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rafterman · Sep 16, 2005, 05:51 PM

I'm waiting until the 20th to see whether new PowerBooks are released or not. But in the mean time I thought we could get a thread going on the most common issues with 15" PowerBooks (since that is the one I'm considering).

If Apple doesn't come out with new PBs then I'm pretty sure I'll just get one of the current ones. I worked as a Mac Specialist this summer at the Apple Store and it scared me to see so many people come in with failed hard drives, logic boards etc.

Please specify whether you have the 1.5Ghz or 1.67Ghz model!

Kvasir · Sep 16, 2005, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by rafterman

I'm waiting until the 20th to see whether new PowerBooks are released or not. But in the mean time I thought we could get a thread going on the most common issues with 15" PowerBooks (since that is the one I'm considering).

If Apple doesn't come out with new PBs then I'm pretty sure I'll just get one of the current ones. I worked as a Mac Specialist this summer at the Apple Store and it scared me to see so many people come in with failed hard drives, logic boards etc.

Please specify whether you have the 1.5Ghz or 1.67Ghz model!

I have a 1.5GHz 15" powerbook, purchased the week before Christmas 2004 (it replaced my rev.B 667MHz TiBook, which my nephew now has, and which is still running fine). The 667 also had a perfect screen, and still does, and no unresolved hardware issues with it (the trackpad went wonky after about 7 months, but Apple replaced it, no charge, and it never went south again).

I have no issues, the screen is perfect (I ran a pixel test the day I got it and fired it up for the first time), no hardware nor cosmetic issues at all. No software issues either, although I did do an erase-and-install of Tiger when it came out (then dragged my stuff over from a firewire backup disk).

tracemhunter · Sep 16, 2005, 07:58 PM

i have a 15" 1.67 i got about a month and a half ago and i dont have any problems. i just wish i could still use the scroll option with the trackpad and not accidentally go back a page.

ibook_steve · Sep 16, 2005, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by tracemhunter

i have a 15" 1.67 i got about a month and a half ago and i dont have any problems. i just wish i could still use the scroll option with the trackpad and not accidentally go back a page.

I'm guessing you're using Firefox. There's fix around if you search for it.

Steve

spiff72 · Sep 16, 2005, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by tracemhunter

i have a 15" 1.67 i got about a month and a half ago and i dont have any problems. i just wish i could still use the scroll option with the trackpad and not accidentally go back a page.

I am gonna take a guess here: you are using Firefox or Camino? It treats horizontal scrolling as a forward or back command by default...

See the following link:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...40617000005758

This is a fix that is specific to Firefox, and you can still scroll horizontally in the OS. Works like a charm!

alimunnik · Sep 17, 2005, 03:25 PM

I too have the 1.5 GHz 15' PB, purchased last Christmas. I have been totally satisfied with its performance, unlike the new G5 iMac I bought a few months ago which I consider far less trustworthy.
The PB aluminium casing looks great, but it certainly does inhibit Airport reception. Barely get a serviceable signal when I move it to the next room, although when I plug in Dr Bott's external device I can pick up a strong signal more than 200 feet away.
The screen looks nice inside, but in a brighter situation, such as sitting outside on a sunny day, it's a trifle more difficult to see.

tracemhunter · Sep 17, 2005, 03:35 PM

thanks spiff. now my powerbook is complete

enomehjashik · Sep 17, 2005, 07:49 PM

i have no issues with the powerbook. and this keyboard is so AWESOME.

reception problem wasn't as bad for me as i heard. i get full bars all through out my house. only time i had on/off reception was while staying in korea and trying to pickup a signal from the next building. fujitsu(centrino) laptop picked it up at full bars.

i purchased mine June of this year.

sadpandas · Sep 17, 2005, 09:39 PM

I haven't had any issues with my book either. I had the same problem with FireFox so I just went back to using Safari. I used FireFox on my p.c. and enjoyed it very much maybe i will download it again and use that fix up there. I bet it was sad seeing all those people only when things are going bad with there machines. The good thing is though that if things go south with a mac and you purchased Apple Care or it's been less than a year since you got it Apple will fix it. What you didn't see being an Apple specialist i bet is the people who haven't had problems with their macs and are at home or at work using them. I think you will be pleased with your book, good luck.

driven · Sep 17, 2005, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by tracemhunter

i have a 15" 1.67 i got about a month and a half ago and i dont have any problems. i just wish i could still use the scroll option with the trackpad and not accidentally go back a page.

I've only had that problem with Firefox. Safari works fine.

I only use Firefox for GMail (for the rich text editing).

Jakeypooh · Sep 18, 2005, 05:03 PM

My biggest problem is the trackpad... it really acts up on me alot... I can't use the thing for more than five minutes without the trackpad freaking on me.

