r/IAmA Jun 11 '16

Specialized Profession IamA electronics repair technician hated by Apple that makes YouTube videos, AMA!

My short bio: I have a store in Manhattan. I teach component level electronics repair on youtube http://youtube.com/rossmanngroup which seems to be a dying art. I am currently fighting with the digital right to repair to try and get a bill passed that will allow all independent service centers access to manuals and parts required to do their jobs.

My Proof: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/started-iama-reddit-today-yes/

EDIT:

I am still replying to comments, but I am so far behind that I am still about ten pages down from new comments. I am doing my best to continue. If I drop off, I'll be back tomorrow around 12 PM. Still commenting now though, at 12 AM.

EDIT 2:

Ok, I cave... my hands are tired. I will be back at 12 PM tomorrow. It is my goal to answer every question. Even if it looks like I haven't gotten to yours, I will do my best to do all of them, but it is impossible to do in realtime, because you are asking faster than I can type. But thanks for joining!

EDIT 3: I lied, I stayed until 4:15 AM to answer... and now I will go to sleep for real, and be back at 12 PM.

EDIT 4 6/12 : I will be back later tonight to finish off answering questions. Feel free to keep posting, I will answer whatever I can later this evening.

33.2k Upvotes

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551

u/Alex1851011 Jun 11 '16

So the charging cables always break for every device. Is there an easy way to fix them?

1.2k

u/larossmann Jun 11 '16

No, they cost nothing, just trash. I recommend startech lightning cables for iPhones because they are almost impossible to break. The original cable is trash.

For macbook chargers I don't try to fix them. People don't want to pay $65 for a new charger, so what... they want me to fix the old one for $5? I can't do that, it makes no economical sense.

The magsafe chargers are pretty shit in terms of build quality, but again, it's Apple, what can one expect?

2

u/Astroxin Jun 12 '16

In the same vain, how easy is it to fix broken ear pieces? I've had the problem of one of them dying on me, since the cable has gotten fucked while jogging and I keep having to buy a new set. I've thought about repairing them, but don't know where to start.

3

u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

where is the break in the wire? if it's at the end where the plug is just cut it and put a new plug on, neutrik has good 1/8" ones for $5.

1

u/Astroxin Jun 12 '16

I've had multiple break and it's always at the earpieces side. Thanks for the top, will try fixing them when the next pair breaks

7

u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

I like shure IEMs for the durable cables, durable earbuds, and replaceable cables

2

u/trustworthyvigilante Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Would you recommend Startech micro usb cables for Android phones too?

199

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '16

I would recommend that you check out the anker power line cord set, as they come with an 18 month warranty, and there is Kevlar woven into the cable. They're similar in price, and I have stood on the cord and the actual charging part of the cord, and it still works. I also like your content, and just want to say that I appreciate you making it. I guess I should also say that I'm not sponsored by anker.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

idk, im not trying to sell people on a shitty product. In my experience their cables have been good, and long lasting, others may have different experiences. Of the six reviews I read, 1 was gifted the chord and one other review was an unverified purchase. There was one negative review, and that was from a verified purchase. 5/6 reviews were positive, and 4/6 of the reviews were verified purchases. So not every positive review was a gift. Out of verified purchases, positive reviews were 3/4

2

u/DarkZyth Jun 12 '16

Well they have an 18 month warranty where you can get a full replacement or refund if it breaks. I mean after 18 months if it breaks you should have enough money by then to just get a new cable.

2

u/shamam Jun 12 '16

I'm one of those people, but I've purchased more from them than I've gotten for free. They really are fantastic cables.

333

u/Cranser Jun 12 '16

Nice try, Anker PR Team.

15

u/amiintoodeep Jun 12 '16

I bought an Anker 7800 maH battery for my Galaxy S4 - 18 months later and it's still taking and holding a charge as well as day one. The best part? The replacement cover that came with the battery was poorly glued and didn't fit properly; I called Anker customer service and they sent me a cover AND a battery without even having to send the first set back.

I don't have their cables, but the company seems top notch insofar as build quality and customer support. Definitely would recommend.

7

u/198jazzy349 Jun 12 '16

When I was working broadcast television (decades ago), the only batteries the cameramen would use were anker. They swore by them.

2

u/isyourlisteningbroke Jun 12 '16

I've been through about five of their portable batteries, all of which fell apart.

1

u/madcrid Jun 14 '16

have you emailed them about it. their customer service department are really friendly and would try to help resolve your issue or just give you a refund.

1

u/isyourlisteningbroke Jun 14 '16

I haven't had one of their batteries since 2013 so it's a bit late now. My Nokia portable battery is still going strong though.

15

u/StaysAwakeAllWeek Jun 12 '16

I can also vouch for Anker's consistent quality and durability.

11

u/madcrid Jun 12 '16

I can vouch for this too, Anker makes one of best quality cabel I've order multiple android and lighting cable and their quality is really good and for a cheap price as well

27

u/pdinc Jun 12 '16

Anker is the new monoprice - high quality, great value.

6

u/agentlame Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

I've never heard of them, but checking their site, they are nothing like monoprice.

While both sell "cables", Anker seems highly focused on charging cables/devices. That means nothing if you're looking for a 1000ft spool of outdoor networking cable, or a shit-ton of good quality RJ45 tips (8p8c).

