How is the Apple MagSafe Connector?

[marknorton]

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I'm still dancing around the idea of a MacBook Pro - can't decide 15 or 17 - which brings me to the idea of using its brick and MagSafe connector with my travel charger. It would be quite neat for example to use the LEDs in the MagSafe plug to show the charging status of the M8 battery.

 

It's a propietary connector and I'm wondering how it's holding up? I see a number of comments from disgruntled customers where the cable has failed and Apple have refused to replace. It may be they are disconnecting by pulling the cable instead of grasping the connector itself.

 

Anyway, I've ordered a spare brick so that I can experiment with the MagSafe connector - my hack saw is ready...

[larry]

Mark,

 

I've had no problems with my MacBook's charger. I suspect that you're correct about abuse being the cause of some failures. Customers with problems always squeak louder than those who are satisfied. What I do know is that the magnetic connector has saved my computer from two potentially fatal drops.

 

Larry

[marknorton]

Thanks Larry, I think the mistake they are making is that because the connector will disconnect if the cable is pulled, that's the way to do it normally. There's no doubting it's a neat piece of design.

[Hartmonstr]

Mark, I got my MBP 17" the very first day they shipped and can say that of the six Apple laptops I've owned (dating back to the 180 back in the early '90s, most recently a 17" PowerBook G4), this one really kicks butt. There's no compromise in performance compared to my G5 tower, except that PS CS2 still runs under Rosetta. The Intel version of CaptureOne Pro is really fast (but not as fast as Aperture). Speed is important to me as my production cameras are 1DsMkIIs. In regards to the power supply, I've tripped over the cord numerous times and it simply pops out as advertised. That said, I did buy a second one, as I use the MBP for presenting, and can't risk not being powered.

 

Go ahead and pull the trigger - but max out the RAM and get the 7200 rpm hard drive. You won't be disappointed.

 

John

[Eoin]

I have 3 chargers for my MBP 17", one at home and one in each of the 2 sites I work in. I was tired of arriving one place to discover I'd left the charger at the other. I've repaired the cable on one due to damage (self inflicted) but all three work fine.

 

As for the 15" v 17" question, I just feel the wide screen 17" has the width but not the hight of my old Thinkpad 15" flexview so I'd hate to use the 15" widescreen after using the 17" wide. Shadows or even back lighting of the MBP screens has been flagged as an issue in the Apple discussion forums, but I believe they have new versions of the screens now and it's less of an issue.

 

I had to get Apple to replace my battery after 10 months of use due to swelling, not an issue for replacement which arrived within 24 hours with prepaid shipping for the defective unit. Other than that, the MBP has run without a flaw but you can cook eggs on it.

 

I will be taking up the option to purchase applecare as I get closer to the end of the 1 year warranty period.

[Lynwood]

I've got two... they work great.

 

Lynwood

[nryn]

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Apple's power supplies are generally pretty good, and believe it or not, cheaper than power supplies for other notebooks. I use mine all the time across voltages (I travel abroad regularly). Power supplies do require care, though, and it's not unusual to have to replace them due to internal fraying of wires.

 

I did have one problem specific to the MagSafe connector which required the power supply to be replaced. The pins in the connector are pushed outward by springs, and pressure on those pins or dirt which might get lodged between the pins and their holes can force a pin to get stuck in the down position, thereby preventing the power supply from charging your computer. This happened to me once when I was traveling (luckily to Chicago), and after taking it to the Genuis Bar at the Apple Store and watching them trying to unstick the pin in the same way I had tried, they told me it wasn't the first power supply to have this problem and just replaced it.

 

My biggest gripe is that the power supply for the MacBook Pros is HUGE. I wish they'd trim that down a bit.

 

I also use the MagSafe travel adapter (for use on airplanes) and that works great. Doesn't charge, though.

[iomatic]

It's great.

 

Once (I work in my kitchen sometimes), I came back to find that the connector had been knocked off (probably by one of the kids) and was sitting in the water bowl for the cat.

 

Yeah, in the water bowl.

 

Probably all day. I stupidly picked it up, shook it dry and proceeded to plug it in the laptop.... nothing... lo and behold, as normal, the MBP started charging. Still works as expected, months later.

 

There was some patina from electrolosis on some of the pins, but they scraped off eventually.

 

Yeah, I'm an idiot.

[marco_rol]

Another vote for "tastes great"...er, I mean, works great . No problems with my connector and it's already saved my 17" MBP from a few falls (wish my 12" PB could have been so lucky).

 

I do agree that the brick is huge compared to the one for the 12". I've used a Kensington universal brick for a few years for traveling and hope that they will have a Magsafe adapter soon (but I suspect that patent issues may preclude this). Has anyone seen any "anywhere" chargers with the Magsafe plug??

[Jfelder2@nyc.rr.com]

I've had no problem with the MagSafe connector. It's got some chunks taken out of it from my cats chewing on it, but it still works!

 

http://www.SnapshotArtifact.org

[gwelland]

I'll vote as another happy customer for the MagSafe cable. I have two MacBook Pro's and they've been great. The MagSafe can be a little too safe at times but compared to yanking the laptop off the hotel bed, desk, table, then it's a 'problem' I can live with. Inspired simple design that works.