JKT · Sep 18, 2005, 06:22 PM

I have had to have my screen replaced because of the white spot issue (even though it was a second generation machine and well out of the range of the serial no.'s that Apple has listed as automatic candidates for replacement). I also do not like the way the lid warps either which can sometimes make it tricky to close or open.

However, my biggest issue is just how hard it is to keep the damned thing clean - you only have to touch the casing for a fraction of a second and there is a streak left on the blessed thing. Likewise the screen (which is always getting poked by someone when I show them something... really fskcing annoying!). I also suffer from the pitting of the case where my arms have rested on it in the past and on the button from my thumb.

My second biggest issue would be that the screen isn't bright enough at its highest setting - I wouldn't use it very often but it'd be nice to have it brighter when I needed it.

sadpandas · Sep 18, 2005, 07:19 PM

Jakeypooh,
"Could you describe the ruckus sir?" what about the trackpad is 'freaking out'?

rafterman · Sep 19, 2005, 11:00 PM

Thanks for all the great replies. My confidence has definitely been restored about the PBs. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for new ones tomorrow morning at the Apple Expo in Paris!

SpaceMonkey · Sep 19, 2005, 11:25 PM

My only real complaint is that the superdrive on my unit is extremely picky about disc quality. It wouldn't even mount a few audio CDs that the combo drive in my G4 PowerMac can rip perfectly. But that's just the nature of slot drives, I guess.

driven · Sep 19, 2005, 11:44 PM

The G5 super-drives are just as picky. (At least on the original G5s)

Don't fret it. I'd still rather have DVD-R than DVD+R like my PC has. (Which records very reliably but doesn't play on ANY of my standard DVD players.)

Simon · Sep 20, 2005, 02:50 AM

I couldn't really say anything bad about the current PowerBooks. It's a very nice Mac that's for sure.

It seems my ambient light sensor electronics went bad (no sleep light, keyboard backlight not working), but that will be fixed under warranty while I'm on vacation. The other things I could add have more to do with the design itself, like battery life, missing port for a true Apple docking station, etc. I guess the next revision will have to take care of that.

The PowerBook is a great machine. You won't be disappointed.

SpaceRockness · Sep 20, 2005, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by JKT

However, my biggest issue is just how hard it is to keep the damned thing clean - you only have to touch the casing for a fraction of a second and there is a streak left on the blessed thing. Likewise the screen (which is always getting poked by someone when I show them something... really fskcing annoying!). I also suffer from the pitting of the case where my arms have rested on it in the past and on the button from my thumb.
My second biggest issue would be that the screen isn't bright enough at its highest setting - I wouldn't use it very often but it'd be nice to have it brighter when I needed it.

The cleaning factor is a pain, on the other side of Apple's portables the iBook's white case and keyboard turn disgusting colours(outer casing attracts dirt esp once it gets scratched up when tossed into a backpack and keyboards yellow due to sweat/dirt). This is one of the many reasons I ended up opting for another PowerBook(12") as a light-weight portable for uni and leaving my heavier 15" 1.25Ghz 'book at home.
You should tell people to stop poking the screen... if they don't take notice, smack 'em or make animal sounds (to the type of meat they're eating) in the dining halls as they eat

Yeah the case pitting is a serious issue Apple hasn't solved on the Ti and AL, while its true natural ph of sweat is the cause, Apple should have coated/treated the metal to cover their arses. From what I've heard from first gen 12"/17" owners, if you nagged Apple enough under the extended AppleCare they'd cover it.
I agree the brightness of the PowerBooks are lacking compared to other makers, whenever I see people with low-end Compaqs/IBM ThinkPads with higher res+bright screens even at their minimal settings... it makes me sick.
*sigh* I guess Apple offsets the weak screens with bluetooth, firewire 400/800, DVI and gigabit ethernet.(very few PC laptops have those features, Thinkpads+Dell still have VGA+parallel printer ports!)

spiff72 · Sep 20, 2005, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

My only real complaint is that the superdrive on my unit is extremely picky about disc quality. It wouldn't even mount a few audio CDs that the combo drive in my G4 PowerMac can rip perfectly. But that's just the nature of slot drives, I guess.

