Macally PS-AC4 AC Power Adapter for Apple G4
by Mace Group Inc / Macally Peripherals
|
List Price: Our Price: $17.25 You Save: $42.74 (71%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Macally PS-AC4 AC Power Adapter for Apple G4
Customer Review: Didn't Last 6 months
Summary: 1 Stars
I decided to give this a try after taking a look at the Apple price for their replacement (averaging $80, s/h NOT included). The reviews helped ease my mind about using another party replacement for the adapter as well, and for the 1st few months everything seemed ok,although I kind of wished the connection seemed more secure. Unfortunately, in the past 2-3 months or so, I'd noticed the somewhat 'loose' fit of the plug had gotten worse, so much so that just adjusting the laptop on my legs would mean it often falls out. At this point, now I have to keep checking the connection to make sure it's still inside the Mac. I'll glance up at the battery indicator and won't see the charging icon, but rather that my battery's being used for God only knows how long. Then I'll have to press the plug back in again. I took the Macally adapter out one day to look at it closely and discovered what the real issue is: the thin metal ring around the 'male' charging piece has a slight split/bend in it, which means it isn't fitting snugly in the Mac's charging portal. I don't know how long this has been there. I'm pretty careful w/ my Mac stuff, so I'm relatively sure it wasn't damaged from being wound up in my laptop case and I *know* I wouldn't be jamming the thing into this expensive hardware, so I'm at a loss. I only know it never really fit in the charge slot correctly from word-go and now it's just barely staying in long enough to keep the charge unless I'm absolutely still. I'm really disappointed in this. I'm hoping to get it replaced under the mfgr warranty. If not, I'm certain not to repeat my mistake by purchasing another Macally adapter. At $30 a pop, buying a 2nd one would be foolish when I could just purchase the 'official' Apple replacement for 20 bucks more.Customer Review: defective 3 times, never again
Summary: 1 Stars
I have a powerbook g4. after my apple chargers broke twice within 2 years (once the tip broke off inside my computer and would have cost $1200 to repair-but only cost $200 due to applecare; the other time the charger randomly started shooting bright orange sparks inside the point that connects to the laptop), i decided to try this one. in january, i bought one of the original chargers as described in this listing from microcenter, with the blue LED light. during the first half hour, i got the endless charging/not charging/charging cycle, but eventually that subsided and it worked fine for about 2 weeks. I ended up buying a different charger from ebay and returned the macally charger, because i wasn't confident in the durability of this product.
now its may, and the charger i bought off ebay completely stopped working, so i returned to microcenter. they have the NEW macally chargers that don't have the blue light. I bought one to hold me over until i can find a better alternative, and after 24 hours being plugged into my computer, it NEVER stopped the charging/not charging/charging cycle. it powers my computer just enough to keep it from completely running out of juice. about an hour ago, i went to microcenter AGAIN to exchange it for an identical one, and this seems to be doing the same thing. that's 3 products, from at least 2 seperate batches, that all have the same defect. i have one more hour to get to microcenter and I'm going to exchange this piece of crap for another apple charger. i expect the $80 apple charger to last me about a year.
thank god the mac books have magnetic chargers. i'm sick of this crap.
Customer Review: Macally PS-AC4 AC is a very good deal for the price!
Summary: 4 Stars
The main gripe I've had with my wonderful ibook I purchased several years ago had to do with the powercord. The Apple power cord that came with it wore out very quickly in contrast to any power cord in my life of memories, and was, to my mind, and apparently the mind of others who have purchased the great Macally AC Adaptor, very overpriced for something that needed to be replaced frequently.
I replaced the power cord twice before I had enough of it all. Finding that it would take me 1-3 weeks to order an Apple cord again, I decided to check into alternatives. Spent a ridiculously long time on the phone with one of the major outlets that handle Mac equipment only to have them screw up my order on a cosmically absurd level (they had invoiced me for a very expensive flat screen television, which was perhaps reverse psychology - the Apple plug did seem suddenly not so expensive in comparison :)
Ultimately found that the outlet neither had the cord that would work with my Mac ibook with a G3 processor nor did they know what kind of cord did (this took about an hour for them to deduce, even when they had invoiced me for an alternative plug.
Finally I turned to my heroes at Amazon, read a few reviews on the Apple cord (generally pretty scary) and was directed to this Macally.
I LOVE it. It's a little less compact than the Apple cord and does not have the light that indicates that it is charging to the computer, but it's about 1/2 the price of those infernal Apple cords and I am happy. Highly recommended. Thanks, Amazon!
Customer Review: Buyer Beware!! Doesn't Work on Aluminum G4s
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought one of these in July after my original one of three years went on the fritz. At first, it seemed to work fine on my 12-inch Powerbook G4. It had to turn my laptop over to see the green light and insure that it was charging. It's a bit inconvenient since the original one lit up at the connection so that I could immediately see it's charging state. The Macally Adapter charged my battery and spare with no problems.
The real issue came when I wanted to use my computer at the same time as charging it. The screen flickered dim and full, every few seconds. The effect is just like the difference when the original charger was plugged in with the computer power-saving feature on. The screen goes from power-saving dim to full power, only this time, it keeps cycling. When I opened the Powersaver I could see that the charger was cycling between charging and not charging. Then I read on another web site that the Macally Charger doesn't work with Aluminum powerbooks, which mine is.
If you just want to charge your powerbook when it is off, the charger seems to work okay (at least, after a month of use). But trying to use the computer with the power plugged in, like you might do giving a presentation, is most annoying.
I wish I had check this one out a bit more. It's not easy finding a charger now that Apple no longer makes the 12-inch. I can't vouch for how this might work on other laptops but I sure don't recommend it for the 12-inch Powerbook G4.
Customer Review: Worked great for about 20 months, then...
Summary: 3 Stars
I'd expect as much from a third-party product: this power adapter worked perfectly for 20 months, then over the course of 7 days it sputtered off and on, then it completely burned out on me. There was no wear-and-tear or cosmetic damage to the cables. It just stopped working.
Pros::
+ Long cable
+ Two-prong plug (in case you have nothing but older outlets at your place)
Cons::
+ constant blue 'charge' light doesn't change color to indicate full charge, and is bright enough to act as a flashlight in dark rooms
+ Unexpected, complete failure after 20 months!
I can see why this is a popular, cheaper alternative to Apple's expensive cord. Reason I got it was the Apple's original cord twisted out and broke at the laptop end, and even that was after 24 months of use. So if you're not ready to pay Apple prices for power supplies, perhaps buy two of the MacAlly cords to prepare for the 'inevitable'. Inexpensive enough to warrant such a purchase.
Then again, Apple power supplies are currently MagSafe type, so whenever you upgrade, you'll have two power cords that won't work with MagSafe laptops. Bottom line, I just barely got my money's worth with this power adapter. You get what you pay for.