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Bummer + Lame + Capitalism = Apple Inc. (Video & Pics)

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powermac_daddy

powermac_daddy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 22, 2005
385
0
Philadelphia & Northern California
I am forced to use this title. I love their designs, I love the company. I have 7 Apple products at home: Ipod shuffle, Ipod nano 4G, Ipod nano 8G, PowerPC G5 Dual 2.7, Apple 23" Display, MacBook 2.0 and MacBook Pro 2.4. One again, I don't hate Mac. In fact, I think they are not handling the newly released MBP properly. I mean Quality Control.

I received my 2nd MBP this morning, I requested return/exchange 10 minutes after I opened the box. Why? My $3,100 is not enough for some Quality Control... Check it out. I have a video and pictures on my Blog.

LIU_0011-721478.jpg


LIU_0006-748593.jpg
 
Screen looks a *bit* stripe-y. As for the "curvature" of the lid I don't think that is out of spec. You are pressing on one side to demonstrate how "bent" it is, but the screens aren't even designed to be *perfectly* flat. You won't get Apple to fix or replace your machine because of that. If the screen is as bad as it appears in the photo then you'll likely receive another. Sorry you got a bum one.
 
hayduke said:
Screen looks a *bit* stripe-y. As for the "curvature" of the lid I don't think that is out of spec. You are pressing on one side to demonstrate how "bent" it is, but the screens aren't even designed to be *perfectly* flat. You won't get Apple to fix or replace your machine because of that. If the screen is as bad as it appears in the photo then you'll likely receive another. Sorry you got a bum one.
Click to expand...

Did you hear the noise? That's not normal.
 
ouch! nasty MacBook... Oh well y just have to order another one... (or order a MB not an MBP) MacBooks are more durable than Macbook Pros they are compact and great to work with.
 
hayduke said:
As for the "curvature" of the lid I don't think that is out of spec. You are pressing on one side to demonstrate how "bent" it is, but the screens aren't even designed to be *perfectly* flat. You won't get Apple to fix or replace your machine because of that.
Click to expand...

They might not replace it because of that specific issue, but it's a design fault that they don't shut evenly in most cases - it's nothing to do with them designing it to be uneven.

I was lucky and got a PB with a perfect-fitting lid. They do exist, but they're pretty rare - as it seems are problem free machines these days :rolleyes:
 
That birds video is scary as hell. It reminds me of the movie Birds, as that was the movie that gave me nightmares for a week straight when I was younger.
 
yup, their quality control sucks. I completely agree with you. if you type in "Dell inspiron problems" into google you don't get as many relevant hits as if you type in "macbook pro problems"!
 
powermac_daddy said:
Seriously... what's up with that? what a disappointment!
Click to expand...

yup...i havent even been able to enjoy my new laptop because im so focused on defects. i hope everything turns out okay...

BTW my lid does not wobble like that. my screen is probably defective (lol) but I don't notice yellow. my mbp is not that loud either...i just hear the fans, but not THAT. you got a real dud.
 
queshy said:
..if you type in "Dell inspiron problems" into google you don't get as many relevant hits as if you type in "macbook pro problems"!
Click to expand...

Well that is only because people who own Inspirons do not know how to type in the first place, let alone do them "internets" :D

But seriously, I do realize people are having problems with their recent macintels, but even the fanboys that we are, there is a bigger chance that we will report our problems more vocally than a dell user. I have an inspiron, (I hate it, but it was given to me for a job) and I use to use them in a few of my older jobs. Even though alot of my friends who used them had problems with them, none of us would have really cared to complain to anybody besides dell, besides the occasional nonchalant, "Dell Sucks".

But since many are so passionate about apple, that passion turns into a very vocal commentary on problems that are large, like this one, or even the smaller ones.

IMHO
 
Unfortunately the lid problem is something Apple hasn't been able to fix in the past four years so I doubt they'll do it now. I used to get annoyed by it, but then I learned to accept it.

The other problem will of course be fixed by Apple through warranty.

I don't know what to say. On the one hand, it pisses me off that Apple qC has slipped like this. On the other hand, I feel that if your only problem is the lid, then you're doing VERY well computer-wise. I mean, most my PC friends encounter issues on a regular basis that would have me pulling my hair out - mainly software-related.

We are paying for the integration and actually quite superb software/OS and unfortunately Apple is being greedy and ignoring the problems. In the long run it will come back to bite them. For now, I've learned to count my blessings if I have a machine with only a small issue, like the lid being unevenly assembled on the computer.

Also, most of the factories in which these things and their components are made are run by Chinese or Taiwanese businesses. Their Chinese/Taiwanese bosses/owners exploit their workers so that they can make more money and Apple exploits that situation so ti can make more money. On the other hand, salaries are still low in China and these factories provide much needed work for migrant workers from the impoverished country side so it's not all bad. Global capitalism for you! The world needs to become more responsible and start applying equal standards everywhere.
 
powermac_daddy said:
Did you hear the noise? That's not normal.
Click to expand...


Macsaber? :rolleyes:
lol

Seriously though, that is weird. And that screen isn't just a bit bent like it could have been intentional, that was FUBAR! Sorry man, that really does suck, esp. if that is your second one. Me and my perfect Macbook are thinking of you. :)
 
Is that screen lighting from an LED MBP?


Honestly, if I were Apple, I'd consider NOT being at the bleeding edge of technology. LED lit LCD panels become available, and Apple becomes a very early adopter of this tech. Great...bragging rights. However, it's just that for Apple and for customers. If you leave ego out of this, I think people would realize that you run risks when you buy into very new technology. That screen lighting looks very uneven.
 
