Apple/Mac: Disappointed So Far

[sunsnewmac]

Best By barely sells Macs. Right now they have one floor model MBP left and that's it and I think I know why. The only people taking their laptops into the store for repairs yesterday happened to have Macs. I got my MB a few days ago and have been disappointed so far. Hearing the girl in front of me talk about her problems made me realize maybe Macs aren't all they're cracked up to be, especially given their hefty price tag.
First off, customer support seems mediocre at best. Best Buy had to take care of a serial number registration problem we were having with our new MB and for 2 days their manager has not been able to get help--and that's a major retailer calling them!
Then there is this bad networking problem I'm having, in which our desktop PCs float in and out of the Network area on the Mac (mostly out). It just refuses to maintain a stable home network, even after I reformatted and reinstalled the OS. We've networked our PCs for years without any problems.
Sure MBs are cute, but I am wondering if the anti-windows/mac snobbery thing is just a sign of insecurity and a need to defend purchasing an overpriced product?
I'll be expecting a wave of assaults from all the Macfolk out there, so bring it on!

 

[ChickenSwartz]

First, don't deal with Best Buy for help. Call AppleCare or better yet take it to an Apple store.

Second, post the specific networking problem you are having and someone will help you. I had problems with networking, a lot of people do and it is usually the router. That's what happened to me. Maybe you need to update the firmware.

 

[deadpixels]

i had actually the opposite problem, networking my mac in a work pc network never was a problem but the win pc's somtimes work sometimes not for no reason whatsoever! but if you don't like your mbook, just give it to me and go back to the darkside

 

[dpaanlka]

Best Buy isn't Apple. Carrying Apple products is a "prestige" thing for Best Buy more than anything else. Best Buy employees know NOTHING about Macs and really aren't inclined to care. Best Buy doesn't carry many Macs because few people that buy and use Macs actually go to Best Buy - we've had 20+ years of being "trained" into knowing what stores have quality Mac sales and support, and which stores do not, and Best Buy falls into the later category. If you want a pleasant Apple experience, you should deal with the very trained Apple employees at Apple stores, or at small Apple dealers that usually are "into" the computers they're carrying.

So there.

 

[gauchogolfer]

Sure MBs are cute, but I am wondering if the anti-windows/mac snobbery thing is just a sign of insecurity and a need to defend purchasing an overpriced product?

I'll be expecting a wave of assaults from all the Macfolk out there, so bring it on!

Is someone trying to stir up trouble?

As has already been posted, what is your networking problem? Also, blaming Apple for BestBuy's crappy support is kind of ridiculous, don't you think?

 

[miniConvert]

It'd be great to hear more details on your networking problem so we can try and help you

FWIW I have operated Mac's in a Windows network environment and Windows PC's in a Mac network environment and have been very happy with the cross-compatibility. At home my iTunes library is actually on a Windows share, and my Mac mini plays ball with that just fine.

 

[ChickenSwartz]

BestBuy's crappy support

I try not to listen (whether I am talking to them or overhearing) to people at BestBuy. The guys who sell have no formal training on computers ASFAIK and it shows. The Geek Squad folk do know computers but I think they are pushed hard to sell stuff instead of truly solve problems and help customers.

I buy from BestBuy but do ALL the research myself and turn to MacRumors if I have problems .

 

[sunsnewmac]

Hi
Actually I wasn't going to Best Buy for help with the Mac, but might have to because I can't register my serial number with Mac and they have to take care of that for me. Best Buy has been pretty nice to us actually.
Also I posted many times about the networking problem and no one seems to be able to help

 

[gauchogolfer]

Hi
Actually I wasn't going to Best Buy for help with the Mac, but might have to because I can't register my serial number with Mac and they have to take care of that for me. Best Buy has been pretty nice to us actually.
Also I posted many times about the networking problem and no one seems to be able to help

Could you link to your thread?
You've just joined in March, and today's the 4th...how many times could you actually have posted?

Anyways, people are generally very quick about helping, so just give it some time.

 

[sunsnewmac]

I've posted at least 3 other times. Just click on my username and you should bring up the posts.
To answer the prev question about the router firmware, I got a (next-gen) wireless N so it's as new as can be. Internet sharing works fine for the MB but networking is buggy.
Also, I called Apple Care but they won't help until I get my serial number cleared up. The MB I bought was open box, so someone must have already registered it and it's causing a problem.

here is one of my posts:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/284687/

then I posted right before I got a new wireless router so this one is out of date:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/284499/

and this is when I decided to reformat/reinstall which was cool in general but didn't help the networking issue:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/284718/

 

[TheAnswer]

You should update your older threads to update everyone to look at the thread that represents your current setup, just so our efforts can be put towards solving the problem as it exists now, instead your old setup.

Good luck!

 

[janey]

To answer the prev question about the router firmware, I got a (next-gen) wireless N so it's as new as can be. Internet sharing works fine for the MB but networking is buggy.

