Laptop power problem

[Nancy Allison]

Intensely annoying! 

The power connection to my laptop has become increasingly unreliable. When I plug in the power cable, the connection isn't made, and the laptop continues to work from the battery. I used to be able to jiggle the connector to get it to settle in so the connection would persist.

Now, short of standing and pushing down on the connector with my thumb, I can't get the connection to stay up. I am currently using my backup cable, which has the same problem but it is not as severe (yet).

At the computer store where I bought it (and where the warranty is long outdated), the salesman said that this is the "dirty little secret" of laptops and that lots of them have this problem. Only IBMs and Apples have solved the problem (the Macs by splitting the cable into four, with four magnetic connectors).

Have you encountered this problem, and were you able to solve it? Maybe my backup cable will last until the laptop is obsolete, but if it doesn't, I will have no way to use my laptop.

Thanks for all suggestions.