The way Apple Computer has been advertising PowerBook laptops lately, you'd think it produced the movie Mission Impossible, rather than just provided Tom Cruise's computer gear.
But Apple has a bigger mission this summer: repair a lot of PowerBooks and Performas - and restore consumer confidence in its products.
You might have heard the announcement in early May about some Macs being recalled, but you probably missed the details. Here they are:
Apple has started two ''repair extension programs,'' one to deal with Performas and LC computers using the PowerPC chip, the other to deal with troublesome PowerBooks.
The affected models: Power Mac 5200 - 75LC and 5300 - 100LC and Performa models 5200, 5215, 5300, 6200, 6205, 6214, 6216, 6218, 6220, 6230, 6290, 6300; and the PowerBooks 5300, 5300c, 5300ce, 5300cs, 190 and 190cs.
If you own any of those Mac models, you might have a problem. If it's an LC or Performa, the symptoms are mysterious freeze-ups due to defective components on the logic board or intermittent changes in the monitor's color hue due to a bad cable.
The only way to fix these is to return the unit to Apple - or an Apple dealer - for a new logic board or monitor cable.
The PowerBook problems are a bit more varied:
For the 5300 series, the PowerBook might intermittently drop off LocalTalk networks, take a long time to boot when plugged into AC power or have problems with certain PC cards. The 5300 series and 190 series might also have a bad AC power connector or display bezel hinge.
When I called Apple's Customer Assistance Center (1-800-SOS-APPL), the support person was unsure about the details of the repair programs.
Apple is scheduled to release more information about the recall this month, including a system-checking application that will tell you if your Performa or PowerBook has a bad logic board.
This is helpful to Apple customers and dealers, since system freeze-ups are not uncommon in Macs - or for any computer, for that matter. My wife's Performa (not one of the affected models) freezes up regularly, mainly due to a shortage of RAM.
The application will check only the logic board; the monitor cable problem is evident on the screen; and some of the PowerBook problems can be sorted out only by a repair person.
Apple will offer the free repair for up to seven years after the models are discontinued.
Apple spokeswoman Nancy Morrison was diplomatic when I asked how many Performas and PowerBooks are affected.
''In Europe and Asia, we're seeing a small number of problems. In the U.S., there's a higher-than-normal number of problems, although some resellers say they're not having any problems,'' she said last week.
Ms. Morrison said Apple will announce this month details of the repair program and will distribute the system-checking application to dealers and registered owners of the affected models.
Apple also will distribute the application on online services (including its large forum on America Online) and on the Apple Web site (http: - - www.apple.com)
If you own one of the affected models, now might be a good time to send in that registration card!
Another Apple announcement you might have missed: If you're using Mac Operating System 7.5, you should get a copy of System Update 2.0. It updates your computer's operating system to 7.5.3 and fixes a host of bugs that cause - you guessed it - system freezes and crashes. These were primarily ''Type 11'' (hardware) errors and incompatibilities between Apple and third-party control panels. It also replaces several system files with more efficient ''native'' PowerMac versions. You can find the update on America Online (keyword Apple) or at http: - - www.info.apple.com - swupdates - . Or you can order it directly from Apple by calling 1-800-293-6617, ext 984. It's free.
TORCHCAM UPDATE:
If you looked for the Cincinnati Bell ''Torch-cam'' site I wrote about last week, you couldn't find it. It was shut down at the last minute because the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games complained that the Web site apparently overstepped the rules for WLWT's local broadcast of Olympics events, and Cincinnati Bell's sponsorship of local Olympics coverage.
Officials at both Bell and WLWT were tight-lipped, only saying in a press release, ''This was a misunderstanding that has been rectified.''
Unfortunately, there was no explanation Thursday morning at the Web site, leaving visitors wondering what happened. The site reappeared later in the day with a two-sentence apology, suggesting visitors ''tune into WLWT-TV for its broadcast.''
All this is proof that the Olympics has become a very big business.
E-mail Charles Brewer with questions, comments and suggestions at cbrewer@enquirer.com.