If it's a non-Apple 802.11n router and/or you're using with other non-Apple computers with pre-802.11n support, it's going to be buggy, period. The idea is that the 802.11n standard is well more than a year off from being officially a standard, so right now manufacturers are just throwing out products that conform to draft standards which aren't complete and don't always include everything necessary for a flawless setup.

The Geek Squad folk do know computers but I think they are pushed hard to sell stuff instead of truly solve problems and help customers.

Unless there was some other problem, if you were actually competent at tech support and computer repair, you would not be doing Geek Squad, you'd be off somewhere else making $50/hour.

I think even the Apple Store Genius position pays on average better than Geek Squad too, and it's not like Apple pays that much.

 

[sunsnewmac]

yes sir
i did that just now

 

[sunsnewmac]

Hi
Actually I had the same problems when using my regular wired ethernet router too, so it's not the N. In fact the N improved the network but not entirely

 

[bearbo]

I've posted at least 3 other times. Just click on my username and you should bring up the posts.
To answer the prev question about the router firmware, I got a (next-gen) wireless N so it's as new as can be. Internet sharing works fine for the MB but networking is buggy.
Also, I called Apple Care but they won't help until I get my serial number cleared up. The MB I bought was open box, so someone must have already registered it and it's causing a problem.

where did you buy it from, you should deal with the person/entity that you bought it from regarding the registering serial number issue. if it's already registered to someone else, apple's not gonna just move it over to you, the person who previously registered it has to do so (or the store that got the return)

 

[ChickenSwartz]

where did you buy it from, you should deal with the person/entity that you bought it from regarding the registering serial number issue. if it's already registered to someone else, apple's not gonna just move it over to you, the person who previously registered it has to do so (or the store that got the return)

He already said from BestBuy. BestBuy has been trying to fix it but can't get in touch with Apple.

And to comment on the problem....
This is obviously a BesyBuy problem, they should not re-sell returns if they can't handle this. You should ask to speek to the boss of the person who has been having no luck. Insist that they fix the problem or trade you for a new one.

 

[sunsnewmac]

bear: that's exactly why I was at Best Buy...

 

[sunsnewmac]

Yes I agree, the SN problem is Best Buy's. I know that and that is why they are calling Apple for me.

That is seperate from the networing issue, which I can't solve directly with Apple Care because of the SN problem

Is it clearer now?

My overall disappointment with the MB is mainly about the networking issues I'm having. If you review my posts you can see what I am experiencing and maybe offer some possible solutions.

To summarize, the MB sometimes sees the PCs shared files, and sometimes doesn't.

The PCs appear and disappear from the Networking area on the MB (and on whichever PC it's miscommunicating with too).
Internet has been fine.
PC-PC sharing is fine.
All are powered on, all are online.

 

[ChickenSwartz]

Yes I agree, the SN problem is Best Buy's. I know that and that is why they are calling Apple for me.

That is seperate from the networing issue, which I can't solve directly with Apple Care because of the SN problem

Is it clearer now?

My overall disappointment with the MB is mainly about the networking issues I'm having. If you review my posts you can see what I am experiencing and maybe offer some possible solutions.

To summarize, the MB sometimes sees the PCs shared files, and sometimes doesn't.

The PCs appear and disappear from the Networking area on the MB (and on whichever PC it's miscommunicating with too).
Internet has been fine.
PC-PC sharing is fine.
All are powered on, all are online.

I know they are separate problems. I just have no idea about the networking thing. Sorry. Good luck.

 

[sunsnewmac]

by the way thank you all for your help. I'm sorry if I sound angry, I'm just frustrated

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Unless there was some other problem, if you were actually competent at tech support and computer repair, you would not be doing Geek Squad, you'd be off somewhere else making $50/hour.

I think even the Apple Store Genius position pays on average better than Geek Squad too, and it's not like Apple pays that much.

HA - not necessarily. I worked at BB selling cameras and then in Customer Service. Our stores (i worked in 2) had a department Supervisor that SHOULD have been working somewhere making $50/hr+, but seriously quit that job because of stress. He'd be the one i'd want to show up at my house to fix something

But, my Team of Managers strived to hire only knowledgeable people, especially in computers, and they paid them well (pushing 1/2 of your $50 figure).

To the OP - we were having way weird networking yesterday, but replacing our router helped. As did changing from WPA2 to WPA, and then we had to pick the other type of key. I'm not in front of the router - so i can't check that, but when we found what worked on the Mac, it went rock solid.

 

[applemacdude]

llort

 

[SMM]

by the way thank you all for your help. I'm sorry if I sound angry, I'm just frustrated

Perhaps you should seek professional help for your network and frustration.

 

[zap2]

Never go to Best Buy for support...go to Apple, they know what they are talking about. As for your networking w/ PC, thats odd. I've had little problem w/ my Mac and its network, after I sent it up. I no longer use it w/ a PC, but when it network with Macs oh what joy.

Talk to Apple about networking w/ PCs see what they tell you

 

[greenmeanie]

I get right threw when calling apple? I don't get how Best Buy can't get a hold of them.