Can I sue Apple for MacBook Pro being too hot? Any legal support?

[EricChunky]

update 2:

i am so suprised that no-one seems to read my update below. I WANT TO RETURN MY MACBOOK PRO, the legal thing is just something to back me uP IN CASE APPLE REFUSE to do so OR charges a ridiculously high RESTOCKING FEE!

and for those who said your powerbook / dell has been hot, go outside to bestbuy and try other computers. I personally USED 3 DIFFERENT CORE DUO LAPTOPs, and i can ASSURE YOU PEOPLE that SONY FE and SE series which features a COREDUO CPU as well as a GEFORCE GO 7400 Graphic card ARE CONFORTABLE TO BE LEFT ON YOUR LAP FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT EVEN YOU ARE PLAYING 3D GAMES SUCH AS ELDER SCROLL OBLIVION!

DON'T F**KING ASSUME EVERY COREDUO LAPTOP SHOULD BE HOT and TRY TO JUSTIFY THE MACBOOK PRO ISSUES.
DON'T F**KING ASSUME EVERY THIN LAPTOP SHOULD HAVE NOISE unless YOU HAVE TRIED THOSE SEXY SAMSUNG AND SONY OUT FIRST.
DON'T F**KING ASSUME EVERYONE SHOULD BE GEEKY ENOGUH TO SPEND DAYS ON APPLE KNOWLEDGE DATABASE AND READ EVERY SINGLE ARTICLES. IF YOU SAY THE MANUAL IS IN THE PACKAGE, FINE, YOU ARE NOT ALLOW TO OPEN THE BOX UNTIL YOU PAID AND TAKE THE MACHINE HOME.

I FEEL SO SORRY ABOUT APPLE AND THE SO CALL CULT ... I WILL BRING IT BACK AS SOON AS I HAV TIME (WE DON'T HAVE APPLE STORE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY IN UK ) AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE OS, I WILL NEVER TOUCH A APPLE MADE COMPUTER AGAIN.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BEFORE ACCUSING SOMEONE STUPID PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED FIRST:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=463877&tstart=0


update:

maybe the "sue" term is too strong for the topic. all i want is the legal support that may be necessary to ensure my refund or replacement of a quiet n cool laptop, i'm not expectin to gangbang apple for £££ okay... does it sound better now? =___=

--------


hi.. im a owner of a bitchin 2.16 macbook pro.

it is hot

the top of the keyboard and the buttom (around the ram module cover) are constantly "untouchable". i can't stop sweating while typing espcially when the thing is charing. (never happend when using my powerbook 1.5g 17")

i'm completely pissed, but do not have time to refund it atm (end of term exams blah blah) , and wondering if they would do it anyway (after 14 days of purchase).

the the question is, are there any relevant laws in UK that defines a safety operating temparture of an eletronic device? how can I get related legal support if i want to go against Apple? will it cost a hell lot of money as people that told you never go against big firms always said? i know it's almost impossible to organise a group action because so many mac owners r too loyal. many might still want 2 believe it's a piece of steve's art or another thinkdifferent trick even when their macbook pro blow up in da sky.

My friend is coming tomorrow with his professional infrad temperature meter, so i can get the exact reading from my MacBook Pro. However, i strongly believe that it is way too hot espcially after longtime operation (4+ hours). I have a very hot A/C adpater that runs at 55c, and I tried to compare it with my macbook pro, the latter is far worse.

please help. i don't want a underclocked whining laptop burn my lap/desk.

 

[MovieCutter]

No, you can't sue because you're sensitive to the heat of a laptop. If it's too hot, there's something wrong. I have the same machine and it gets hot, but not so hot that I can sue anyone. That would be idiotic anyway and you would get laughed out of court. Call Apple, see what they say and if there is a repair/replacement path. And give up on trying to sue for stupid things such as laptop heat...that's simply stupid.

 

[JoeKarame]

Not being funny or anything, but you say you don't have time to get a refund, but seemingly want to start a full frontal legal assault on Apple?

Surely you should simply take the machine in (when you have the time, of course...) and just get them to have a look at it.

The Macbooks do get hot - it's just a sad fact of high-tech life, but I've not used one which has become too uncomfortable...So you may well have a duff one, and I'd get it checked before it completely goes pop.

 

[EricChunky]

Not being funny or anything, but you say you don't have time to get a refund, but seemingly want to start a full frontal legal assault on Apple?

Surely you should simply take the machine in (when you have the time, of course...) and just get them to have a look at it.

