A replacement for defective iBook is on the way but I am not

[zimanet]

maybe I should buy a Windows laptop again? I sold a Sony Vaio laptop with
Windows XP when I bought my iBook (14.1 LCD 32 VRAM) last March. Since then
I had to send it for repairs three times, and now after it went south for
the fourth time Apple is replacing it with a brand new unit. Total downtime
is about two months, which is not kosher
:(

Today Apple has finally admitted the problem with this model, and responded
to my fellow iBook owners concerns:

http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/

I was thinking of selling my brand new 933MHz PowerPC G4 as soon as it
arrives but now I am not so sure...

Apart from the above, I had another problem with the Apple laptop - fuzzy
text in OSX. In Windows XP it is exceptionally crisp - even when I run
Windows on the iBook using Virtual PC.

Which non-Apple laptop would people recommend? I want something light with
an LCD of at least 14' and battery life of 5+ hours (like the iBook's). I
will mainly use it for web browsing, reading and light work in bed and/or
during short trips away from my office.

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send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
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Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet

[zimanet]

On 1/29/04 3:51 AM, in article
, "Mac Geek"
> wrote:
> Also look for the first generation of notebooks powered by fuel cells by
> the end of the year or perhaps beginning of next - promising 15 hours of
> juice on a single charge.
I guess they are using the same type of cells in this Sony laptop claiming
13 1/2 hours battery life.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=34-115-086&catalog
=32&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

This model looks pretty decent too.

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send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
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Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet

[zimanet]

On 1/29/04 6:54 PM, in article
, "Mac Geek"
> wrote:
> There is also a Sony Z1 VAP 1 that has one battery that lists a 6.5
> battery life. Usually these spec sheets fudge a little on the battery
> life so expect 5 to 6 (your iBook will see 6 hours as well).
Yes, I loved my iBook on flights between Dallas, TX and Sea-Tac. But it
won't run for 6 hours if you watch DVDs with a bright enough screen.

> The Sony Z1VAP1 actually looks like the Wintel machine that you are
> dreaming of - should spec out like the iBook for only a grand more. But
> then they toss in PhotoShop Elements into the package so that will take
> some of the sting out of it. Oh it also comes Bluetooth enabled like
> the Powerbook line. -- you won't find that in the iBook.
A $35.00 USB Bluetooth adapter + T-Mobile Nokia phone = I am on the web from
ANYWHERE. I don't need the PhotoShop Elements, it was part of the Software
package I got with my new Canon scanner LiDE 80, which works like a charm by
the way. On both mac and win machines. (A bit faster in Windows with USB
2.0).
>
> Only downside is that it runs Windows instead of Panther. But then
> Longhorn is only two years away and this machine will run that then.
I did not quite understand why you dislike Windows XP so much? In my
experience/opinion it is a very stable OS (I have dozens of programs and
processes running at a time), snappy and crisp compared to Panther and very
compatible to most everything on Internet. I guess your main complaint is
security... Here I am very happy with Panther. Fewer security updates! (Only
problem - local networking was totally ****ed-up. I wonder when it will be
fixed???).
> Sorry but can you tell I STILL think the iBook is a better machine at
> half the price. Especially given that Apple is doing a generous
> extended warantee on the logic board issue. I really doubt that Sony
> would do that.
I guess you've convinced me to stay with iBook. Especially, since it's going
to be a new model with a better processor, and hopefully better logic board
design. Besides, I don't have to pay anything for it. I will max out the DDR
memory and this baby will satisfy all my laptop computing needs till
something REAL new, like a breakthrough in technology/concept/design comes
out from Steve Jobs.


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send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
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Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet

[zimanet]

On 1/31/04 7:17 AM, in article
, "Adam Knight"
> wrote:
> I received an iBook G4 as a replacement for a repeatedly-sucky iBook G3
> as well. It's been pure bliss in comparison. Just make sure you get it
> up to 640MB or 1.1GB of RAM or else the slow hard drive will kill the
> performance. After I got to 640MB, this thing flew.
I got mine, as promised on Friday, and I LOVE it! It's a 933 with a 14.1
monitor. Now, I need to jumps through some additional ropes to have my
AppleCare Protection Plan transferred to the new unit. Gilbert from CC said
the money I paid for the first plan could be credited towards the new plan,
since I did not use it. All three repairs and replacement were covered by
1-year warranty (I bought the iBook in March).

