Customer Reviews

Apple 85W Magsafe Portable Power Adapter (for MacBook Pro) MA938LL/A (Retail Packaging)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I bought this to replace the original 85W which came with my macbook pro.
This new one has a better rubber extension on the magsafe so it won't fall apart as easily like the first one did. The size of the "brick" has been reduced, it's no longer a rectangle, it's now a square. -About an inch shorter then the old one, although still suppling 85watts. If you have a non pro macbook, get this rather then the 65w(same price). this will work with all the macbooks, macbook air, macbook pro. so it's more universal if you plan on upgrading laptops.

Only after receiving this product did I realize it was not a trueApple product. The picture on the item shows an adaptor with an apple logo - this is misleading at best. Also, after powering my macbook with this adaptor I started to notice static coming from my speakers or headphones. I thought the output jack on the macbook had gone bad but while listening I unplugged the magsafe cord from the computer and the static stopped. This tells me this adaptor comes no where near the quality of a real apple adaptor, nor is it reflected in the price.

I'm in contact with the vender now to see if they are willing to refund this item.

Just do a google and you'll see the life of this adapter is about a year. Way too many incidents out there. My first adapter lasted exactly one year. One day I was charging my macbook and I started to smell wires burning. It turned out to be the wire from this adapter, specifically where it attaches to the macbook. The key is not to put *any* stress on the wire at all by letting it bend. Apparently the plastic wire is so cheaply made that it will wear out and expose the inner wires to each other. Luckily my macbook was not damaged, and I was there to unplug the adapter when it started to smolder. While I love the smart magnetic design, it's made quite shoddy. Of course the price is very high also at $79!?! Ridiculous for plastic and cheap wiring! When I went to the Apple store to replace my adapter, there was a 3 week wait as well! I was lucky to find one on eb*y for just under $36.

My best advice is not to put any tension on this wire because it obviously can't handle it, and I'd avoid leaving it charging alone simply because I don't trust it and I've googled quite a few horror stories. Check out the apple store and you'll see all the reviews about sparks, smoke, melting , and fire.

Currently, I'm on my 3rd adapter in 3 years. The current version I bought on ebay and it's re-enforced at the weak spot I mentioned. This version seems to be the best. Check out the photo I posted, and you'll notice that the end that connects to the macbook pro is different, with a bigger plastic shell.

While this newer version is square and more compact, photos indicate that it's still got the same old weak end.

HEY, the MacBook Air-style adapter is finally available and the price is the same. Ditch this old junk and buy the new one.


Although we Apple product users have been spoiled by the ingenious design found in the power adapter since the second generation of PowerBook Titanium was introduced almost eight years ago, there are still serious flaws.

I will mention the timeless and positive elements first.

1. removable/exchangeable power connector. This allows you to leave the long power cable connected in the office and at home, and just switch out the flip-prong plug. This way you don't have to bend down and unplug the whole cord, not to mention the weight saving when you travel.

2. for the same wattage, Apple's adapter is far smaller and lighter than other notebook brands' adapters or other 'Apple compatible' after-market adapters.

3. although nothing new, the MagSafe connector provides added protection when someone trips over the cable or if you accidentally 'run' away with the MacBook/MacBook Pro.

4. you may buy an expensive 'figure-8' connector at each location that you frequently visit, so you don't have to hunt for AC outlet each time you need to use your power adapter.

Now, the ugly.

1. to make the power cord more flexible, the material inside of the cable is prone to wear and breaks easily (breakage inside cannot be seen unless you X-ray it).

2. after seven years of problems, Apple has learned to turn the power cable 90°. The biggest problem with the side-accessed design is that we often have materials next to the computer as we work, so those cables and connectors just get in the way. Inevitably, we turn it 90° to route it to the back. Worse yet, sometimes the connector is bumping against the way and accelerate the wear. This feature, unfortunately, was made available on the MacBook Air. It's been that way with the MacBook Air since introduction almost two years ago. However, this design has only recently been utilized on the MacBook (unibody) connector. This glacial change will finally make it across the entire product line, but only Apple knows when.

3. do not use the 'ears' for coiling the cord. If you must, be sure to leave about 1-2" of cable looped (not bent 90° immediately as the picture suggests). Coiling the cable repeatedly as illustrated would accelerate the break down of the power cable.

4. For no reason at all (polarity is not an issue, because the flip plug does not differentiate polarity anyway), Apple makes a non-standard figure-8 connector. This makes the non-standard cable unusable on previous version Apple adapters, even though there is absolutely no risk of mixing up the polarities. This is a wasteful design in more ways than one. First, it uses more plastic to fill up the cap. Second, it makes the cable not as useful.

I wouldn't buy one between December 2009 and February 2010, because I strongly believe that the new adapter (MacBook Air/MacBook plastic unibody style) will take over this flawed design very soon.

The retail price stated is wrong. It is in fact $79. For awhile now these adapters have had a thicker cord to prevent the fraying issues with earlier models. I don't like paying $79 either but check Dells power adapter prices if you really think they are cheaper. Some of the dell power adapters are $99. Everyone charges too much for power adapters. if your reason for buying a Dell instead of a Mac is because you think Dell power supplies are cheaper you are not paying attention.

