Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, PowerMac G5
New power cords for Dual Core Power Mac G5s?
I know 99mac isn't a US site, and I am not - contrary to popular belief - a seasoned world traveler, but there's something strange about this image, right?
Now don't tell me that's just a European-style plug. Because I know that... if we're referring to the end that plugs into the wall. But check out the back of the G5 itself. Have you ever seen such foolishness? As 99mac said in their "world's first" (?) hands-on review, "One very irritating detail is that Apple have introduced a new standard with the new power-cord – they're using a type that we haven't seen before which is guaranteed to trigger many loud swearings the day you end up losing the cable (who hasn't?). The new cable will surely be available at your nearest Apple Center/Store for 3-5 times the price of the old one. We have to ask ourselves: Why?"
Why wait until you lose the power cord to start swearing? I'll start now, thanks. Feel free to join the chorus.
WTF???
UPDATE: Several helpful folks have pointed out that the new plug is a straight IEC class I, high current female cable connector (16A, 250V AC in Europe, 20A, 250V AC USA) commonly used on equipment that draws more current, as opposed to the class I female connectors (10A, 250V AC) that we're all used to being a "standard" computer cable. I'm still not happy about it... but I am no longer confused.
Now don't tell me that's just a European-style plug. Because I know that... if we're referring to the end that plugs into the wall. But check out the back of the G5 itself. Have you ever seen such foolishness? As 99mac said in their "world's first" (?) hands-on review, "One very irritating detail is that Apple have introduced a new standard with the new power-cord – they're using a type that we haven't seen before which is guaranteed to trigger many loud swearings the day you end up losing the cable (who hasn't?). The new cable will surely be available at your nearest Apple Center/Store for 3-5 times the price of the old one. We have to ask ourselves: Why?"
Why wait until you lose the power cord to start swearing? I'll start now, thanks. Feel free to join the chorus.
WTF???
UPDATE: Several helpful folks have pointed out that the new plug is a straight IEC class I, high current female cable connector (16A, 250V AC in Europe, 20A, 250V AC USA) commonly used on equipment that draws more current, as opposed to the class I female connectors (10A, 250V AC) that we're all used to being a "standard" computer cable. I'm still not happy about it... but I am no longer confused.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mathew said 5:19PM on 10-19-2005
if you lost the cable to a G5 - you are moron.
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Metryq said 5:23PM on 10-19-2005
It's hard to tell without the cable in hand, but it looks like the new cord is heavier gauge (more power draw). Perhaps a new socket was introduced to prevent people from using under-rated cables?
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CyBeR said 5:27PM on 10-19-2005
#1: true.
Now, that thing looks a lot like the 16A cables sometimes used in datacenters. I certainly hope these G5s don't pull that kind of power, though ;)
In fact, checking at APC for their Switched Rack PDUs, it _is_ one of those things. No clue why Apple started using them, but they are apparently standard. Just not used much.
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Sean said 5:31PM on 10-19-2005
First: Who the hell looses a power cord to a non-portable device?
Second: If you do, just take the one off the dryer or range oven, they seem to be about the same.
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Jay Savage said 5:37PM on 10-19-2005
The Quad is rated at ~10A, so it needs a bigger cord than the standard 10A cord. Why go all the way to 16A? no idea. I guess they're forward looking, and it's a standard data center size.
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Michael Wren said 5:38PM on 10-19-2005
On: http://www.apple.com/powermac/design.html
At the bottom of the page is a back view.
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Laurie said 5:46PM on 10-19-2005
"Who the hell looses a power cord to a non-portable device?"
Those of us who provide support for other users, both office and home environments, have a habit of keeping spare power cords on hand so that we can use them onsite for testing or in our own shops when users bring their computer to us. It's a lot easier when the power cords are all the same. otherwise, you grab the wrong one or you misplace one or you leave it somewhere - and you're screwed unless you have quite a few extras around when you need them. And of course in service centers, offices and schools, every good tech room needs to have several spares on hand - and one cord that looks almost the same but isn't is very easy to lose track of of it's not nailed down to the bench.