NintendoFan said:
LED's stand the chance of being far more even backlit than CCFL.
Click to expand...

check out this review (In german - run it through an online translation service to get a reasonable English version ) to get some more objective measurements of the display in terms of brightness and illumination distribution.

http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-Notebook-Santa-Rosa.4038.0.html

The LED MBPs appear even less evenly illuminated than the previous ones, though the brightness seems to mask some of that problem. Interesting read though.
 
PDE said:
In the long run it will come back to bite them. For now, I've learned to count my blessings if I have a machine with only a small issue, like the lid being unevenly assembled on the computer.
Click to expand...
exactly. For instance, if this quality control starts to spread to their biggest market, the iPod, then things will get nasty, not to mention, the iPhone.

This is the main reason I'm getting AppleCare. I will get my money's worth if i have to.
 
Sorry to hear about the problems you're having with your MBP. I would keep working with Apple until they get it right for you.

All political/economic systems have their pluses and minuses. Many have more minuses than others. At least Capitalism allows you the opportunity to excel and either work for yourself or an employer who can pay you enough to afford a MBP. :)

This is not a Capitalism problem, but rather a *possible* issue with a (display) supplier, manufacturing and QA. I say *possible* because I have not seen any numbers or metrics which make me believe Apple's defect rate is any higher than any of the other top 5 PC manufacturers. Last time I looked Apple's customer satisfaction was at the very top of the list and the Mac market share was somewhere around 5.6% for Q207 and increasing. If Apple was having widespread quality issues this would not be the case.

Keep working with Apple until they get it right for you. You paid $3100, (politely) demand satisfaction.
 
queshy said:
yup, their quality control sucks. I completely agree with you. if you type in "Dell inspiron problems" into google you don't get as many relevant hits as if you type in "macbook pro problems"!
Click to expand...

While that may be true, a quick look through the postings on any Apple-related forum can provide a partial explanation that has nothing to do with actual product quality. For example, how often on a PC forum do you see members asking if they should get a refund for a half-inch scratch on the underside of their laptop, or because their machine occasionally sees temperatures in excess of 46.21 degrees Celsius (or whatever)? How often do they go into an obsessive-compulsive fit of worry if their laptop takes 5.357 seconds to wake from sleep instead of the usual 3.142?

I'm certainly not saying the MBP doesn't have its share of problems as a product line---and I definitely think the OP's machine needs to go back in this case. And God knows, I'm fairly neurotic about my Apple products, too. Perhaps the premium price justifies the extra neurosis---but whatever the reasons may be, the fact remains that Apple's products have a way of sometimes bringing out the worst in us, whether there's actually anything wrong with them or not.
 
Abstract said:
Honestly, if I were Apple, I'd consider NOT being at the bleeding edge of technology.
Click to expand...

Actually, iPhone aside, I would say this is exactly what Apple is doing in 2007. The company's negligence for their computer business this year means that while they're still some of the best computers out there, there's nothing really bleeding edge about any of Apple's offerings right now.
 
PDE said:
check out this review (In german - run it through an online translation service to get a reasonable English version ) to get some more objective measurements of the display in terms of brightness and illumination distribution.

http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-Notebook-Santa-Rosa.4038.0.html

The LED MBPs appear even less evenly illuminated than the previous ones, though the brightness seems to mask some of that problem. Interesting read though.
Click to expand...

I think they got a bum one. I measured mine and only had a variance of 283 cd/m^2 (lower left) to 327 cd/m^2 (upper center). Still not perfect, but quite a bit better than 242-346.

In any case, LED backlighting is no panacea for even illumination. A typical manufacturing run may produce LEDs with as much as 20% variance in light output. Assemble a set of these into a backlight and there will be measurable differences in illumination across a given area.
 
powermac_daddy said:
I am forced to use this title. I love their designs, I love the company. I have 7 Apple products at home: Ipod shuffle, Ipod nano 4G, Ipod nano 8G, PowerPC G5 Dual 2.7, Apple 23" Display, MacBook 2.0 and MacBook Pro 2.4. One again, I don't hate Mac. In fact, I think they are not handling the newly released MBP properly. I mean Quality Control.

I received my 2nd MBP this morning, I requested return/exchange 10 minutes after I opened the box. Why? My $3,100 is not enough for some Quality Control... Check it out. I have a video and pictures on my Blog.

LIU_0011-721478.jpg


LIU_0006-748593.jpg
Click to expand...


just curious, were you playing or burning a cd in that video? or was that the fans/processor make that noise? my mbp makes a similar noise, but only when i move it while it is playing or burning a cd/dvd. good luck with your replacement
 
Alloye said:
I think they got a bum one. I measured mine and only had a variance of 283 cd/m^2 (lower left) to 327 cd/m^2 (upper center). Still not perfect, but quite a bit better than 242-346.

In any case, LED backlighting is no panacea for even illumination. A typical manufacturing run may produce LEDs with as much as 20% variance in light output. Assemble a set of these into a backlight and there will be measurable differences in illumination across a given area.
Click to expand...


yes, maybe they did, but so did many other people. Maybe you were lucky and the rest are the norm....

Mine is definitely unevenly illuminated, but not in a way that really bothers me. By contrast, my old MBPs (non-SR) had weird 'shadows' and much worse viewing angles which contributed to the feeling that it was very unevenly illuminated.
 
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