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Imac Failure Rates by Time Poll Please respond
- Thread starter Tudeski
- Start date
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You are assuming a computer that costs more should last longer. This isn't the case with Apple at all. It's unfortunate that some people don't realize this.
Really? I think it's safe to say when you buy a Lexus the increased cost is at least in some proportion related to it's longevity versus a Kia. Not sure what you were trying to say.
Your arguing my point for me. Please read my other post.
Increased cost doesn't always mean increased quality in terms of longevity, like Apple or BMW (I'll have to take your word for that one).
But it can, contrary to what I think flopticalcube was trying to say.
I see what you mean. Yes, it can, although it'd apply to only very few manufacturers. Also, I take exception to your example. Lexus aren't necessarily more reliable nor do they last longer than their cheaper counterparts, Toyota, which are similar in price to Kia.
Toyota was a better example, but your slightly off. You do pay a premium for that reliability.
http://www.newcars.com/toyota/corolla/reviews/kia-rio.html
The corolla offers much the same features as a Rio for an additional 5K!
I only voted once. The G5 sits in its box in the garage, but I was able to revive the Core Duo.
Yes, I did replace the hard drive on the Core Duo myself after watching a how-to video on YouTube.
The first display line appeared on the Core Duo after two years. In one year, the number of vertical lines has reached 17.
If you pay extra, you should expect the computer to last longer. definitely. Quality is what i am trying to get at in this poll...I want to see how many actually had failures in the first 3 years. We are starting to get some decent results from this....but yes.....If i pay extra, I want the sense of reliability as well.
ay yai yai....that is exactly what i'm trying to pull here. I don't want to purchase a $1500 peice of machinery for only two years..... I could literally buy a crappy car for that, have it drive me to work everyday and have it last longer...I love OSX and the features...but i'm sorry, I just can't justify purchasing a peice of expensive equipment knowing that it's going to have major issues within a two year period from regular use!
Who says it has to be two years? Get applecare (it's cheap insurance) and purchase both using an American Express card and you get 4 years of protection.
The iMac G5 logic board died two months after Applecare expired. In my case, Applecare was simply extra profit for Apple. If you look at the results of this poll, more than 80 percent of respondents have no iMac failures at all. They are part of the not-so-silent-afterall majority. Had they purchased Applecare, the money would also be pure profit for Apple.
According to many, I'm just part of the vocal minority who have suffered problems. I have a total of 5 Apple computers: MDD PowerMac G4 867, iMac G5 17", MacBook (Rev. A, white with SuperDrive), iMac Core Duo 20", and a MacBook Pro (early 2006 2.4). Of these systems, only two have functioned without serious hardware failures.
MDD PowerMac G4 - No failures whatsoever. This Mac still "just works", although it struggles to keep up with the SMART Board software I use it with at work, particularly when I write on the board. The 17" Studio Display attached to it got knocked off a desk once (by a student walking by), landed on the corner of a chair, and suffered three stress depressions on the display surface where it hit the chair. Amazingly, the display still functions perfectly.
iMac G5 - Dead logic board. Repair cost prohibitive.
MacBook - Battery failure after 147 charging cycles. Dead power brick. Computer will still function if I replace the power supply brick. Cracked and discolored plastic where the hand rest area meets the chassis edge.
iMac Core Duo - 17 vertical colored display lines. Failed hard drive. Replaced hard drive and added external display.
MacBook Pro - No failures whatsoever.
Two out of five isn't bad, I suppose, especially if you love Apple. OS X is what I love about these computers. So, I understand where you are coming from, Tudeski. I'm not a fan of Apple's quality of late, but I'm part of the vocal minority. I'm also no fan of being locked into glossy screens with most new Macs, but that's another endless debate.
OS X far outshines Windows for me, however, so I cope with the issues above. OS X is Apple's best property, in my view. It runs the Mac, iPhone, and iPod Touch wonderfully. I wish I felt as confident about the hardware.
I have had an 17" iMac since Mar 07, it runs and runs great. I have had absolutely zero problems with it.
I have an 8g iPod Nano that I bought in early 06, currently plugged into my truck stereo. Its been to Antarctica, New Zealand, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, Hungary, Hawaii, Samoa, Iceland and all over the US.....from the hottest places on earth (140+ F and rocking out) to the coldest place on earth...zero problems.....
09 17" MBP hot rod, zero problems....and getting ready to go to Kuwait with me for the summer.
Gen 2 iPhone....zero problems
iPod 120g Classic, I run 5 times a week with it sometimes in the lovely Washington rain...zero problems.
I guess I am lucky. I like Apple products. I have not had any problems with any of their stuff.
I use to build my own PC's to my own spec rather than buy top of the line...cheap lowest bidder crap. Worked ok I guess.....got tired of having the paranoia associated with owning pc's. Life has been good with apple.
