Macally PS-AC4 AC Power Adapter for Apple G4 Reviews

• What it lacks in design it makes up for in durability

  
  By A3BEJFYEGD1FR on 2004-12-04
  At less than half the price of an Apple charger, Macally is a nice alternative. When my ibook charger's cord broke, I wanted to find something more durable. I miss the little feet to wrap the cord around, but the part that connects to the ibook/powerbook is thicker than Apple's and thus doesn't need quite as much care. Macally's charger is also white, which is a pleasant bonus, and comes with a blue light on the brick to let you know it's charging. Here's the basic breakdown.
  
  Macally:
  lighter
  cheaper
  more durable
  same 120/240 voltage
  same length (when compared to Apple's w/ the extension plug)
  no feet
  no charging light around rim of plug
  no plastic cover for plug tip (though the Apple one fits on it perfectly)
  the connection to the brick is not as sturdy because Apple's is built in and Macally's is plugged in, though it's never come out unexpectedly because the brick is so light.
  doesn't get as hot as Apple's charger
  the wall plug is not grounded
  
  If you need an extra or replacement charger and don't mind the difference in design then this is a great purchase.
  
  

• Good alternative to the OEM charger.

  
  By A3JXXHDJCDFQ2M on 2004-12-28
  The power cords for Powerbooks and IBooks, though aesthetically lovely, are prone to damage. This is a good replacement unit, although it lacks the amber/green LED charging indicator ring around the connector. Makes up for it in durability and value (less than half the cost of Apple's - yikes!). I'm using this charger with my 12" 867Mhz G4 with fine results.
  
  

• Does the job at a great price

  
  By A7OYN96T4S3US on 2006-05-10
  I now have two of these -- one for my Aluminum Powerbook, and one for my wife's Titanium Powerbook. They work great. The connection actually seems more solid than the one from the Apple version, and these are a heck of a lot cheaper. No, they don't have the nice status light or the elegant industrial design. But they power the laptops reliably, which is more than I can say for the Apple adapters we have!
  
  

• For Titanium Powerbooks Only!

  
  By AB1ZPRP45VM1A on 2006-08-17
  This adapter only puts out 48 watts and is not for Aluminum Powerbooks. I am a technically minded person and I still got duped in to buying this because it doesn't say this anywhere on this page.
  
  

• Excellent Alternative PowerBook Power

  
  By A1ZO250UKREZRB on 2005-03-17
  Accidents will happen. $500 dollars later, with my 12" powerbook 1 GhZ (purchased October 2003)repaired and with the internal pin shorn from inside the power connector, I started to explore alternative adapters, given that the Apple unit is around $80.
  
  I bought this unit--which I needed quickly-- with one day shipping and my total was still signifigantly less than purchasing another adapter from Apple, some $51.
  
  Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Apple unit and it is a slight bit slower to charge the laptop, but the price makes it well worth it.
  
  If you are concerned about the plug fitting your computer, I've tested this unit out in my 12" PowerBook, a 14" Ibook, and even an older 15" TI Book--it fit them all and charged them, though I don't know how quickly it charged the 15" TiBook.
  
  The plug is also more reliable and sturdy. The cord is longer and less obtrusive than the mac power adapter--if I'd had this unit before, I don't think I would have even had the aforementioned accident! The Macally unit bundles nicely and fits most laptop bags well.
  
  Overall, I'm very pleased.
  
  
• nice deal
  By A2O3GI2SHLVP3S on 2005-03-25
  
  - while lacking the green/amber light on the end of the plug, it *does* have a bright blue LED on the brick itself. the LED doesn't change color according to what the powerbook is doing, it just indicates if the brick itself has power.
  
  - it produces 2 amps, rather than the 2.65 put out by apple's. this means that while it's ok for older ibooks and tibooks, for the new albooks it's slower to charge the battery if the machine is on, and for some machines like the newer 17", may not be able to charge the battery unless the laptop's asleep.
  (this can be annoying at times, but for less than half the cost of apple's adapter and cheaper than most other 3rd party adapters, I think it's a fair deal)
  
  - the wire on the powerbook side twist-locks into the brick, so you can't yank it out accidentally.
  
  - no, the plug isn't grounded... but then again neither is apple's flip-out plug.
  
  overall, I think this is a pretty good deal, and might pick up another.
  
