Frustrated Apple Fan...

[Cookiemonster]

Wow... after reading the various posts about problems and whatnot, it is somewhat scary...
Im glad that Scottie was able to get things fixed in the store and hopefully new updates will show up soon...
I just recently got interested in mac's after using pc's for the majority of my life and hearing about all these problems is somewhat intimidating- you dont want to make a regret purchase.

I placed an order for a macbook pro and a bunch of other software items/accessories on friday and after coming across on here and reading about all the problems with kernal panics, screen tint issue, and overall a lack of quality control-- I canceled my order monday morning and will wait till things get better hopefully in a month or two and if not then I'll just get a Sony or something. I would hope Apple improves their quality control management, focus upon keeping standards up even if they raise prices a bit, I'd rather have something reliable rather than a piece of junk that cost me less.

 

[Zadillo]

Wow... after reading the various posts about problems and whatnot, it is somewhat scary...
Im glad that Scottie was able to get things fixed in the store and hopefully new updates will show up soon...
I just recently got interested in mac's after using pc's for the majority of my life and hearing about all these problems is somewhat intimidating- you dont want to make a regret purchase.

I placed an order for a macbook pro and a bunch of other software items/accessories on friday and after coming across on here and reading about all the problems with kernal panics, screen tint issue, and overall a lack of quality control-- I canceled my order monday morning and will wait till things get better hopefully in a month or two and if not then I'll just get a Sony or something. I would hope Apple improves their quality control management, focus upon keeping standards up even if they raise prices a bit, I'd rather have something reliable rather than a piece of junk that cost me less.

This is a good example of what I'm talking about.

Your logic seems to be "Oh, hrmm, I'm reading a bunch of negative experiences people have had with MBP's..... if they aren't worked out, I'll get a Sony or something".

The implication here is that you don't think people with Sonys are having these problems too. Go check out a Vaio forum some time; you'll find plenty of issues (loose batteries, keyboard problems, malfunctions, software bugs and crashes, etc.).

My own SZ460 had a loose battery, a terrible keyboard, and the Sony software was flakey (couldn't tell when it was connected to wifi, vaio software updates didn't work).

If you're looking for a company that doesn't have any quality control issues, and makes laptops that no-one ever has issues with, you will be disappointed. Even the best manufacturers out there, like Asus and Lenovo's ThinkPads, have their share of problems (the X61t has a widespread problem where when it gets hot enough, the glue loosens and the LCD detatches in some spots from the screen bezel).

 

[PDE]

Wow... after reading the various posts about problems and whatnot, it is somewhat scary...
Im glad that Scottie was able to get things fixed in the store and hopefully new updates will show up soon...
I just recently got interested in mac's after using pc's for the majority of my life and hearing about all these problems is somewhat intimidating- you dont want to make a regret purchase.

I placed an order for a macbook pro and a bunch of other software items/accessories on friday and after coming across on here and reading about all the problems with kernal panics, screen tint issue, and overall a lack of quality control-- I canceled my order monday morning and will wait till things get better hopefully in a month or two and if not then I'll just get a Sony or something. I would hope Apple improves their quality control management, focus upon keeping standards up even if they raise prices a bit, I'd rather have something reliable rather than a piece of junk that cost me less.

I am very critical of Apple right now, but I also have to say that all my PC friends who have converted to mac recently have been extremely happy with their macbooks and MBPs. Perhaps mac people expect a lot more, and are thus more disappointed when a product does not meet their high expectations?

Of all the problems people are having, none are things that stop you from using the machine. In fact, the main issue has been the yellowing of the display at the bottom and that is not affecting everybody.If that happens, get it replaced or repaired - not ideal but not the end of the world either. I think, unfortunately, that the industry as a whole has gone downhill in terms of quality and I doubt that most other laptops would be better. I wouldn't not buy based on what you see here.

 

[PDE]

This is a good example of what I'm talking about.

Your logic seems to be "Oh, hrmm, I'm reading a bunch of negative experiences people have had with MBP's..... if they aren't worked out, I'll get a Sony or something".

The implication here is that you don't think people with Sonys are having these problems too. Go check out a Vaio forum some time; you'll find plenty of issues (loose batteries, keyboard problems, malfunctions, software bugs and crashes, etc.).

My own SZ460 had a loose battery, a terrible keyboard, and the Sony software was flakey (couldn't tell when it was connected to wifi, vaio software updates didn't work).

If you're looking for a company that doesn't have any quality control issues, and makes laptops that no-one ever has issues with, you will be disappointed. Even the best manufacturers out there, like Asus and Lenovo's ThinkPads, have their share of problems (the X61t has a widespread problem where when it gets hot enough, the glue loosens and the LCD detatches in some spots from the screen bezel).

To me, having good software on ok hardware is much preferable to having great hardware with awful software. That's why macs continue to be my main choice, even though nothing in the past year or so has given me any confidence in Apple's ability to produce consistently high quality laptops.

 

[Zadillo]

To me, having good software on ok hardware is much preferable to having great hardware with awful software. That's why macs continue to be my main choice, even though nothing in the past year or so has given me any confidence in Apple's ability to produce consistently high quality laptops.

Fair enough.

How is that a new thing with Apple though? I can think of plenty of examples over the years of Apple having problems (PowerBook 5300, and in more recent years all those white spot issues on screens).

-Zadillo

 

[Cookiemonster]

I personally feel that for Apple's pricing, I should expect such high standards. I hope I dont feel alone on that. As a student with very limited funds and dropping so much hard earned money on something that is of half-arsed quality isnt going to cut it, I dont mind paying less and having a machine with problems thats fine, because then I'll be paying for what I should be getting. There is no reason to say, just because its Apple its okay for it to have x,y,z problems and we should just live with it.