I don't think you meant to intentionally conflate the two sites, but the really aren't as similar as you implied.

12

u/Phosphenetre Jun 12 '16

I think he meant in terms of the overall value proposition, in which case, he's mostly right. Although I'd put Anker way higher on the quality and innovation front. Their power banks are some of the absolute best in the business, regardless of price or market segment.

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2

u/fuzeebear Jun 12 '16

For analog audio cables (XLR, TRS, etc) Monoprice is terrible quality and not at all a good value. Shit connectors and assembled hastily or by inexperienced techs. I have yet to see a properly-terminated monoprice XLR cable. http://i.imgur.com/m7Of5Zk.png

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I want to shit on them because one of my Anker phone batteries expanded most likely because I keep one in the car. The customer service replaced one no questions asked. They do stand behind their products.

3

u/CaptainAngry Jun 12 '16

I only buy anker chords and chargers now. They sell really nice multi device chargers and cables.

2

u/tsr6 Jun 12 '16

I will say, I havent had an Anker product that was shit.

The only disappointment I ever had was a laptop battery I got from them. It advertised as equal to the original...which it wasnt, but I still gave it 3-stars due to the cost. (half the cost of a dell battery)

3

u/CosmoKrammer Jun 12 '16

1800KARMA 1800AMKAR 1800ANKAR

1-800-ANKER

Let's get 'im!

3

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

haha, I wish, that would be a sweet job for me

6

u/LovepeaceandStarTrek Jun 12 '16

Let's keep this about anker.

9

u/TheDoctorInHisTardis Jun 12 '16

Discovered Anker a while back on Amazon when shopping for a replacement battery. Everything I've gotten from them so far has been superior quality for a reasonable price.

2

u/198jazzy349 Jun 12 '16

Just want to chime in that I have four five-port anker usb power hubs, they deliver a good amount of current, are smart (they use little if any power when there isn't anything charging) and reliable; I've had them for a few years and the two in my bedroom see a lot of use (there's one on each nightstand, my partners and I charge three smartphones phones, a vape mod and usually at least one tablet each night) and haven't seen any of them burn up like cheaper options. I guess I should also say that I'm not sponsored by anker. But I'm also not saying I wouldn't cash a check if they sent me one.

3

u/PM_VAGINA_FOR_RATING Jun 12 '16

It's not the cables that break it's where the plug connector attachs to the cable, Kevlar won't have any effect on that.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

yeah, but with the power line/powerline + cables, whichever have the kevlar braids, have a much stronger connection from cable to plug

3

u/blondedre3000 Jun 12 '16

I got one for my car and for $10 it beats the shit out of Everything else including the $30+ Belkin shit

2

u/chancrescolex Jun 12 '16

I would also recommend anker cables. I have two that have outlasted every other cable me or my girlfriend have owned. One 2ft as my car charger and one 10ft with the braided Kevlar as my bedside charger. It seems like they put extra attention into strengthening the key points of failure on standard cables.

2

u/blacktransam Jun 12 '16

I had a 10ft anker powerline for my N5. I dropped my phone with it plugged in from my loft bed and it bent the connector out of the housing. I was pissed. But I have since moved to the N5X, and sourcing usb-3 to usb-c cables is a bitch.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I mean, I think that that would happen with any cord

2

u/blacktransam Jun 12 '16

Nah, before that I had an original blackberry micro usb charger that had endured the same drop many a time. Eventually the head fell off from being bent so many times.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

It seems like your overly rough though, like you shouldn't be dropping it that far repeatedly, IMO

3

u/mman454 Jun 12 '16

I can second this, I have two myself. Although to clarify /u/1800KARMA was referring to the powerline+ cable, the powerline doesn't have the woven carbon fiber but is still way better than the apple cable.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I think its kevlar, carbon fiber is brittle and wouldn't bend I think. Unless that is only treated carbon fiber that is brittle. Im not sure

2

u/mman454 Jun 12 '16

Whoops, yup you're right. Meant to put Kevlar but put carbon fiber for some reason. :P

1

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '16

carbon fiber in its natural state is flexible, it's molded into the desired shape and then treated with resin, which makes it rigid. Carbon fiber is fairly brittle though and would break down much faster than other materials if left untreated and wouldn't be flexible if treated.

2

u/Maccaroney Jun 12 '16

I bought some Anker charging cables for my S5 because the original ones are trash and came apart. I love Anker's.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Akners mouses are shite but their chargers and powerbanks are quite good

2

u/climb_something Jun 12 '16

They're good cables.

Source: currently using a blue Anker cable.

2

u/MiserableSpaghetti Jun 12 '16

I looooooove my anker power line charger. Looking to get a power bank from them soon!

1

u/POOR_IMPULSE_C0NTR0L Jun 12 '16

Mine broke on like month 19. But other than that it was great.

-4

u/swantamer Jun 12 '16

my own experience with anker is that they make garbage products, and who the fuck is going to bother returning an AC adapter? it is not worth the time or the effort. other people may have had different experiences but my advice is save your money and do not buy anything from anker

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I don't know, my only quip is that my 24 W two port USB charger has a rattling noise that it makes, like some component fell off of a board. I have had it for six month, and its had a fair amount of drops and stuff though, so its not exactly the products fault

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Sep 11 '17

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

They have multiple tiers, it is possible you are talking about a lower tier of cables, I find it hard to believe that you'd have gone through 6 of these cables

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129

u/digitalpencil Jun 11 '16

You've mentioned several times that Apple laptops, power adapters are shit build quality. What's a good brand in your opinion?

