Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Gamoe · Dec 25, 2005, 05:55 PM

I bought a used iBook a while back (right here via the forums). The iBook works beatifully. Honestly, it has to be the most stable Mac I own, even compared to a newer G4 Mac. But, it has two issues. First off, the power cord/adaptor it came with is not the original Apple one.

This has caused some problems. The power cable will not supply power to the iBook when simply plugged in. The (iBook) end of the cable has to be turned and kept at an angle by tightening the cable (which I do by putting the the weight of the iBook on it). This has caused unexpected shutdowns, when the cable accidentially loosens for some reason. And, lots of times, when I think the battery has been charged, it is instead near depleated thanks to this little issue. I believe the issue resides soley with the cable, not the iBook, which would make it even more of an issue. I am hoping I am right on this. Needless to say, I have been looking for a new, Apple power adaptor.

The other issue is that it did not come with an airport card. According to the previous owner there is a signal reception when working outside the room the base signal comes from. This is okay, because I work mostly in close proximity to the base station, and remote Internet connectivity is not a major issue for me (right now, I just hook it up via ethernet). So, I've been looking for an airport card as well.

Well, I have been very dismayed at the exuberant prices of these accesories. An Apple iBook adaptor costs $71, in spite of the low product rating by buyers. $71 for an adaptor?!

And then the airport cards... They're going for close (or over) $100 on eBay! And that's used, when the brand new ones used to cost less.

Anyway, I am really dismayed at this. Right now, I cannot afford either of these items. And even if I could, I would be reluctant to buy them at those prices. I just needed to let you guys know how I feel about these outrageous prices.

If anyone has some suggestion, pointers, or even a spare adaptor/airport card, I would be willing to trade some thing I have for them (FW enclosures, 2.5" 10 GB internal HDD, 3.5" 80 GB internal HDD, Canon Lithium batteries. etc.).

Ratm · Dec 25, 2005, 06:03 PM

Shop around. check http://www.froogle.google.com

Bandit240 · Dec 25, 2005, 09:34 PM

Ive got a spare adapter for an iBook around. I could use a firewire harddrive case. e-mail at B11sentra@aol.com

hayesk · Dec 25, 2005, 10:03 PM

Margins are razor thin on computers. Sellers make their money off of accessories. If they didn't overcharge on those, you'd be paying more for your iBook in the first place.

TheMosco · Dec 26, 2005, 12:41 AM

Not only are the apple power adapters expensive, but they are so crappy. My sister-in-law got a power adapter and a battery for her 12 inch ibook this christmas because she couldn't afford the 200 dollars it was going to cost her to get it for herself (they just had a baby so money is tight).

My mom apologized that they were boring gifts compared to the other gifts they got her but my sister-in-law thought those were the best gifts.

Athens · Dec 26, 2005, 05:21 AM

actually I really want a old airport card for my iMac, been wanting to place it in my room for a while now and dont feel like hardwire any more. Any one have one they are willing to part with PM me

DeathToWindows · Dec 26, 2005, 02:16 PM

Yeah, Airport cards do cost an arm, a leg and a testicle.

try your local craigslist

wdlove · Dec 26, 2005, 02:35 PM

I wish you all the best. Hope that you will enjoy your purchase.

TETENAL · Dec 26, 2005, 02:47 PM

There was some related article in c't magazine:

http://www.heise.de/ct/03/25/162/default.shtml

(German)

As far as I understood it, it is part of the purchasing contract (implicitly) that the vendor keeps replacement parts available for repairs for a reasonable price and a reasonable time. If you believe that Apple replacement parts are unreasonably high priced, you can try to sue them (if the law is similar in the USA than in Germany).

wdlove · Dec 27, 2005, 11:21 AM

I hope that you feel better after venting Gabriel Morales.

turtle777 · Dec 27, 2005, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

If you believe that Apple replacement parts are unreasonably high priced, you can try to sue them (if the law is similar in the USA than in Germany).

Yes, try a law suit because you think the $ 71 adapter is only worth $ 45.

-t

TETENAL · Dec 27, 2005, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Yes, try a law suit because you think the $ 71 adapter is only worth $ 45.

Why not? Someone has to show those corporations that they can't get away with everything.

Chuckit · Dec 27, 2005, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

As far as I understood it, it is part of the purchasing contract (implicitly) that the vendor keeps replacement parts available for repairs for a reasonable price and a reasonable time. If you believe that Apple replacement parts are unreasonably high priced, you can try to sue them (if the law is similar in the USA than in Germany).

Apple provides a warranty in the States as well. For what is considered to be a reasonable time, if the hardware fails, you can get it replaced for free. However, this is an old iBook and the adaptor sold with it is not Apple's. I don't think anybody could say with a straight face that Apple has any obligation here.

That said, yeah, the price does seem odd. But we've known that Apple hardware prices are wacky for a long time.

Ghoser777 · Dec 27, 2005, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Why not? Someone has to show those corporations that they can't get away with everything.

Why can't they charge what they want? If the prices are unreasonable, people shouldn't buy, putting pressure on the corporation to make the prices more reasonable.

Gamoe · Dec 27, 2005, 05:34 PM

I can see where a law such as TETENAL describes could serve a just cause. In the case of printer companies, for instance, where they don't want anyone else to make cartridges, but they make the "official" cartridge prices unreasonably high.

