A new batch of MacBooks?

[M. Malone]

I'm getting close to purchasing a black MacBook, but there are many stories of whines, moos, heat, sudden shutdowns, etc.

now it's been a while since the MacBook was first released, if I buy a built to order MacBook from Apple.com, am I still risking getting a MacBook with the stated problems? has Apple made any progress on the MacBooks since they first released them?

I recall reading a thread on how Apple is already on Rev. D MacBook Pros, they just never announced any of the fixes publicly. have they done the same with the MacBook, or is buying a MacBook tomorrow the same as buying one the first day it came out, thanks.

 

[Acehigh]

I own a black Macbook with no problems.... Its a great computer for the price.


If you are that worried nobody forcing you to buy one. You always will have a small risk of getting a bad one. But it worth the risk

 

[66217]

Technically, is the same as if you had bought it the first day.

Remember that a new Rev appears when major changes are done. we can say the Mac-book Pro is in rev. B. (because they had a speed bump and some new choices as glossy screen). Some will say that Rev. B. will be when MBP have Core 2 Duo chips.

But Apple do makes some improvements. For example, the discoloration problem with white MB was corrected (this don't means a Rev B).

I have a Black MB, and I don't have heat, whine, sudden shut-downs, or whine problems. The majority don't have these problems. Is just that you get the impression that all have them because in this forums you only see people that have problems.

I hope this helps you.

 

[xfiftyfour]

it's definitely not the same as buying one the day they came out. certainly they've addressed some issues, but not all. it's hard to say, really, since many of the issues come up weeks after the purchase..

but don't forget - you have applecare. if something is wrong with your machine, you can have it fixed.

 

[M. Malone]

thanks for the replies, I'm more confident that you both have said you have no problems, in my opinion, Apple has a pretty tough customer service to deal with, when I got my intel iMac, it had problems, it took a 7 day phone marathon to FINALLY convince them something is wrong and have a replacement sent, it's like they try to convince you that something may be wrong with you, not their machine.

my fear is if I get a MacBook and it has problems, I really don't feel like going through the hassle I did with getting a replacement.

 

[xfiftyfour]

thanks for the replies, I'm more confident that you both have said you have no problems, in my opinion, Apple has a pretty tough customer service to deal with, when I got my intel iMac, it had problems, it took a 7 day phone marathon to FINALLY convince them something is wrong and have a replacement sent, it's like they try to convince you that something may be wrong with you, not their machine.

my fear is if I get a MacBook and it has problems, I really don't feel like going through the hassle I did with getting a replacement.

well i'll admit that for many, replacements have been difficult unless the problems are extreme, or there are many of them. for example, i've read that users with the "moo" just kind of have to deal with it. same with those that complain about the heat. i guess if you pushed hard enough and asked to speak to the right people, you'd be able to get something done - but it's not always easy.

that said, i have a white week 26 that doesn't have any problems except the staining. i called applecare and they asked for my serial number and then immediately agreed to replace the part.

the probability of you getting a defective machine now is probably a lot less likely than this forum makes it seem (as it's been said before: the users with problems will post, those that are happy probably won't).

 

[Acehigh]

thanks for the replies, I'm more confident that you both have said you have no problems, in my opinion, Apple has a pretty tough customer service to deal with, when I got my intel iMac, it had problems, it took a 7 day phone marathon to FINALLY convince them something is wrong and have a replacement sent, it's like they try to convince you that something may be wrong with you, not their machine.

my fear is if I get a MacBook and it has problems, I really don't feel like going through the hassle I did with getting a replacement.

How far do you live from a retail store? If it is close they probably thought you just wanted a new machine. You know how many calls Apple must get for a replace computer, that the owner says is broken. If something is wrong send it to them.


Also remember a macbook is a low end computer for Apple. It not going to be as perfect as the Macbook pro. You should buy a MBP.

 

[M. Malone]

Also remember a macbook is a low end computer for Apple. It not going to be as perfect as the Macbook pro. You should buy a MBP.

so what do you mean? I was under the impression it's lower end in terms of graphics power, other than that, it's still a high quality product, are you saying the internal parts are cheap? I already have an iMac with the 256 video card, so graphics aren't important, the size of the macbook is its main selling point for me, and I'm gonna spend around $2k on it, and I expect a top notch quality product

 

[xfiftyfour]

Also remember a macbook is a low end computer for Apple. It not going to be as perfect as the Macbook pro. You should buy a MBP.