Another thing has to be taken into consideration. You created a poll. Thats an open invitation for some to people that like to complain to "unload." With some, thats all they're good at.
For example and metaphorically speaking, I rebuild a CR500 2-stroke dirt bike motor to spec...everything measured and torqued. In theory and fact, this motor will last several years and will rip arms out of sockets with the given tolerances and proper care. Joe-Schmo puts the motor in his bike and forgets to mix his gas with oil and nukes the top end, sends bits of piston skirt through the cases and through the tranny...automatically starts to point the finger......."It was not put together right." While an Apple is not a dirt bike motor, for the most part people still act in the same regard....
For the most part your poll #'s have spoken for themselves.......
I have an 8g iPod Nano that I bought in early 06, currently plugged into my truck stereo. Its been to Antarctica, New Zealand, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, Hungary, Hawaii, Samoa, Iceland and all over the US.....from the hottest places on earth (140+ F and rocking out) to the coldest place on earth...zero problems.....
09 17" MBP hot rod, zero problems....and getting ready to go to Kuwait with me for the summer.
Gen 2 iPhone....zero problems
iPod 120g Classic, I run 5 times a week with it sometimes in the lovely Washington rain...zero problems.
I guess I am lucky. I like Apple products. I have not had any problems with any of their stuff.
I use to build my own PC's to my own spec rather than buy top of the line...cheap lowest bidder crap. Worked ok I guess.....got tired of having the paranoia associated with owning pc's. Life has been good with apple.
Another thing has to be taken into consideration. You created a poll. Thats an open invitation for some to people that like to complain to "unload." With some, thats all they're good at.
For example and metaphorically speaking, I rebuild a CR500 2-stroke dirt bike motor to spec...everything measured and torqued. In theory and fact, this motor will last several years and will rip arms out of sockets with the given tolerances and proper care. Joe-Schmo puts the motor in his bike and forgets to mix his gas with oil and nukes the top end, sends bits of piston skirt through the cases and through the tranny...automatically starts to point the finger......."It was not put together right." While an Apple is not a dirt bike motor, for the most part people still act in the same regard....
For the most part your poll #'s have spoken for themselves.......
My alum. iMac (bought Aug. 07/failed Oct 08) failed 13 months after I bought it. LCD from what the techs say. I need to get my ass in gear and sell it for parts on ebay or something. But my graphite iMac g3 is still in working condition with 10.4 on it.
I ran my 2003 iMac into the ground and she was still going strong up until the day I sold it a year and a half ago. My new iMac, purchased December '07 is still running great as well - not one issue!
You don't "know" anything except statistics and probabilities. Apple has had higher reliability rankings than all other PC makers from reputable sources, like consumer reports for years. I consider this pretty amazing considering how they also push the limits with design too, subjecting those components to potential design issues, new case heating issues, innovative aggressive form factors, etc, which can lead to higher failure rates. Most reliability stats published are not that much different than the results this survey is generating. 15-20% issues within 1 year.
Much like the warranty discussion and reducing risks, if you are scared of making a big purchase and having it break 1 week out of warranty, maybe you should not be buying an expensive item. Maybe a $399 PC is more for you. Most people who use Macs get so much out of the superior user experience, that the risk of higher financial consequences of a failure just after the warranty expires is worth it. If you can't afford that worth, then maybe you should not buy the product.
I can afford the purchase. I'm just a careful investor of my money. Much like everyone should be in these times. I agree with you about design and superior quality ratings over the years, even the poll shows it. But putting a computers costs in another context is something to consider (hence the crappie vehicle example). In two or three years, all the top end stuff that we purchase now will be junk anyways....so maybe we should all just wait 2 years? I don't think so. I agree with your conclusion on the reliability ratings as well. I have also seen that the imacs were MORE prone to failure than some of the other major options that apple has.
However, I think you get more of a grass roots feel from polls like this than you do from consumer reports comparing a 20 inch imac to a all in one HP computer. Some of those reports are so superficial, it's not worth the money you paid for the subscription. The poll has shown positive results.
Thats why I posted this poll. Not because I don't have the money, but more to get a feeling from actual owners and people who have already had the issues. No need to be rude about it. But hey....I'm glad you posted to give your 2 cents.. or should i say $399 pc opinion.
But this poll is statistically meaningless. Do you have a sufficient sample size? Whats the confidence level? Whats the confidence interval? What is the population size? Is it being drawn from a truly random sample?
I agree with you as well. We should have somewhere around 150 responses to even consider, and at least a sample size of 32 to even come close to representing the population. I suppose one could do the calculations, but i'm too lazy! anyone feel like a statistical analysis once this poll becomes large enough?....