August 22nd, 2008
PowerBook G4 display manufacturing defect coverup (updated)
Apple appears to be censoring discussion of a display manufacturing defect in the PowerBook G4 17-inch and have not acknowledging that the defect even exists. Notebook computers, especially 17s, are an expensive investment to have just go belly-up shortly after they come out of warranty. Some people have had their machines die right after the one-year warranty expires.
One factor that may be hampering Apple’s ability to identify and track such manufacturing and/or production problems is that international AppleCare complaints aren’t tracked on analyzed in a central database. Instead it’s a patchwork of databases kept by individual countries that isn’t shared amongst the group. This renders Apple unable to detect worldwide complaint patterns that would alert them to defects.
Read more about the complaints and censorship and decide for yourself.
Update: A Web site was posted yesterday with uncensored discussion of this problem and loaded with specific, up-to-date advice on what people can do if they have this defect.
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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