Is that why the MBPs have been in production longer and yet still have just as many problems as the MBs?

 

[Scarlet Fever]

i used a black MacBook the other day.
Only two words can describe it:
Dead.
Sexy.

It feels a lot different to my white one; the top and bottom cover feel much more welcoming to the hands than the white ones, due to the matte finish.

If i had my time again, if i had more money, and if i had used one before i bought one, i would have one right now. But, i have one of the fastest consumer laptops ever made, so I'm not complaining

Mine does not moo, doesnt whine, doesnt stain....

I'll admit, it does have one (fairly fatal) flaw. It suffers from the random shutdown problem. Im going to call Apple tomorrow to get them to sort it out.

That being said, there are more good macbooks than there are bad. There have been a few polls on this site about their experience with MacBooks, and more often than not, they have perfect machines. Don't get put off because of some people complaining about problems; they are brilliant computers, which should last you many years.

 

[fatties]

i have a week 19 white and it has no problems either if it makes you feel better

 

[mattthemutt]

thanks for the replies, I'm more confident that you both have said you have no problems, in my opinion, Apple has a pretty tough customer service to deal with, when I got my intel iMac, it had problems, it took a 7 day phone marathon to FINALLY convince them something is wrong and have a replacement sent, it's like they try to convince you that something may be wrong with you, not their machine.

my fear is if I get a MacBook and it has problems, I really don't feel like going through the hassle I did with getting a replacement.

Interesting. That has never been my experience with Apple Support. I have to say that from what I've seen, they've always taken my word when I have had problems and helped me to the greatest extent of their abilities. Mind you, I've never had to have something as major as an entire Mac be replaced, but I'd think that they would be sympathetic if a new Mac had problems.

I find it odd that it takes so much to convince them that there is something wrong.

 

[Unspeaked]

Also remember a macbook is a low end computer for Apple. It not going to be as perfect as the Macbook pro. You should buy a MBP.

This is one of the most ignorant comments I've read in this forum.

 

[M. Malone]

I visited the Apple store today to buy a BT Mighty Mouse, which they are out of, then I went to play with the MacBooks, I see the first one, it seems to be sleeping, I hit a key, nothing, then I push the power button...it wakes up, but the dock in the bottom seems stuck halfway, like only half of it shows, the other half is under the the screen area, I move the trackpad around, then the whole mac turns off, and now I can't turn it back on, power is connected, the green light is on on the magsafe, I had no idea what was wrong, so I move to the left to use the one next to it. It seems to work fine, so when I attempt to close it, the hinges creak and squeak, like the screen is ready to fall off. What a bad experience.

so let me ask the ones that have a macBook, do any of these things happen?

 

[M. Malone]

This is one of the most ignorant comments I've read in this forum.

so the MBP and the MB are the same computer minus the videocard? in terms of quality I'm asking

 

[miles01110]

so the MBP and the MB are the same computer minus the videocard? in terms of quality I'm asking

The MBP is a nicer computer, hands down. The MB is a great buy though- decent screen, specs, etc.

 

[66217]

I visited the Apple store today to buy a BT Mighty Mouse, which they are out of, then I went to play with the MacBooks, I see the first one, it seems to be sleeping, I hit a key, nothing, then I push the power button...it wakes up, but the dock in the bottom seems stuck halfway, like only half of it shows, the other half is under the the screen area, I move the trackpad around, then the whole mac turns off, and now I can't turn it back on, power is connected, the green light is on on the magsafe, I had no idea what was wrong, so I move to the left to use the one next to it. It seems to work fine, so when I attempt to close it, the hinges creak and squeak, like the screen is ready to fall off. What a bad experience.

so let me ask the ones that have a macBook, do any of these things happen?

Macs in the stores tend to have problems. Consider that users that don't know how to use them play with them. sometimes you'll see this.
I've never had the problem you mentioned.

