In some thread a few weeks ago someone responded to a query about
an IBook going blackout. The response was "known problem" or something
like that.

Well, my IBook 800 went down hard, and two others that I know of in
this town have done the same thing, same problem. That is, screen
blacking out with artifacting on the right side of the screen.

So, is this 'known problem' actually repaired when they go back? Is a
new logic board going to fix it?

I am out of the country and getting a laptop to Miami to be repaired
is expensive.