URGENT PLS HELP! Apple Notebook LCD burst!

I own two Apple Powerbooks. Powerbook 165c and Powerbook 520c. I have NOT used them for a few years. Yesterday when I want to use it, strangely I found both of LCD was damaged. It looks like burts/leaking.

For sure NO one has access to both of these computer BUT me. I store them in my locked room and NEVER drop them in anyway. If it were dropped/bumped, it could be easily verify on the physical casing.

Although it's quite old machine, but it's still a good machine for word processors/excel. Anyone, please help. It was very expensive investment...

Can anyone tell me where should I direct this matter? Thanks!

 

You know, I had a TI-83 calculator that I didn't use for 3 months or so over the summer. The screen did a very similar thing, but it went away when I started using it again. Do the computers turn on? You may just want to try running them for a bit under a watchful eye. Best of luck!

 

Hard to say, but I can't imagine that can be a good thing.

For what it's worth, it's possible to find old parts pretty cheap on eBay. For example, here's someone selling a PowerBook 520c screen and bezel assembly for a $9 buy-it-now on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-PowerBook...oryZ4601QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

-Zadillo

 

It might not hut to call Apple and ask them if they have any advice (I have a hard time imaging these machines are still supported though, but you never know). They might at least be able to point you to a repair shop or something.

But the cost of repairs probably wouldn't be worth it, as you could probably just get some new PowerBooks of that vintage for not a whole lot more than repairs would cost.

 

Imark81 & zadillo. Thanks for the input. The notebook is completely dead. I know the warranty is way long gone, but I just want to know, if this is a quality issue that we could claim to apple? Thx

 

Honestly, given that these laptops are well past any possible warranty coverage or support, I don't think you'd have much luck claiming a quality issue (this isn't just an Apple thing; if you called up Toshiba about an 11 year old notebook, you probably wouldn't have much luck with them either).

It's tough to say what the actual cause of this is anyway...... i.e. whether it's a product defect or some environmental thing. You said they hadn't been used for a few years, so it's really tough to say what might have happened in that period of time.

I think you'd have an easier time if you really like these specific laptops to just go ahead and buy an old one for $50 or whatever, or in the case of the 520c, buying that $9 replacement screen I mentioned.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw you said they were completely dead. It really sounds like the kind of thing that might happen if it was subject to some sort of weird environmental issue (really hot or cold temps, humidity, etc.). But at this point it probably wouldn't matter.
-Zadillo

 

I have a couple of old ones like this for sale - I think one of them is a 520c... have to check it...

 

Thanks again for all the input. Actually I do not need to repair it. I just want to know what cause it and why? and It'll be good if Apple could give some answers or more...

Initially I was thinking to give it to my 7 years old kids for typing practice or simple games.

So, anyway. Thanks for all the inputs!

 

It sure does look like an environmental issue since it happened to both of them. I've seen LCDs screen leaking, but not like that.

 

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but why would you even bother to call Apple? Those laptops are what about 10, 11 years old? You cannot expect much out of them. I would say to determine if it is worth fixing them yourself or just buying one on the internet. Apple will do nothing for you, nor should they.

 

To be fair, Apple actually historically has maintained some level of support for machines even after being discontinued. That is, for many older Macs they can still provide parts, etc. If I remember correctly, part support, etc. for even the old Apple II's was kept up until a few years ago.

Apple conceivably could at least offer some advice on what could be done, who might be able to repair it, etc.... although as previously noted, even the most basic repair costs would outweigh the entire value of these machines, and would probably not be worth it.


EDIT: Although in this case, you are probably out of luck. According to this list, both of those PowerBooks are firmly in the "obsolete" category, and parts are no longer officially available. You could still buy an old PowerBook for parts off of eBay, but that's about it:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304210

-Zadillo

 

I agree that Apple may still be able to get the parts, but it was sounding like the OP was trying to insinuate this would be a quality control issue, which it clearly is not.

 

Oh, yeah, I definitely agree on that front.

-Zadillo

 

CASHMONEE. thx for your thought.

This is my first time experience to see something like that. And the reason why I'm wondering if it's a quality issue, it's because I have one Toshiba laptop and HP palmtop which are older than those Mac and I have NOT use it for about the same period of time BUT it does NOT have that LCD problem.

Yes these MAC machines are 10 years old, and they cost me $5K for both machines. If you were in my shoes when you see this problem, dont you want to know why? ESPECIALLY if you have other laptop of the SAME age and DONT have that problem. Don't you WISH it did not have such problem? Certainly I'd like to know what caused it and why ? For me to wish Apple to give answer or even more... was it wrong? well, I hope not!

Currently I'm using Fujitsu P5010, P7120, Toshiba Portege M500 and Toshiba Libretto. These are expensive machines and which I have no intention to sell them even after I dont use them anymore. I rather keep them for one of my kids and surely I dont want such thing to happen again.