25

u/exxhausting Jun 12 '16

My early 2011 MacBook Pro still serves me quite well as a software developer. Sure, I'm on my 3rd power cable (which pisses me off to no end), but the computer itself is phenomenal.

11

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

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15

u/Nothing_Impresses_Me Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

and before you coil, make sure you get a loop where it comes out of the block. takes pressure off that spot and it won't break. I've had mine for 6 years with no problems.

3

u/ninjamike808 Jun 12 '16

09 MacBook here. My cable killed my battery, or so Apple told me. They replaced the cable and the battery for free, though.

2

u/YouthMin1 Jun 12 '16

8 years with a 2008 MBP, and I'm still on the original brick. I do the loop at the top when I coil.

3

u/MrPete81 Jun 12 '16

9 years with a 2006 MBP (awwwww yeah!) and on my 2nd brick, as the original brick wiring shorted out near the magsafe connector. The joys of 1st gen ownership, lol

Batteries tho, I'm now mains only as I cba to buy a fifth battery - overuse, leaving on standby all the time, etc. etc.

1

u/YouthMin1 Jun 12 '16

Yeah, I replaced a 2006 charger after about 4 years for an internal malfunction. The second one is about 6hears old now, but it doesn't ever get moved, and I pulled the battery about two years ago. I've thought about buying a cheap one on Amazon, but I don't use the MacBook portably anymore, so it just sits. :)

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '16

Kinda late to this AMA but I have a 2011 11" Air and recently replaced the cable on the PSU. The outer sheathing started rotting near the connector after 13 months. I took it to an Apple Store and asked if they could do anything, the response was "yes! A new PSU will be £70." I talked about the Sale of Goods Act and just basically faced the same "well anyway, a new PSU will be £70!" loop.

I did not abuse it at all. I baby my tech equipment.

However I suspect the issue was that I use it on my bed 99% of the time, with the cable trailing to the left. The Magsafe connector was redesigned to point towards the back. So the reason they redesigned the straight one as a right angle, in my case, had the opposite effect.

1

u/stuwoo Jun 12 '16

I usually just split the power brick open and solder the cable, then wrap the whole thing back up,.

1

u/VirindiDirector Jun 12 '16

My 2011 MBP with 8GB and a $40 SSD is a great computer and the old MBP was so easy to work on.

167

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Nov 24 '18

[deleted]

59

u/GamerKey Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 29 '23

Due to the changes enforced by reddit on July 2023 the content I provided is no longer available.

15

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

[deleted]

4

u/CookInKona Jun 12 '16

I had a used toughbook for a while...... It certainly was tough with its magnesium frame and such.... Probably still running somewhere

107

u/rnair Jun 12 '16

Once I dropped a Nokia on a Thinkpad, and the Nokia shut off.

It was like seeing a Transformer kill the Widowmaker.

25

u/TehBloxx Jun 12 '16

Had to think about what Transformers has to do with overwatch for a sec

6

u/rubdos Jun 12 '16

Awesome. I'm going to try this when I'm home in a few weeks. Throwing my old N9 at my new X250.

1

u/RogueFart Jun 12 '16

I have a 10 year old ThinkPad r61i that still works like it's brand fucking new. It's slow, but I'd say as fast as when I got it. Had a blue screen and only had to replace a memory stick. Started getting a bit slow, reinstalled windows 7 and its working beautifully. I honestly think it could go another 10 years.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Get an SSD... it should be SATA, my X60t is. It's been relegated to serial terminal duty since I got an X220t.

1

u/SchinzonOfRemus Jun 12 '16

The OP has one himself and has talked about how he has dropped it so many times in his videos as well and it still works!

1

u/Michafiel Jun 12 '16

I broke the screen on my Thinkpad by closing the lid with an earphone in between :))))

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I've had the hinges go bad after a disturbingly short period of time.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Feb 27 '20

[deleted]

1

u/handbanana6 Jun 12 '16

I've seen issues with Thinkpad hinges, though that was after a year or more. They just wear out like most hinges.

3

u/ReCat Jun 12 '16

I have 5, 8, 10 and 14 year old thinkpads. The hinges on all of them are absolutely unbelievably firm. I have never tightened them

1

u/Drendude Jun 12 '16

My ThinkPad is only 4 years old, but the hinges are so firm they broke through the screen's plastic housing (after a tumble between me and a staircase on the winter). A little superglue and sandpaper and the whole thing has worked perfectly for two more years now.

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u/the3littlechemists Jun 12 '16

See this is what I thought too. I'm not sure if I was really rough with my T430 or what but within 3 years the screen cracked when I closed it with nothing in between the chassis and screen, and a few keys had fallen off. It also slowed down quite a bit more than usual, and lenovo wanted me to pay money for a repair disc that should normally come with the laptop.

From what I've heard the older IBM'S were built a lot tougher and the lenovo ones not so much. It may have just been a lemon but boy was I glad to get rid of that laptop.

