Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

SpaceMonkey · 02:38 AM

I've had my new Powerbook for about a month and a half now. It is my first laptop (my last computer was a G4 PowerMac), so I will admit that I'm probably just not used to some of the quirks. But I gotta say...Apple's AC adapter just stinks. The plug for the computer fits way to tightly into its port; I feel like I have to force it every time I plug it in. It's even harder to unplug, because there's nothing to really grab onto. It's just a smooth plastic cylinder. For a company that prides itself on slick design, the whole experience around the power adapter just feels like too much effort on my part for something that is one of the simplest aspects of the computer system. I had the same experience when I borrowed my friend's old Lombard a few years ago, so I don't think I have a defective adapter or anything. I've used friends' Windows-based laptops that had some sort of square plug for the power adapter, and those worked much, much better.

Rant over. Sorry. Am I just crazy?

TimothyJay · Aug 31, 2005, 02:46 AM

Wasn't there just a thread about ranting about the adapter?

I find the adapter great, except for the short length of the cord. But other than that, I like it.

GSixZero · Aug 31, 2005, 02:57 AM

I think it's great too. I'm a big fan of the wings for sure, even though I know some people have problems with them coming off.

My powerbook's power adaptor is fine, but the plug on the inside of the computer isn't quite perfect, as it doesn't hold the plug quite right.

broxy5 · Aug 31, 2005, 03:37 AM

Would you rather have 4 feet of cord, followed by a huge brick followed by another 4 feet of now different cord? (add in a couple of rubber strap things dangling off it to try to contain the mess). This thing is waaay better than any PC laptop chargers, but I guess if that is all you have to complain about, I guess your doing pretty good.

analogika · Aug 31, 2005, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by broxy5

Would you rather have 4 feet of cord, followed by a huge brick followed by another 4 feet of now different cord?

You mean like with the Apple-supplied extension cable?

Yes. Because with that long cord, the machine is actually grounded, and I don't get sparks every time I hook up an audio interface or a hard drive (due to 117V AC on the Powerbook's case).

Link · Aug 31, 2005, 06:20 AM

Thankfully I don't have the grounding problems but I do use the grounded plug anyway, just makes things easier for me..

Anyway, If you're really that ticked off, simply take a key or something and make the gap between the 'seam' on the outer ring bigger. That'll probably make it loose, though I have to admit I accidentally stepped on mine one day and that just happened lol.

Then again, mine was never too tight to begin with!

Certainly this has to be the most pointless rant I've seen in a while

siflippant · Aug 31, 2005, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Link

Certainly this has to be the most pointless rant I've seen in a while

USNA91 · Aug 31, 2005, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by siflippant

+1.

SpaceMonkey · Aug 31, 2005, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by TimothyJay

Wasn't there just a thread about ranting about the adapter?

I find the adapter great, except for the short length of the cord. But other than that, I like it.

Yeah, that one got bumped up to the top just as I posted mine last night.

itguy05 · Aug 31, 2005, 09:25 AM

My gripe is with the color.....

The wife has a G3/800 iBook and the casing of the power cord plug is aluminum (or faux aluminum).

I bought the 15" PB and the casing of the plug is white? Doesn't match the rest of the computer.

Other than that, I love the Apple power supply. Use the 3 prong when you are home and detatch it and put on the plugs while on the road. Works GREAT!!

Link · Aug 31, 2005, 04:15 PM

I miss the silver wiring.

teknopimp · Aug 31, 2005, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Link

Certainly this has to be the most pointless rant I've seen in a while

Originally Posted by usna91

+1.

+2.

SpaceMonkey · Aug 31, 2005, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by teknopimp

+2.

Well, excuse me.

It didn't seem out of step from some of the other pointless stuff that gets posted on the board. It is somewhat trivial, but that's probably what annoys me about it.

teknopimp · Aug 31, 2005, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Well, excuse me.

It didn't seem out of step from some of the other pointless stuff that gets posted on the board. It is somewhat trivial, but that's probably what annoys me about it.

sheesh, i'm sorry then. everyone is entitled to their own opinion, i guess that's why were all here.

i love the adaptor. it more than survived 2 years of daily trips to and from school and work. wings never broke. judging by the size/weigh ratio i'd say apple made it as small as humanly possible. i've never had a tight port issue. however i do recall my tibook adaptor having a silvery finish on the plug which was slick if i just put on some hand lotion or something; some gaffer tape could have fixed that.

i should have taken your mini-rant at face value. again, my apologies.

templetalker · Aug 31, 2005, 06:08 PM

Oh MY GOD! Like totally becky!

TimothyJay · Aug 31, 2005, 09:35 PM

Ok, for some reason I had no idea the actual plug on the brick comes off so that you can connect the extension cord to it until tonight

I mean, I know it looked like it could come off or something, but never did had the guts to pull it out til tonight. Wow, you learn something new every day... or in my case, months into having my PB.

JoshuaZ · Aug 31, 2005, 10:36 PM

Oh, the removable plug is nice if you go aborad. Just buy Apple`s world travelers kit for your powerbook and you can plug it in all over the world. Very handy.

After looking at all my coworkers GIANT POWER SUPPLIES for their laptops, I love my power adaptor more and more each day.

DavisH · Sep 2, 2005, 03:12 PM

I have had every PC laptop there is, and I think Apples power brick is the best. Its one of the smallest I have every seen. It has the prongs that come out to wind up the cord. It splits in half, so I can make it longer or shorter. It has the light at the end, to tell me when my Power Book is charging or charged. Hours of design work went into that adaptor! Most importantly it protects your computer! Will on a trip to Belize, I plugged my PB into a doggy outlet; I inserted the plug into the wall and then took the other end, the one with the light on it, and plugged it into my computer. The light immediately went bright red, and smoke came from the brick. That adaptor saved my computer! My last Dell came with a standard black cord, it was twice the size as the Apple Power Adaptor and it had no cord management. I had to buy a Velcro tie! And it had an ugly Dell sticker explaining all about the voltage.

tooki · Sep 2, 2005, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

It's even harder to unplug, because there's nothing to really grab onto. It's just a smooth plastic cylinder.

A friend of mine with very dry skin on his fingers had the same problem. He solved it by gluing some plastic rings onto the plug to provide grip.

tooki