  
• Breif Review of the Powerbook / Ibook AC Adapter
  By A2EV4HZSMS14RM on 2006-05-14
  Initially I was going to give this power adapter 4 stars because it lacks that charge light that the Apple adapters have, but you just can't beat the price. It is an ideal and inexpensive replacement or companion adapter. You could by a few of these for the cost of just one from Apple. The only thing to take notice is that it may not charge a laptop as quickly as the standard Apple power adapter because of it's lower wattage.
  
  Pros:
  - Inexpensive
  - Inexpensive
  - Inexpensive
  - Durable
  - Velcro cord wrap
  
  Cons:
  - No charge status light
  - Lower wattage then Apple adapter
  - Slightly larger then the standard Apple adapter
  
  
• Some improvements
  By A31U4ZWG89242V on 2006-05-30
  pros-
  
  -CHEAP. Costs at least $50 less than the Apple product.
  
  -more durable than Apple. It feels like you could really smash around the AC adapter and it would still be OK. The apple one not as much. The connector to the laptop is an improvement, but is still not great.
  
  -Very light, easy to carry around.
  
  Cons-
  
  -not the nice design features of apple - the light at the tip of the cord, the exchangeable plug, the overall appearance etc. (but who cares?) Also doesn't have a three-pronged plug
  
  -Does not charge computer as fast as apple, however not significant. Due to lower wattage.
  
  -Some heat issues- the adapter seemed to be as hot as or hotter than the Apple one, and it heats my computer up more than the apple one did. I haven't seen this in other reviews though, so it may be my computer or something.
  
  In general a good product. It seems fairly well made and will probably last you longer than your apple charger. If you're looking to replace yours, this will do the job fine, plus for $50 less you can't go wrong.
  
  
• quit working after a month
  By A3AZKMF9N5FXHS on 2006-07-16
  Well, it was a good deal and seemed to work well for a month! But after the stated time it quit. I noticed that the charging/battery guage on the tool bar was flickering back and forth and noticed a quiet humming sound coming from the power adapter. Since I live in Eastern Europe and someone brought this here from the US for me to use as a second adapter (to use at work) it will be hard to return. Maybe it was a fluke, but now I'm down to the original adapter and no backup. Hope you have better luck.
  
  
• Problems
  By A105DNVAZBMZAC on 2006-07-28
  I have been very unhappy with this product because it:
  
  1) makes a high pitched buzz
  2) intermittently stops providing enough power causing my computer to constantly switch back and forth between battery and wall power.
  3) the cord is difficult to wrap
  
  I'll be trying to return it through the warranty process, but I wish I had just coughed up the [lots of] extra money to buy an Apple one.
  
  
• The Long and the Short
  By A30IKHJ7ECRHXN on 2007-01-12
  While the MacAlly powerbook ac adapter has it all over the original ac charger in terms of length (it's nice to get further away from the outlet to be sure), it's not altogether reliable as a charger. There are many times when I'll find, if I haven't been paying strict attention, that the cord has shifted slightly and, though it looks like it's still plugged in, it is no longer charging the computer. I've left it charging overnight to find in the morning that the battery is still not full. Makes me appreciate the charge indicator ring on the original cord that much more, too bad the Apple cords are A)given to dangerous wear & tear, and B)expensive to replace.
  
  
• Price matches quality
  By A1419PEZJLX7KP on 2005-12-08
  I purchased one of these guys back in May of '05 and it worked alright. I had to keep an eye on the battery status on screen, due to the lack of orange/green lights telling me when it's charged.
  
  After a few months it died on me, due to a lack of connection between the cable that plugs into the computer and the box with the blue LED on it. Their tech support was challenging to communicate with and had to be done by e-mail due to my inability to find a phone number for them. After about 5 exchanges, I FedExed them the defective unit and recieved a brand new one within the next couple weeks. The current one is working just fine.
  
  In summary: not a bad product for the price (sure beats Apple's frail wires), but customer service is a bear.
  