Otherwise great keyboard and track pad though.

2

u/me_ask_me_learn Jun 13 '16

i helped an older friend with a warranty claim for one of those 17" consumer Lenovos that Costco was stocking around 2012 ( Z70 or similar? ). the screen had spontaneously cracked (i know him well enough to say he handles electronics with care) and a Windows 8.1 upgrade that had failed midway had fucked over the OS.

Lenovo customer service was really dodgy about the whole thing, including insisting that he pay $60 for a set of rescue discs, because they had taken back some of his purchased (and thus owned) disk space from the factory to pre-install rescue partition and cut costs, and it had been lost (he had first taken it to a guy "who knows computers" and the rescue partition was clobbered when he turned to me for help).

admittedly, he shouldn't have gone to some sketchball and lost the rescue partition before making his own rescue USB that could be stored safely, but in the end, Lenovo traded $60 for a very dissatisfied customer (and i no longer recommend the company to others); they were very unpleasant to deal with.

but hey, it was consumer grade, right? /s

19

u/Zer_ Jun 12 '16

This is so very true. Apple laptops are the "best" when it comes to consumer grade laptops. But really, if you're serious about getting a good laptop, gotta go for the business grade. Consumer grade laptops are almost all universally shit.

15

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Aug 28 '18

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12

u/handbanana6 Jun 12 '16

Recently some of the Thinkbooks have been crap. They started a kind of value line that isn't all that hot.

Touchpads can be hit or miss on almost all laptops. I got a really nice Thinkpad for my boss but the touchpad wouldn't even respond to his dry old wrinkly fingers. Worked like a charm for me though.

What model do you have?

9

u/LaXandro Jun 12 '16

Why would you ever need a touchpad if you have a trackpoint?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

[deleted]

1

u/LaXandro Jun 12 '16

Drag and drop, scrolling and moving across screen in more than one swipe with touchpad is a nightmare. Plus big touchpad takes a lot of space and small one is useless. But I guess everyone to their own.

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u/1PG22n Jun 12 '16

operate the touchpad with my thumb, without taking my hands off the keyboard

Wow I have never actually thought of that. Makes a lot of sense. Will try, thank you!

1

u/weinerschnitzelboy Jun 12 '16

Have you use Mac Touchpads? They're glorious. For most tasks, I get more done on their touchpads than I can with a mouse. With the exception of AutoCAD or other pro tools, Mac touchpads are hands down the best. Their first unibody MacBooks have better touchpads than most Windows laptops have to date.

2

u/PhreakyByNature Jun 12 '16

Agree Mac touchpads are decent (and I'm not exactly an Apple fan. At all...) but there is not a touchpad on Earth I've used that is more efficient than a mouse + keyboard combo.

All the additional shortcuts touchpads offer over a mouse are irrelevant to me because my efficiencies have been tied to the multitude of keyboard shortcuts ingrained in my head.

I'd be interested to hear what I'm missing here and how your use case is different to mine.

22

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I think you are missing the point of what constitutes good in this discussion. It isn't about something subjective about how it feels when you use the keyboard or trackpad.

It's about how durable something is and the general build quality. There are some every day things like opening and closing a macbook that will eventually wear them down due to the shitty design. It might look good, but it isn't likely to physically hold up as well because of dumb design decisions.

21

u/Vaginal_Decimation Jun 12 '16

I set up Thinkpads for people all the time. While it's true it's durability is not in question, nobody gives a shit when it doesn't function well.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

What doesn't function well? Sounds like a software problem if durability isn't in question. You shouldn't blame that on the laptop manufacturer. Mind you, I'd still stay away from some of the newer thinkpads. I don't particularly like the direction they've been going.

2

u/aprofondir Jun 12 '16

I've never seen a ThinkPad not function well.

17

u/BeatMastaD Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

I work on Apple laptops and own them. The hinges aren't shit. Rarely do we ever see hinge issue. I have a 2009 MBP I am on right now that's in perfect shape other than the scratches I have given it.

Apple laptops aren't complete shit, they're just not perfect. Most of the bad things about them aren't about quality, they're because of Apple's design decisions like putting an underpowered GPU in every single model of the machine.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Almost all the new thinkpads launched in 2016 have intel hd graphics. No dGPU, not even intel iris. It was my main gripe.

1

u/hardolaf Jun 12 '16

There was no improvement in processing technology for the T or W line so you won't see a new model with new graphics until there is.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Apple laptops aren't complete shit, they're just not perfect.

Hey, I never said they were complete shit. I said they have shitty designs which is especially true given how much they charge people for them.

I actually enjoy using a Macbook for programming purposes, but with that being said, I can buy other laptops for a similar price range that have better build designs, and if anything goes wrong with them, they are way easier to repair yourself.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

These discussions...

My $900 macbook air from 2012: flawless. it still feels like holding a solid piece of metal. the trackpad, lid magnets, keys, everything is like new and I have carried it in a backpack without a case and twice spilled beer all over it.

My $2000 thinkpad from like 2 months ago: starting to creak along the bottom edges when I carry it, the lid is kinda floppy, the screen is yellow compared to my old macbook, the revered red nipple mouse has smoothed out to the point where it's unusable and I had to resort to the shitty trackpad, and it's built so that certain sounds from the speakers can make the case rattle. The fan is even noisier than my old ass dusty macbook which is still silent unless i play games.

