iBook logic board repair extension
Posted on January 29, 2004
Filed Under Macintosh
The news broke last night:
What is the iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program?
The iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program is a worldwide program covering repair or replacement of the logic board in specific iBook models manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003 that are experiencing specific component failures.
I decided to wait until this morning to blog about it, so I wouldn’t end up ranting.
Yes, it’s fabulous news. Apple is finally acknowledging that there is something wrong with the iBooks. When my iBook’s video went out in October 2002 I said then it was only a matter of time before Apple did the right thing and offered a repair extension.
However, personally my situation doesn’t change. 
The repair extension only applies to iBooks manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003. My iBooks, clearly affected by the same flaw as the ones they’re repairing were made in May 2001. Their serial numbers are out of the range. They were probably among the first white iBooks made.
There could be a lot of reasons why Apple decided to limit the repair to 2002-2003 iBooks.
# It’s cheaper.
# The G3/500 iBooks aren’t worth saving 2.5 years later and Apple would be just as happy to see them on the trash heap than struggling to run Panther.
# This is a trial to see just how many iBooks come back and if there’s still noise about a class action suit.
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of product marketing said:
“We have determined that a small number of iBooks introduced in 2002 have a display problem caused by a component failure on the logic board. We are launching a repair extension program which will repair these components for free, and we will offer a full refund to customers who have already paid for this repair. Our first priority is to take care of our customers.”
Some customers. Not all. Plus, it makes it sound like a few iBooks coming off the line had a problem, rather than what it is…a ticking time bomb that could affect *every* single G3 white iBook.
I’ve been surfing the discussion boards and I’m not alone. I wish I could understand why they would launch a repair extension and then not fix the problem for everyone. I plan to call Apple to see if they have an answer, and if so I’ll post.
We’ll see what happens next.
Comments
2 Responses to “iBook logic board repair extension”
Rather or not they want to see my iBook 500 go in a trash heap, I still paid over 2 grand for it when it was released, and I think that puts me in the same category as other iBook users.
Have you tried calling Applecare and getting some sort of answer out of them?
I did talk to AppleCare and I posted a follow up on our conversation. You should make the call too.