bother
Looks like my iBook has the dreaded ”intermittent backlight” issue – the backlight switches itself off once the screen is lifted past about 80°. This is apparently a common failing where the iBook hinges are pinching some wires leading to the display.
I’m not looking forward to finding out how much it will cost to repair.
It also makes for a rather uncomfortable computing experience: currently I’m slumped down in my chair sufficiently low that I can see the screen, but am having to lift my arms relatively high up to the keyboard.
Blog updates may start to become even more intermittent.
Patrick Quinn-Graham
15 September 2004, 20:50 #
Ah, that problem. I had that (on the previous iBook that is). It's a relatively simple job, and shouldn't take more than an hour or so to fix, and the part is not expensive either (it was a reed switch I believe that was replaced for me, or maybe a relay... something small and not expensive.) I should however mention I managed mine under warranty.
Alan
16 September 2004, 07:37 #
Yes... the part itself is very cheap... but labour is not. It looks way too tricky for me to try myself (descriptions on the web usually end with "and I have two tiny screws left over..."). And the thing is about seven months out of warranty. So bother all round.
Richrad
16 September 2004, 20:17 #
My iBook is the first of the dual USB models, a 500MHz G3, and it's been doing this to me for the last year or so. I'm way way way out of warrantee and I just got a new desktop, but when it was the only machine I had to use it was really upsetting.
Alan
17 September 2004, 20:56 #
I've gotten it back today, which wasn't so bad, time-wise. What's not so good though, is the cost of service: although the part cost just (NZ) $14, by the time the Apple-approved repair shop added in 1.5 hours of work and then GST on top it came to over $219 (that's about US $145). And all this for what is really a fault with the iBook, rather than what could be considered "normal wear and tear". Can't say I'm that happy at the moment.
Frank Kelly
19 September 2004, 09:53 #
Change of topic (reason to keep blogging, maybe). I submitted Half-Pie to Syndic8. "The feed will be checked and approved as soon as possible. The feed has been assigned Feed ID 156448." Please remind me in a week or two to check on its status, so I can 'approve' it after 'polling.' Thanks.