Preventative Maintenance on a 14" G4 iBook

March 20, 2008 10:32 AM

Preventative care for potential video/screen issues on an aging iBook?

I have a 3 year old G4 iBook that I'd like to get another 1 or 2 years out of, at least. Other than a very low battery, it's working just fine, except for some scary things that I'm getting with the screen sometimes.

When I close the laptop, about 30% of the time the screen will go mostly blue (I think it's blue -- I don't have it in front of me) for a second, then return to normal. It looks as if one of the colors (R/G/B) is temporarily giving out, and then fuzzing back into place. I am assuming that this has something to do with the connection from the computer to the screen, as it only happens when I'm moving the lid.

Is there anything I can do right now, other than be extra-careful with it, to try to keep this from breaking sooner than I'd like? Any advice from owners of older mac portables is appreciated.

posted by rossination to computers & internet (3 comments total)

I'd say go the preventative route - just replace the cables. It does involve a fairly gruesome tear-down of the ibook, but if you're out of warranty, why the heck not? There's two cables that feed the LCD - the LVDS (low voltage data signal), and the power cable for the inverter. They both run from somewhere on the board (depending on model/features of ibook) up through one of the hinges to the screen. If you could do it yourself, it'd cost you about $30 and maybe 2 hours, if you've never done the tear-down before. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, I'm sure there are MeFites in the Sea/Tac area who'd be willing to do it for maybe $50 and a six-pack of Anchor Steam.

Hell, I'd do it just for the Anchor Steam if I didn't live on the opposite coast.

If that all sounds like too much, you could just use it as a desktop, and use an external monitor with the lid closed. Or you could set it on your desk, lid open, and never close it again. I'd replace the cables, though.
posted by god hates math at 11:41 AM on March 20, 2008

I'm the mac guy at work, and, well... You should be fine, we've got powerbooks here entering year 6 of service, but it's always the case that "if X gives out, do i want to spend $300 to fix it or just buy something new".

If you're lucky, apple will put your model on their extended service plan, where after a certain point they'll charge you a flat fee ($200 the last time i checked) to fix whatever's wrong, as long as they still have parts.
posted by Oktober at 11:47 AM on March 20, 2008

I had a G3 iBook and the screen gave out. After doing some research I decided it was probably the logic board. It was about 7 years old. Is it cutting out when you close the screen only? Could it be pinched connectors in the hinge? If that's the case then try not to jiggle the screen or open/close the screen.

Check Apple.com to see that there isn't a problem with your model for which an extended warranty has been issued. If you decide to call Apple don't go with the initial quote you hear. I first heard $900 and asked to speak to a specialist in older portables and he said he could probably make it more like $200 for the fix.

In my experience these issues tend to gradually get worse until you can't use the machine anymore. Backup everything. Get a quote. If it's only a few hundred to fix the money's worth it to keep the computer going for a few more years.
posted by Bunglegirl at 4:41 PM on March 20, 2008