Mass recall of Apple AC Wall Plug Adapters 2003-2015 due to shock hazard
apple.com
apple.com
But it seems the adapters are being recalled for a different issue.
The adapter is two pieces that fit together (like Apple's macbook adapters), and the piece that inserts into the outlet broke into two pieces when I tried pulling it out one day. The way it split, half was stuck in the wall and half was still connected to the little power brick in my hand. The piece that was still in the outlet had two bits of exposed metal that were clearly just extensions of the prongs in the socket. I removed it very carefully realizing what would happen if I touched the bits of metal and threw it out.
That said, it looks like they don't list the US as affected on that page :-/.
I can't seem to find a real reason why we don't. Perhaps the usage cost of electricity is less expensive in the U.S., or it's something Americans are just less conscientious about.
There is a lot of speculative discussion in this thread http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/why-dont-us-outlets-have-bui....
I have 4 or 5 of them, all which have disintegrated cables.
Either the famous problem where the cable/sleeve detaches at the adapter or the plug end, or on a couple of them, the entire plastic cable housing has disintegrated and sloughed off, leaving bare shield wire. This after just a year or so in every case.
Absolute disgrace, Apple.
I remember this a lot back in the PowerBook days, especially those clearish gray translucent adapters.
Personally, I've only had it happen to iPhone cables that get abused in the car. Still, it's a ridiculous problem to have when almost no other quality cord is so fragile.
The service for my Mac last time was actually pretty hideous. I can't remember what he said, but he used some amazing jargon to explain the difficult act of booting off an OS on a USB hard disk. Then tried to say that the broken hinge (the hinge part of the stand on 2014 skinny iMacs is prone to fail without warning, tipping the screen forward) and bad RAM on my iMac might not be covered under Applecare (it was).
The genius bar has never been a fun experience (our sensors indicate you used your laptop! Sorry, but Applecare doesn't cover oxygen damage), but that was super unpleasant.
Lately my position on Apple is: I buy their iPhones and their iMacs. One has comparatively good service, the other rarely needs service because it isn't carried around and doesn't contain a battery. For laptops I was hoping that Windows 10 tablets would be any good, but was severely disappointed again, especially by the software side, Windows is a total mess. Right now I'm at a loss at what my next portable computer is supposed to be. Maybe Lenovos upcoming classic thinkpad line with Ubuntu?
Unless Apple comes out with something really special this year (early 2011 13" MBP → late 2013 13" Retina MBP was an impressive upgrade), I am considering building a Linux desktop and a pairing it with a really nice monitor. 1TB SSD is only $400 now, which seems like a really nice deal compared to even last year.
I'll keep my Macbook around for using Adobe apps, I guess. Other than that I can't think of a pressing reason to stay on OSX.
1) I don't wrap/unwrap the cable around the plastic clips each day.
2) When I do wrap the cables, I'm careful to (i) leave a little slack before I start winding, and (ii) grip loosely so as not to cause twisting stress
3) I remove the magsafe by pulling the outer edge upwards, rather than pulling outwards in the opposite direction to the magnetic force.
If the reason is mainly (1), then this would indicate poor design. If it's some combination of (2) and (3), then it seems like more prominent instructions would help many people.
My wife on the other hand goes through about one phone charger every 6 months. Absolute disregard for how the cable is positioned (like if the cable is being crushed or snagged by an object).
I guess growing up with those brittle NES controller cords taught me something.
And on the side of not shocking people to death.
How could anyone call that 'well designed'?
And that is why, given the choice, i'll go with a Thinkpad over a Macbook.
Switching to the long 3-prong "cable" connector solved that, and I've never dared go back.
What you are describing is grounding problems of one for or another.
Oddly, never had the same problem with a phone USB charger. Which is the opposite of what you'd expect: the USB chargers seem to be entirely solid-state, using flyback transformers[1], while the larger power adapters have room for a real wire-wrapped ring transformer[2], which should be providing better electrical isolation. (I would never expect to be shocked by dirty power coming through an induction ring.)
[1] http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-...
[2] http://www.righto.com/2015/11/macbook-charger-teardown-surpr...
But if it is the device itself that was faulty, rather than the input power, it's a different story; in that case you want at least some valid ground path, and complete isolation is bad (because then the device will ground through you, obviously.)
Maybe it's just that the power adapter block has a separate ground path and expects to ground it into a dedicated ground pin (and, I guess, leaves the ground pin disconnected when a two-prong adapter is connected? That seems wrong-headed), while the USB chargers, made to assume two-prong usage, mix ground with positive.
The only way they could break, I think, is if they fell apart somehow.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/28/apple-reca...
Sounds like the plastic casing breaks.
I may have one of these dodgy plugs from a 2011 11" MBA that I started using as a spare so to preserve my most recent replacement. (third or fourth bent/broken cord)
When you place either hand on the MBA casing beside the trackpad you get what feels like a buzzing in your lower palm. If you are shirtless (common on these balmy summer nights) and touch your stomach against the edge you get a definite kick like you burnt yourself.
From the images i found it looked like the assembly was basically pushed into the charger. There seemed to be some notched on the metal bits that would be inside, likely supposed to latch together during assembly, but i guess they could come loose if there was enough insertions and removal.