Genius Bar people can't fix my emac!

Not sure what the issue could be. The original problem is due to swelling capacitors, which is remedied by a new logic board (I have yet to have any repeat offenders after repair). Every connection within an eMac is either screwed down, clipped on or actually glue gunned into place, so aside from actually dropping the eMac, I don't see how they can come loose (I hope you're giving your eMac a smooth ride home in a soft car seat ). Will they let you sit down with the eMac itself in-shop to try it there?

Without seeing the issue myself I can only guess.....

You could be faced with two issues. One, it could be the CRT itself that is failing and therefore it will need to be replaced to fix the issue. Second, your eMac screen could be too close to a fluorescent light at home or main power cable within a work environment that causes interference and causes CRT monitors to do odd shaking/video issues.

melcj90 said:

It is cover under the emac video recall program.

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Nice to hear that Mac finally recognized the issue. When I had this problem back in Feb 2003, the service rep swore they were unaware of any issue despite the 10,000 or so postings on their own discussion forum. I wound up with a new computer after 3 failed attempts to fix the original. So far no issues with this one. One thing I always do now is turn it off or put it to sleep if I am not using it. May not help but I know it doesn't hurt.

BTW The real bear was that I was unable to save anything of importance on the computer as I never knew if it would be going back to Apple.

perhaps you should test it in the store before you lug it home?

I would bring it back and ask they call Apple Customer service. If they try the "something got loose while bringing it home" excuse then you should suggest that it wasn't fixed properly if it can't handle being carried home.

As an off-topic, how friendly are the Genius Bar people? Are they like typical computer repair people (ie snobbish or standoffish)? I know everyone's different, but maybe they're specially chosen? (disclaimer, i've never actually spoken to an Apple Genius person).

Whenever I go to the Apple store, the employees just seem to walk around. I can't seem to flag them down to ask them questions

Then there are the guys who are so friendly and Pro-Apple that it's scary.

I love the Apple Stores

If they repeatedly cannot fix it, and it's still under AppleCare - maybe they can give you a nice discount on a new Mac?

I don't think it's under applecare... he mentioned earlier that it's being replaced under a recall...

By the way the apple care for the emac ran out in Jan. I bough it nearly five years ago. Never had any problems with it until now. I got the new an imac a week before this problem happen.

isn't applecare only a 3-year program?

IIRC, there are two parts that really matter in an eMac. The display assembly is the first one and it is shipped as a single 45 pound unit that includes the CRT and anything required to put video on the CRT. All the tech has to do is get the display assembly out of the housing and remove the logic board (It's been a long time since I've done one so my memory is a bit fuzzy). The second is the logic board. Every connection is basically fixed, so I don't see how something could have "come loose."

You didn't say where you were, but if you're in Toronto, take it an authorized dealer and I think you'll get better results. Plus, if you ask nicely, they can run the serial number and see what repairs have been done to it. I'm guessing that they might have replaced the display assembly which IIRC won't solve this issue.

Today I took it in,,again and this time I seem to talked to more experience looking guy..who this time didn't give me that "it broke during the transporting..." type of excuse..but he said it might be the CRT tube and will just look at again to see if it what the problem really is. If it is, I will have trash it..I can't afford that kind of repair. Funny I also have an old imac 333MHz still works fine..(though obviously slow) which my mother just uses for email..internet.

By the way if anybody is interested in a job of Apple genius bar techs they sure need some badly at the Yorkdale store! I waited for about over 1 hour. They need change the system of helping people too much of a long wait.

melcj90 said:

By the way if anybody is interested in a job of Apple genius bar techs they sure need some badly at the Yorkdale store! I waited for about over 1 hour. They need change the system of helping people too much of a long wait.

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The long wait is the system.

Evan Holt said:

Not sure what the issue could be. The original problem is due to swelling capacitors...

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Cut back on the Cialis perhaps?

(I didn't know eMacs were into that sort of thing. Now with Power Macs, that's a completely different story.)

HowEver said:

The long wait is the system.

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While there is some truth to that, I've heard that the waits are becoming longer by even Apple store standards. The likely don't have enough staff given how busy their stores are.

You can also book appointments at the "genius bar" in advance, from home, using the store's appointment system.

HowEver said:

You can also book appointments at the "genius bar" in advance, from home, using the store's appointment system.

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True, but they often run as much as an hour behind schedule.

that's what I do when I have to go in.

I sometimes even make 2... 1 about 30 min ahead of the other... only if I'm in a rush

8127972 said:

While there is some truth to that, I've heard that the waits are becoming longer by even Apple store standards. The likely don't have enough staff given how busy their stores are.

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Yeah they don't have enough staff. They have only two tech people. And they take both ipod and mac questions. But they lots of salespeople just walking around! They should have at least two tech people for both ipod and mac questions. Alot people were complaining....It was really a madhouse in that small yorkdale store.