Late Show writer doesn't find humor in smoking G4 adapter

My husband's power adapter started smoking a few days ago. The computer is almost two years old and so I am not sure if Apple will cover this. However, I will try anyway after seeing all these comments. Now I know the problem is not rare. Apple should have a recall.

I had something similar (smoking, discoloring of the shielding but no sparks) happen to my power adapter on my iBook. I called them up and they apologized and shipped me a new adapter. I couldn't have been on the phone start to finish for more then 5 minutes (including hold time and navigating the menu).

To the person who said this is a design flaw, it kind of is, but its kind of user error as well. Yes, if you pull tight on the cord as you wrap around the two cord holders, your going to be putting undue stress on the connection. Mine was always slightly bent but never pulled tight, so after this I always add a little slack, I leave about a half-inch of cord going straight off the brick and then wrap the cord around. No problems since.

OMG! My Datsun has a huge dent in the front because I crashed it into a lightpost. They better replace it under warranty. I'll also use my PXL-2000 and make a video of this so everyone on YouTube can commiserate with me.

While I am making the video, maybe I should kick the bumper for like 10 minutes so people can really see how bad it is!

Feakin IDIOT!!! I am never watching Latterman again. Nice one Frigtard!

For those saying it's not covered by Apple Care:

I had the same problem last week with my magsafe adapter. Not so much sparking and smoking but it got very hot and the cable melted and frayed next to the brick. I took it into the Genius Bar in Providence and the guy took one look at it and gave me a new one.

I recently purchased 2 Macs after toiling over the decision to make the jump from many years as a PC user. But, even after all of the research and comparison, it was the experience at the Apple store that sealed the deal and fully converted me as a Mac groupie.

I hate to hear that they were unresponsive at the service level. That is where they can make the biggest impact in their competition in the PC market. And, look at what the actions of one thoughtless employee bought them, negative publicity.

Dude needs to put down the adapter though. We get the point.

I had exactly this with my G4 Power Adaptor belonging to my Powerbook G4 867 Mhz. Suddenly I smelled this strange smell and at first I wasn´t able to locate the origin because you are barely able to see the crack in the cord at first.

The design is crap, that's right. If you use these two "ears" at the side to coil up the cable, it is surely bended more than it should be right at the connection to the brick. It took me less than 5 months to wear out the first power adapter for my MBP, the second one starts to get a little square at the connection, too.

And my experience from Apple Germany says: Be glad you life in the US, there is simply no spare power adapter available in Germany, I had to wait two weeks for one to arrive! :-(
We clearly are Apple Diaspora over here...

The design on these adapters, even the post 2005 updates, are really bad. If they don't start shorting out at the brick, they do it at the connector. And the Apple "Geniuses" are useless and will argue with you over whether you caused the damage thru abuse, whether it's "normal" wear and tear, and if you finally wear them down, they'll make you feel like a shit for it.

I've had much better luck with calling Apple Care. I've had two adapters replaced this way (vs. one at the Apple Store, with way too much effort spent).

I think there's a class action suit going on this. It's a really bad, bad design. Apple knows it, and it's probably why they designed the Mag Safe. I really have no idea why the "Geniuses" are so unwilling, or rather, I have my suspicions, but that's another rant.

Micheal Rose wrote, "Late Night writer doesn't find humor in smoking G4 adapter"

Late Night is hosted by Conan O'Brien. Late Show is with David Letterman.

Not to, you know, talk about actual Apple products or anything, but the macally replacement is the best thing ever.