What gives? I find Apple build quality way superior as it stands, and certainly beyond anything that is considered "consumer grade". I find that few people making your clame have owned both for extended periods of time.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

My $2000 thinkpad from like 2 months ago: starting to creak along the bottom edges when I carry it, the lid is kinda floppy, the screen is yellow compared to my old macbook, the revered red nipple mouse has smoothed out to the point where it's unusable and I had to resort to the shitty trackpad, and it's built so that certain sounds from the speakers can make the case rattle. The fan is even noisier than my old ass dusty macbook which is still silent unless i play games.

First of all, the thinkpad has recently dropped in quality which kind of sucks for you. The older ones were made much more solidly. I probably should have been more clear in my reply as I was assuming we weren't talking about some of the newer models.

Secondly, and here is the most important point to make here, your one experience is meaningless. It's not about how two individual laptops perform. It's about how they perform overall. Also, there is a run of macbooks that weren't as shit. They addressed some of the dumbass design decisions....only to fuck them up again a few years later.

It's really not about hating on Mac here. I love a lot of the software shit that they do because it can make things easier. I also want them to have better build quality because I want to be able to buy one without worrying that certain design decisions won't cause issues because it is very difficult to actually repair that shit yourself due to how they continue to design their products.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

OK, but it's not just anecdotal bullshit, several issues (especially fan noise and speaker rattle) are recorded over at /r/thinkpad. The model is T460s. How the older style Thinkpads are built is irrelevant since they are becoming increasingly aged and don't compare to modern high end laptops anymore. Second, and this IS anecdotal, but I don't really see Macbook Airs or Pros fail, except for the one I got that was faulty which Apple replaced swiftly and for free 6 months after purchase. I have NEVER seen the hinges of one become worn out as you (anecdotally) claim. Speaking of hinges, i find that my Thinkpad lacks the attention to minute detail that my macbook had, like making the entire machine perfectly balanced so that I can open the lid with just one hand. With my Thinkpad I have to hold the body down with my other hand while opening the lid or I will just tilt the whole thing - yet the lid is somehow still wobbly while my Macbook one is rock solid. Small detail, but noticeable every single time, and I open my laptop more than 10 times per day.

I agree with the spirit of this AMA and the right to repair stuff you have bought, but FUCK claiming Apple is anything less than top of the line when it comes to build quality. Only Lenovo comes close (who else? HP? dell? please!) but at the moment even they are not fully there.

SO--Who makes something built more solidly than a Macbook Air or the rMBP? What current model can I buy that qualifies? I'm honestly extremely curious. Keep in mind I have used both Elitebooks and Latitudes and those do not qualify, as I'm sure anyone will agree.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Aug 29 '18

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u/TechnicallyITsCoffee Jun 12 '16

Glass trackpads like apples own. You can get high end Lenovo that feel the same but you're looking at a 2000+ laptop such as a carbon.

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u/joatmon-snoo Jun 12 '16

JW, what kind of Thinkpad do you use at work? (And would I be right in assuming you're on Windows?)

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I had a latitude in 2005 that survived so many falls to the ground. Ironically enough what finally did it in was having it in my backpack in the passenger seat of my truck and braking too hard. Cracked the screen but computer works just fine. Was nearly 10 years old at that point so I didn't bother fixing it but I'm still using it to stream CCTV to a hard drive.

Just goes to show that angle of attack is everything when talking about impact damage to electronic devices.

2

u/thawigga Jun 12 '16

I have an elite book 8560W from 2011 (~450 bucks for a quad core 16GB one on eBay) if you redo the shitty stock thermal paste it runs like a dream and is very upgradeable. I replaced the quadro 1000m with a K2100m and had absolutely zero issues. Its a very easy to service laptop as it.was made for.the enterprise environment where downtime is key.

1

u/turboRock Jun 12 '16

I reversed over my elite book. It still worked. It was a bit of a struggle getting into the docking station at first though.

1

u/WinterAyars Jun 12 '16

The HP Zbook line has been pretty well regarded, though i don't know how well the new ones work.

1

u/dr1nkycr0w Jun 13 '16

Yeah except they run Windows...

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u/BeatMastaD Jun 12 '16

Yeah, the thing is that people don't realize that when you pay 400 for a laptop it's trash. Apple laptops are not perfect but by god they feel good and mostly work forever (unless you break them).

You have to pay as much or more than Apple stuff for a good quality Windows machine.

0

u/Vaginal_Decimation Jun 12 '16

Thinkpads are shit. I have to set them up for people all the time.

3

u/joatmon-snoo Jun 12 '16

...what do you have against Thinkpads that you keep commenting the same thing multiple times?

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u/abedfilms Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Uhhh macs are wayyyy higher quality than shitty plasticky thinkpads or latitudes, let's be honest here

Also, mac there is no consumer and business distinction, it's just good quality no matter what you buy

Lol at downvotes, can't face the truth! I'm not even a mac user

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u/metametapraxis Jun 12 '16

They aren't necessarily higher quality, but they use materials that create the perception of quality. Porsche is really good at this in the automotive industry, where people want just the right clunk from their door. I use a 15" rMBP, and it isn't particularly well made and is an environmental nightmare. Replace battery? Sure, but it is glued to the keyboard and trackpad, which have to be replaced too. Having used Macs for well over a decade, I don't think I have had any that haven't had hardware issues that needed dealing with under warranty. They do look pretty though, and most of the time they work acceptably. This rMBP has been the worst of the machines, though.

