There's no alternative to the outrageously priced Macbook power adapter, is there?

[JerseygirlCT]

My kid's on the third one in 2.8 years. At $80 a pop, that's just robbery. But I cannot seem to find any alternatives.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Why is your kid on the third one?

Loss, damage, or burn-out?

[JerseygirlCT]

2. They keep fraying right where it connects to the computer.

From other postings around the intertubes, it seems to be a pretty common problem.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Hmmm .... that's interesting .....

Sparkly just had to buy a new one to replace one she left while on a trip. It has a new connector. Sadly, it blocks the post access to the modem port right next to the connector. Seems dumb to me.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. And unlike running down to the store to grab a new one for my (non-Apple)

laptop and spending a few bucks - this is going to run $80.

... or maybe not. The guy at the store told me to bring the old one in, and maybe it's still under warranty and could be replaced free.

It's hard to type with my fingers so crossed!

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I had one go bad on me

but not due to Apple, conure... we have to be careful about the second one to avoid the conure chewing on it as well.

[JerseygirlCT]

6. I had to look up "conure", lol

No pets involved. Just lots of use - which IMHO shouldn't fray the thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The second one has worked for over two years

just keep the beaks away from it.

The Nanday



has this thing for electric wiring. He once chewed through a lamp cord, went flying, shook it off, and went back at it. Crazy bird...

[Tesha]

12. Did you buy AppleCare? The adapter's included. (NT)

[Tesha]

11. Stick the connector in the other way 'round. (It fits both ways, right?) (NT)

[onehandle]

10. Yes, it is common. They all do that eventually.

I baby my Macs and everything that connects to them, but those damn adapters' cords are destined to fail.

The new parallel design is great.

[romana]

7. Try this

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/65W-Power-Adapter-for-Powerbook-and-iBook---NEW-p-17028.html

I replaced one that stopped working due to wear and tear a couple of years ago. I replaced it with one of the above adapters and it worked like a charm.

Good luck.

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Thanks, folks

They did replace it at the store - after waiting nearly 30 minutes for our appt. (What's the point of an appt in that case?)

Anyway, at least it was replaced, which is good. And they've changed the design, which is also very good - and makes you wonder why it took so long. Now the connector there is covered and it's designed to lay along the side of the laptop - parallel instead of perpendicular.