The Macbooks do get hot - it's just a sad fact of high-tech life, but I've not used one which has become too uncomfortable...So you may well have a duff one, and I'd get it checked before it completely goes pop.

i need the laptop everyday for my exams... but i can take the legal action later. just preparing for the worst. im not a mac hater so if they do refund me i will surely like nothing has ever happened.

also i've tried a 2G model in a high street shop ... way better, merely warm. the reason i don't want to have a REPLACEMENT is:

1. it's like gambling , you never know what you will get, maybe no whine but hot, cool but has whine, cool and quiet but the trackpad will stop responding once a while..... honestely the one in hand is almost perfect except it make me sweating all the time ... and it's still spring in UK, how am i going to use it in Hong kong when the summer comes ( i spend 2-3 months every year in southesat asia...).

2. they might just giv me somethign that return by someone else, and keep such gamble thing goin on 4 ever. and eventually refuse to do so because i replace too many times... and i myself won't have the time/energy for this as well....

 

[generik]

I doubt the heat issues are like "gambling". Each and every Core Duo processor has virtually the same exact power output figures, so it is not like you will get a "lucky" MBP that only runs warm instead of hot

 

[m-dogg]

Did you get severe burns? Did it make you infertile?

If so, please contact 1-800-CLASS-ACTIONS-R-US for immediate consultation!

 

[EricChunky]

Did you get severe burns? Did it make you infertile?

If so, please contact 1-800-CLASS-ACTIONS-R-US for immediate consultation!

Is that a U.S. number?

do i have to be killed first before i can call 911 in the state?

anyway i'm sure if you or anyone hold the buttom of my macbook pro for over 30 seconds they WILL get SEVERE BURNS.

 

[dailo]

I don't know about severe burns.... maybe some redness, possibly some minor burn but I don't know about severe burn.

 

[Subiklim]

sure if you or anyone hold the buttom of my macbook pro for over 30 seconds they WILL get SEVERE BURNS.

Read the owner's manual. This isn't intended to be a laptop, rather a portable computer. The bottom is not intended to be touched when it is on.

It's all clearly stated in the manual. Apple isn't stupid, they've covered their tracks.

 

[jaydub]

Suing. How about contacting apple for them to make it right if there's a problem?

 

[EricChunky]

Read the owner's manual. This isn't intended to be a laptop, rather a portable computer. The bottom is not intended to be touched when it is on.

It's all clearly stated in the manual. Apple isn't stupid, they've covered their tracks.

yes yes this has been brought up many times ...

but are we suggested to read the manul before purchase? it is not stated anywhere obvious on the outside of the box or any of Apple's advertising!

are there any differences between "laptop" and "portable computer"? okay... i admit that english isn't my first language... so maybe i was just stupid to expect a "laptop-like portable computer"?!...

but how would i know what's a laptop and what's a portable computer afterall... most laptop manufactures call their product portable computers / notebooks. hmm... anyway... guess i'd better to google around and search thro bbc for more advices...

thanks guys.

 

[jsw]

First of all, if it is a defective product, it's covered by a one year warranty, so you can't sue in that case - just get it fixed.

Second, if it's a design flaw, it'd have to be shown to be both known to Apple and dangerous. Good luck with that.

Third, you knowingly bought an aluminum-skinned laptop which has to dissipate ~20W continuously. You had to know it'd be at least a bit toasty.

Finally, motorcycle mufflers can cause severe burns, and that's been the case since the dawn of motorcycle mufflers. And yet, they're still on the road. I don't think you'll go anywhere trying to sue Apple, except perhaps bankrupt.

 

[Sdashiki]

But I didnt know the billions upon billions of electrons whizzing around tiny copper wires was going to be hot?

Jeez I had no idea COMPUTERS generated heat, though I seem to know alot about computers...

sorry but alas, another "lets get on the sue Apple bus" attempt.


I mean, you do realize you cant sue someone unless something has happened to you, in a detrimental way.

Sweaty hands and an attitude wont get you a lawsuit, even if the attitude is blatant ignorance and loss of common sense.

Some nubby charred stubbs where fingers used to be, yes thats a lawsuit I would gladly support.

But even if its "annoying" to have a "more than warm" laptop (ahem, portable computer) its not doing anything to you detrimental, that could be solved monetarily.

When the dummy sued McDs for hot coffee, she had burns. Where is yours?

 

[XNine]

Well, being that I work with legal jargon and lawyers all day in what I do, the defense will say "Well, the prosecution KNEW the product was hot, but continued to use it siting the excuse of having 'exams every day.' During this time he failed to take it to a local Apple Store or call Apple's Customer Support line in order to seek a remedy to the problem."

Then the judge would say: "This is dismissed on account of being a dumbass."

And then you'd be in deep for lawyer fees, and possibly a counter-suit.

