Recurrent dying hard disks

Last week I turned on my iBook (800MHz G4 12-inch) and the hard disk started spinning up very rapidly. When logging into my user account it started 'squealing' before resuming the fast hard disk spinning, and the computer would not respond.
I started up with the apple hardware test, and running the quick test got the error "2STF/4/3: ATA- 100 ata- 6 - Master". Running the test a second time gave "2STF/1/4: ATA- 100 ata- 6 - Master".
I realise this is an issue with the hard disk. However, I then restarted with the 10.4 DVD and ran disk utility. It took half an hour to actually find the hard disk, and failed to repair the disk, but I did manage to reformat and reinstall the OS. Now disk utility reports no problems with the hard disk (even SMART verified) and there are no errors with apple hardware test.
This is not the first time I have had this problem. The hard disk died with the same error coming up at the end of last year. The hard disk was replaced at an authorised apple repair centre, only for it to die again and get replaced a second time at the same repair centre. It happened again a few months ago, but I was able to reformat it as described above. So this latest episode will be the forth time. I have booked it in to get repaired again, but I am doubtful this will resolve the problem.
These hard disk crashes usually occur without warning, and involve the loss of anything that I have not backed up. This is a problem since I use my iBook extensively for university and my job (in fact the original crash included the loss of most of my course work).
Is there a limit to the number of times applecare will repair a defective computer before replacing it? Or should I cut my losses, cancel applecare, and get another mac, since this is the first time I've ever had problems with an apple product?
Cheers,
Malcolm

Well I the repair centre looked at my list of problems, and instead of just replacing the hard disk, they ran apple diagnostic software (a bit like the apple hardware test but takes about 5 hours to run) and it turns out there was a problem with the logic board. So the logic board is going to get replaced, and hopefully everything will be great.
Laura, you could suggest this the next time your iBook needs fixing. As for the iMac, hopefully that was a one off. Good luck

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Recurrent dying hard disks

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