Apple AC Power Adaptor for MacBook Pro — My Laptop's Lifeline
Written: Apr 13 '07 (Updated Apr 14 '07)
Product Rating:
Pros: Better compact design; addresses the weakening cable issue...
Cons: ... however, the cable will still fray if proper care is not taken
The Bottom Line: The Apple AC Adapter for MacBook Pro is a huge step up from the mushroom design. now it doesn't feel like I'm using a Smurf house to power my laptop.
elvisdo's Full Review: Apple (MA357LLA) AC Adapter for MacBook Pro (MA938...
I don’t know what I would do without my MacBook Pro laptop. It has helped me out tremendously for my line of work. But despite the magnificent use I get out of it, I still need to charge its battery. And for that the Apple AC Power Adaptor is a necessary item.
Having owned a G3 iBook, the adaptor became attached to my hip as I would constantly plug it from the laptop to the wall. But I didn’t like the mushroom design. Wrapping the cords became quite a nuisance. Even worse, the connector piece to the computer became seriously warped as it was fraying the end of the cable. This became crucial because I needed to adjust the whole power adaptor in a certain position; otherwise, my laptop would never receive a charge. When I bought my new laptop, I hoped that this situation would be different. Thankfully, this was the case.
The first noticeable thing is the design. Instead of a mushroom adaptor, it’s gone back to a basic rectangular shape. I actually applaud this move as I found the previous adaptor to be clunky when trying to store it away.
The main purpose of the power adaptor is to recharge the lithium polymer battery of the laptop. It doesn’t matter if the machine is on, off, or in sleep mode. I usually keep it plugged in most of the time. In fact, the laptop will still work if choose to not use the battery at all, just as long as the power adaptor is plugged in. It will still power the system regardless.
The beautiful thing about this new 85W power adaptor is the MagSafe feature. I had problems with my previous adaptor whenever I accidentally yanked my laptop. The power cable would disconnect, most of times by sheer force. Do this enough times and the cable will start to fray. This was mostly because the connecting piece had to fit snugly into the port. It was tight enough to stay in place but so tight that you couldn’t take it off. But the yanking didn’t help matters much. In the end, this was the reason why that power adaptor didn’t work as well. With the MagSafe feature, the magnetic DC connector makes things easier. By putting it in the right port, it magnetically connects to the laptop for a quick and secure connection. I can’t tell you how much better this is for both the laptop and the adaptor as it helps prevent any weakening or fraying of the cables if it gets unmercifully dislodged.
An LED is located at the head of the DC connector. When it is securely in place, it will light up. An amber light will indicate that the battery is charging, while a green one will say that it’s fully charged.
Another great feature is the AC wall adapter. For those who don’t like having a cumbersome AC cord, this wall adapter allows users to eliminate unnecessary cables as it provides a compact way for connecting to an outlet. It also makes it easier for travel use. But do not fret. An AC cord is also provided for those who prefer to maximum the cord length like I do. These two parts are interchangeable and snap into place onto the adaptor’s base.
Speaking of the base, on either side are two hooks that pop up that allows the user to wrap the DC cable nice and neatly. I didn’t realize how much I would like this feature. It definitely helps getting the cables too tangled.
Despite the MagSafe feature, I am always going to be weary of the cables weakening over time or getting frayed from use and abuse. I actually had to get a replacement just because of that issue. To be fair, though, when I received my brand new laptop, the power adaptor that came with it was already defective. The cable was indeed frayed at the MagSafe head. Because it was under warranty, I received a replacement without problem, but it still goes to show that these things can happen. That is why I make sure that I don’t abuse the cables as I possibly can. Easier said than done, but it’s the most that I can do.
The Apple AC Power Adaptor is a huge step in the right direction for my MacBook Pro. To me, it’s the most vital component to ensure that my laptop works proficiently and effectively. I’m sure Apple will come up with another design that might work better, but for now, I like what I have and I’m glad it works well.
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