[Vincent Ferrari]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...wer-adapter.ars

"Apple is again the target of a class action lawsuit over power adapters, this time stemming from complaints about the company's MagSafe power adapters for its MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air computers. The complaint, filed in California Northern District Court's San Jose office last Friday, alleges that the MagSafe power adapter is prone to frayed wires and overheating, and as such represents a fire hazard."

In that case, I must be the luckiest guy in the world because 4 of 'em later (not counting the numerous ones friends have bought) and I've never had a lick of trouble with mine.  Anyone else seeing the fraying / splitting issue on their MagSafes?

I will say one thing; that magnetic beauty has saved my MacBook and MacBook Pro from taking a nasty tumble on more than one occasion and I'm very grateful for it.

(Image Source)

[Vincent Ferrari]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...wer-adapter.ars

"Apple is again the target of a class action lawsuit over power adapters, this time stemming from complaints about the company's MagSafe power adapters for its MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air computers. The complaint, filed in California Northern District Court's San Jose office last Friday, alleges that the MagSafe power adapter is prone to frayed wires and overheating, and as such represents a fire hazard."

In that case, I must be the luckiest guy in the world because 4 of 'em later (not counting the numerous ones friends have bought) and I've never had a lick of trouble with mine.  Anyone else seeing the fraying / splitting issue on their MagSafes?

I will say one thing; that magnetic beauty has saved my MacBook and MacBook Pro from taking a nasty tumble on more than one occasion and I'm very grateful for it.

(Image Source)

[ptyork]

Unquestionably one of the nicest hardware differentiators that the macbooks have to offer. I wish Apple would license the patent to others. I assume the fraying must happen on the thin part. I could see how there could be issues if you run the cable across the floor and then roll your chair over it. Yeah, user error, but it is a behavior that does occur on occasion (I know I'm guilty of it) and one that other cables are built to handle. Still, I'd sacrifice the heavy duty cable for the convenience of the magsafe connector any day.

[Jeff Campbell]

Yep this thing has saved my MBP a time or two, just yesterday in fact was the latest one with one of my less than graceful co-workers :-). The only problem I have with mine is that the little light on the magsafe part doesn't light up to tell me if charging or not, but that isn't too big of a deal, for me anyway

[Janak Parekh]

Based on discussions at my workplace, our guess is that the cables fray if you yank them out straight out by pulling the cable. If you do the sensible thing and gently disconnect them, you don't have problems.

--janak

[doogald]

I have three of them - two are over two years old - and not a single frayed cable.

[emuelle1]

I have to agree with ptyork. I wish Apple would either license the technology or some other OEM would find a way to make one that doesn't infringe on Apple's patent. About the same time Apple rolled the magsafe power connector out, I had to send my wife's laptop in for warranty service 4 times in a year because the kids kept breaking the power connector inside the laptop. Then while her laptop was in for service, they managed to break 3 more power connectors on 2 of my old, long out of warranty laptops. I say 3 out of 2 because I managed to solder the power connector back on the motherboard one time. It didn't take the second time.

Of course, at the time one of the kids was a baby and the other a toddler. My wife just didn't have a better place to keep her laptop.