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Having Second Thoughts

C

CV4

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 7, 2007
87
0
Ontario, Canada
So, I have been planning on getting one of the new MBPs since I first found out new ones were on the way (2 or so months ago).

I am now eager to buy one, but almost every thread in this forum is about something wrong with them. Yeah, they are only little things, but it is still an annoyance. Its almost like a paranoia that I will get one with something wrong.

I would like to see some people who have got one and have no problems at all with it.

Also, would I be better off to make the hour drive to an Apple Store so I can pick it out for myself?

Do they have 15" 2.2's in Glossy at the stores?
 
They have mattes and glossys in the stores in the UK. I've just got mine and it's great. No issues at all, the display is the bees knees and compared to my last revision Powerbook it's a beast speed wise.

I'd strongly recommend against getting a Glossy screen. The matte looks beautiful and you don't get any glare or reflections in it.
 
If you are close to an apple store, then it is probably better to go there and get it. Open it up and turn it on and make sure it looks right.

Normally folks who are satisfied don't post so the number of problems normally looks out of whack.
 
If you dont want any of the "options", yes they do have the base model for each model (15"2.2, 15" 2.4, and 17" 2.4) at the apple store.
Now if I was you, since its an hour drive. Call them to make sure they have your glossy model.
 
BryanLyle said:
If you are close to an apple store, then it is probably better to go there and get it. Open it up and turn it on and make sure it looks right.

Normally folks who are satisfied don't post so the number of problems normally looks out of whack.
Click to expand...

I know that. It just gets kind of nerve racking when you are about to drop $2000 on a laptop and all you see are problems and complaints.
 
It's a forum. People rarely come on to say how good something is. However, if something is wrong they're almost guaranteed to come on complaining. IIRC, compared to when the Rev A Macbooks and Macbook Pros were released, the number of threads with complaints is minute. I've actually been impressed with the lack of threads complaining of real issues.

Even amongst all the hyseria over whining/overheating Macbooks last summer, I still managed to get one which was perfect. You have to be aware that some people are never pleased, and are almost determined not to be satisfied.
 
It really comes down to personal preference--as others have said, go to the Apple store and try it out.
 
CV4 said:
Do they have 15" 2.2's in Glossy at the stores?
Click to expand...

They definetly have these b/c I just bought one about 4 hours ago.

In regards to the other stuff, I can't really help. I haven't opened it up yet. I am waiting to get off work. I bought mine though b/c I think this is one of the best updates that Mac has ever seen. For once I feel like the price they are requesting is worth the product, even if it has minimal issues. I also got a nano and printer. Rebates my man... Rebates...
 
pull the trigger

You are going to read a lot of posts about problems. Sorting out a problem is one of the main reasons people post. Anyone of the 99.9% (figure retrieved from somewhere dark and smelly) of people who get a perfect mac aren't going to be posting about their "problem".
Second point - apple service and warranty handling would have to be the best I've come accross. One of the advantages of buying a premium product.
So pull the trigger, these new MBPro's are a beautiful computer (got mine yesterday, named her "Rose").
 
Glossy is a personal thing but i can guarantee you that unless you're in an enviornment where sun shines directly into your screen or a light is trained on your screen, glossy will appear better. It appears to be more crisp, clear, sharp, and vivid. Matte is kind of dull and not much fun to watch a movie on.

I just think that the people who would notice problems come here because they probably are more technologically advanced and see smaller issues. All the "normal" people I speak to don't even notice the small issues. SO keep in mind that we are not the majority
 
CV4 said:
I know that. It just gets kind of nerve racking when you are about to drop $2000 on a laptop and all you see are problems and complaints.
Click to expand...

If it makes you feel any better, a recent issue of Consumer reports said that Apple was "undistinguished" in their laptop reliability -- so they're no better than the rest of the industy, but they're no worse either.

So, if that holds, you're no more likely to get a bad MBP than you are a bad ThinkPad, HP, whatever.
 
Worth remembering that revisions of new tech products, be it computer or mobile phone, do have teething problems which get ironed out.

BryanLyle said:
Normally folks who are satisfied don't post so the number of problems normally looks out of whack.
Click to expand...
Well said!
 