Im sure Sony's and HP and whomever else out there has a bunch of problems, but I feel that Apple which aims to distinguish itself entirely as an industry leader and innovator needs to actually keep high quality standards.

 

[Zadillo]

I personally feel that for Apple's pricing, I should expect such high standards. I hope I dont feel alone on that. As a student with very limited funds and dropping so much hard earned money on something that is of half-arsed quality isnt going to cut it, I dont mind paying less and having a machine with problems thats fine, because then I'll be paying for what I should be getting. There is no reason to say, just because its Apple its okay for it to have x,y,z problems and we should just live with it.

Im sure Sony's and HP and whomever else out there has a bunch of problems, but I feel that Apple which aims to distinguish itself entirely as an industry leader and innovator needs to actually keep high quality standards.

Right, no-one is saying "just live with it". If you get a machine and it has a problem, you have every right to fix it.

My point here is that it's not like EVERY MB and MBP has problems, or that they are all half-assed quality-wise.

Moreover, Sony and Lenovo also sell premium priced machines, and there is also an expectation of quality with them.

But it doesn't mean that it's impossible to get a problematic machine. Even the highest quality products in the world have some defect rate.

So again, no-one is saying you should be satisfied if you get a machine and it has a problem. You should ask for it to be fixed, etc.

But if your expectation is to be able to buy a machine and be guaranteed it won't have any problems or possibly need to be repaired/replaced, I think that is an impossible expectation that no company can live up to.

Just because it is a premium priced product doesn't mean this isn't a possibility; you can go out and buy a $3000 Sony laptop right now and it's still possible to get one with defects or problems.

-Zadillo

 

[PDE]

Fair enough.

How is that a new thing with Apple though? I can think of plenty of examples over the years of Apple having problems (PowerBook 5300, and in more recent years all those white spot issues on screens).

-Zadillo

I've been buying apple portables since 1995 and have had issues with most of them sooner or later, but I've never experienced the kind of repeated defects out of the box that I have over the past year or so. Maybe I ran out luck, but it does appear that it's become worse based on my own experience (what are the chances of getting so many problematic units out of the box? Different batches, different models, different resellers, all defective in various ways). But yes, you're right, Apple has always had problems with their laptops. Here are a few I can think of off hand:

PB 5300/190: first PPC apple laptop. Disaster and apple extended the warranty significantly to deal with all the problems.

PB 3400/1400 : apparently these were pretty good

PB G3: as above

Pb G3 wallstreet (I had this one): overheating, graphics glitch, peeling rubber, failing hinges. Otherwise a tank.

Powerbook G3 lombard: good, but some of them can't run Os x properly because some hardware bug.

PB G3 Pismo: the best laptops ever produced by apple. Mine is still going strong. The only things that has failed was the crappy DVD player. Wonderful, great, beautiful, expandable!

Powerbook Titanium G4: Inverter problems (flickering screen!), peeling paint everwhere, poorly designed hinges, heat

Powerbook G4 aluminum: White spots on the displays, warped screen bezel (same as now). Pretty solid machines. Last generation: CPU whine, poor displays.

Macbook pro first generations: heat, CPU whine, bulging aluminum, poor displays with graininess, poor viewing angle and uneven illumination, battery defects


And these are just what I've seen personally, though most of them were pretty widely experienced.


So why do I buy apple laptops? Because they're wonderfully portable, powerful and run OS X. If you get a good one!

 

[Cookiemonster]

Right, no-one is saying "just live with it". If you get a machine and it has a problem, you have every right to fix it.

My point here is that it's not like EVERY MB and MBP has problems, or that they are all half-assed quality-wise.

Moreover, Sony and Lenovo also sell premium priced machines, and there is also an expectation of quality with them.

But it doesn't mean that it's impossible to get a problematic machine. Even the highest quality products in the world have some defect rate.

So again, no-one is saying you should be satisfied if you get a machine and it has a problem. You should ask for it to be fixed, etc.

But if your expectation is to be able to buy a machine and be guaranteed it won't have any problems or possibly need to be repaired/replaced, I think that is an impossible expectation that no company can live up to.

Just because it is a premium priced product doesn't mean this isn't a possibility; you can go out and buy a $3000 Sony laptop right now and it's still possible to get one with defects or problems.

-Zadillo

I completely recognize that it is impossible to have an image of perfection in mind, but after reading about all the current quality problems on these message boards alone is somewhat discouraging especially for the amount your paying. I just personally believe Apple needs to have a higher standard, thats all.

 

[Zadillo]

I completely recognize that it is impossible to have an image of perfection in mind, but after reading about all the current quality problems on these message boards alone is somewhat discouraging especially for the amount your paying. I just personally believe Apple needs to have a higher standard, thats all.

I agree. But I don't have any reason to believe at this point that Apple doesn't have a higher standard than most PC manufacturers.

I am not going to judge Apple based on messageboard forums (where again, the number of people posting when they have a problem is going to be a lot more than the number of people posting to say they aren't having any problems at all).

I would be concerned certainly if Apple takes a big dip in consumer reliability ratings, etc. but so far they are still at the top of most of those.

-Zadillo

 

[MaddieBrad]

bottom line... the fact that threads like this all over the net are alive are because Apples QC is falling. Their Customer service is still decent... once you get ahold of the right person... but it does take some pushing and shoving to accomplish anything. But to be fair this is the case with any retailer. You just need to deal with it. Fight for your right... because the retailer unfortunately is going to fight back and hope that you give up so that it doesn't cost them anything. The more people that don't give in, the more apple will be forced to deal with their QC standards.

 

[nateDEEZY]

To the original post, yea you're unlucky.

I'm sure people have said it a bunch of the times on the forums, but it's always typical for more people to compalin than post about there good experiences.

I have an SR MBP and it's damn near perfect.