  
• Very Good
  By A12XOFBUZW8XRP on 2006-05-16
  I read many positive reviews before buying this product, so my thanks to all of the previous posters. This adaptor is actually really great. I was a little upset before because I thought I was replacing my old G3 adapter with an even uglier one but was very happy to see that it isn't like the picture. It's the same shape but the chords everything is white, so it matches well with my ibook. It also has a pretty blue light that shines when the AC is connected, but it doesn't do much else. So if your worried about having an ugly adapter don't be because this is actually pretty nice. (at least much nicer than the G3 model adaper)
  
  
• Faulty product
  By A32BTYJYVQCYS on 2007-02-25
  I have been through two of these, each one only worked for a few months before going bad. After three months and only sporadic use, the first one I bought started cycling on-off continuously. This isn't apparent unless you are using it while plugged in, but the battery icon will show it is charging for a couple of seconds, then flip back to the battery icon for a couple of seconds and so on. I contacted the company, which confirmed it was faulty, so I sent it back to them for replacement. I received the replacement from Macally and after a couple of months, the second one started doing the same thing. I have read this is a pretty common occurrence with this product. I suppose there is a reason that it's a third the cost of the Apple product.
  
  
• Macally PS-AC4 AC is a very good deal for the price!
  By A3GLN8C88T7YLS on 2007-03-11
  The main gripe I've had with my wonderful ibook I purchased several years ago had to do with the powercord. The Apple power cord that came with it wore out very quickly in contrast to any power cord in my life of memories, and was, to my mind, and apparently the mind of others who have purchased the great Macally AC Adaptor, very overpriced for something that needed to be replaced frequently.
  
  I replaced the power cord twice before I had enough of it all. Finding that it would take me 1-3 weeks to order an Apple cord again, I decided to check into alternatives. Spent a ridiculously long time on the phone with one of the major outlets that handle Mac equipment only to have them screw up my order on a cosmically absurd level (they had invoiced me for a very expensive flat screen television, which was perhaps reverse psychology - the Apple plug did seem suddenly not so expensive in comparison :)
  
  Ultimately found that the outlet neither had the cord that would work with my Mac ibook with a G3 processor nor did they know what kind of cord did (this took about an hour for them to deduce, even when they had invoiced me for an alternative plug.
  
  Finally I turned to my heroes at Amazon, read a few reviews on the Apple cord (generally pretty scary) and was directed to this Macally.
  
  I LOVE it. It's a little less compact than the Apple cord and does not have the light that indicates that it is charging to the computer, but it's about 1/2 the price of those infernal Apple cords and I am happy. Highly recommended. Thanks, Amazon!
  
  
• Works fine so far
  By A3OC42X7H74D1Y on 2005-09-07
  Well, it plugs and "plays" in my iBook G3 "dual USB" just fine, though I haven't used it extensively yet. I'm bringing it on my first extended road trip tomorrow and will report back to change my review should I find any problems with very slow charging, plug connection problems, intense heat that causes my hotel room to burn down...or whatever! :-)
  
  Updating this on Feb 6, 2006, I just wanted to report that this adapter works fine! No problems at all!!
  
  
• Consider this adapter First!
  By ANP4A72YDTZJA on 2005-11-18
  I've been through two of the Apple adapters and they are terrible. This adapter works well with a G3 iBook. The laptop connecter is sturdier and other components appear to be adequate. A small blue led on the transformer indicates that the adapter is functional. I'm very pleased with this product which costs less than half the price of Apple's sexy but hopelessly flawed accessory.
  
  
• Died after 4 months and tech support is horrible...
  By A32VSZ9OOW5TVN on 2006-10-10
  I read the reviews before purchasing this adapter, and I guess I simply got a dud. That happens, but the tech support is horrible. The support staff was very unhelpful and told me it would take weeks to replace.
  
  The other adapter replacements don't seem much better, given the poor reviews for Kensington's model.
  
  Just hope you don't get a dud.
  
  
• Better Adapter than Apple's
  By A1ECFGYU0Y4AG0 on 2006-10-11
  I am a college student and I purchased this power adapter because my Apple adapter no longer works - the cord broke near the connector - big surprise, right. This was after 3 years. Anyway, I love this new one. It's only a week old now but I like how it looks - it's white and matches my iBook, and the cord is more substantial, but aesthetically, it is very nice and not huge or fragile looking. I thought I'd miss the light on the connector, but that's not the case - It fits snugly into the input and charges rather quickly. You really can't beat this one... even if it breaks 2 times and I replace it with a 3rd, I still haven't spent as much as I would on one of Apple's shoddy adapters. I say buy it.
  