I'm in a similar situation. I live really close to an Apple Store, but kinda want to get an upgraded 160 GB 5400 RPM hard drive. But I'm more than a little OCD-ish and would freak if there were any problems of stuck/dead pixels or cracks or scratches. Should I just pick up a stock MBP from my Store and demand they open it before I pay?

Is it impossible to get an exchange if I choose the upgraded HD?
 
It is true that most people who come to post about products online are doing it because they have a problem with it. So you don't hear about all the people who love it.

I picked up a 2.4 GHz this morning, to replace my iBook. It's GREAT, better than I expected, and I had high expectations.

I can even run Oblivion smoothly at 1440x900 w/HDR, etc., which I did not expect.

BTW, I compared the glossy and matte in the store for a while, and ended up going for the matte. And I'm glad I did; it looks great, with no reflections.
 
mine is great too. the heat concerned me at first but now that i got the smcFanControl that shouldnt be much of a problem anymore. (heat never got so bad i couldnt keep my hand on the hot part)
 
CV4 said:
I would like to see some people who have got one and have no problems at all with it.

Also, would I be better off to make the hour drive to an Apple Store so I can pick it out for myself?
Click to expand...

I bought a 2.4GHz 15.4" last Friday. It is fantastic. Build quality is excellent. Everything works. No crashes. No dead pixels. Best display and keyboard I've ever used on a laptop. I love it!

As for going to an Apple Store, I would recommend it. The drive for me was 3.5 hours and I think it was worth the effort. Not only did it allow me to get the computer right away, but it also allowed me to settle the glossy vs. matte debate for myself. Glossy turned out to be my preference. YMMV.
 
I got a macbook a mth ago and have been very happy with it. I never came to look on the forums or even thought of doing that until i had a little accident with my mb...I spilled wine all over it!! It was late at night and I did not know what to do and it hit me then that I should get on the forums and see if anyone could help with my situation. My laptop is now fine and I had to thank all those to have given me advice on how to best deal with it. Since that day, I would get on the forum from time to time and try to help others if i can or to learn new tricks/tips :)

Although I don't have a MBP but I have been very happy with the machine. It has been working well and survived the wine spill (well almost, 3rd party authorized re-seller pushed thru the warranty replacement of the logic board for me) hehe! Trust me, this is the machine you wanted for so long, when you bring it home, open the box, and turn it on for the first time...it will put a big smile on your face :D
 
FleurDuMal said:
Even amongst all the hyseria over whining/overheating Macbooks last summer, I still managed to get one which was perfect. You have to be aware that some people are never pleased, and are almost determined not to be satisfied.
Click to expand...

Don't dismiss real issues as being "determined not to be satisfied". That is NOT what was gong on with those issues, and it's rather smug to act like people are just whining.

Jblack4083 said:
Glossy is a personal thing but i can guarantee you that unless you're in an enviornment where sun shines directly into your screen or a light is trained on your screen, glossy will appear better. It appears to be more crisp, clear, sharp, and vivid. Matte is kind of dull and not much fun to watch a movie on.
Click to expand...

Then why does almost every HDTV use matte? And almost every desktop screen? "Glossy" is just a gimmick for show rooms. Someone stumbled upon the typical Windows purchaser being more apt to pick a laptop if they left off it's coating to make it "shiny". I know the portable products I have that don't have the coating (like the PSP, DS, etc.) are annoying for their shinyness-probably done just out of cost savings.

Every single comment I've read on the new screen says it looks fantastic, and they're glad they went with matte. (Although at least on the Macbook, I think Apple may still be including some treatment, as they don't look as completely mirror-like as some store bought PC brands.)

Episteme said:
If it makes you feel any better, a recent issue of Consumer reports said that Apple was "undistinguished" in their laptop reliability -- so they're no better than the rest of the industy, but they're no worse either.
Click to expand...

That said, they are supposed to have the very best warranty and customer support of any PC manufacturer (according to Consumer Reports), by a wide margin. I do wish their laptops were more distinguished though for reliability (like their desktops are). Consumer Reports has Sony and Toshiba at the top, and then Dell and Apple clumped together in the middle and others a bit below that.
 
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