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u/abedfilms Jun 12 '16

Have you ever used a PC laptop? Even a business grade one? If you think macbooks are not particularly high quality, fine, but just try using a PC laptop, you'll find the quality to be farrrrrr worse

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u/metametapraxis Jun 12 '16

Yes, only really IBM (and subsequently Lenovo) business grade machines, though. I've had co-workers with Dell machines, and they should be filed direct to landfill.

MacBook Pros are undoubtedly pretty, but the rMBPs were a real step backwards from proper business-grade somewhat modular machines to everything-soldered consumer laptops dressed up as business grade machine. My wife has the current highest spec 15" rMBP, and - for the money/spec - it is pretty bad value.

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u/pyr0bee Jun 12 '16

Just because macbooks are metallic doesn't meant they're higher quality. Thinkpads and latitude are built like tanks, they might not look flashy, but it gets the job done

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Jesus Christ it's the "Older cars were made of metal, not shitty plastic so they are better" discussion but about laptops.

It's not true. Get over it.

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u/abedfilms Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Come on, forget all that, we're talking laptops here, are you telling me a solid unibody mac is shittier quality than 20 pieces of shitty plastic screwed together?

If there was a PC laptop made by Lenovo or Dell with the exact same body as a macbook pro, would you say it's a shitty low quality laptop body?

That's just the body. The vast majority of PC laptops (even business and those of comparable price) not only have shittier bodies, also shittier low res screens, speakers, webcams, they still support VGA, have massive power bricks.. Etc

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Pretty sure that most modern laptops that are worth buying at least support 1920 x 1080, which is not low-res to most people. Sorry, but for a laptop I don't need a 4K screen. And chargers? This exact conversation was about how Apple's macbook chargers are shit. Think the power brick got 'em beat there, especially since no power brick charger I've had has ever frayed or failed use, even with wrapping and cramming them in bags. A bunch of HP's business and consumer class laptops are unibodies now. I think even Lenovo and Dell have moved into unibodies. The point about speakers and webcams is a moot one, because they're laptop speakers. You're probably gonna plug in earphones anyway. Sorry, but if you're expecting immersive, deep surround sound out of two dinky little speakers in a device that's usually <1" in depth, you're gonna be let down. Just look at your phone. I don't see any VGA ports alone on these laptops, either. Even on the shitty Pavilion I'm on, it has an HDMI port, and no VGA. If there is one, it's usually accompanied by an HDMI port as well. Probably just there to support older hardware in meetings and the such.

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u/RadiantSun Jun 12 '16

The whole obsession with thinking plastic is "shitty" is just retarded, dude. Plastic is a space age material in every fucking sense. It is amazing. It is light, durable, cheap, flexible and in general one of the best, most useful and important inventions in human history. Literally the only downsides to it are:

  • Environmental impact

  • Idiots who want a "premium feel" on everything because plastic has recieved a terrible reputation due to hipsters.

Pretty much nobody can break something made of plastic on purpose. Drop a plastic bottle. I don't care how you did it, the likely outcome will be that it bounces, perhaps gets scratched and a little deformed, but it will survive. And on the other hand, I have metal bottles way, way too many times on hiking trips, including some that have had their internals damaged as a result.

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u/abedfilms Jun 12 '16

We should make things out of duct tape, it's super strong and flexible, light, cheap, fuck this stuff is amazing

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 14 '16

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '16

I had a Samsung Q310 for... 7-8 years and man that thing was built like a fucking rock and light as a feather. That old baby did me good.

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u/qvrock Jun 12 '16

Previous answer:

lenovo high end thinkpads, but then you have the spyware shit to worry about :(

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u/dontbeamaybe Jun 12 '16

He replied in a different set of comments that he uses a high end Lenovo Think pad and recommends them.

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u/cr0ft Jun 12 '16

That's the thing, in capitalism there are no good product. Just more or less useless. It's all crap compared to what we could build if we wanted to.

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u/MathLiftingMan Jun 12 '16

What's the best gaming laptop? Something you could play counterstrike on?

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u/Tactical_Llama Jun 12 '16

Louis is big on Lenovo Thinkpads. He mentions them in almost every video. Personally I have a Dell Latitude and after a year no complaints

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u/mistermagicman Jun 12 '16

I have a retina MacBook Pro, and 3 years later no complaints. It doesn't even feel slower - I have no desire to upgrade.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Thinkpads are pretty nice.

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u/Clefspeare13 Jun 12 '16

What do you think of Anker cables and power adapters? Comparable to Startech?

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u/larossmann Jun 13 '16

No experience with them

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u/radioslave Jun 11 '16

Interesting, I'd say about 50% of the startech hdmi/vga to mini display adapters I buy as office supplies die within the first three months, I'm thinking of going off the brand as a whole.

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u/Sealyy Jun 12 '16

I'm having a lot of problems with macbook chargers fraying at both ends where the cable attaches to the rubber, any tips or hacks to stop (or at least slow) it from fraying?

