So it looks like I’m having MacBook problems again. Namely, random, spontaneous shutdowns. MacBook narcolepsy, so to speak, if narcolepsy were characterized by sudden death, rather than sleep.

The best description I’ve found was posted by someone who goes by “Guy Kuo” on numerous Mac forums:

MacBook suddenly shuts off to a completely powered down state seemingly at random. There are no kernel panic, mouse freezing, or other premonitory symptoms. The machine simply powers down suddenly. The screen goes black. The hard drive spins down and no sleep light illuminates. The machine simply turns itself off.

Also, a video of the anomaly.

After spending half the day wading through discussion forums, I’ve determined that I probably won’t be able to fix the problem myself, which necessitates another trip to the Apple Store for me, and another trip to the repair facility for my MacBook. The first time, it was a broken speaker. This time, the issue is more severe.

I can’t help but be somewhat disappointed with my first Mac. I had high expectations, perhaps unreasonably so. Yet I also knew, to a certain extent, what I was getting myself into by buying a first revision Apple product. I just didn’t think the problems would be quite so serious.

Despite it all, though, I am not looking forward to being stranded with Windows for weeks on end while my Mac is in for repairs. This MacBook is still the most elegant, least frustrating, flat-out best computer I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning/using. And that’s still worth something.