Apple has announced a worldwide warranty extension for 1st generation iMac G5s. “The iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues applies to first generation iMac G5 computers that have video or power-related issues as a result of a specific component failure.”
This is about some faulty hardware Apple made. I struggle to see how this could be even remotely considered “OS news.” Are we going to start seeing news blurbs every time HP, Dell, and Sony announce recalls for their products as well? Sheesh.
This is OSNews becayse many people complain about the 1st gen G5 having problems. Now it seems that Apple has confirmed these complaints. That’s why it’s news.
I believe it’s because it’s *Apple* that you consider this worth the bother of posting: are you stating that the other makers don’t have problems and acknowledge them? Frankly, that’s not being fair, and is intellectually dishonest to single Apple out without reporting these sorts of things with the other makers. While you’re skiing down this slippery slope, you might as well go after all the motherboard makers for every time they post a new firmware update on their sites for customers, because frankly, almost *every* BIOS update fixes *bugs* which are a more readily fixed defect that a user can fix (as long as there’s not an inconveniently-timed power disruption!) than what Apple (in this case) is fixing.
I think you are reading into this way to much, this article was posted because people will read it.
Do you really think people would read something about HP or Dell doing something similar?
Maybe some would, but it would not be by any means a popular topic.. nobody cares, but for some reason, people do care about apple.
Apple is more of a culture…. Dell/HP are just computers.
our precious Apple tried to screw people over while wearing the mask of innocence. puhlease…..
Since Apple is an all eggs in one basket kinda shop, I say this is a fine place to post about it.
If it was a first gen sun sparc workstation or sgi or anyone else selling complete kits you Apple fanboys wouldn’t even have mentioned anything. But since its apple you have to complain.. Go get an iLife.
You’re right to post it, because it is relevant to the great myths about this. It is argued that it is better for the customer to have an OS which is restricted to running on hardware from the OS supplier. And that the resulting hardware is better quality and lasts longer (despite being made of the same components) as the ‘crap hardware’ from Taiwanese PC suppliers. Despite also being supplied by these same Taiwanese factories.
We see in the present case that all these claims are false. The hardware is no better and no worse, it comes from the same factories, it lasts about as long, and being supplied by the guys who make the OS makes no difference.
There is a point which is deeply relevant to OS issues. In the end, the customer benefits from open source hardware for his OS, and the OS benefits too.
You’re right to post it, because it is relevant to the great myths about this. It is argued that it is better for the customer to have an OS which is restricted to running on hardware from the OS supplier. And that the resulting hardware is better quality and lasts longer (despite being made of the same components) as the ‘crap hardware’ from Taiwanese PC suppliers. Despite also being supplied by these same Taiwanese factories.
We see in the present case that all these claims are false. The hardware is no better and no worse, it comes from the same factories, it lasts about as long, and being supplied by the guys who make the OS makes no difference.
Even if the myth is debunked, it will not change the heavily shuttered mind of the ‘faithful’. So all it ends up doing is further convincing non-Mac-fanatics that the Apple cultists are stark raving mad. In essence, you cannot address an emotional issue with facts and figures. It just doesn’t work.
Because there was a problem you’re thinking that this supports the argument that they’re no better or worse?
Thats a stretch.
Many PC manufacturers use quality parts many do not. Even the quality parts are bound to fail sometimes. Apple uses quality parts and their failure rate is typically fewer than the norm… which coincidentally is of PC manufacturers who don’t use quality parts despite their availability.
What I would like to know is, exactly what these quality parts are. They cannot be disks. Everyone uses Seagate, WD or whatever, and its not quality, its a question of choice. This used not to be true – they used to use SCSI which was definitely better quality. But it is now. They cannot be memory chips. They are definitely not graphics chips. So, is the power supply better quality? Don’t know any evidence for it. Mac psus fail too, like others. Not very often. but they do. So are we arguing that the chipsets on the main board are better? Maybe – tell us what the good and bad ones are, and then we can see.
There’s the cases and connectors. The connectors appear to be standard. The cases are different, but are they any better or any worse, in anything but appearance? I have heard people argue that their cooling is better designed. Not really. I have heard people argue the main boards are better laid out and there are fewer cables. It depends, no better laid out than any other main board with on-board graphics and sound.
I am using a Dell Optiplex GX110. Dell is the legend among mac fanatics for poor quality, yet its lasted fine all these many years.
Its just a myth. There have been good and bad macs and pcs in the past, in about equal proportions, and the overall quality level has risen for both about equally. Macs are just not, and never were, better built. Better examples of consumer goods design, maybe. A bit like B&O stereos. Better stereos for the money? No. Better looking, yes.