  
• Defective product, bad service
  By A3Q3858AX1R9LX on 2007-03-11
  I purchased this adapter to replace another PS-AC4 that worked for about 18 months before going belly up. This one lasted two weeks. I called MacAlly and quickly got an RMA number, then I overnighted the defective item to them. That was ten days ago, and I'm still waiting for the replacement to arrive.
  
  
• NOT COMPATIBLE WITH IBOOK G4
  By A1QNVV9XUNODC0 on 2008-02-29
  I'm sure this product is great for G4 Powebooks and G3 iBooks, but nowhere in this product description does it say that this adapter is NOT for use with iBook G4s. I tried this on my iBook G4, and the computer kept switching back and forth between battery power and the power supply from the adapter. I'm returning this to Amazon tomorrow, but am upset that I wasted $20 overnighting this adapter because I absolutely need to use my computer this weekend. I wish they would update the product description to make it explicit that this is for Powerbook G4s and iBook G3s ONLY.
  
  
• Twice the charger never worked...and I think it fried my battery!
  By AO43FGR1T9BB4 on 2008-03-25
  My Apple charger broke and I needed to buy a new one. Thinking it was ridiculous to spend $80 on a charger, I went with this Macally charger. I read most of the reviews here on Amazon, including the one and two star reviews from people who said the charger didn't work and, when plugged in, oscillated between charging and not charging the computer. I figured they might have received a dud and decided to try my luck anyhow. I have now received two of these items from Amazon both with the same problem. When I plugged it in and was using the computer at the same time, the power oscillated between charging and not charging every second or two. When I put the computer to sleep or turned it off, it seemed to charge the computer. Anyhow, after having the same problem twice, I decided to shell out the bucks for an actual Apple charger instead of having to deal with the annoying charger and keep sending them back and forth to Amazon.
  
  I do believe, however, that this charger fried my computer's battery. After using this product a few times, hoping I could get it to work, the battery meter would read 70% charged but the computer would just shut down because, in reality, it was not charged. The guy at the Apple store said that I would have to replace my battery eventually but that the charger probably helped speed that process along.
  
  Anyhow, I am now poorer from having to purchase both an Apple charger AND a new battery, but now I'm happy that I can actually use my laptop! I would not recommend this product to anyone not only for the inconvenience of having to deal with a faulty product but also because it can actually mess with your laptop.
  
  On a side note, Amazon returns were GREAT. Very efficient...I have not had any problems with them. They even sent me the replacement product before I had a chance to mail back the first one. Something I was not expecting at all.
  
  
• Beware of design change
  By A1B622UD2AFN9Q on 2008-04-30
  This is my second PS-AC4. The first was exactly as pictured here and on the MacAlly website. It worked great and I would highly recommend it (I purchased it about 3 yrs. ago). However, the most recent one (ordered from Amazon) has been redesigned. There is no blue light, it's slightly smaller in size and DOESN'T work with the G4 iBook.
  
  I only use this power supply when I am on the road, so I only used it a couple times in the two weeks I've had it. Recently I was doing a Keynote presentation and noticed the iBook switching from battery to power supply every second and repeating, endlessly. I reset the Power Management Unit (PMU) on the iBook, but that didn't solve the problem. When I contacted MacAlly, they informed me that this model does not work with the G4 iBook. I was told "You need to return it back to your vendor for refund or different brand."
  
  Both MacAlly and Amazon do not reflect this new information on their website. MacAlly's site even says it's recommended for iBook users.
  
  I am still in the process of getting this issue resolved. My advice after messing around with 3rd party power supplies...buy a genuine Apple as a replacement. It's worth the money in the long run.
  
  
• Excellent Item!
  By A3O5GQYE23E0AH on 2005-06-06
  I miss the lighted ring telling you that the charger is charging, but for 1/2 of the price of Apple's replacement, I can do without it!
  
  The LED iS BRIGHT, and cool bluish color. The cable that breaks on Apple's charger is noticeably thicker on this charger.
  
  Get this. You'll not regret it.
  
  
• Affordable
  By A1TBVEC62QFBJJ on 2005-08-08
  I wasn't sure this was spec'd for my G3 IBook, but another review and some looking into the hertz/watts thing convinced me. I'm hoping it'll be a backup for my G4 Powerbook too. It works fine. Seems to load up my battery as quickly as the original AC adapter; it's lighter and seems to be more compactable -- easier to carry around. I'd recommend it.
  