I second (or third?) that...it is a well documented problem that the Superdrives will only treat a very select few group of DVD media as 8X. Most of the discs that I have tried have been read as 2X. A couple have been 4X - and none have been 8X. Even when you do find an 8X disc, it only burns at a true 5-6X, so the 8X seems a bit overstated. (But I would just be happy if ALL of my 16X media would burn at 5-6X!).

brent0saurus · Sep 21, 2005, 12:28 PM

i like my 15" 1.67 GHZ powerbook, but i did have some issues...
within the first week, every once in a while it wouldn't start up...I just got a white screen with some words at the top that i can't remember. But i know it had something to do with the ram...
So i brought it to apple and to make a long story short, i had to keep going back because it would continue to happen to me, maybe like, 1 out of 10 start ups (maybe even less) and they wouldn't replace it unless they saw the issue, so the next time it happened i took a picture of the screen, showed it to a mac genius and they replaced it. FINALLY...

And ever since then it's been working fine, except for my laggy volume buttons! UGH! When i hold down the volume button and then let go, it keeps going as if i'm still holding it. And applecare told me that all laptops do this because of the way they are wired....but i've never met anyone at college who have that problem with their macs (and most people here have macs).
Anyway, other than THAT, everything has been great.
i love the backlit keyboard, i can't wait to use the fw 800 port (which does add some longevity to it as far as being up to date with technology considering there aren't really a lot of fw 800 peripherals yet, and the ones that are are expensive, wide screen is nice, the speakers seem like they are louder and clearer than the 12" powerbook and iBooks, but maybe it's my imagination.
and i LOOOVEEEEE the scrolling track pad. I bought a mouse and never use it because i'd rather be able to scroll with two fingers.

oh, and the other issue, i had, but now i'm just being picky, is the screen didn't close as nicely as a 12" powerbook or the iBooks. It kind of wobbles on the edges, as the edges of the screen don't meet the surface...but i am VERY picky and inspect everything on my powerbook because i spent my money on it and want it to last me all through college. So i bought these $20 little rubber things that go on your screen from RadTech, which i have been happy with...although very expensive. But it keeps your screen from touching the keyboard when closed and feels much more secure, and they stay on, but are easily removable. I love them.

Okay, sorry for the lengthy response but i just wanted you to know everything. Like i said, i am verrryyy picky.

tungtied07 · Sep 21, 2005, 10:29 PM

Powerbook G4 1.5Ghz/128MB VRAM/80GB HD/SuperDrive/AirPortExtreme/BT
July 2004

Overall, I didn't have any major issues with the computer except some minor ones:
1) Keyboard replaced for its 3rd time (backlit), it has this "sticky" key issue on some keys. The replacement one still has that issue
2) SuperDrive sometimes have trouble reading CDs and occasionally, when lifting up the computer, the superdrive ejects, even if there is no cd in it (the noise)
3) When lifting it up, you hear this "light saber" noise.. i guess its just the fans, had the issue since I got it

Overall, I love the powerbook. Major improvement over the RevA 12" 867Mhz PB issues. (Apple replaced that machine with this one, the 15in) Also, the iScroll hack works perfectly on this machine too

jguidroz · Sep 21, 2005, 11:02 PM

Purchased my 15" around april of last year. This is one great laptop. However, I've had two issues crop up lately. The first started when I installed Tiger. Randomly, I would get dashed light blue lines running vertically on my screen. A quick putting my powerbook to sleep and waking it back up would clear it up. This never occurred in Panther. Games ran fine. However in Tiger, games would also cause this issue to occur, so I have a feeling it may have something to with the drivers and the 128mb video memory, as I know people with the 64mb version that have no issues.

The second issue is my hard drive died this week. Luckily, I had purchased Apple Care before my warranty ran out, so I'm sending in my powerbook in to get a new hard drive and to have the video issue looked at. Hopefully the video issue is resolved when I get it back.

J

porieux · 07:22 AM

...

jstein · Sep 22, 2005, 04:05 PM

Rafterman while I am not one quick to defend Apple or any product for that matter out of the current batch of Powerbooks the 15 inch model will have the most issues and most complaints. For one the 15 inch Pb is great marketing at its best for the 12 inch model for most people is too small and the 17 inch is basically too big and probably a little too high end for the average user as well. So that puts our trusty 15 inch Powerbook model as the perfect choice for most people which leads to more sales and is probably the reason why Apple offers two models with or without the Superdrive to increase sales even more. The downside to this is that to meet demand the manufacturing side of the 15 inch Pb may have come up a little short in a hurry to keep them on the market. For this line has been plagued from day one. First there was the white spot issue followed by failed hard drives and logic boards. Let us not forget the sub par battery performance to say the least, keyboards issues ranging from sticking keys to illumination problems. Then there is the issue with RAM etc etc…

Now this is not to say that these issues did plague the 12 or 17 inch models but since more people have the 15 inch model it increases the number of complaints, issues and repair jobs. Just something to keep in mind when it comes to concerns about the 15 inch Powerbook.

sfgiantsfan · Sep 24, 2005, 05:21 AM

the only problem ive had on my 15" 1.67 bought in may is that the backlit keyboard doesnt work...

