low voltage
I’ve owned an aluminum Powerbook G4 for some time now. I traded in my Titanium in February of ‘04. For the most part, it has been an incredible machine, and still performs very, very well.
Two weeks before I left for Dubai, my Airport card just stopped working. It stopped showing up in the control panel entirely. In the Internet Connect panel, it says, and I quote, “No Airport Hardware Found.” What the fuck is that!!? I did some Google searching that led to some older posts by people complaining about similar symptoms. Possible fixes included zapping PRAM, and other software solutions. I tried every one of them except reinstalling the OS. I didn’t have enough time for that.
Fortunately, the Airport card itself is physically easy to access through the battery compartment. I removed the hatch and the antenna, and popped out the card to reseat it and make sure it was in there just right. Last ditch effort, of course, did nothing.
Now that I’m in Dubai. there is no Apple store. There are some “licensed retailers” which I am sure I’ll have to go visit for advice, maybe a new Airport Card (I doubt that’s the problem), and I don’t know what else.
So, the Powerbook is causing me a simple, but annoying problem. And I’m a little down on the whole thing. And I am sitting here, thinking about something else odd about the ‘Book that I have noticed since Day 1. I have always thought that rubbing the metal of the hood or body of the Powerbook produced a very odd sensation in my fingers. It is very strange, and very noticeable, but I always thought it just had something to do with the texture of the Aluminum, and my own insanity. But somewhere in the back of mind, I would think that it was a kind of static caused my low voltage. Impossible right?
The last few days, the sensation has been more intense, and I notice a little bit of “pinching” on my wrists when I am typing. I thought that might be little hairs getting caught in the seems, but it is not. Suddenly it dawned on me. What if I pull the power adapter out? Will it still happen?
Pull the adapter out, the sensation goes away. Put it back in, the sensation comes back. The fucking feeling is caused by electricity! I can barely believe it myself. Now what do I do? No AppleCare. No Apple Store. No Airport Card. And mild electricity pinching my arms when I type…
Oh Apple… what will you do when you hear about this? Nothing probably, but it’s worth a shot. Anybody know anything? Anybody ever get shocked by their Powerbook?
I actually had the same thing happen to me when I took my powerbook to Brazil. Rubbing near the mouse area prduced a weird feeling on my fingers like my finger was metal and I was going over a light magnetic field. At the time though I did not have wireless access so I did not think anything of it, of course it stopped immediately in the US. I would suggest buying an expensive power surge adapter that may clean up the power a bit. I have not tried that myself, though. Sorry I can only confirm your case and not provide anything useful.. :-/
I have a similar issue on my 12″ PB, however it affects mostly the screws on the underside of the machine. Whenever I am plugged into AC, I get a little charge into my fingers. My solution? I put tape over the screws. Now it’s over. Apple said there was nothing wrong with static electricity buildup.
Hope you’re having a good time in Dubai!
Ive had such a problem too with my PB g4 15″. it was just temporary but scared the shit out of me b/c the cord was going unde the powerbook which was on my lap, sent a nice little charge down my leg. I have yet to have that problem happen again (this was durring a dry winter) the Humidity here in FL is probably helping that. Good Luck
Nick
I never got a shock but my powerbook was making a high pitched static like sound that seemed to come from the keyboard. It was especially loud when I used Dreamweaver. I found a solution on a forum that said to simply switch the “optimize energy settings” to automatic. Now, this isn’t a shock problem but a lot of people i found said that it was all related to an issue with the power adapter. You might try switching the setting to “automatic” and see if that helps. One things for sure, Apple needs to work on some power adapter issues for the next laptop because this one has been really buggy.
Issue possibly carried over to new Intel based MacBook Pros?
http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/cultofmac/index.blog?entry_id=1437672
My Airport card on my G4 PB stopped working after my last business trip. Acutally, to be precise, it stopped working ON the fucking trip, which led to one particularly crap presentation wherein I had to borrow someone else’s laptop at the meeting.
Anyway, got it fixed at TechServe when I got back, so no idea what the problem was, but it’s better now.
Never had the shock problem, but that doesn’t sound good at all.
Man, how is Apple so great and shitty at the same time?!?
i have the new macbook pro. i haven’t experienced anyhting like this just yet- but who knows, maybe when i “break it in”.
the new macbook pro comes with a new magnetic power cord connector, which i find a little strange. it’s a little high powered magnet that attaches the power adapter to the side your laptop - so it easly breaks away instead of pulling the mac off your desk if someone trips on the cord.
the users manual says to keep the magnet away from any credit cards ai it will erase the data - yet i’m sticking it in the side of my computer.
chris, has this “”shock” just happened? could it be due to a different voltage in dubai or other countries?
couldn’t you just get a cheap USB wifi dongle for $20 until your airport problem gets fixed? (i think the aiportcard itself would be around $50-$100)