Apple Battery Exchange Program

It has been a long long time, I didn't blog anything, my previous blog is Yahoo Finance Badge, is one month old.

Recent big news about Apple is, they are having a battery exchange program, collecting back some ibook G4 and powerbook notebook battery, and exchange a new one for free.

Not all notebook will be affected, should be those manufactured or sold between October 2003 to August 2006. One of my friend's ibook G4 battery serial number drop in between the range, but another friend's powerbook G4 is not. You can check the serial number from Apple website.

Computer model	Battery model number	Battery serial number range
12-inch iBook G4	A1061	ZZ338 - ZZ427 3K429 - 3K611 6C519 - 6C552 ending with S9WA, S9WC or S9WD
12-inch PowerBook G4	A1079	ZZ411 - ZZ427 3K428 - 3K611
15-inch PowerBook G4	A1078 and A1148	3K425 - 3K601 6N530 - 6N551 ending with THTA, THTB, or THTC 6N601 ending with THTC

These batteries containing parts manufactured by Sony, expose to a risk may result in overheating under rare circumstances. If you ask me, I will tell you not just those battery, my ibook G3 is easily overheated as well, you just can't put on your lap after using for some time.

This is not the first time apple do such a program, they have another exchange program earlier for collecting back the batteries manufacture by South Korea LG.

I am having a ibook G3, bought during march 2003, which is already 3 years old. The model and serial number is not in the range, of both exchange program. The good thing is, I am not expose to the risk of battery explosion, the bad thing is I can't exchange a new battery for free.

My ibook battery is left with 'half life', even I have done a full discharge and recharge, so is not cause by the battery memory effect. I am quite disappointed with apple's notebook battery, because it don't last as long as what I expected.

My friend have a ASUS M series notebook, which was bought a few month earlier than my ibook, still running ok without much battery problem. My palm Vx which was bought in year 2000 is still running ok.

Many users complain having overheated problem with apple notebook, including the new macbook pro. Apple claim that notebook should not put on the lap, so you will not get burn or hurt, but some one pointed out in the blog, Apple has a picture showing some people listening mp3 and using notebook on the lap, I can't find the blog, but will show you all next time when I found it.

I like OS X, and I am happy with their battery exchange program. I will not replace my ibook with macbook pro, and I will not recommend anyone to buy it now, until apple solve the overheated problem.