Anyway, thanks for all of your input and time

 

I'd be curious to know why, certainly, but I wouldn't really be that upset that an 11-year old laptop finally seemed to fail. Frankly, whether it was the LCD or just general hardware failure, I'd be ecstatic to get 11 years of use out of something that I spent $2500 for.

The main thing to note is that these WERE expensive machines; laptops of this age don't really care ANY of that value any more. And that's not just an Apple thing; I had a Toshiba Portege 3015ct which was state of the art when I bought it, but it's barely worth a couple hundred bucks now, if that (and that's only because of its size).

I would not chalk up the problem you described to a quality issue though. Normally when I've seen similar things happen it has been caused by humidity, etc. (some moisture gets into the laptop screen somehow, and it eventually results in something similar to what shows up in your photographs). Without knowing the exact conditions they were under during the years they weren't in use, it's hard to say what might have caused it. It could be something where if it was in regular use during that time period it would still be fine now.

-Zadillo

 

I understand where you are coming from, Denzo. I too would want to know why it happened, and perhaps Apple could provide an answer. I was, I guess, under the impression that you were hinting at getting Apple to fix them or something, or for them to give you a handout as they say.

I do agree that I would want to find out what happened. You said they were kept in a locker. If the locker was packed pretty tight, it is possible they had enough pressure on them to break. It is also possible, if the locker in not in a temperature controlled room (outside vs inside), that temperature got to them. I am unaware of LCD's just doing that over time, but I suppose it is possible. Something had to cause it, and time alone is not likely it. Where were they kept exactly?

 

CASHMONEE:

I'm not trying to insinuate this would be a quality control issue, but its a fact that the LCD leaked/burts or whatever, while OTHER laptop with same conditions: namely same storage room with same room temperature and same age of usage, but it did NOT have such problem. This is why I'm wondering if it's aquality isuue. Hope you get it.

 

Well, for me, I could accept the fact, but my wife was sad. 520c was hers and she hardly touch it. I'll be lying if I say I dont want Apple to fix it. oh yeah I'll be happy, but at the same time I know it's just a wishful thinking. the bottom line is I just want to know why and what caused it and also why other laptop didnt have such problem.. but my two macs

Thx for your input

 

Thanks again to both of you!

 

It's a good question. Technically if you did bring it to an Apple Authorized Service Center, although they might not be able to fix it (at least not at the cost that would be worth it), they might have some experience with the issue and be able to offer you advice on what the cause was, or at least what was likely.

Even though the conditions were the same, other factors could come into play. Just as an example, if the PowerBooks had been exposed to some sort of humidity at some earlier point, this could have had an effect later on that the other two laptops didn't exhibit.

Of course, there is also the possibility of different screen technologies, etc. Were these all active or passive matrix screens?

There's a lot of options there. I'd again say that if you do want to keep using them, $9 for a replacement screen for the PowerBook 520c isn't a bad deal at all.

-Zadillo

 

You should call apple

 

I don't think it is possible either to prove it was a quality issue or that it wasn't. I'd bet on an environmental issue as I said; even if you keep other laptops at the same place you can't say for sure they have been at the same levels of humidity/dust/heat/cold/whatever may have caused this. And as it has been pointed out, the technologies might be different. Bottom line is, you'd never be able to prove it was a quality problem at this point.

It is understandable that you are angry that a very expensive machine in its time has gone to waste. But that's the way with computers; you can buy a Sun workstation that costed tens of thousands of dollars 10 years ago for some 200 bucks. Computers are not like diamonds that can sit idly at a safe for decades and still retain their value, their value is in their usefulness. Consider that the most expensive notebook sold by apple today is way cheaper than what you paid for these.

If you have some emotional attachment to them, I see no other way than to try to fix it by yourself, buying pieces at ebay, or buy a new one altogether. I really doubt Apple will be able to help in any matter, even if they want to.

 

dude... my old nintendo isn't working anymore.

I need to call nintendo to replace some parts in it!

 

Not to be insulting or anything gridtalker, but I have never seen you do a post that was longer than a sentence, you should state your reasons and support your answer if you are going to provide advice.

Anyways, the best you can do is look around eBay or something, I do know in Japan the japanese are notorious for keeping things they own for ages and taking extreme care of them, so there is definitely a demand out there for such old components and becuase there is, you will most likely find a supplier out there.

 

Zadillo, Thx man! Surely appreciate your time.

 

btw, you may want to check out new bios batteries too. They're probably dead as well.

 

xbandaidx

Well I did try to explain in more than a sentence.

I was troubled first time I saw it and with that mood I post my URGENT please help post. Now, I'm in a 'better' mood and I've decided it's not worth of my time to fix them.

Thanks for all your input

 

The "no post longer than a sentence" wans't for you...

 

Opps I missed it. Thx for your note!