Apple Sued Over MagSafe MacBook Adapters
Apple is at the center of another class action lawsuit regarding the MagSafe connectors on its laptop adapters.
The MagSafe, long hailed for its design which helps prevent accidents when users trip over or catch the cable on something, is being targeted by users who complain Apple has been negligent when it comes to adapter design.
Ars Technica today reports that a complaint filed last Friday in California Northern District Court's San Jose office alleges that the MagSafe power adapter is prone to frayed wires and overheating, and as a result represents a fire hazard.
The complaint apparently accuses Apple of being negligent in the design of the power adapter, claims violations of various consumer warranty laws and alleges that Apple "has not taken action to remedy the defects." That said, it also notes in brackets that they’re not quite sure if that last part is true. Seems like a pretty important fact you’d want to check out, but who are we to tell them what boxes to tick before filing a legal complaint?
Ars points out that Apple acknowledged a problem with strain relief near the MagSafe connector last year and said that users "may be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge provided there are no signs of accidental damage" even if the adapter is out of warranty.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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mustwarnothers Hi,Reply
I'm a sleazebag/sleazebag company looking for a chunk of wealth for no other reason than that I know the average dumbass jury will hand it over.
Though this raises insurance rates and limits growth, I believe I should be entitled to that which I have not earned. -
nekatreven Apple: "But our power adapters are so pretty and, they have magnets! Who cares if they catch you on fire?! ...Steve wouldn't care!"Reply -
hellwig MustWarnOthersHi,I'm a sleazebag/sleazebag company looking for a chunk of wealth for no other reason than that I know the average dumbass jury will hand it over.Though this raises insurance rates and limits growth, I believe I should be entitled to that which I have not earned.While I agree frivalous lawsuits are the new gold rush for the lazy and morally reprehensible, I also know Apple is horrible with its product quality.Reply
How many screens have they thrown at customers with serious display issues? How many batteries have they sealed in their products that barely make it past the 1-year warranty (and thus require expensive work to replace)? Apple may be known for its software quality and hardware style, but as far as hardware quality goes, they are pretty sub-par. No doubt there may be some legitamacy to this lawsuit afterall. Sadly though, any money that is collected will go straight into the greedy lawfirms pockets. -
dtemple Thanks for the interesting article Jane! Personally I find all power adapters have wiring prone to fraying. I've seen dozens of power adapters with the wiring right after the plug being worn... just from normal use. Seems people are just sue-happy to get the money Apple has... hehe.Reply -
CChick Software Quality ? WHAT Software quality ?Reply
garbage OS? Cant even code its own kernel ? Piece of $hit security and lie to everybody ? -
dman3k Apple says that they want their customer to buy brand new laptops or handhelds before any of the problems ever happen.Reply
Hey, look, I'm a Mac, and I'm slick and cool! You must upgrade and buy me now!