Speaking, by the way, as a long time mac user, now on Linux and generic hardware. What a relief it was to move!
Macs typically utilize high quality ram, they smarter case designs (the bottom panel for the Dome iMac is a good example), more appealing case designs, better case internal structure (look at the G5 internals for a prime example), are typically of a more durable build quality (look at the powerbook as a prime example).
Macs typically utilize high quality ram, they smarter case designs (the bottom panel for the Dome iMac is a good example), more appealing case designs, better case internal structure (look at the G5 internals for a prime example), are typically of a more durable build quality (look at the powerbook as a prime example).
Funny, my Apple Power Mac came with OEM Samsung RAM, my Dell Dimension came with OEM Samsung RAM. Apple must have been using that super secrect high quality OEM Samsung RAM since there’s no way they are as poor quality as a lowly Dell.
BTW, they also both had Seagate hard drives and a nvidia based video card.
I will accept more appealing case design, that is purely subjective and I do find that I like the looks of most of Apple’s products.
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t agree with better internal structure or build quality. I had to disect my original bondi blue to replace the hard drive or memory. My quicksilver mac was just another cheap plastic case with poor noisy airflow. My G4 ibook requires an awful lot of work to add an airport card or memory, keyboard isn’t flat, and the battery wobbles in it’s slot. I don’t find them to be either better or worse in that dept than the Dells I also buy.
Perhaps you will be so kind as to provide the rest of the class with studies conducted that support your assertions.
I have a second Gen iMac G5. Its quiet, cools well, never gets too hot and I’ve had it since April. Whatever the proble, it definately fixed in the 2nd Gen IMO.
Because Macs are generally more reliable, it’s newsworthy when they have problems.
I’ve got an iMac g5, within that serial rage, I haven’t experienced any problems yet, it has been almost 6 months, but I always get that bad feeling 🙂
As for why it is high profile, I think it is because its name is so ‘out there’, with iTunes and iPod, I think Apple needs to realise that the higher the profile, the more the shit is going to stick to the name; they better get their QA process up to order, and start purging off crappy parts suppliers.
“Speaking, by the way, as a long time mac user, now on Linux and generic hardware. What a relief it was to move!”
Huh?!?!?
What a relief it was to move from a superior OS and hardware combination to a problematic, cheap setup???
“What a relief it was to move from a superior OS and hardware combination to a problematic, cheap setup???”
Yes. Yes, really.
You see, the funny thing is, its not problematic in the least. It runs faster, it has a greater variety of software available, its more configurable. I can run any flavour of Windows and any Linux distro I like. I run Mandrake and Gnome, as it happens, which I find just good looking as X, and rather easier to use. I did have some difficulties with getting a win-modem to work, but under Linux I find the choice of hardware much wider in general and much less problematic than when I used Apple. The system came with XP, which I use very rarely, but its nice to have it available in dual boot.
Yes, my machine was cheaper. The Athlon XP that I use ordinarily, several years old now, was about a third the price of a comparable mac, and its lasted perfectly well. I really cannot see that any of its parts are in any way inferior to those used in Macs. Even the case is rather robust and quite well cooled. If the only complaint is that the case is beige, paint it. My own case is under the table, I rarely notice it. And finally, when I upgrade to A64 or similar, it will end up costing about 10% of the price of moving to a comparable G5. All I need is a main board, processor and maybe some memory. As for software, Mandrake comes with more software than I will ever use.
This is very difficult for people who are still ‘on the bus’ to understand, but it really is true. Buying an OS tied to a particular supplier’s hardware doesn’t deliver better quality in either the OS or the hardware. In hardware, it probably delivers less. But what it does do is, put up the price. Not just the initial price. The price of software and hardware upgrades also, because you just cannot go out and buy a new main board and processor for your G5. Its, buy another and throw out the old one. And then there are the applications, and the annual OS upgrades. But its not just the money. I also really object to being told what to do and how to do it, and being so limited in both hardware and software.
Cut loose too. You’ll be very surprised at how pleasant and easy it all is. Its just computing, its not a lifestyle thing at all, though the Cupertino marketing department would like to persuade you that it is.
The majority of computer users would be more comfortable on a Mac. Buying from a company like Dell is always risky. Building your on X86 box is really the only way to go. And most customers seem more pleased with Apple anyway—-> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ahi5j9WcL8VM&re…
Those on about Mac cults and faithfuls, you really need to get a life you saddos, what is wrong with you? grow up
Mac’s do things that Windows could never imagine and they *never* crash….
Give me a f**king break. No one believes that but kids and the naive.