can Airport card fry iBook?

In article <uce-058F04.19543502012007.TakeThisOut@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
Gregory Weston <uce.TakeThisOut@splook.com> wrote:

> In article
> <magdalenabung-7AED1B.19062002012007.TakeThisOut@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
> magdalena <magdalenabung.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I'm trying to help a friend with her dead iBook (G3, 700mhz, 2usb
> > ports). A friend was setting her up with wifi. After he installed the
> > Airport card (the original one) the iBook would not start.
>
> Was an attempt made to start after taking it out again?
>
> > She got the
> > Airport card from macwireless.com (recommended by Apple).
>
> Apple actually recommended another vendor? Such an endorsement would be
> extremely atypical.
>
>
> ...
>
> $190 for the card and $40 for the bracket? Jeez, I sold mine too soon.
>
>
> > There was an
> > Airport item in Software Update the last time I was at her place, but
> > she didn't install it since she didn't have Airport at the time. I
> > advised her to make sure she did before she installed the card, but I
> > think she didn't do it. Could the card and/or the outdated Airport
> > software have caused the problem or do you think it was just a
> > coincidence that it died at this time?
>
> The outdated software is almost certainly not the problem. The card
> could do it if it's faulty. The installation process could do it if it
> was mishandled. Or it could be coincidence.
>
> What's the nature of the not-starting? Is it completely unresponsive?
> Chime and then nothing? Error message at boot? Crash during boot?
>
> G

My friend said her friend made an attempt to start it after taking the
card out. The power adapter light glowed, but the iBook wouldn't start.
No startup chime, no nothing. Last I heard, they were dropping it off
(for a cost estimate) to a Mac guru who's the designated Mac tech for
the school district. (And yes, Apple online recommended macwireless.com
because they *no longer sell* the original Airport card. She paid $189
for that card; later I noticed that OWC has them for $89.)

In article
<magdalenabung-A64F0C.20423402012007 RemoveThis @comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
magdalena <magdalenabung RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:

> (And yes, Apple online recommended macwireless.com
> because they *no longer sell* the original Airport card.

I know that card's discontinued. I'm just stunned that Apple endorsed a
vendor over which they have no control. I haven't seen that in the 23
years I've been an Apple customer, regardless of the status of the
product in question.

Good luck to your friend.

G

--
The best intentions in the world don't make a flawed argument magically valid.

In article <uce-C82035.07214003012007.RemoveThis@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
Gregory Weston <uce.RemoveThis@splook.com> wrote:

> In article
> <magdalenabung-A64F0C.20423402012007.RemoveThis@comcast.dca.giganews.com>,
> magdalena <magdalenabung.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > (And yes, Apple online recommended macwireless.com
> > because they *no longer sell* the original Airport card.
>
> I know that card's discontinued. I'm just stunned that Apple endorsed a
> vendor over which they have no control. I haven't seen that in the 23
> years I've been an Apple customer, regardless of the status of the
> product in question.
>
> Good luck to your friend.
>
> G

Thanks. She just spent a $30 bench charge to find out that it needs a
new logic board. The tech said it was probably on its way out, and
installing the Airport card might have merely been "the straw that broke
the camel's back." Instead of spending money to get it fixed, she
decided to make a plea to Apple to give either replace the board free or
give her a discount on a brand new laptop. If she gets a new one,
though, that 11b card will be superfluous, and macwireless charges a
restocking fee. Drat! Maybe I should go wireless and buy it from her for
my ol' G4 desktop. I'm afraid it might kill my G4, though! I think she
should ask Apple to test the card (on their own system) for her when she
takes the dead iBook in.