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the problem with airplanes and the MBP

I'd be interested in whether people think this problem is specific to my machine, or general.

I do too much travel on planes. I therefore couldn't begin to use my MPB until I could buy 3 batteries (about a month after I got the machine), and I also had to buy an inverter, since I couldn't find any iGo like tip to connect to the new magnet connection.

The first inverter I got was a Targus. It promised 90w - above the reported 85w drawn by the machine. Four flights, never would it work. Everytime, it would trip because too much power was demanded. I then bought a "CyberPower" inverter, promising 120w. That worked for a good 3 hours on an internatinoal flight, but then it began flaking as well. I then discovered that if I had a fully charged battery (so it wasn't trying to charge), it worked fine. So the obvious "solution" is either to have a fully charged battery, or to remove the battery -- though that's obviously a bit dangerous, since the cord disconnects from the laptop so easily.

This is a big problem with the machine. Is it just mine, or is it general? And is there any useful way to control how much power the unit draws? Notice, the processor speed control has been removed from the Energy Saver panel.

MBP Mac OS X (10.4.5)

PB G4, Mac OS X (10.3.6)

Posted on Mar 29, 2006 3:55 PM

82 replies

May 10, 2006 11:31 AM in response to Randall Jenkins

Are you really the MBP product manager?!? This is a LAPTOP! Apple has the only laptop in the world WITHOUT a car/airplane solution. Five months after launch and I still can not use my MBP on a cross country flight. That is UNSAT! Does someone at Apple own battery stock? People are packing extra batteries, buying inverters, tripping circut breakers, STOP THE INSANITY!!

moretti

Level 1

5 points

May 10, 2006 11:55 AM in response to JeffInChicago

Contrary to your assertion, Apple is not the only manufacturer affected by this issue. The underlying problem rests on limitations with airline equipment as increasing laptop power requirements have outstripped aircraft cabin power resources. No commercial aircraft (that I'm aware of) offers greater than 75W capacity power sources in the cabin, which is plenty of juice for earlier generation and smaller laptops.

Have you considered a solar panel and a window seat?

PB 17, PB 12 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

May 10, 2006 12:49 PM in response to Lawrence Lessig

I have a 15" Aluminum PowerBook and I am looking at the new intel 17" MacBook Pro.

BUT -- I use my PowerBook around the world for photography - and I use it in airplanes - and 4x4 jeeps in the desert.

I have the iGo (Juice) system and it is GREAT ! --Really, really great!

The problem here is that Apple does not allow 3rd parties to use the power connection (MagSafe) - and that includes iGo.

Until that is resolved I WILL NOT BUY A MACBOOK PRO. Period. it would be useless to me on my assignments.

Dick

http://www.naturephotostudio.com

Dual 2.7 G5, intel iMac, 3 G4 Macs, 2 iPods Mac OS X (10.4.6)

May 10, 2006 7:22 PM in response to Richard Sjolund

I'm with you. I also WILL NOT BUY a macbook pro until there is a proper solution. It's ridiculous to have to have a substandard solution with a new machine, when my old machine works a lot better (just a bit slower!).

BOOOO!

BOOOO!

(sorry I'm in theatre)

hehe

J Michael

Level 3

660 points

May 18, 2006 11:46 PM in response to Lawrence Lessig

If you travel so much that you need three batteries, the MPS is not for you. Stick with the PowerBook. Lots of good ones on sale cheap.

I get 4 hours on my 17", though.

May 19, 2006 9:12 PM in response to Lawrence Lessig

Let's not grouse too much -- we're pretty lucky they supply any power to the seats. All that wiring heats up -- remember that Swissair flight that went down because all the entertainment system wiring got so hot it melted the insulation. I for one prefer to read or sleep on my flights -- I need to get OUT of the office, not replace it with a cramped one at 30,000 feet.

J Michael

Level 3

660 points

May 20, 2006 8:54 AM in response to creative55

Excellent point!

May 20, 2006 9:04 AM in response to creative55

The MacBook has a MagSafe power adapter at 60Watts and they sort of say it sort of works with the MBP. Problem (sort of) solved.

May 20, 2006 12:33 PM in response to raathempire

the Targus Supply will not power any mac with the MagSafe connecter as far as my research has found

Network 23

Level 6

12,333 points

May 20, 2006 1:55 PM in response to J Michael

If you travel so much that you need three batteries,
the MPS is not for you. Stick with the PowerBook.
Lots of good ones on sale cheap.

I get 4 hours on my 17", though.

As Apple's Intel hardware and software advances, over the coming months the PowerBook is going to be less and less able to keep up with the top of the line. Not a big deal for an amateur, but if you are a professional intending to use professional equipment that keeps pace with the professional equipment of your competitors...

I am going to hang onto my PowerBook as long as I can, but eventually most of us are going to have to switch to a new Apple portable and it's going to have a MagSafe connector. Hopefully we'll have more plug options by then or it's going to be another reduced capability on the long list of removed features keeping me from buying a MacBook Pro.

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

May 20, 2006 2:44 PM in response to creative55

Although unrelated to the subject discussed here, I am constrained to point out that your encapsulation cause for the loss of Swissair flight 111 was not a conclusion of the official investigation. To be fair, you have made a leap from fact to conjecture.

You have indeed been creative, creative55...

🙂

FWIW, in the interest of promoting fact, not fiction.

May 20, 2006 3:14 PM in response to Randall Jenkins

STFU!!!! macbook PRO PRO PRO PROFESSIONAL = for BUSINESSMEN not APOLOGETIC MAC GEEKS!!!!! When will some people freaking understand this

May 20, 2006 3:33 PM in response to Frederick Stevens-Smith

And, I guess, for raving, sociopathic potty mouth lunatics.

May 20, 2006 3:49 PM in response to Allan Leedy

if you understood the meaning of sociopathic then you would realise it does not apply in this case.

the last time I heard the phrase "potty mouth" was this morning walking past the local kindergarten...

May 20, 2006 7:51 PM in response to Lawrence Lessig

Apple must have forgotten that one of their most potent advertising tools is me on a plane using my Powerbook. As for the MBP... no iGo, iNo buy.

the problem with airplanes and the MBP