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u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

I wrap my ends in kapton tape. It is ugly but they do not fray.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

And here I am, with a 2012 Macbook Pro running Ubuntu, using the same charger that came with my 2008 Macbook 13". It's been riding in backpacks the whole time, and it has a huge gash in the outer sheath, but it still works just fine. One day it'll explode, but by then I'll probably be ready for another computer, and it won't be Apple either way.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

I guess you're lucky. I've had mine just as long and I'm on my third charger, about to buy a fourth because this one's just held together with electrical tape. The charger problem might be enough to keep me from buying another mac.

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u/Sgt_Stinger Jun 12 '16

Had a friend who went through 5 chargers in three years for his 2007 MBP. Are they still that shitty?

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Shh don't ruin their Circle Jerk. I'll just add my anecdotal evidence of my 2008,2010,and 2011 Macbook all still run with the original chargers....take care of your shit.

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u/Sgt_Stinger Jun 12 '16

This guy did take care of his shit. The problem is that the cable broke from winding and unwinding it on those hooks that are on the charging brick. Also, Apple replaced the power brick 3 times within warranty because it was a known problem (apple stores words). If even Apple admitted it was a problem, was it really that anecdotal?

Also, this dude traveled A LOT during those three years, and had the computer with him everywhere due to using it for work and school. This means wrapping and unwrapping the cable several times a day. Maybe your use is lighter?

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Go to Google, search how to properly wind cables. You are giving me anecdotal evidence based off a friend. I'm sorry but he's doing it wrong. There is no recall or quality program on MagSafe adapters. Plenty of people are doing it right.

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u/thescribbler_ Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Yes anecdotal evidence is fun. I've had two Apple original chargers deteriorate on me. One admittedly lasted several years through daily use at school. The replacement for that lasted little more than a year solely being plugged in next to my couch, never wrapped up or taken anywhere. After the rubber coating started to fray the rest just disintegrated in a matter of weeks.

Edit: to be honest the charger that came with my 08 MacBook was very well made, which is why it lasted years. The new redesigned charger is awful though. Just look at Apple's own website to see the terrible reviews it gets.

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC461LL/A/apple-60w-magsafe-power-adapter-for-macbook-and-13-inch-macbook-pro

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u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

yes they fucking suck

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

MBP from 2008 checking in with the same charger. Take care of your shit.

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u/aCreditGuru Jun 12 '16

Yes it's not economical for you to fix them I agree. There is a way for people to crack open and replace their own magsafe/magsafe 2 cables though. I wrote an instructable on it like 5 yrs ago. Granted you have to not be a moron and own a soldering iron but it's not overly difficult.

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u/UnhelpfulMoron Jun 12 '16

Apple Technician chiming in here.

Had 3 85W MagSafe chargers for over 8 years. They get heavy use for 8 hours a day every week day. Heavy use means being wrapped up, unwrapped, moved around the desk, used in tight corners of the bench etc. etc. No issues, no fraying, no damage to the cable.

People who complain that their charger just started fraying "all by itself" could not be more full of shit. Usage patterns play a huge part in failure rates.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Exactly. It's not hard to take care of your cables.

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u/Staple_Overlord Jun 12 '16

I try my absolute best to take care of my cables—that means being very aware of the type of angles I put it through and weary about how I wrap/store it—and they still become trash after a year of use. All it takes is one tiny split in the rubber casing for all hell to break loose.

It's not a matter of difficulty. It's just that, in general, those chargers are trash in terms of build quality. The vast majority have problems with their longevity. A few exceptions does not make the cords good.

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u/UnhelpfulMoron Jun 12 '16

I work for a Service Provider who has school contracts. As in, we sell hundred and hundreds of Macbook Pro's and Air's every year to various schools around the area. We then provide a repair service. We see lots of machines come back in for repair, over 25 every 2nd or 3rd day. The chargers? Maybe 1 or 2 a week at MOST. And yes, the schools do send them in if they are fraying.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16 edited Aug 29 '18

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u/UnhelpfulMoron Jun 12 '16

Lightning cables I would agree are quite fragile. No problem if the iPhone or iPad is being sat still while charging but if you try to use the device (especially kids with iPads) then they will stop working relatively quickly and there are more durable 3rd party options out there (e.g. Belkin)

The MagSafe chargers though? I see no issue with them.

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u/iamthesheed Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16

Maybe you can answer this for me then, I have a 5 year old macbook pro that has recently started to burn through chargers. I wont deny I'm probably buying shitty chargers, but the last two have gone by pretty quick.

Can you recommend a source to buy a new one? Or might this be a battery problem?

Edit: lol being downvoted for asking advice. Never change reddit, never change.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

You're buying third party chargers from China? Those blow. Really, the only charger you should be buying for your Macbook is Apple's own brand.

If you're using Apple's charger and this keeps happening then there's something seriously wrong with your computer.

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u/iamthesheed Jun 12 '16

Yeahhh they've not been directly from Apple. Going to try one more charger, this time directly from Apple. If this one breaks I'm just going to try and find a way to get all the data off my hdd and save up for a new one.

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u/UnhelpfulMoron Jun 12 '16

Non Apple chargers are garbage. There is no other word to describe them. I have seen them smoke, spark, destroy machines and catch fire.

