to that as well if i was broke.

fb

winCEman · May 10, 2004, 03:39 PM

Don't let these guys get to you man, by the time your logic board goes bad again,maybe we'll see g5 ibooks, and you'll get a real upgrade. Who will be laughing then?

sniffer · May 10, 2004, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by HoserHead:
Thanks to the friendly people who suggested I just sell my old RAM, I reconsidered and am now getting a replacement 1 GHz G4 iBook. Cheers to you.

Jeers, however, go to the jerks who called me stupid in several different ways (among other things). Some "friendly Mac community."

Don't worry about it. I think we was just a bit chocked about your decision, and we didn't know how to respond. Glad it worked out for you. BTW: This IS a friendly community, but it's also very unpredictable at the same time. That's all.

HoserHead · May 20, 2004, 02:02 PM

Here I am on my brand new iBook G4. Speed seems good; it does get bogged down more easily than my G3, but I attribute that to having less RAM. It's not a huge difference, but it is noticable.

As it turns out, the folks at Carbon Computing really botched up my last iBook G3 repair job - missing screws, sleep light board missing, and they damaged my right speaker cable (a problem I noticed some time ago). I'm very glad that I got First Avenue here in Waterloo to do this repair/replacement; they were very friendly, and clearly very competent. I'll be glad when the real Apple Store comes in to Toronto, because Carbon, it seems, doesn't really know what they're doing.

Anyways, I'm very glad I made this decision. Thanks for prodding me into it. The folks at First Avenue, Apple and you folks on the MacNN forums all thought I was nuts for turning it down; maybe you were right!

If anybody wants to buy my 512 MB SO-DIMM, let me know; I'll drop it on eBay at some point if not.

The Placid Casual · May 20, 2004, 04:09 PM

Thank god.

ccsccs7 · May 20, 2004, 06:28 PM

Glad you're reasonably satisfied with this decision.