Simon · Sep 24, 2005, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by sfgiantsfan

the backlit keyboard doesnt work...

Could you explain?

Randman · Sep 24, 2005, 05:45 AM

Operator error.

sfgiantsfan · Sep 25, 2005, 01:44 AM

im a ****in apple employee its not an operator error...lemme guess youre gonna tell me it needs to be in a dimly lit area to work? i need to put my hands over the speakers and it will work? go to system preferences and click the button? anyways, the drivers were missing i got it figured out by a tech at work today, thanks!

budster101 · Sep 25, 2005, 01:56 AM

Operator error it was then.

sfgiantsfan · Sep 25, 2005, 03:26 AM

it came that way from the damn factory how was i supposed to know?!

budster101 · Sep 25, 2005, 03:52 AM

And you work for Apple. Right.

Randman · Sep 25, 2005, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by sfgiantsfan

im a ****in apple employee its not an operator error...lemme guess youre gonna tell me it needs to be in a dimly lit area to work? i need to put my hands over the speakers and it will work? go to system preferences and click the button? anyways, the drivers were missing i got it figured out by a tech at work today, thanks!

Sensitive, aren't you. My response was to the original headline, not your post.

sfgiantsfan · Sep 25, 2005, 05:23 AM

ok sorry i apologize

Simon · Sep 25, 2005, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by sfgiantsfan

it came that way from the damn factory how was i supposed to know?!

That's why asked you for the details. I've had the same problem with my 15" 1.67GHz. It worked in the very beginning, but suddenly, for no special reason, the sleep light and the keyboard backlight stopped working. I'm bringing it in while I'm on vacation.

sfgiantsfan · Sep 26, 2005, 03:06 AM

yea i also have a 15" 1.67, but mine just never worked from the beginning...

Simon · Sep 26, 2005, 06:01 AM

Did you have yours repaired in the meantime? After all, it's under warranty.

kingjules · Sep 27, 2005, 08:48 AM

Agreed with you all.
I got the PB15 last may, just after the tiger release, and so far (knock on wood), no issue with the system. iPhotos sometime is slow (but i have 10,000 pics in the library, so normal) but overall OK.
The dirty side is a minor problem for me. I just got a special cleaning kit and i clean it regularly. But the first time i cleaned it, you should have seen the dirt on the clothe, crazy.
About airport, i have noticed the same thing with the poor reception. my wife has an iBook and she gets a good signal wherever she is in the house where with my PB, just don't get the signal (any solution for that?)
hope it helps
KJ

rotorwash · Sep 30, 2005, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by jguidroz

...

The second issue is my hard drive died this week. Luckily, I had purchased Apple Care before my warranty ran out, so I'm sending in my powerbook in to get a new hard drive and to have the video issue looked at. Hopefully the video issue is resolved when I get it back.

J

I purchased my PB (1.5Ghz, G4) April of last year also and my hard drive died several days ago. Unfortunately, I did not purchase Apple Care. It cost $400 to replace the drive with a 120Gb Seagate 5400rpm at a local shop ($245 for the drive, and $150 for expedited service). Apple would not install the Seagate, they would only replace the orginal 80Gb drive. I think that running the powerbook at home with the lid closed for extended periods of time contributed to the premature drive failure (overheating). The avg. cpu temp with the lid open is about 47-49C. With the lid closed it is a whopping 62C... that is hot! Consequently, I keep the screen up when using at home with monitor and keyboard. The extra storage space on the Seagate is nice, though!

audiophilia · Oct 2, 2005, 12:44 AM

1.5 purchased a month ago. No issues. Amazing machine.

Will be purchasing Applecare before the year is up. A must, I would think....

Brownjer · Dec 2, 2005, 07:13 PM

With a laptop, AppleCare usually ends up being cheaper than the repairs you are almost guaranteed to need before you stop using it, assuming a usetime of more than 2-3 years. Laptops just get banged up more, no matter how careful you are. Think about how often you move your laptop, and how often you move your desktop. So yeah, I'd call Applecare a must for notebooks.

Kenstee · Dec 2, 2005, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Brownjer

With a laptop, AppleCare usually ends up being cheaper than the repairs you are almost guaranteed to need before you stop using it, assuming a usetime of more than 2-3 years. Laptops just get banged up more, no matter how careful you are. Think about how often you move your laptop, and how often you move your desktop. So yeah, I'd call Applecare a must for notebooks.

Also, it adds GREATLY to resale value if you sell it after the 1st year!!! As you know, after the first 12 months are up after you buy it new you can't buy AppleCare for the machine.