My wife's white Macbook's original power adapter's cable ripped and was no longer reliable, so we needed to get a new one. Luckily, I checked Amazon before I checked out at Best Buy and paid full price. This is a valid genuine Apple replacement adapter, just at a cheaper price.
I'm not rating the design of the adapter. This product, however, does what it should -- it replaces a faulty power adapter for a Macbook. Apple MagSafe 60W Power Adapter for MacBook MA538LL/A
There's a major flaw in design of this apple power adapter, and
it's the ultra thin cord and its common point of bending at where
it connects to the macbook, specifically at just before the magsafe
ending. After using my macbook for a year, the cord suddenly smelled
like it was burning.. the covering on the cord melted off.. sparked
smoked some more.. then kaput completely, argh! googled cost for new
one, $80 bucks a pop. Checked out apple's site for reviews on same
adapter and same problem came up with others.. over and over again.
I luv apple comps., but this power adapter is faulty. Go read the
reviews at apple's site! Almost 600 now, and most negative.. having
same burnout happening to others in usually same spot. I suggest
contacting your local apple service center and getting the tech
support number with Apple and talking with them before dishing out
your mula. I'll grab a new one if they don't replace, but will
definately re-inforce this area around magnetic end so as not to
create a stresspoint that breaks the connection. Just a heads-up.
I am on my third adapter in the past year, the plastic wire cover breaks at the connecter and no longer functions. After the first two went out I was extremly careful about using this cord and it still broke! and as Apple has a patent on this product I cant get one by a different manufacturer, I am stuck ordering yet another one. Let me know if someone is starting a law suit over this one!
Both of my children have macbooks, they use them at home, and they are careful enough with them. BUT, the power cord adapters keep breaking, fraying off at the point where the wire and the connector meet. At first I thought maybe the children were mishandling them, but after the first go-round, they were so careful, and still the problem returns. At $80 a whack, this is getting outrageous! And using a frayed adapter is dangerous, no?? Hello... Apple... wake-up on this issue...this is a defective product and needs a recall/reissue.
HEY, the MacBook Air-style adapter is finally available and the price is the same. Ditch this old junk and buy the new one.
The comment below applies to the Apple original adapter, not knock-off or used items.
Although we Apple product users have been spoiled by the ingenious design found in the power adapter since the second generation of PowerBook Titanium was introduced almost eight years ago, there are still serious flaws.
I will mention the timeless and positive elements first.
1. removable/exchangeable power connector. This allows you to leave the long power cable connected in the office and at home, and just switch out the flip-prong plug. This way you don't have to bend down and unplug the whole cord, not to mention the weight saving when you travel.
2. for the same wattage, Apple's adapter is far smaller and lighter than other notebook brands' adapters or other 'Apple compatible' after-market adapters.
3. although nothing new, the MagSafe connector provides added protection when someone trips over the cable or if you accidentally 'run' away with the MacBook/MacBook Pro.
4. you may buy an expensive 'figure-8' connector at each location that you frequently visit, so you don't have to hunt for AC outlet each time you need to use your power adapter.
Now, the ugly.
1. to make the power cord more flexible, the material inside of the cable is prone to wear and breaks easily (breakage inside cannot be seen unless you X-ray it).
2. after seven years of problems, Apple has learned to turn the power cable 90°. The biggest problem with the side-accessed design is that we often have materials next to the computer as we work, so those cables and connectors just get in the way. Inevitably, we turn it 90° to route it to the back. Worse yet, sometimes the connector is bumping against the way and accelerate the wear. This feature, unfortunately, was made available on the MacBook Air. It's been that way with the MacBook Air since introduction almost two years ago. However, this design has only recently been utilized on the MacBook (unibody) connector. This glacial change will finally make it across the entire product line, but only Apple knows when.
3. do not use the 'ears' for coiling the cord. If you must, be sure to leave about 1-2" of cable looped (not bent 90° immediately as the picture suggests). Coiling the cable repeatedly as illustrated would accelerate the break down of the power cable.
4. For no reason at all (polarity is not an issue, because the flip plug does not differentiate polarity anyway), Apple makes a non-standard figure-8 connector. This makes the non-standard cable unusable on previous version Apple adapters, even though there is absolutely no risk of mixing up the polarities. This is a wasteful design in more ways than one. First, it uses more plastic to fill up the cap. Second, it makes the cable not as useful.
I wouldn't buy one between December 2009 and February 2010, because I strongly believe that the new adapter (MacBook Air/MacBook plastic unibody style) will take over this flawed design very soon. - Charger - Macbook - Laptop Power Adapters - Mac'
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