 

[Sdashiki]

I havent heard anything but some sort of round about complaining trying to weasle some loophole out of legal mumbo jumbo you find in a monkey's butt?

I just dont see the logic behind anyone saying "I WANT TO SUE!"

 

[regre7]

Maybe now Apple'll have to put WARNING: CONTENTS MAY BE HOT on their lapto... err... portable computers like McDonalds.

And actually, my New Balance shoes have started to give me blisters on my heels... LET'S SUE THEM!

 

[nbs2]

but how would i know what's a laptop and what's a portable computer afterall... most laptop manufactures call their product portable computers / notebooks. hmm... anyway... guess i'd better to google around and search thro bbc for more advices...

I think all major and even smaller manufacturers (if not all, then most) have ceased using the term laptop. Because of heat issues, using on your lap can block needed venting and the bottom can get hot. The term laptop is a common term, but you will never see a reputable company call it that in official media. So, to answer the question - if it is a laptop, it is imaginary. If it is a portable computer, it is a "laptop."

 

[lazyboy922]

Watch him sue, get milllions of dollars, and I will be kicking myself that I didn't think of the idea first.

Though if I were to sue, then with my luck , they would indeed laugh me out of the country.

 

[EricChunky]

that's just as i've expected...

alas i shoudn't hv brought this up in a mac community... my bad....

my concern is based on other ppl that having same problem got their official response from apple : " yes its hot, but its within the ACCEPTABLE range " just like whining and all other issues..

just wondering, how many of you guys have a overheating macbook pro and how do you feel when you saw the thread that simply cleaning up the thermal compound and let the fans run will make your macbook pro much cooler. alright... let's just assume its true, or at least, reasonable, mkay?

 

[aristobrat]

It's just just MacBook Pros that run hot. My friend brought his new dual-core Dell "notebook" over the other day and it's bottom was just as hot as the MBP -- even with the fans making a racket.

 

[CanadaRAM]

You want to do something, document the temperatures, then take the machine back to Apple with the documentation and tall them to fix it under warranty.

How can you refute "acceptable range" if you don't know what the temp is actually?

 

[mwpeters8182]

No, you shouldn't sue apple. That's going a bit far.

But if you can't put the computer on your lap to use it, that's ridiculous. And it's equally ridiculous to defend Apple for this - I hate the "Apple can't do anything wrong" mentality. That's just poor design. If all of the machines run that hot, I don't know what your options are, but if your machine runs hotter than others, it should be replaced.

My powerbook runs hot, but I can deal with it sitting on my lap for a while.

 

[iGav]

does it sound better now?

No, not really.

Especially when you're not willing to give Apple the opportunity to rectify the problem.

 

[EricChunky]

No, not really.

Especially when you're not willing to give Apple the opportunity to rectify the problem.

com'on... the reason that i started a thread here is just to try get myself "prepared" when confronting with those Geniuses that coudn't get a stuck disk out of my macbook pro without taking it apart...

don't get me wrong. i love my macbook pro becoz its damn sexy and powerful and i dun care about the money i've paid and the underclocked graphic card... but hey, isn't it reasonable for someone who spend over £2000 on a "portable computer" want to use the machine comfortably?

 

[JoeKarame]

i need the laptop everyday for my exams... but i can take the legal action later. just preparing for the worst. im not a mac hater so if they do refund me i will surely like nothing has ever happened.

also i've tried a 2G model in a high street shop ... way better, merely warm. the reason i don't want to have a REPLACEMENT is:

1. it's like gambling , you never know what you will get, maybe no whine but hot, cool but has whine, cool and quiet but the trackpad will stop responding once a while..... honestely the one in hand is almost perfect except it make me sweating all the time ... and it's still spring in UK, how am i going to use it in Hong kong when the summer comes ( i spend 2-3 months every year in southesat asia...).

2. they might just giv me somethign that return by someone else, and keep such gamble thing goin on 4 ever. and eventually refuse to do so because i replace too many times... and i myself won't have the time/energy for this as well....

Well, if it's a choice between squaring up against Apple in a lawsuit, or just popping over to see what's going on with the laptop, you've seemingly decided to go with the thoroughly pointless, more time-consuming and altogether more expensive pursuit.

I can guarentee you wouldn't win a lawsuit at all. There are reasons why companies offer return policies...if YOU decide to not take advantage of YOUR rights as a consumer, then Apple's lawyers (and indeed any company you choose to name) can quite rightly stick two fingers up at you and take your money to pay for legal expenses.

Honestly, don't even consider going this route. Hell, just give them a call - that's not going to take long. It's under warrenty, I don't even understand why this should even be an issue.

I don't even understand why I'm getting annoyed...I'll leave it now!