Apple Buying Back Troubled PowerBooks

antihero writes "The PowerBook Zone has some information for owners of PowerBook 5300s and 190s. They'll take those models and sell you one of the current models for $1800, about $700 cheaper than MSRP. This is to get these often-problematic models off the streets so Apple doesn't have to continue supporting them. These 5 year old models aren't worth much." This offer goes to August 31st.

just a thought.

Getting rid of tech support may only be one of the reasons Apple has decided to have this trad-in. It has been rumored that Apple will be announcing next gen powerbooks and ibooks at Seybold at the end of this month, and this program may be an attempt to flush the channel before the new models ship. The deadline for the trade-in coincides with seybold. Seybold Expo (Aug. 27-Sept. 1) Deadline (Aug. 31) just a thought.

The Powerbook that keeps on giving...

True story: I was fortunate enough to buy a 5300 in 1996 at the now-defunct ComputerCity. The sales guy managed to talk me into the extended warranty. Thank you sales guy!!!

Within 2 years, the display burned out 3 times, the motherboard & power manager once each, and it was all repaired for free. The last time I took it in for service (to a Tandy office, since ComputerCity was long gone), they officially threw in the towel and wrote me a check for the original purchase price. It was almost exactly enough to buy a Wallstreet (1998 Powerbook G3).

Try doing THAT with a junker from E-Machines or the other bottom-of-the-line PC makers. Even truly BAD Apples offer a competitive Total Cost of Ownership, thanks to buybacks. Funny, but true.

Ebay....

Why do I get the feeling that PB 5300's and 190's are going to start going for more on Ebay? The article says that the units don't even need to function. SO if you were planning on buying a new PB anyway, it's a nice way to save yourself a bonus.

Re:Not bad...

Whatever have other companies been thinking to replace defective products for FREE when they could just downplay the problem long enough for them to become all "old and worn out anyway"? :-P

To be fair though, the 5300s were operating under a special support program anyway (i.e., a free repair-whatever-problem-you-have program that ran longer than the regular warranty deal). This was due to some well publicised defects in this model: failing screen hinges, cracking case plastics, etc. When I sent mine back a couple of years ago they fixed both of these and replaced the motherboard while they were at it.

The intent here is probably just to get people who hadn't really thought about upgrading back into buying new machines.

-dair

Give it to needy students....

How about giving those Powerbooks that they get back to needy students who need a computer. They are probably going to just junk those machines anyway, why not give it to someone who really needs it.
Furthermore, this will keep kids away from Windows**.