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ShoeDg1 · Apr 11, 2005, 04:45 PM

This past Sunday, I woke up to find my G3 900 Mhz iBook drenched with beer. :-( I have two roommates, and I think they must've been goofing around, and the spill happened. To make things worse, they have tried to develop this elaborate set-up/plan/story to make it look like they aren't the guilty party. Neither one has confessed, and as anyone that has been through college knows April is not the time to be without your computer.

I would think my roommates would be better friends than this, and confess to the accident. I've called Apple, and I'm at least sending my baby off to see what can be done. From previous searches on spills, I know it won't be cheap to replace, and I don't have AppleCare (I purchased the laptop off of Ebay). I purchased the computer in August '03 for $950, and if the repairs are over...say, $500, would it even be worth it? I'm hoping my roommates will confess to this soon, but I don't have any certainty that they will.

So I guess if anyone has any advice, that would be great. I know I'm basically throwing a pity party for myself, but if anyone has any advice, ideas, etc., please share them. I'd hate to openly accuse my roommates of this before they'd confess, but I'm afraid that's what's going to have to be done...

-Shoe

macman88 · Apr 11, 2005, 06:09 PM

thats a bummer man. maybe you can split the cost with them. at least offer that idea. half is better then nothing.

sminch · Apr 11, 2005, 07:19 PM

buy a big gun / knife and sit around polishing it while thumbing through an apple magazine looking at the ads for new ibooks and glaring at your roommates. they'll get the picture.

failing that, say that you know they did it, they know they did it, and suggest they at least chip in for repairs, split the cost, or whatever. if they don't go with that, revert to plan a (see above).

sminch

mitchell_pgh · Apr 11, 2005, 08:29 PM

How elaborate is their story?

Needless to say, even if a friend of theirs did it, they are still responsible. I don't see how they could turn this around to not being their fault.

Hi I'm Ben · Apr 11, 2005, 09:05 PM

I'd ruin their lives. Just like I did to my old roommate that pulled that kind of crap on me.

Except he had no idea I was mad at him. So he never had any idea I kept breaking all his stuff and throwing away things. He couldn't figure out why things kept falling apart (missing screws i.e. laptop screws) and why he kept losing all his stuff. He got really depressed. Good I hated him.

StonedRose · Apr 11, 2005, 09:09 PM

Get a 12 pack and return the favor.

Aloha.

sminch · Apr 11, 2005, 10:12 PM

get a 12 guage and return the favour.

sminch (who is a pacifist, really)

mitchell_pgh · Apr 12, 2005, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by Hi I'm Ben:
I'd ruin their lives. Just like I did to my old roommate that pulled that kind of crap on me.

Except he had no idea I was mad at him. So he never had any idea I kept breaking all his stuff and throwing away things. He couldn't figure out why things kept falling apart (missing screws i.e. laptop screws) and why he kept losing all his stuff. He got really depressed. Good I hated him.

That's just evil.

macaddict0001 · Apr 12, 2005, 12:56 PM

Maybe some sort of insurance will cover it. failing that make them confess but don't pressure them too hard if you have no evidence.

Abit667 · Apr 12, 2005, 08:34 PM

Well, it was a G3 900. If the repairs come to around $500 I've seen refurbed/used G4 800/1Ghz ibooks going for like $600. I'm sure with some shopping around you could find a newer, better ibook for a similar price.

I'd still make them pay out the ass for ruining your computer. My roommate almost got me arrested the other day because he's a paranoid schizoid moron and called the cops completely out of nowhere and told them I did something that I wasn't even involved in...I can't imagine how mad I'd be if he ruined my ibook.

ShoeDg1 · Apr 13, 2005, 02:46 PM

An update on my iBook situation...

I spoke to an AppleCare representative this afternoon, and he said this qualifies as a "Tier 3, out of warranty" repair. The repair cost would be $709, plus tax. He told me that if I opted for repairs, that every piece of hardware in the computer would be tested, and returned with a clean bill of health.

Neither of the roommates have broke down and confessed. I know I can prove that one of the two made the spill, but I'm hoping they would be a good friend and roommate first, rather than me having a standoff with them.

I'd like to either repair the computer, or as suggested, buy a refurbished/used laptop. The plan when my parents and I bought this computer was to hand it down to my sister, who will be entering college this fall. I then would buy a new PowerBook after I graduated and got a job. The iBook ran well before the spill, and would've lasted for at least three more semesters.

Either way, I need to get my roommates to confess first, because no money, no repairs or new computer.

cmeisenzahl · Apr 13, 2005, 03:09 PM

Very frustrating story. But I would just spend the money on a new G4 iBook. For around $1k you can get a brand new one under warranty, and for a little more you can stick in another 512MB of RAM.

I wouldn't stick $750 into that machine.

Chris

Mojo · Apr 13, 2005, 05:47 PM

This is just typical irresponsible behavior by college students. If they won't accept responsibility then I see no good way to resolve the situation (and Hi I'm Ben's method is just plain creepy, if not downright sociopathic.)

As I see it, you can do four things:

1. Get a new Mac.

2. Get new roommates.

3. Take better care of your valuables. In a college living situation bikes, stereos, computers, musical instruments etc. are at risk. Many students are essentially children with access to alcohol, which is not a very good combination...

4. Live and Learn. There are good people out there; learn to tell the difference between them and poeple like your roommates and your life will be a whole lot better.

alphasubzero949 · Apr 13, 2005, 07:05 PM

I hate to bring the cold hard truth, but those are roommates for ya. Consider getting a single room next time. Leaving your computer or other valuables out in the public areas of your apartment is just asking for it.

teknopimp · Apr 13, 2005, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by alphasubzero949:
I hate to bring the cold hard truth, but those are roommates for ya. Consider getting a single room next time. Leaving your computer or other valuables out in the public areas of your apartment is just asking for it.

exactly. live and learn my friend.

mitchell_pgh · Apr 14, 2005, 09:01 AM

I wouldn't say that. It all depends on the living situation. When I was a fresh. there were things I simply couldn't put away.

I also was smart enough to put anything of value away when beer was involved.

mitchell_pgh · Apr 14, 2005, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mojo

Many students are essentially children with access to alcohol, which is not a very good combination...

Did you know me in college???

Mojo · Apr 14, 2005, 10:31 AM

Did you know me in college???

Maybe...were you at UC Santa Cruz 30 years ago? If not, then I just knew students like you...

mitchell_pgh · Apr 14, 2005, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mojo

Maybe...were you at UC Santa Cruz 30 years ago? If not, then I just knew students like you...

I wasn't as bad as many, but I wasn't good either

molala · Apr 15, 2005, 08:22 AM

If you can prove one of them did it, then they can't get out of paying for a replacement laptop, good luck. Otherwise, too bad, I would move out and get new roommates if I could. Otherwise, it's just a few more months that you have to live with them and I suggest you lock away your valuables for that remaining time.

As for the computer, I agree it isn't worth $750 to repair the laptop. It's better to buy a new one or even a discontinued model with full warranty.

teknopimp · Apr 15, 2005, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

...there were things I simply couldn't put away.

I also was smart enough to put anything of value away when beer was involved.

so you can't put an ibook away? an ibook is not valuable?