But, hey, I'm not looking to sue Apple for this or anything. As Chuckit pointed out, this a used iBook which came which an non-Apple charger (though I didn't know this until I got it). So, Apple has no obligation there, surely. And, as Ghoser777 pointed out, companies can charge what they wish, as long as there are feasible alternatives (unlike monopolies like power companies, for instance). So, I'm saying Apple has done anything illegal.

But that said, I am not happy about the prices and I DO have a right to complain about it. And, well, yes, discussion does make me feel better, wdlove. Thanks for your concern.

turtle777 · Dec 27, 2005, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Why not? Someone has to show those corporations that they can't get away with everything.

Yes. That's why there is eBay or craigslist. You don't have to buy the stuff new everytime.

-t

ShotgunEd · Dec 27, 2005, 06:09 PM

The apple power adapters for iBooks are notorious for breaking. I have a 3rd party adapter with a right angled plug, much better imo.

Airport cards can go for quite cheap on eBay these days. I got 2 for the price of one with a buy it now about 6 months ago.

turtle777 · Dec 27, 2005, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by ShotgunEd

The apple power adapters for iBooks are notorious for breaking.

Not mine. iBook 2001, adapter still working, although my wife yanked it around several times.

-t

ShotgunEd · Dec 27, 2005, 06:32 PM

Our family have had 2 break, once was a guitar amp falling on the iBook from about 5 feet, the second was a careless sister.

turtle777 · Dec 28, 2005, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by ShotgunEd

Our family have had 2 break, once was a guitar amp falling on the iBook from about 5 feet

Sue Apple for bad design.

-t

TETENAL · Dec 28, 2005, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Ghoser777

Why can't they charge what they want?

It is common, that things are repaired when they break. Again, according to the c't article I posted above, it is legal conception in Germany, that part of the purchasing contract is implicitly that the vendor keeps replacement parts for a repair available for a reasonable time and a reasonable price. If you couldn't repair a car for example, you wouldn't buy one. So you go to a vendor and say, I buy this car from you, and when it breaks, you'll ge me replacement parts and/or do the repair. Just that you don't have to say this every time you do a purchase, because this is just common sense, so it is implicitly part of every purchase. Do you understand me so far?

Companies can't just "charge whatever they want" for replacement parts, because there is no free market for replacement parts. It might not be worth it to create replacement parts for each and every part of each and every product for third parties, it might be difficult to create such parts for third parties, or it might be illegal to create such parts, for example when they are patented or protected by copyright. And since the price is not regulated by the free market, the price is regulated by law.

TETENAL · Dec 28, 2005, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Apple provides a warranty in the States as well. For what is considered to be a reasonable time, if the hardware fails, you can get it replaced for free. However, this is an old iBook and the adaptor sold with it is not Apple's. I don't think anybody could say with a straight face that Apple has any obligation here.

So if let's say your car breaks after the two years warranty, you think GM doesn't have any obligation to provide replacement parts to you?

turtle777 · Dec 28, 2005, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Companies can't just "charge whatever they want" for replacement parts, because there is no free market for replacement parts.

Your whole argument breaks down with this.

There are dozens of third party power adapters for Apple laptops, and many of them priced higher than Apple's original.

-t

TETENAL · Dec 28, 2005, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Your whole argument breaks down with this.

There are dozens of third party power adapters for Apple laptops, and many of them priced higher than Apple's original.

My argument doesn't break down with this, because my argument is a general one.

There is no free market for power adaptors that work with an Apple notebook, because only Apple's has the plug that fits. Now if you say that Apple's power adaptor is reasonably priced (I don't know, I relied on the original post for assessment of that), then my argument doesn't apply here. It's still a valid argument though.

Chuckit · Dec 28, 2005, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

There is no free market for power adaptors that work with an Apple notebook, because only Apple's has the plug that fits.

So you think the "dozens of third-party power adaptors for Apple laptops" have plugs that don't fit?

Gamoe · Dec 28, 2005, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Your whole argument breaks down with this.

There are dozens of third party power adapters for Apple laptops, and many of them priced higher than Apple's original.

-t

I only know of two for the iBook, and one of them is the one I have now (which obviously, I'm not happy with). Could you point me to some of these other (lower-priced, rather than higher-priced) alternatives? I'm not being sarcastic here. I honestly would like to know, because I might just go with an alternative, if if works well (unlike my current adapter).

Chuckit · Dec 28, 2005, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Gabriel Morales

I only know of two for the iBook, and one of them is the one I have now (which obviously, I'm not happy with). Could you point me to some of these other (lower-priced, rather than higher-priced) alternatives? I'm not being sarcastic here. I honestly would like to know, because I might just go with an alternative, if if works well (unlike my current adapter).

Didn't he say they're more expensive?

Gamoe · Dec 28, 2005, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Didn't he say they're more expensive?

He said that many of them were higher priced, but not all or even most. So, out of a few dozen, there may be quite a few lower-cost alternatives. of course, I wonder how many of those fit the iBook, specifically (he said Apple laptops, not iBooks). I haven't found many. All I need is one quality, lower-priced alternative, though.