Of course, I would love it, since it means the $249 bucks I paid in March
2003 will cover my new laptop till January 2007...

Crucial already confirmed my order for a stick of 512MB, meanwhile, I am
playing around and learn the iBook. It is MUCH better that the G3, feels
better (keyboard, and plastic surfaces). Unlike the previous one, this has
the Trackpad that is clickable. I missed that feature a lot, now I have it
back.

Please don¹t reply to the address above ‹ it¹s a spam trap. If you want to
send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
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Interpreter
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Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet

[Vadim Zima]

On 1/31/04 10:13 PM, in article
, "Mac Geek"
> wrote:
> Still I hafta say GREAT !! See - Apple came through for you in the end
> - it was simply a matter of plugging away till the end.
>
> Good for Apple ! Good for you ! enjoy
Crucial was extra fast. I ordered memory on Saturday, and Monday morning 2nd
day UPS package already arrived. I didn't even know they worked on
Saturdays...
Unfortunately the iBook freezes all the time when used with this stick...
Tomorrow I'll call them about a replacement stick.
:(

Vadim
Please don¹t reply to the address above ‹ it¹s a spam trap. If you want to
send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
--
Vadim Zima
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Interpreter
Work & Fun: http://zima.net Forum: http://www.zima.net/phpBB2/index.php
Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet

[zimanet]

On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
, "Mac Geek"
> wrote:
They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
FedEx drop-off.

Please don¹t reply to the address above ‹ it¹s a spam trap. If you want to
send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
--
Vadim Zima
ATA Certified Russian/Ukrainian Translator/Court Certified Conference
Interpreter
Work & Fun: http://zima.net Forum: http://www.zima.net/phpBB2/index.php
Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet


I have heard that Crucial is really good about
> getting you exactly what you need to work with your particular Mac.
>
> Hang in there - once you have the memory beefed up it'll scream.
>> Crucial was extra fast. I ordered memory on Saturday, and Monday morning 2nd
>> day UPS package already arrived. I didn't even know they worked on
>> Saturdays...
>> Unfortunately the iBook freezes all the time when used with this stick...
>> Tomorrow I'll call them about a replacement stick.
>> :(

[zimanet]

On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
, "Mac Geek"
> wrote:
They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
FedEx drop-off.

Please don¹t reply to the address above ‹ it¹s a spam trap. If you want to
send me a message you can do it via any of my sites below.
--
Vadim Zima
ATA Certified Russian/Ukrainian Translator/Court Certified Conference
Interpreter
Work & Fun: http://zima.net Forum: http://www.zima.net/phpBB2/index.php
Personal pages: http://homepage.mac.com/zimanet


I have heard that Crucial is really good about
> getting you exactly what you need to work with your particular Mac.
>
> Hang in there - once you have the memory beefed up it'll scream.
>> Crucial was extra fast. I ordered memory on Saturday, and Monday morning 2nd
>> day UPS package already arrived. I didn't even know they worked on
>> Saturdays...
>> Unfortunately the iBook freezes all the time when used with this stick...
>> Tomorrow I'll call them about a replacement stick.
>> :(

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!

[zimanet]

On 2/3/04 2:55 PM, in article , "zimanet"
> wrote:

> On 2/2/04 10:14 PM, in article
> , "Mac Geek"
> > wrote:
> They also seem to have very loyal people working for them, I had to repeat
> several times that I don't want to pay for return shipment. The Customer
> Support lady tried hard to make me pay for it but finally emailed me a link
> to FedEx OnLine Label to download a free label with RMA and all on it.
> All I had to do was print it out and take the bad module to the nearest
> FedEx drop-off.
It's amazing - today FedEx brought me another memory module from Crucial -
this time it works, and the laptop is running FAST!