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Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

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Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#31

Post by radicaldreamer »

e-dard wrote: post #16
Aloisius wrote: post #3

I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.

Surely the mag-safe cables shouldn't get so damaged, because the cable detaches from the laptop under significant strain? In terms of mag-safe on iOS devices, I guess it's not feasible due to it transmitting data.

It's the plastic surrounding the cable as it connects to the magsafe magnetic connector that causes the problem.

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#33

Post by dmix »

burgerbrain wrote: post #27
dmix wrote: post #12

"tl;dr: Apple is run by idiots." - Reddit comment This is why I much prefer HN for any technical discussion.

If you appreciate the conversation brought to you by HN, why are you just dumping apparently inferior comments from other sites here instead of actually making a contribution?

I was making a criticism of content in the link which is what we're discussing in this thread. Are we not?

The comment in question had 60+ upvotes.

I also made a valid contribution to this thread earlier: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2642344

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#34

Post by r00fus »

e-dard wrote: post #16
Aloisius wrote: post #3

I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.

Surely the mag-safe cables shouldn't get so damaged, because the cable detaches from the laptop under significant strain? In terms of mag-safe on iOS devices, I guess it's not feasible due to it transmitting data.

They've changed the design from a plug that attaches perpendicularly into the laptop (and has a serious strain point that is not adequately engineered around) to one that plugs in "parallel". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe

This likely prevents strain by removing the probability that the cable is pulled at the strain point. It also looks cooler.

Only downside is that it doesn't untether easily; it's that the selling point of MagSafe?

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#35

Post by baguasquirrel »

adamesque wrote: post #26

Except, there are strain relief features built in to Apple power adapters. Power Adapter: http://cl.ly/0r2n2S2z1b3K0L1E0R3t LED Cinema Display Power Adapter: http://www.cl.ly/3i1B3R142q0S25223q2U These may not be adequate, but clearly Apple industrial design has taken a pass at the problem. Anybody have photos of older power adapters to see if that sheathing has always been there?

Some teams may be more experienced than others? I just noticed the strain relief on my latest-gen power adapter. I never noticed that before. It is so cool.

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#36

Post by SkyFoxMedia »

jeremymims wrote: post #15
Aloisius wrote: post #3

I understand the æsthetic decision, but there is no reason why Apple couldn't have made the wire that runs from the brick to your laptop detachable. That way I could actually replace it for a reasonable amount.

This. Over the past five years I have had to replace four Apple power adapters. Two caught on fire, one just stopped working, and one only worked when I duct taped it to death. They replaced all but one under warranty. But when I asked the Apple Genius in SoHo if this "whole catching on fire thing" happened often, he didn't say no. He just told me he wasn't allowed to answer that.

I've had one catch on fire on my couch, and another melt at the mag-connection (whatever it's called). Cannot be a fluke.

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#37

Post by radicaldreamer »

adamesque wrote: post #26

Except, there are strain relief features built in to Apple power adapters. Power Adapter: http://cl.ly/0r2n2S2z1b3K0L1E0R3t LED Cinema Display Power Adapter: http://www.cl.ly/3i1B3R142q0S25223q2U These may not be adequate, but clearly Apple industrial design has taken a pass at the problem. Anybody have photos of older power adapters to see if that sheathing has always been there?

They've gotten better recently. I think the best example of this is the USB to dock connector cables, where the strain relief for the phone/iPod end is woefully inadequate.

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#39

Post by msutherl »

For me the problem is not that they bend and break, but that they melt! See: http://www.google.com/search?q=magsafe+melted

But before I go into this, let me explain the engineering of a power cable. If you look at a power adapter cable for any non-Apple product, you'll notice some metal "spikes" where the plug transitions to the cable. These spikes are called a heat sink. The purpose of a heat sink is to prevent the cable from heating to a severe degree if you use the charger for an extended period. The heat sink allows the cable to have a nice dissipation of heat instead of heating up and melting.

Re: Redditor Explains Why Apple Continue Making Frail Power Cables

#40

Post by burgerbrain »

dmix wrote: post #33
burgerbrain wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you appreciate the conversation brought to you by HN, why are you just dumping apparently inferior comments from other sites here instead of actually making a contribution?

I was making a criticism of content in the link which is what we're discussing in this thread. Are we not? The comment in question had 60+ upvotes. I also made a valid contribution to this thread earlier: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2642344

1) It was a meta-criticism. Of the site, not the content. 2) It serves no purpose but to drag HN down to the level of Reddit.
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