  
• Cheap quality and non-existant service
  By A1EZ21PGBVBHXC on 2005-09-23
  After using the charger for about 2 weeks I started noticing drops in the power feeding to the iBook. After about 2 months the charger stopped working altogether. On inspection I noticed that the metal part of the plug was separating from the plastic part and I suspect this is causing the disconnect. MacAlly has no warranty information on their web site and I called them several times only to be diverted to a messaging system and I never got a callback.
  I'd say avoid if you can.
  
  
• Cheap, sturdy alternative to the original.
  By AM3URQV1ZBFZ8 on 2006-02-03
  This adapter is better than I expected. My original Apple adapter's cable got cut near the joint after a year's use, so I was looking for a cheaper alternative. I was worried whether it would work for my 12" G4 Aluminium Powerbook. Its power ratings are not exactly the same as the original 45W Apple adapter. It is rated at 24V, but at 2A instead of 1.875A. So its actually 48W (24*2) rather than a 45W (24*1.875) adapter. It actually charges my 12" Pbook slightly faster. I guess the 15" Pbooks are actually 65W, so I'm not sure how fast it charges those. Anyway, this adapter is light and the power cords are thicker than Apple's. It costs less than half the original.
  
  The white brick is very light and there is a locking mechanism on the cable from the brick to the laptop. I wish the cable on the other end was more flexible. I didnt notice any sparks when I plugged it in, whereas my original Apple adapter always sparked and sputtered. There is no light indicating charge status, but that doesn't bother me much. Although it says G4 Titanium powerbook, it seems to also work with the Aluminium powerbooks. I wish Apple made design changes to its flawed adapter. They are only enabling third parties like Macally survive :).
  
  
• Good alternative to the pricey Apple powerbrick
  By A2LT5JL8OUFV6K on 2006-04-07
  I went looking for an alternative to the stylish, cleverly designed, but expensive OE Apple powerbrick AC adapter when mine started showing signs of plug wear (flickering of the ring light at the connection to the computer). I had wanted one for a while anyway, so I could keep one at home and one at my office, thus shortening my daily packing-up time and (I hoped) prolonging the life of the equipment through fewer coiling/uncoiling cycles. I was pleased to find the MacAlly product, which cost less than half as much and appeared to fill the need. I read that its power output was slightly lower; frankly, I can't tell the difference. It charges my Powerbook G4 just fine. I miss the ring light on the plug keeping me apprised of charging progress (I now have to check the battery status indicator in the OSX taskbar) and it lacks the Apple adapter's ability to plug right into the wall, so most of the time I have more cord than I need. Other than that, no problems. Good product, great price.
  
  
• Charges
  By A1HOUZMI0EYUSN on 2006-07-14
  This charger works great and charges as well as the apple product that costs twice as much. I miss the green and orange light at the end of the plug, but this one does have a blue light indicating it is plugged in.
  
  
• Good replacement for old charger
  By A1COHVSTR2S63D on 2006-08-14
  This is a good replacement for the Apple Charger. Only a couple of notes to make.
  1. The blue light doesn't indicate whether the notebook is charging or not, only if the cord is plugged into the outlet. This means that you can't really tell what is going on unless you open your laptop and make sure the indicator is showing that it is charging.
  2. If you drain your battery fully, so your laptop goes to sleep BE WARNED... You will not be able to plug it in and resume working right away. I had to plug it in and let it charge up for a good while before I could operate my Powerbook again, pulling power to operate the computer and charge the battery. This has been most annoying.
  
  Other than those weird gripes, it is a sufficient power adapter.
  
  

• Targus PA400U DEFCON 1 Ultra Notebook Computer Security System
• GARMIN 010-00321-00 GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops
• Yoggie PICO PRO Mobile Security Computer with VPN
• Yoggie PICO Personal Mobile Security Computer
• Logitech AudioHub Notebook Speakers

• HQRP Equivalent Ac Adapter for Powerbook G4 / Ibook (Dual Usb) 65 Watt
• APPLE PowerBook G4 (15" Titanium) Main battery
• Apple Powerbook and iBook 65 Watt AC Adapter Charger
• TechFuel® Battery for Apple PowerBook G4 15 inch Aluminum Laptop
• Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5.4 Leopard [5-User Family Pack]