I know only the greedy lawyers really win when there's a class action lawsuit, so I wouldn't want to go that route. But what do you do when there's something wrong with the support that Apple gives for its products if they won't accomodate you?
My situation is this. I have a titanium powerbook, about 2.5 years old, covered under applecare. A year ago, (1.5 years old) my powerbook battery died (wouldn't give more than 15 minutes of runtime). At first, I was thinking that I could get a replacement since I had applecare, but I found out that batteries/consumables are only covered for 1 year. Okay fine - I'll buy another battery for $120. Problem is, Apple doesn't carry them through retail channels anymore. I can get one through applecare for $180 or try a 3rd party battery, Apple (retail store & applecare) tells me. Okay fine - I'll get on from OWC (newertech) cause I hear good things about it. The first thing I notice is that the construction isn't quite the same and that it doesn't fit quite as nicely as my original apple battery. When you put it in, there's a small gap. Nothing functionally wrong with it, but just doesn't look as nice. So, after using it for almost a year, I have this problem with the battery popping out ever so slightly when I put it in my laptop bag causing the computer to shut down. Basically I have to reseat the battery and then everything is okay. So I contact OWC and I'm going to get a replacement. The rep says that people have had more luck with replacement battery.
Then, yesterday, while working off battery power, I hear a "click" and the powerbook shuts down. Battery doesn't look like it's popped out, but it's stuck now. Taking it to a local apple store, they get it out and tell me the hinge that holds the battery in will need to be replaced. No charge since I'm under Applecare. I go home and test out my old apple battery - still works fine, doesn't get stuck, no problems getting it out.
Now, here's my problem. I think that the 3rd party battery may have contributed in part to the deterioration of the hinge, BUT I really don't have any alternatives for batteries except these 3rd party batteries. I'm worried that after a year of using this new 3rd party battery, the same thing is going to happen and at that point, I'm not longer covered under Applecare. I thought all along that Apple should have made their original Tibook batteries available for retail price (I think $120 or something). At this point, I just want a original new Tibook battery, but I don't think I should have to pay $180 for it. And if this hinge problem can be attributed to 3rd party batteries, does Apple have any responsibility for it since the only reason I bought a 3rd party battery was because they don't carry the tibook batteries anymore?
My situation is this. I have a titanium powerbook, about 2.5 years old, covered under applecare. A year ago, (1.5 years old) my powerbook battery died (wouldn't give more than 15 minutes of runtime). At first, I was thinking that I could get a replacement since I had applecare, but I found out that batteries/consumables are only covered for 1 year. Okay fine - I'll buy another battery for $120. Problem is, Apple doesn't carry them through retail channels anymore. I can get one through applecare for $180 or try a 3rd party battery, Apple (retail store & applecare) tells me. Okay fine - I'll get on from OWC (newertech) cause I hear good things about it. The first thing I notice is that the construction isn't quite the same and that it doesn't fit quite as nicely as my original apple battery. When you put it in, there's a small gap. Nothing functionally wrong with it, but just doesn't look as nice. So, after using it for almost a year, I have this problem with the battery popping out ever so slightly when I put it in my laptop bag causing the computer to shut down. Basically I have to reseat the battery and then everything is okay. So I contact OWC and I'm going to get a replacement. The rep says that people have had more luck with replacement battery.
Then, yesterday, while working off battery power, I hear a "click" and the powerbook shuts down. Battery doesn't look like it's popped out, but it's stuck now. Taking it to a local apple store, they get it out and tell me the hinge that holds the battery in will need to be replaced. No charge since I'm under Applecare. I go home and test out my old apple battery - still works fine, doesn't get stuck, no problems getting it out.
Now, here's my problem. I think that the 3rd party battery may have contributed in part to the deterioration of the hinge, BUT I really don't have any alternatives for batteries except these 3rd party batteries. I'm worried that after a year of using this new 3rd party battery, the same thing is going to happen and at that point, I'm not longer covered under Applecare. I thought all along that Apple should have made their original Tibook batteries available for retail price (I think $120 or something). At this point, I just want a original new Tibook battery, but I don't think I should have to pay $180 for it. And if this hinge problem can be attributed to 3rd party batteries, does Apple have any responsibility for it since the only reason I bought a 3rd party battery was because they don't carry the tibook batteries anymore?
