For a long time, I was getting by just fine with my Pismo, a trusty PowerBook G3/400 with 1GB of RAM and 2 hard drives. When my DVD drive died, I figured I’d take the opportunity to “upgrade” to a 600MHz iBook with a Combo drive.

April, 2002: I sold my PowerBook G3, then purchased my new iBook and took delivery on it the next day.

Out of the box, some of the keys on the keyboard intermittently don’t work. On closer inspection, I find that it’s not just a loose cable and there is in fact a short in the keyboard cable. Fine. I call Apple. No problem– they’ll send a replacement keyboard out to me right away. In the meantime, I plug in an external USB keyboard and use that most of the time. Apple’s good about fixing these things, right?

[ 1 new keyboard ]

May, 2002: Still no replacement keyboard. So, one day I try to use the machine in FireWire Target mode and it doesn’t work. I try to connect my FireWire hard drive and it doesn’t work. After a lot more testing, I determine that my FireWire port has stopped functioning. Also, the cap on the LED end of AC Adapter is no longer attached and has a short in it. Great. I call Apple, again. They send out a box (so I can send it back and they can fix it). Oh, and the tech support guy was astounded that I hadn’t received my replacement keyboard yet, so he put that on the case as well. The computer came back 2 days later with a new keyboard, functional FireWire (that required a new Motherboard), and a new AC adapter. Thanks, Apple.

[ 1 new keyboard, 1 new motherboard, 1 new AC Adapter ]

Sometime in June, my new AC Adapter started intermittently shorting out. By September, it was getting pretty bad. I called and they sent out yet another new one.

[ 1 new keyboard, 1 new motherboard, 2 new AC Adapters ]

So, by then the new 700MHz iBooks were out– and with 16MB VRAM. I wasn’t sure that I trusted my iBook (if nothing else, this was a good excuse to upgrade), so I sold the 600MHz/8MB VRAM and bought a 700MHz/16MB VRAM, then the top-of-the-line 12.1-inch model.

Bought the 700MHz in September. In October, I’m out of town and the “new” AC Adapter dies. The local Apple Store replaced it with no hassle. Also, at that point my Combo drive was giving me fits about ejecting, even with a paperclip. Once I managed to get a disc in or out, it worked just fine. But, I was out of town and being without my mostly-functional machine for a few days (or more) wasn’t an option at the time.

[ 1 new keyboard, 1 new motherboard, 3 new AC Adapters ]

November, I’m out of town again, working on my iBook. BAM- with no warning, the video dies. I manage to get the machine back up long enough to Carbon Copy Clone my data to my FireWire Hard drive, then it never actually boots again. Because of the nature of my trip, I might have to leave in 2 days, or it might be 2 weeks. This leaves me with no real option for repair because I needed a machine to use, no matter what. It’s under warranty, but that’s not my immediate problem.

Well, gee. Lemons to lemonade, right? Enter local Apple Store– buy 800MHz iBook. I’ll get the 700MHz fixed when I get back home, then sell it. Problem solved, albeit expensively.

In December, I’m finally home. I call Apple… again. Explain the situation… again. Also told them about the problem with the Combo drive. They, of course, send a box.

I get the machine back 2 days later with a new reed switch, display assembly, a brand new combo drive, and a new motherboard.

[ 1 new keyboard, 2 new motherboards, 3 new AC Adapters, 1 new combo drive, 1 new reed switch, 1 new display assembly ]

So, I start up the 700MHz machine in Target mode to move some files around. Restarted and was using both machines (out of Target Mode, FireWire cable unplugged) Approximately one hour later, I start the 700Mhz machine up again in Target Mode… and it doesn’t work. Long story short– the FireWire was dead– ON THE SAME DAY I GOT IT BACK FROM APPLE.

Called Apple.

They sent a box out.

Again.

Got it back with another new motherboard (2 motherboards in ONE WEEK?) and sold it.

[ 1 new keyboard, 3 new motherboards, 3 new AC Adapters, 1 new combo drive, 1 new reed switch, 1 new display assembly ]

January, 2003. I’m sitting at my desk, happily using my 800MHz. The video starts flickering. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this before. At this point, I FINALLY HAVE HAD IT with iBooks. I’ve owned countless Macs, both desktops and portables, and have NEVER EVER had a significant problem with ANY machine… until the dual USB iBook. I’ve tried to be optimistic, but this is just too much.

It’s not even a matter of whether they stand by their warranty– they undoubtedly do, but who wants to send in their computer FOUR TIMES in 10 months for repair? Who can afford that luxury time without a vital tool?

I call Apple. They send a box.

I get it back a few days later…with a new motherboard.

3 iBooks, 10 months [ 1 new keyboard, 4 new motherboards, 3 new AC Adapters, 1 new combo drive, 1 new reed switch, 1 new display assembly ]

I have tons of supporting links, but they’re not organized yet.

Try here, here, and here for starters on the display problem.

I sold that last iBook in March. I now own a PowerBook G4. So far, so good.

Disclaimer: I’ve owned PowerBooks and iBooks for 10 years and the only model I’ve had serious problems with is the Dual USB iBook.