I was in your same situation, I was fearful of having a defective MB, but now I am a happy owner of a Black MB.

 

[66217]

so the MBP and the MB are the same computer minus the videocard? in terms of quality I'm asking

It's like saying that a Honda Civic is prone to more problems because it is the cheap car of Honda. and the Accord would not have problems because it is expensive.

This is not true, the MB is an excellent computer for what it is meant to do (you can't play games, but that is not a defect). Having the base-model doesn't means that your machine would be defective.

 

[miles01110]

Any computer you buy has a certain probability of catastrophic failure, no matter what the make or price. Just because the MB has a lot of reported problems doesn't mean ALL of them do, which seems to be the popular misconception. It's a good example of the 20-80 rule, 20% of the MBs are tainting the reputation of the rest of them. I assure you that the vast majority of units do NOT have problems.

And hey, at least macs don't burst into flames. Can't say the same about Dell *snicker*

 

[M. Malone]

The MBP is a nicer computer, hands down. The MB is a great buy though- decent screen, specs, etc.

the 2.16 MBP is well within my price range, but I want a MB for the size, and I never need a graphics card, and if I ever do, I have my iMac, basically I'm getting the macbook cause I'm expecting a top notch machine, not cause it's a good value, even though it is, I hope you guys can see the angle I'm looking at it from

 

[Unspeaked]

so the MBP and the MB are the same computer minus the videocard? in terms of quality I'm asking

It's the same family of processor, the same quality hard drive and RAM, the same level of manufacter of logic board, practically the same screen (in a smaller size).

The price difference in the MacBook Pro comes from:

• The expansion slot

• The larger screen selection

• The video card

• The backlit keyboard

Assuming you don't need these features, the quality level is the same between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro lines.

In fact, I've been working on Macs for a long time, and I think these product lines are the closest the consumer level and pro level laptops have ever been in Apple's history.

For example, back in the day, the iBooks were notably of poorer internal quality than the PowerBooks - that's no longer the case.

 

[M. Malone]

It's the same family of processor, the same quality hard drive and RAM, the same level of manufacter of logic board, practically the same screen (in a smaller size).

The price difference in the MacBook Pro comes from:

• The expansion slot

• The larger screen selection

• The video card

• The backlit keyboard

Assuming you don't need these features, the quality level is the same between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro lines.

In fact, I've been working on Macs for a long time, and I think these product lines are the closest the consumer level and pro level laptops have ever been in Apple's history.

For example, back in the day, the iBooks were notably of poorer internal quality than the PowerBooks - that's no longer the case.

THANK YOU Unspeaked! this is exactly what I wanted to know

 

[wilk0076]

It's like saying that a Honda Civic is prone to more problems because it is the cheap car of Honda. and the Accord would not have problems because it is expensive.

This is not true, the MB is an excellent computer for what it is meant to do (you can't play games, but that is not a defect). Having the base-model doesn't means that your machine would be defective.

Did you just compare my sweet shiny Macbook to a Honda Civic?


In all seriousness, you make a valid point. I will go on record as saying that every day I use my Macbook is a day that I love it more. I've had it since June 8th.

 

[Acehigh]

Is that why the MBPs have been in production longer and yet still have just as many problems as the MBs?

I think there are too many people rushing to buy a shinny computer and like to complain... The TI Powerbook CHIPS!! that was a real problem and people didnt complain as much as mooin.

I own a Macbook it is made like a cheap PC... You get what you pay for. I paid over $3600 for my Powerbook TI 867 with combo drive. Its a big difference. Even with cheaper parts, apple margins came down with the Macbook andMacbook Pro. So of course you going to lose something..

 

[Acehigh]

This is one of the most ignorant comments I've read in this forum.

No ....Apple need to still make a profit on the macbook ... They are not running a charity like some people think. 100% of you money isnt going to build your computer. They are cheaply made now for the masses. You are not buying a 3k+ computer anymore.


Also they are making the computers alot quicker, so it will never be the same again. Apple laptops are still better then Dell and Compaq, but the Macbook is very low end compared to what they used to release.


I own a Macbook and it is perfect.. but i doubt it will last as long as my Ti powerbook for sure.