Danes prove Apple iBook G4 has a defect

THE DANISH Consumer Complaints Board is saying what Apple will not, namely that there is a hidden, original design defect in Apple's iBook G4.

For ages users have been trying to get Apple to admit that there is a defect in its iBook and take back the computer and fix it.

Complaints that the the power goes off in iBook and the screen goes blank after just over one year's use have been made worldwide.

However when users contact Apple to have the fault repaired or to return the computer, Apple rejects the complaint or says that it is out of warranty.

Now the Danes has documentation showing that there really is a design fault and told Apple that Danish consumers must be able to return computers with this fault to Apple. Apparently Apple has settled a number of cases in Denmark on the basis of the investigation report, but is still refusing to admit that there is a design fault in the same type of computer in the world outside Denmark's borders.

The Danes have found that a solder joint between two components was broken, so that current could no longer pass through them. It also showed that the breakage occurs because the solder joint loosens slightly every time the computer is turned on and off. When the computer had been turned on and off a sufficient number of times, the solder joint broke completely loose, resulting in a blank screen.

Pressing the two components together with a clamp or with cardboard shims re-established the connection, so the computer started again.

More here. µ