Hello simmply_anna,
The announcement by Apple that the 'problem is fixed' is bogus. They have not announced 'the' problem is fixed but stated that between certain serial numbers, Time Capsules are swap-out items if defective. In that, they power down suddenly, etc.
This is a very limited admission of a problem that Apple have played down, as ever with skill and aplomb. The article mentions more than one other way to back up your data, pointing out that it is a good idea, mentioning all your personal stuff like pictures and letters, etc.
With that 'noted', let me now have my say on my general observations and specific actions taken recently by Apple, at least here in the UK.
*Apple have not 'fixed' the problem; it still persists.*
They have however 'beefed up' the design to offset early failure, which was the highlight of 1st generation units and the reason most people come to this massive forum and read pages and pages and pages of almost identical stories.
No substantial design change has taken place to remove the fundamental flaw in the design. The flaw is breathtakingly simple to understand and seemingly to correct.
However from an engineering perspective it is not 'low cost' to implement. Think it through a little more and you will understand why... if Apple were to alter the TC to correct its faults (and to do so would make it obvious to all with eyes to see and hands to feel) all the previous products would be deemed 'faulty' by omission of this correction and Apple would be deluged with irate customers demanding an upgrade, if nothing else.
To repeat, the internal fan (supplied and installed inside the TC by Apple) does nothing useful to cool the product.
1. There is no air inlet hole.
2. The fan points the wrong way.
3. The fan is not running.
Easy to fix, expensive to implement on new products because of the political (and business) reasons outlined above.
The Time Capsule is a great idea, very simple to implement and forgettably easy to use. When it works well we don't notice it (which is how it should be). When it goes wrong, we become irate and harangue Apple (people come here and complain), which is NOT what we or Apple want to happen.
I personally think the TC is a great product and i would advise all to buy and use one. HOWEVER, get it modified to run cool and it should have a long and productive life.
Apple cannot possibly modify the present design, it would be business suicide to do so. I suspect they will redesign to make a 'Next Generation' Time Capsule that could use aluminium as the case, with iPhone 4 style aerials built into the metal structure of the case, separated with visible 'slots' to prevent one area touching another. An internal fan that quietly gets on with its job and loads of other whizzy stuff that we all fall for and why we buy.
Time will tell and we shall see.
Recap: The 'fault' is not fixed. TCs work well but run hot. Keep them cool and long life can be obtained.
Regards,
Chris Fackrell,
YORK,
UK.
