Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!ncsuvx!lll-winken!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!amdahl!key!russ
From: russ@key.COM (Russell Donnan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Mac+ monitor problem
Message-ID: <1402@key.COM>
Date: 20 Jan 90 00:09:56 GMT
References: <1358@cb.ecn.purdue.edu> <6499@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Reply-To: russ@xanadu.key.COM (Russell Donnan)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Key Computer Laboratories, Fremont
Lines: 35

In article <6499@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> ez000453@deneb () writes:
>OK Apple. What's the deal with these monitors before I shovel a bunch of dough
>at something that dies almost straight after the 90 day warranty? I've got one
>hardly used 6 month Mac+ and one older one. With all the reports that I've
>read here about flakey video problems, what is one to do? Is it some sort of
>planetary alignment doing this? I've seen some people mention flyback transformers...not being an  electronics expert (or even novice) though I've been in my
>Mac several times, which part is it? Typical Apple.
>Score: 6 Macs   6 Various Expensive Repairs
>k
>o  COLIN ONG              Dept. Land, Air & Water Resources                 o

I hate to flame a flame, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do...
Please get ahold of your emotions!  First of all, lets get one thing straight,
my Apple Authorized dealer tells me that the analog board (PS/Video) has an
MTBF of ~2 years.  This number is a statistic.  Your mileage may vary, mine
did!  My board went over 4 years without a problem.

Now...  There are two components that tend to be at fault.  The flyback
transformer in the video section, and a rectifier in the PS section.
As many in this group have pointed out, when something goes wrong, you
have 3 options.  You can fix it yourself with the appropriate parts if
you are technically competant.  This is the cheapest option.  You can
find a non-Apple Authorized repair place to replace the bad parts.
This is the medium price solution.  OR, you can take it to an Apple
Authorized service and have them do an analog board swap.  The reason
that you would ever do the latter is that if you don't, you forfeit
the option to ever have an Apple Authorized dealer work on that part
of your Mac in the future.  The board swap costs ~$150.

-Russ
-- 
Russ Donnan  (415) 623-2121
Amdahl Corporation, Key Computer Laboratories, Fremont, CA, USA
russ@key.amdahl.com, ...!{pacbell,sgi,amdahl}!key!russ
-To capture the essence of an opinion takes but one lawyer.