In what’s turning out to be a bad year for my Macs (I’m in the middle of getting a Radeon video card serviced), my Powerbook G4 12” has decided that my LCD just isn’t good enough anymore. A few months back, I woke the Powerbook only to see the screen blink off seconds later. The brightness controls had no effect. When connected to an external display, the external worked, but System Profiler told me the built-in LCD was no where to be found.
I didn’t get AppleCare and was well beyond the first year warranty, but I decided to hit the genius bar at a nearby Apple Store to see what they could do. After re-seating the Airport card, resetting the power manager, and then starting into Open Firmware, the display revived itself. It was a little embarrassing, but I was happy to have a working laptop again.
Since then, the issue has resurfaced several times. After much fiddling (aforementioned troubleshooting steps plus PRAM reset), I managed to revive the display. A couple days ago, when it happened again, no amount of fiddling could bring it back. I decided to try out MacResQ’s PowerBookResQ service ($49 to send in the Powerbook as well as get a diagnosis). I’ll be reporting back how they handle the problem. Have any of you experienced something similar or used this service?
After updating my PB G4 15in about 2 updates ago, it starting this blinking thing upon waking it. The screen comes on for a split second, goes off for about two seconds and then is fine. I mentioned it on the Apple discussion forum, but no one seemed to care or have the same problem. To me it sounds like I am headed for a failure.
Well, I don't think I experienced that, so you may be in the clear (at least as far as not having my issue). *cross fingers*
I used MacResQ to fix a TBook screen, and to repair an iPod. They were fabulous, in the sense that they actually do what they say they will do; they fixed them both for the quoted price and on the quoted schedule. I'm happy with them, and all the while, saw my stock in the company sky-rocket.
OK. The part about the stock is wrong. But the part about MacResQ being a teriffic company stands.
Michael Spencer