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Apple has announced The Power Mac G4 Power Supply Exchange Program, which offers owners of MDD (Mirrored Drive Door) PowerMac G4s the option of reducing the operating "acoustic level" (ie that thundering roar) of their computers by exchanging their original power supplies and system fans for new, quieter versions.

The Power Supply Exchange Program kit is available at no charge However, a shipping and handling fee of $19.95 (or equivalent local currency) will be charged. The kit contains the following items:
... Power supply (360W);
... System fan;
... Allen key (2.5 mm);
... Installation instructions in English, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish and Swedish; and
... Prepaid return airbill and instructions for returning the original components to Apple

According Apple, this program began yesterday (Feb 21) and ends June 30. The Power Supply Exchange Program is available only to owners of MDD PowerMac G4, which were introduced in August 2002.

Country-specific participation instructions are available on the page linked above and Apple cautions that overseas pricing may vary.

Editor's note: Though this isn't quite ideal, I think the company's acknowledgment of the problem and, now, offer of this resolution method is far and away better than could be expected from nearly anyone else on the planet. Honestly, Apple isn't the only vendor ever to sell computers that roar, but to my knowledge this is the first attempt by any maker to remedy the problem.

What's your take?