A few days ago the cord for my MacBook Pro started to separate a bit where it connected to the MagSafe head. By separation, I'm referring to the wire sheath pulling away from a little cap it has attached to the MagSafe connector head. I've been trying to keep it from separating completely and have been very gentle with it since it started. Today, as I was talking to Tateru, I noticed that it had popped completely out of the cap. I went to grab it and it was hot. In fact, the wire for about 3 inches was hot. I pulled it from the computer, and the little head nearly burned my fingers. I looked closer and saw that the wire sheath now had a burn hole in it. Yay for me!

I called Apple, who first let me know that they couldn't talk to me because I was out of my 90 day phone support, but was then kind enough to ask what the problem was. When I explained that the wire casing was melting, he was much more friendly and suggested that I go to the local Apple store for a replacement, because it was covered under my warranty. Thankfully there was still an appointment slot open for tonight. The last appointment slot before the closed, in fact. And since that appointment was 45 minutes away, I had just enough time to get there. Because, as it turns out, I live about 45 minutes away.

After arriving, they took at look at the connector and warned me that because it was separated from the little end-cap, that they typically don't cover that under the warranty. Forget that I'm the most gentle person as it comes to my little baby computer. I offered that perhaps the problem was a design issue and not a "Mera ripping it out of the computer with the power of the gods" issue. He asked his manager, who took one look at the melty goodness and said "yeah, go ahead."

So here I am two MacBook Pro issues later, both resolved under warranty. Now, I must say, I've never had even two issues with previous PC computers. Apple, you do make a superior product and I've determined, quite astonishingly, that I can live without a PC. I've even gone so far as to relegate the PC to file server status. But I am having a bit of a harder time recommending your hardware when these stupid little issues come up. I do appreciate being able to drive up to the Apple store and get a new power supply. That kept me from any down time, but what else will happen when, say, the computer is 12 months old, versus six? My confidence level is not high right now.

I will say, however, that OS X is the sweetest OS ever made. So far there's not a single bit of hardware that it doesn't immediatly recognize and hook up to. Basically, this computer works the way you *think* computer ought to work. Plug something in and go. In fact just today I used this computer at work to read a CD that no PC in the office was capable of reading. Apple saves the day.

Steve! Keep up the coolness, but work on the reliability, will ya?