MagSafe Power Adapter for MacBook: Not Real Durable
A couple of weeks ago the magsafe power adapter for my MacBook started to fail and in the matter of a few days stopped working completely. The cord had frayed at the point it meets the power adapter. My initial thought was “what did I do?”. But I’m careful with my computer equipment. My MacBook stays at home on a desk waiting for its next trip to Starbucks, and my power cord doesn’t even make that journey. When disconnecting my MacBook from the power adapter I pull from the connector, not the cord. No one has ever tripped over, pulled on, or abused the power adapter in any way. There’s no reason it shouldn’t still be alive an kicking.
I thought it was a fluke, a faulty power adapter. It happens. But when I purchased a new one from the apple store I happened to check out the reviews:
I have had my macbook and cord since june or july. this month (december), the cord started to fray and is basically useless now.
I bought my Macbook in June, and I’m now on my fourth power adapter. No matter how much I baby it, the cord frays.
I got the MacBook when it came out and since then my power cord has gone kaput 3 times and I have spent about 240$.
I had my Macbook for four months before I had any trouble, but recently the adapter more or less stopped functioning. It seems that there is a fray where the magnet attaches to the wire.
I love my Mac Book, but the cord is tearing at the tip where the connector and the wire meet. I am so disappointed. I am not looking forward to shelling out 80 dollars for another cord that will probably break as well.
And those are just a few. Around the same time MacUser ran an article titled Save your power cord with a loop-de-loop. It took only a day to give up on the ridiculous ‘loop-de-loop’ but it’s further evidence of a problem with MacBook power adapters.
I love the new magsafe power adapter. It’s a big improvement over my previous iBook’s power adapter (though it was durable), but having to replace it less than a year after buying it isn’t acceptable. I could have purchased a new Shuffle for that price, which would have made both Apple and me happier. While reading the reviews I did see that one person had his power adapter replaced using applecare. If the power adapter fails me again, they can expect a call.