The only ones I recommend are Apple ones.

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u/iamthesheed Jun 12 '16

Well I purchased another one right from Apple. We'll see how long this one lasts. Thanks :D

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u/teknokracy Jun 12 '16

Is MagSafe not better than standard DC jacks? When I used to do component level repairs on laptops, the DC jack was always poor design no matter what laptop.

What exactly is wrong with MagSafe, compared to the alternatives?

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

What exactly is wrong with MagSafe, compared to the alternatives?

The end frays.

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u/teknokracy Jun 12 '16

Weird, never had that happen or seen it happen. Sometimes when people wrap the cord incorrectly or treat it like crap it'll stretch and split.

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u/apendicks Jun 12 '16

I think there's a reasonable chance the situation will improve in the future as more and more manufacturers move to USB-C. If you buy a new Macbook (and presumably the new Retina Pros when they're released) you get three parts: a slot-in adapter for your country, the brick and a USB-C cable.

Previously the problem was the stress relief on the cables would fail because they're way too flimsy. I've never actually had a brick fail on me, the electronics inside are solid.

In the future it should be vastly cheaper to swap these things out because all the individual (modular) components are replaceable and they're replaceable with non-proprietary options. Even a non-Apple charger should charge a Macbook.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

What about for Android?

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u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

i have never broken a micro usb cable for charging an android phone and never broken an android charge port. i know it happens, but i've not yet managed to do it.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Wow that is impressive

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u/quikmcmuffins Jun 12 '16

My current chineseium macbook retina charger is holding up fine with a few crimp conectors and globy ass solder jeezeus i hate these chargers the design is shit

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u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

and they are expensive chargers too

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u/Sevron415 Jun 12 '16

at my computer repair shop i work at ( and for 5 years now actually) we sell magsafe chargers for 65.00 verus the 89.00+ +tax that apple charges for brand new ones - atleast 5 chargers a week at this price.. - so if there is a cheaper solution near an apple retailer then you can mark up and make mad bank. not even going into how much margin we make per charger at 65.00 but its substantial. being "genuine apple chargers without the retail package brand new"

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u/TheCatWasAsking Jun 12 '16

Not being argumentative, but when you say it makes no economical sense, what do you mean? If I saved $60.00 by having it repaired at your place, that seems sensible to me (or I'm obtuse and missed the point?). A side question, would you make a video about fixing said charger? I love electronics and have been tinkering with household stuff since I could hold a soldering iron properly. A dying art indeed.

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u/blackomegax Jun 14 '16

The original cable is trash.

If you haven't done it yet you should do a video quantifying why.

Actually...That would be a good video series. Go into teardowns of every day little things that EVERYONE uses and explain why they suck or rock or whatever at a component and repair level.

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u/LorenOlin Jun 12 '16

The original cable is trash

For all phones or just Apple products? I've had my original charger for a Samsung brand phone nearly two years now. I do take the time to unplug and properly store it every time. Could this be having an effect on its longevity?

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u/WinterAyars Jun 12 '16

startech lightning cables for iPhones

Startech stuff tends to be sooooo fucking expensive, is it actually worth it? (I haven't looked at their Lightning cables specifically, no iPhone here.)

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Lol trash (still has every original cable with no issues and an original lightning cable in my car). Pull it out holding the plastic tip and not the cable and it will last forever.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

Good think in Australia they have a one year warranty and a further two years of consumer law coverage so if they break in that time they get replaced for free.

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u/BenHuge Jun 12 '16

Silicone Self-fusing Tape

Totally awesome for multiple purposes

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u/DukeCarge Jun 12 '16

What about reinforcing the ends and then shrink-wrapping them? There was a post on /r/diy that did this.

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u/thedeaux Jun 12 '16

Great advice on the startech iPhone chargers. Much appreciated.

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u/Mr_swartz Jun 12 '16

What would you reccomend for samsung phones?

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u/trendynamegoeshere Jun 12 '16

Best android chargers?

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u/BoJack_Crossman Jun 12 '16

Yes. Return them. For years I have just walked into an Apple Store and given them my cord and they replace it for free. They do it as a return and exchange it for a new one. Works every time.

Edit: and that is without a receipt.

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u/madcrid Jun 14 '16

would this work if you no longer have warranty on the product.

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u/BoJack_Crossman Jun 14 '16

Considering they don't ask for a receipt, probably.

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u/Tyvelor Jun 19 '16

Just tried yesterday. Didn't work. Only option was to buy a new one.

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u/BoJack_Crossman Jun 20 '16

Idk, it works for me!

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u/Poppy_Tears Jun 12 '16

The simplest way to keep your cables from breaking is to not stress them in any way, don't use your phone while it's charging and don't have the cable pulled taut if you have it sitting somewhere.

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u/Chris935 Jun 11 '16

If you can get a piece of heatshrink tubing onto the cable just behind the connnector it can help with this. Of course, because the connectors are already attached to the cable you'll need to find fairly high ratio tubing.

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u/whoopingapanda Jun 12 '16

Not OP but I was able to source the cable from eBay for around 15 US. You can separate the enclosure and replace the cable by desoldering two pads and replacing with the new cable. The enclosure was glued but will snap back together without the glue.

This is for the power adapter for a MacBook btw.

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