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Mauro Mello Jr. said 5:53PM on 10-19-2005
That is a straight IEC class I, high current female cable connector (16A, 250V AC in Europe, 20A, 250V AC USA). They are very common in equipment that draws more current (maybe not in the US, but hey, welcome to the rest of the world!) The usual ones (or the ones whose absence you are decrying) are the class I female connectors (10A, 250V AC). And, if Apple starts charging 3-5 times the normal price, that will surely attract other manufacturers (or importers) to the market. However, how many of these cables do you expect to mislaid or damage? What is the market for Apple Power Mac IEC class I replacement power cables?
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Sam said 6:07PM on 10-19-2005
That image is so easy to fake, since you cant see the entire cord continuosly, for all we know it could be two seperate cords.
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John Laur said 6:09PM on 10-19-2005
While apple does tend to have a knack for non-standard power connectors, this is not one of them. As others have stated it's a 16/20A connector. If the quad core system is indeed 'living on the edge' as far as current draw goes, even if a regualr 10/15A 'normal' power connector will satisfy it, it doesnt mean some stupid user will not load the machine up with peripherals and then attach some cheapo cord that was already hanging around behind the desk that can't even carry 10A without melting. It could just be a safety precaution.
Anyway, does anyone know where to source the DC plug for a mac mini?
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ben said 6:15PM on 10-19-2005
it never ceases to amaze me that when apple drops something new, some one some where ALLWAYS manages to find something to bitch about.... who gives a fuck about a new power port connector thingy...
wwwaaaa... new connector... waaaa....
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brian said 6:22PM on 10-19-2005
"That image is so easy to fake, since you cant see the entire cord continuosly, for all we know it could be two seperate cords."
Um, look at the socket on the G5. That's a bit tougher to fake. (Though not, of course, impossible. But who would?)
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R.I. Pienaar said 6:38PM on 10-19-2005
As mentioned here, standard 16A cables as found in real machines everywhere :) Big IBM Servers, Big Dell Servers, Big HP Servers, IBM Bladecenters (4 of these cables on those suckers) they're pretty standard.
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levi said 6:47PM on 10-19-2005
People across the US are going to have fun with this. If you're home is older than say 1984 or so, and you only have 15 or 20 amp circuits for your outlets, you'll have to run a dedicated circuit *just* for the G5. Either that or see what happens when you turn on your 32" TV and G5 at the same time
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nezromatron said 8:34PM on 10-19-2005
I was wondering if there was a limit to anything you people at tuaw would complain about.
Today I got my answer and it is no.
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Laurie said 10:04PM on 10-19-2005
"I was wondering if there was a limit to anything you people at tuaw would complain about. Today I got my answer and it is no."
Glad we were able to satisfy your curiosity :)
Seriously, though... those of you who are convinced that this is a trivial issue for Mac support pros are simply not exposed to what we deal with day in, day out. For the average home user (who isn't exactly the target market for this machine), my complaint (which many others share, I assure you) is much ado about nothing. But professional colleagues far and wide will sympathize. Is it a deal breaker? Hell no! But it's one more thing that can jam us up in a pinch if we don't stay on top of it.
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komakino said 10:12PM on 10-19-2005
This site has some more photos of a dual core 2.0 G5 that we unpacked this morning showing the new power cables. It is a little annoying that we now have to have yet another set of cables for our service benches.
http://www.powermax.com/articles_reviews/power_mac_g5.html
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Small Paul said 11:12AM on 10-20-2005
Right. Apple introduced new computer that draws more current. Apple thus uses cable designed for machines that draw more current.
What, exactly, were they meant to do?
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random said 11:27AM on 10-20-2005
It's possible to lose a power cable to your computer. If you move around a lot, it's quite possible to lose all sorts of cables.
The benefit of using a single style of power cable on all power supplies is that a replacement is readily at hand. I think I have three or four power cords in a drawer from switching out power supplies and computers over the years.
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Jason said 4:52PM on 10-22-2005
This is assanine - surely someone will make an adapter - if not I will.
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