MagSafe 60W Criminal record

[onceagain]

It's true. I have a pile of these worthless pieces of ****. I've gone through about 10 of them during my "macbook(pro) career".

[acme.mail.order]

Sounds like you are a Group 2 user then?

[DeltaMac]

The other side of that: I've had my only magsafe for nearly 5 years. It's chewed up by a puppy (but not cut through), and strangely enough, continues to work. To be truthful, I did need to tape up a 12-inch section so it doesn't easily move. I have threatened to replace it, but why do that while it continues to work?

[uzapuca]

I started to use the MagSafe Charger from time to time now. I hope it will last as long as you guys have but honestly the construction and the feel to it looks quite flimsy. The union or joint cable from the charger to the MacBook Pro is does not looks like it will stand a normal every day use stress if you don't treat it like with cushions all the time. It is just too thin. Picture Attached.

I have also a Toshiba Notebook and the charger felt to the floor many times, i plug and unplug in a hurry like most people at work do and you can feel it rock solid.

Needless to say a Macbook Pro is a beautiful and efficient machine but it charger doesn't look to play in the same league. I hope i am mistaken.

Cheers,

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by uzapuca The union or joint cable from the charger to the MacBook Pro is does not looks like it will stand a normal every day use stress if you don't treat it like with cushions all the time. It is just too thin.

The charger is certainly optimized for size/weight rather than for extreme durability.

But there should be almost zero stress on the part of the cable that you indicated (in your picture) in normal (correct) usage.
I.e. you should never have the cable stretched such that it exerts any significant strain at all upon the section you indicated. (You should always have it plugged into an outlet that is close enough that there is plenty of slack in the cable. You should never suspend the charger from the cable, etc.)

The section that has shown problems in the past (Apple has presumably fixed this in current versions) was the other end of the cable - where it connects to the metal connector that plugs into your Mac. This section is subject to strain if you unplug it incorrectly. Or if you trip over the cable, etc.

[anthlover]

And in fact as we have batted about the entire reason the the connector is magnetic and spaghetti thin.... is to protect the computer if you trip over the cord. A lightweight magnetic connection will break contact with the computer with OUT the computer going flying onto the floor.

If I had to choose between possibly loosing the computer and losing the power brick I would choose the power brick. That said I can make a first time suggestion here. Apple should offer a design that allows you to detach the thin cord end from the brick the same way you can swap the terrible two prong adapter for nice long three prong cable. Note I do not give my hospital clients the two prong adapter.

They could charge like 20-25 bucks for that part of the adater. Why don't they do it? If I had to guess it either did not occur to them or their afraid everyone would mate other companies power bricks to it.

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by anthlover Apple should offer a design that allows you to detach the thin cord end from the brick the same way you can swap the terrible two prong adapter for nice long three prong cable.

That would just make the connection to the brick weaker.
Perhaps you were thinking that this would make it easier to replace the cord should it break. That is not Apple's way of thinking - they make it better, not cheaper.

[anthlover]

I am picturing it just like the 3 prong adapter connection, though in practice they could think of something better maybe like the the lighting connector at the brick end.

Yes to make it replaceable, abuse caused aside its purpose to protect the computer does make it the weakest link. Hell they could make it magnetic at both ends Then when it got tugged it would not damage. Of course rolling it over with a chair caster, been there watched someone do that will certainly strain semi ruin the cable, ended up with bare wire for two inches but it still works.

Any way again its not a conspiracy, its to keep the computer safe. Its a break way design. Like energy absorbing bumper on a car to protect the passengers.

[uzapuca]

Quote: Originally Posted by hayne The charger is certainly optimized for size/weight rather than for extreme durability.

Thanks for your thoughts Hayne but couldn't we have both things? durability at a reasonable weight. I think of Mac like computers at the high end of the spectrum like when you buy a BMW or Audi you get both a tough and agile car at the same time.

I treat this charger with cotton hands, seriously, but i don't think a charger should be taking that much care. You should be able to use it in some rougher conditions on the daily basis.

I do like Apple design but with this charger as well as with all Apple's mouse designs -hockey puck first on the list- is not 100% spot on from my point of view.

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by uzapuca couldn't we have both things? durability at a reasonable weight

There are always tradeoffs in any design.
Sure it could have been made more durable - that's easy:
- make the wire from the brick to the Mac be 3 times as thick
- surround the points where the wire meets the brick and meets the MagSafe connector with a blob of rubbery material
Would that be a "reasonable weight" (and size)?
Depends on each person's definition of "reasonable".
Apple tends to go for low size and weight with durability = reasonable.
(Rather than high durability with "reasonable" size and weight.)

[anthlover]

Lux Cars is not the correct analogy, and yes I started the auto thing

Energy absorbing bumpers is the best analogy i could up with quickly and it does not matter too much whether its a civic or bmw. The energy absorbing bumper absorbs the energy and self destructs resulting in something like a 3K repair. Bumpers can be made tougher yes, but generally would result in damage to passenger and engine compartment, both things to avoid and in the case of the passenger life saving.

Thats what is going on with the adapter. Your sacrificing the small thing to protect the larger more valuable things.

The cable is lightweight not for aesthetics but for physics, the magnet has to be just strong enough to hold on but break free if tripped on. This is also a PREMIUM expensive feature to boot. But its done for safety. A heavy cage cable would more likely release by accident on its own and people would be frustrated that the cable does not stay attached. Then if the Magnet with ramped up too, it would be too strong and the laptop would get damaged.

Anyway you can take analogies only so far.

[onceagain]

Quote: Originally Posted by acme.mail.order Sounds like you are a Group 2 user then?

Sure. If leaving a power supply plugged into the wall at a desk all day qualifies as abuse, you bet.

Of course, I have never, ever had a brick-type power supply for any other product suffer from such problems....I must have chosen to "abuse" just the one made by Apple - for some unknown reason.

[onceagain]

They should make BOTH ends of the thin cable with a magsafe adapter on it. This way, if it had any "stress" it would simply disconnect, one way or another, and, if the failure-prone thin part goes bad, you can replace it, without having to replace the entire brick. How many people have bricks that are good but can't be used simply because of the thin-ass cable?

They should also put a USB port on the brick itself - that way you could charge up something else too.

Charge another $10 to cover costs if necessary - still be better off.

[NovaScotian]

The second suggestion is the way the brick for an iPad is configured, but it's not possible for a magsafe which requires much more power. Further, the MB charger is "smart" in addition to being reversible.

The inner large pins are V+ (16.5 VDC). Measuring with no load will give 6.86 VDC; the full 16.5 V is provided to the proper load. The outer large pins are ground. The tiny center pin is a charge control pin that assists with changing the LED color, and also assists with switching the adapter off. No power will be output from any of the other pins until contact is made with the center Charge Control pin. This pin is also used to transfer additional information, such as the power type and serial number of the power supply.