So, after a good year of having the issue I decide to cave and take the Powerbook to get the power socket replaced. I had to make an appointment to see a "Genius" at the genius bar at the Apple shop, was a friendly enough chap, but I must admit, I wouldn't call him or the guy to his right a genius. I explained that the battery would not charge up using a power connector because the socket had gone bent. He checked anyway & told me that they'd have to replace the socket. Hooray, on the same wavelength, that's a start. He took my contact details and quoted me £112 which included having the component installed by an expert. Not happy, but fair enough, if that's what needs doing, let's get on with it. He then tells me, it will take 7-10 days to get back.

Unimpressed, I ask if he could add a note saying I'd like it back by Friday (6th), now it's not his answer that annoys me but the way he words it. He says, that's not going to be likely, in fact he can guarantee it will take longer. Swiftly adding that's the only thing he can guarantee. I take the receipt and move away thinking, is my laptop even insured? Am I just sending it to a slaughterhouse? If this is what the Genius is like, only god knows what the experts do to it.

During this whole experience, me being me, I also caught the entire conversation the other Genius was having to the customer on my left. She was asking about how iTunes works with regards to grouping songs. A long story short, the guy in essence told her that she should not re-tag any of her music, she should only download songs from the iTunes store & if she ripped any custom compilation CD's, she shouldn't expect to see any titles, artist names or CD art.

She was also instructed not to organise her own music (though iTunes actually gives you an option to do so), she should allow iTunes and only iTunes to organise the music for her (like it's fricking God and knows everything you know). What a chump. I didn't intervene, but if I was one of those mystery shoppers assessing him, he'd be sacked, re-employed and sacked again, possibly even urinated on. I wonder how that works anyway, the whole mystery shopper thing, (I've worked out how to urinate) hmm, I'll have to look into that, potential fun.