Well. It’s like this. To fix it (assuming it isn’t covered by a warranty – damage usually is not) you will need to find a Mac fixing service, who can take it apart, remove the damaged port, and fit a new one, and put it all back together again.

Estimated cost at current prices…. £60 is a bargain. Most places would charge about £150 for that sort of fix. It’s not the parts you are paying for, it’s the skills. I hate fixing Macbooks -they are amazing constructions but a cast iron bitch to maintain in terms of assembly and disassembly. Also, Apple have a habit of fitting proprietary parts – they are sole suppliers of some spares, and when they run out, sorry, it’s time to purchase a new Apple – or (if there’s a Linux version of your software needs) get a cheap laptop, run Ubuntu, and save a fortune.

Anyone know better? Indy Mac fixing places are generally friendly and tend to get very creative people as customers, but being very small, they get no economy of scale.

Buy one of these.

Not the most elegant solution but far cheaper and less headache than getting it fixed.

Chances are it’s exactly the same circuitry found in the in-built soundcard in most PC laptops, just in a plastic housing – I can’t vouch for the sound quality but there are several similar, more expensive ones on the CPC site that you could try? But if it sounds crap its only a fiver wasted.