[Quadra]

Dated service document noting problem MacFixIt reader Peter Hilleard says he has found a document prepared by Apple's service officials in July 2001 indicating that there was prior knowledge of display cables being damaged in some iBook models. The document is located in the "Restricted: Apple Specialists" section of Apple's Knowledge Base, and is titled "iBook (Dual USB): No Display, or Dim Display, But Computer Appears to Operate Correctly."


Troubleshooting step 5 reads: "Verify backlight cable and LVDS cable connections are seated properly and that the cables are not damaged."


Hilleard writes "This indicates Apple knew as early as July 2001 that these display cables can be damaged - It is not caused by the user (because the cables are completely hidden inside the iBook.)


"This is therefore a design fault. Yet when asked, Apple has steadfastly denied that there are any known issues and have charged many hundreds of dollars to repair this fault for any iBooks outside of warranty. Nor has Apple warned users of their prior knowledge that the cables can fail or advise of any measures the user might take to limit the problem."

If you have been affected it is suggested that you contact your State Attorney's Office, as well as your State Consumer Protection Division.

[PCTek]

It's standard troubleshooting procedure to check and see if any damage has been made and if that is the cause.

Now, if the text had read "Verify backlight cable and LVDS cable connections are seated properly and that the cables are not damaged by the screen going back and forth rubbing the cable and eventually breaking it", then I would start yelling at Apple.

If a cable breaks, it's not Apple's fault. Checking for a broken cable is normal troubleshooting.

Also, note that it's Step 5, not Step 1. If it really were an issue, wouldn't the first thing they would check be the cable causing this "issue"?

[Quadra]

However, logic again, there would be no need to check for damage of the cable if housed within a sound case and unaccessable to the user.

Why would it be linked to the problem of screen abnormalities, if in fact there wasn't a knowledge that the cables could possibly damaged from the hinge assembly? (which the note supposedly further addresses).

If in fact the cable breaks from within the housing, this is not normal fair-wear and tear and by definition a "manufacturers defect", which would be covered under standard warranty.

There is a formula in engineering and manufacturing which "allows" for the chance of failure through normal use, being that it is impossible to make a "perfect product". That's why warranties are offered.

However, the issue is that Apple has denied outright there is a problem, and that is under many legal definitions an admission of sorts that the product was "perfect" in it's design.

By the way, this is a standard and successful strategy by suing attorneys in class action suits. You don't need the criminal standard of 99 percent probability for a jury award, just a 51 percent probability will get a judgement. If it is detemined that the defendent withheld or even conspired to cover up pertainent information, punitive damages can be awarded as well.

Subsequently, even though the memo may have "innocent" motives, the tech memo is damning from a Class action/Civil suit perspective. In short, Apple would lose this case.

In addition Apple has an established track record of screen defects (5300/190 comes to mind along with the recent issues with spots on the 15"). Those issues would also be admissible and just as damning

Look, I hope this isn't true, I am an Apple fan, and have been and will continue to be. But Apple needs to come clean on this issue and on the issue with the ibook logic board issues.

With all the bad press that is coming, I believe and hope Apple will do the right thing. It had better, unless it likes settling suits.

[pliny]

Originally posted by Quadra:
In addition Apple has an established track record of screen defects (5300/190 comes to mind along with the recent issues with spots on the 15"). Those issues would also be admissible and just as damning

Ahh, the good old 190. I still have mine sitting here as a bookend because the screen died shortly after warranty ended.

[mgl]

This is stupid. You bought a product, it failed, I'm sorry, but that doesn't mean you should sue. What's up with this lawsuit happy culture we're becoming.

I imagine there is a service manual for my refrigerator that states "if the fridge doesn't cool, check cable X. Does that mean the design is defective? No, it just means that before you replace the cooling thingy, the repairman should check this cable for damage.

So Apple writes a service manual that states for problems with a display, check this cable. Does that mean there's a problem? No, it's just the prudent first step in diagnosing where the problem lies.

I'm sorry your computer is broken. I know I'd be mad if mine died, too. But things break. Laptops are fragile beasts. Buy AppleCare or an extended warranty and then you won't have to worry about it for 3 years. Now I didn't buy an extended warranty for my fridge, but Consumer Reports states that on average, an extended warranty on an appliance like a fridge doesn't pay off. But they recommend them for laptops. Hint hint.

[polendo]

The lawsuits are the result of angry customers who weren't listened to. I�m not defending them nor supporting them, I�m just stating what seems to be a cause.

What is really upsetting is the fact that Apple knew about it and supposedly didn't do anything to fix it. There are lots of 2002 Ibooks with these problems and they had a whole damn year to fix it and recall the sold ones. Good companies just do the right thing. Ignoring this problem was a bad move.