The technical details and specs of the adapters have been covered well in a lot of reviews along with Apple's specifications. I would just add a few points.

1. I have never had a laptop power supply break on me. That goes back to their pre-magsafe versions on the iBooks years ago. I have had the airports and batteries wear out after a few years, but the power supplies have given me years of heavy use with no problems. I understand peoples' complaints that heat and tension on the wires can cause wear or breakdowns. I am fairly careful to ventilate my computer and power supply plus always leave slack on the cords. So they always outlast my laptops. That is, my laptops go obsolete well before the power supply dies.

2. I would add that I have very spikey bad power where I live and this power supply gives consistent reliable power to my laptops (even when my desktops get rebooted in brownouts and such).

3. The magsafe is a nice feature at a good price. As people point out $79 is not cheap, but neither is the competition. I don't follow Dell or HP or the others too closely but I believe Apple went magsafe before the others. So kudos to Apple.

4. Finally it's worth noting that the 85W version for the 15 and 17 inch Pro's costs the same as the 60W version for the 13 inch model. Apple claims that the 85W will automatically power down for the 13 inch so I figure the best buy is to buy the 85W and use it on any size Pro (or polycarb). They are all $79 after all.

This adapter literally tripped a breaker in my apartment 2 weeks after purchase. It smelled of burning plastic and completely stopped working. Sadly, this was the replacement for another burned out adapter that had died after 15 months of use. I am in France which has no Apple Stores so did not get much help from support, I am planning on carrying these safety hazards with me to the Apple Store in London and see what they can do.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mac and the MagSafe invention, but to me there is a serious heat and power issue especially with the 85w version. None of my recent mag safes have broken on the magsafe side, everything appears to die on the AC/power side.

By the way, this one does not come with the second, longer AC cord like the one that comes with your macbook.

Apple, please redesign this safety hazard, make it bigger if needed to reduce heat and extend its life!

I've gone through three of these chargers in less than 2 years. Their fail rates are incredibly high. It's amazing to me that Apple cannot get something as simple as a power adapter to work properly. The engineering involved in making a power adapter is about as simple of an electronic circuit as I can imagine, and it's old technology that's been around for years and years. I've been using notebooks for 10+ years and these are easily the worst power adapters that I've run across. Apple needs a serious redesign here.

Also insulting is that this is the same white power adapter that comes for a regular macbook; it'd be nice if Apple had spent the extra $$$ to provide a charger that matches the stainless steel finish of the macbook pro. It's that sort of attention to detail that is typical of Apple, and I find it puzzling that they overlooked it. My guess is it was some sort of cost analysis and they decided it would be to expensive to provided matching chargers (apparently they also thought it would be too expensive to provide a DisplayPort to DVI adapter with the macbook pro as well!). I used to think that when paying a premium for Apple products you could expect the little extras and perks that made spending the extra $$$ worthwhile, but anymore it seems they're intent on nickle and diming the consumer, or flat out providing horrible accessories like this charger.

If you don't believe these chargers are as bad as I say they are, head over to the Apple Store and read the 900+ reviews posted there and the number of horror stories; it's pretty convincing. I've included a link in the comments section of this review.

Just received my refurbished 85w Magsafe power adaptor for my 2007 Macbook Pro.

Initial thoughts:

Plugged in and started working exactly as expected. The housing of the power supply is from a real Apple product, salvaged, and cleaned up from the smaller square 85w adaptor. (My original was the larger rectangular type.) It showed minor wear and scratches - Nothing my dead adaptor didn't already have.

The length of cable from the adaptor to the computer is more than adequate at 6ft long. (I held it hand outstretched by my finger tips and it was still loose.)

The magsafe connector is a horrible 1.5in long block of hard plastic emblazoned "MAC MAGSAVER." Large LEDs indicate charging with the correct color but the design is ugly and very un-Apple like. The underside shows four metal rivets and unless you are thinking about it each time you connect it they will end up staring at you from the corner of your view as you work. Not sure why they chose this design to patent (like it is something to be proud of) as the stresses on the cable are just moved back from 0.25in from the computer to 1.5in and Apple has moved to a right angled design on the latest power adaptors. Others may have suffered from damaging the connectors on their stock power bricks but I always treated mine well and think this replacement is overkill. I may void the warranty and open the case to swap the cable such is my dislike of the "MAC MAGSAVER."

While I have been writing this review and charging my system the brick has not gotten excessively warm which I am pleased with. My original unit could produce considerable heat and I have been careful not let it rest directly on carpet or other insulating surfaces.

Other:

If I had the option to select a refurb without the MAC MAGSAVER I would have gotten it since as I said my original shows no sign of damage to the connector. Another option I would have gone for if offered would have been to send my adaptor in to be refurbished and returned. Anything to have as much original equipment used as possible.

Time will tell how the adaptor holds up. I am only trying to extend the life of this system for another year so if I get that out of it then I will consider it successful.

Unit work good for about 6 months then wires started getting exposed at the at the end, as the wires got more exposed, the unit finally just quick working. Low quality, pay the extra 15 bucks and get a apple one. Trust me.