For two weeks I've been stuck in MacBook Pro Hell. The originally purchased MBP was returned two days later and D.O.A.'d by a very polite, if not impressive "genius" at a local Apple retail store. It had a warped lid, warped casing, processor fuzz, and faulty volume control. I was given a new machine. However it was much the same with the replacement - warped lid, processor noise, and faulty volume control. This time I decided to wait to return the unit, hoping to land a newer, possibly revised model.
So yesterday I visited the Apple store, with renewed hope that things would be different...that perhaps I would finally land one of the rumored trouble-free MBPs. But this time I would be greeted rather rudely at the Genius Bar, my complaints ignored and my computer found to be "within spec" after a rather unneccesary hardware test. But how could this be? Only a week earlier I had been told that my first MBP, which possessed the exact same symptoms as the present MBP, was indeed atypical and should be replaced. My new genius said that the last genius shouldn't have replaced my computer and told me that I would need to phone Apple to convey my displeasure with the build quality. WHAT???
I was then told by a manager that he could not help me since his genius had proclaimed the MBP to be within spec. He then all but admitted that owning a MBP at this stage in its life was akin to beta-testing, and "offered" to waive the restock fee if I wanted to exchange the MBP for a Powerbook. I told him that I didn't think sticking-me with an outdated laptop was a viable solution. I was then told that I was free to return the computer - minus a $200 restocking fee! Furious, I told him that if I was forced into doing this (thus losing all of the contents of my computer) that Apple would lose a customer for life. He went to the back. Fifteen minutes later he returned and, grudgingly, agreed to replace the notebook free of charge, with the understanding that this would be the last time I would be able to do so. So not without a little bewilderment, I agreed to these terms, waited another day for them to transfer the content from #2 to #3.
Today I am happy to report no major complaints with MacBook #3, save for continued trouble with the volume control (still no sound on the lower 6 sound settings). The serial is in the W8613 range, which if what I've read here is correct, means that this is a revised unit. Hopefully this means future buyers will not have to suffer any of these problems. For those that are currently having trouble with their MBP, I would strongly advise you to demand a repair or replacement. There is a problem and $2000+ is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on something that causes you grief out of the box.
So yesterday I visited the Apple store, with renewed hope that things would be different...that perhaps I would finally land one of the rumored trouble-free MBPs. But this time I would be greeted rather rudely at the Genius Bar, my complaints ignored and my computer found to be "within spec" after a rather unneccesary hardware test. But how could this be? Only a week earlier I had been told that my first MBP, which possessed the exact same symptoms as the present MBP, was indeed atypical and should be replaced. My new genius said that the last genius shouldn't have replaced my computer and told me that I would need to phone Apple to convey my displeasure with the build quality. WHAT???
I was then told by a manager that he could not help me since his genius had proclaimed the MBP to be within spec. He then all but admitted that owning a MBP at this stage in its life was akin to beta-testing, and "offered" to waive the restock fee if I wanted to exchange the MBP for a Powerbook. I told him that I didn't think sticking-me with an outdated laptop was a viable solution. I was then told that I was free to return the computer - minus a $200 restocking fee! Furious, I told him that if I was forced into doing this (thus losing all of the contents of my computer) that Apple would lose a customer for life. He went to the back. Fifteen minutes later he returned and, grudgingly, agreed to replace the notebook free of charge, with the understanding that this would be the last time I would be able to do so. So not without a little bewilderment, I agreed to these terms, waited another day for them to transfer the content from #2 to #3.
Today I am happy to report no major complaints with MacBook #3, save for continued trouble with the volume control (still no sound on the lower 6 sound settings). The serial is in the W8613 range, which if what I've read here is correct, means that this is a revised unit. Hopefully this means future buyers will not have to suffer any of these problems. For those that are currently having trouble with their MBP, I would strongly advise you to demand a repair or replacement. There is a problem and $2000+ is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on something that causes you grief out of the box.
