Apple settles class-action suit over faulty notebook adapters
Apple has agreed, without admitting fault, to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that power adapters sold with certain Power PC-based iBook and PowerBook notebooks were defective in that they could dangerously fray, sparks and prematurely fail to work.
The settlement offers to provide a cash payment to customers who purchased certain model Apple PowerBook or iBook computers, had their power adapter fail within the first three years following the initial retail purchase, and then purchased a replacement adapter.
A website dedicated to the settlement offers a list of serial number codes [PDF] of affected models and helpful resources to aid potential class members in locating the serial number on their Mac notebooks.
Customers that meet the criteria of a class member and who wish to file a claim must print, complete, sign and mail the Claim Form to the Claims Administrator postmarked by February 11, 2009 for Replacement Adapters purchased on or before October 14, 2008.
For filing a claim for a Replacement Adapter purchased after October 14, class members must print, complete, sign and mail the Claim Form to the Claims Administrator postmarked within 120 days of the adapter failure OR by May 31, 2009, whichever date is earlier.
A frayed PowerBook G4 Power Adapter | Source: EdTechBlog.
Deadlines for excluding oneself from the settlement, objecting to the settlement, and so forth, are available in this table. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the case is also available.
The settlement offers to provide a cash payment to customers who purchased certain model Apple PowerBook or iBook computers, had their power adapter fail within the first three years following the initial retail purchase, and then purchased a replacement adapter.
A website dedicated to the settlement offers a list of serial number codes [PDF] of affected models and helpful resources to aid potential class members in locating the serial number on their Mac notebooks.
Customers that meet the criteria of a class member and who wish to file a claim must print, complete, sign and mail the Claim Form to the Claims Administrator postmarked by February 11, 2009 for Replacement Adapters purchased on or before October 14, 2008.
For filing a claim for a Replacement Adapter purchased after October 14, class members must print, complete, sign and mail the Claim Form to the Claims Administrator postmarked within 120 days of the adapter failure OR by May 31, 2009, whichever date is earlier.
A frayed PowerBook G4 Power Adapter | Source: EdTechBlog.
Deadlines for excluding oneself from the settlement, objecting to the settlement, and so forth, are available in this table. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the case is also available.
Comments
EDIT: Just re-read it. Cash payment? Sweet! I'm all over that!
Yep, screwed.
now, dear apple, can you do something for all the macbook pro with faulted nvidia 8600m gt chips all around the world? Please do ora say something about? We are all waiting...
TMV
Anyway, I was wondering: does this class action suit have any impact on me? Can I participate in the settlement? Or is this US-only?
I just e-mailed the former owner with the info so at least he can get something back for the defective item.
So what do I do now that I don't have the receipts for the three adapters I bought (I still have the broken adapters though!) and no longer have the computers that I bought them for?
Yep, screwed.
I'm in your boat, I can't find the receipt for my replacement Power Supply. I'm going to keep the receipts next time. The Mag Safe power adapters appear to have similar issues and it's only a matter of time before I'll be staring at another PDF claim form.
I'm in your boat, I can't find the receipt for my replacement Power Supply. I'm going to keep the receipts next time. The Mag Safe power adapters appear to have similar issues and it's only a matter of time before I'll be staring at another PDF claim form.
That's why I love my emailed receipts from the Apple Store. I just printed out all 3 of mine.
That's why I love my emailed receipts from the Apple Store. I just printed out all 3 of mine.
I bought all of mine from CompUSA... good luck finding anything from them around...
That's why I love my emailed receipts from the Apple Store. I just printed out all 3 of mine.
From the FAQ: There is a limit of one cash payment per Subject Computer.
Your adapter had to fail within 3 years of purchase to be included. My failed at end of year 2. $40 would be my settlement. Close reading of the suit means it may or may not get done at the end of 2008 - depending on the appeal process.
I'm really surprised there weren't fires and more serious damage done. We had at least a half dozen of these go in our work group. I heard two stories about sparks flying and had a near overheating incident with my own ... the CPU was running hot, fan was blowing like crazy ... then I realized the power cable had changed color to brownish. Near the end, Apple was replacing them under warranty if we sent them in, but we did end up buying new ones as well.
Apple's current design, at least on the MacBook Pro isn't much better.
Good news: My parents' iBook G4 is covered.
Bad news: I ain't in the good ol' US of A.
I want my $25 dammnit! LOLs.
...$40 would be my settlement. Close reading of the suit means it may or may not get done at the end of 2008 - depending on the appeal process.
Hey, that shouldn't stop you... If you were on Wall Street, you'd account for $30 of that $40 today, then leverage that $30 to borrow $3,000 to then short sell something or other to show that you made $30,000 in one day. Charger? What laptop charger? You just "made" $30,000!
...Apple's current design, at least on the MacBook Pro isn't much better.
The MacBook Pro is a nice, high-performance machine. However, I understand the bugs it has been constantly plagued by. Penryn was essential, but the nVidia phailures have not been good.
As a whole, the MBP has got a notorious track record. A few drops or bumps and your nice aluminium has some bumpity-bumps on the surface.
The overall quality control for MacBook Pros has not been great either.
I know why Apple is taking so long. For the most part, the MacBook Air has been pretty impressive in terms of design. Steve is waiting to pull the trigger on the MacBook and MacBook Pro... to do that "margin" cut to deliver affordable, quality laptops. He may push it back to Jan 2009 just to make sure everything is right. Which means definitely a speed bump by end of this month, otherwise, who knows... This "new MacBooks" rumor has been around for too many months now, I'm starting to feel a little sick of it.
Many of the iPhone 3G complaints have not been about hardware quality or hardware failures. Now Steve, let's share some Apple love for the portable Macs...