phd@SPEECH1.CS.CMU.EDU (Paul Dietz) (03/18/88)
I guess it was bound to happen sometime. After three years of Mac-ing (first a 512k, and then a II) I just had my first hardware failure. A friend of mine was using my MacII, and decided he didn't like the keyboard arrangement. So he unplugged the keyboard, and apparantly accidently connected the two desktop bus ports directly together for a moment. (I was in the ol' WC while this was happening...) Anyhow, the machine no longer responds to either the mouse or the keyboard. The tale continues. I took my sick friend to the campus computer store for repair. I explained the situation, and suggested that the output drivers on the ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) had been fried, and that these should be replaced first. Did I mention that this all happened a few days out of warrenty? They agreed with my diagnosis, but informed me that as an authorized Apple dealer, they are not allowed to replace chips. Instead, they swap the entire logic board. Estimated cost: $320. Did I mention that my thesis is on this machine, and that I'd really like to graduate? So, I swallowed my pride, and my wallet, and gave the go ahead. Has this happened to you? I noticed a couple of machines in the computer store with the same problem. Apparently it's quite common. So why doesn't Apple socket these parts, and explain to their dealers how to replace them? Are there people out there who do these sorts of "unauthorized" repairs? My need for my machine was desperate this time. But next time, I'll fix it myself. Now, all I need is a good set of schematics, and a source for Apple parts. Will Apple sell these? Or is it too busy unloading money from the trucks that just keep rolling in... (By the way, just in case you think that Apple-care is a good deal, it would have cost me about $1000 for the last three years, while I've only had this one, "not-my-fault" problem for ~$300.) I will download sympathy email cards as soon as my machine is feeling well enough... Paul H. Dietz ____ ____ Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering / oo \ <_<\\\ Carnegie Mellon University /| \/ |\ \\ \\ -------------------------------------------- | | ( ) | | | ||\\ "If God had meant for penguins to fly, -->--<-- / / |\\\ / he would have given them wings." _________^__^_________/ / / \\\\-