3 years is not a random number. Review on Apple PowerBook G4

I purchased my iBook G4 in March of 2005, paying more than$1200. It worked absolutely fine for 3 years 2 months and then had a logic board failure. Searching on Google and Apple discussion forums showed this to be a common problem. The weird thing was that it used to happen more or less after 3 years(more on that later). When I took it to the Apple showroom in Forum mall, they quoted a price of 35, 000 rupees to replace the board. I was so shocked on hearing their price that I actually asked them thrice. Of course, it doesn't make any sense to spend that kind of money when you can buy a new one for not much more.

I have been a fanatical Apple user. I made two of my friends buy Macbooks after they had decided to buy a Dell. The point here is that Apple products suddenly stop working as soon they are out of warranty or out of AppleCare coverage. If I had bought AppleCare for my iBook, it would have done no good as it covers only the first 3 years. I was standing at the repair counter for some time and saw countless iPods coming in for repair/replacement. Apple's quality just doesn't seem to be what it used to be at one time. Or may be some thing is going on which makes their products stop working as soon as Apple can wash its hands off its responsibility.

I was actually thinking about buying a Macbook but now I would have to think hard.