So much for the idea that they are more reliable....maybe back before 2011 you would have been correct, but these days, I just don't buy it at all. I've owned many macs, both pre-2011 and post-2011, and there is a serious reliability issue since they switched to using lead-free solder.Another list - if it goes on and on, can you post the full list please?
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Sorry, but actual reliability data based on far larger samples trumps your single piece of anecdotal evidence.
Does the term 'negativity bias' mean anything to you?
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On this point, I must concede that my just replaced iMac had an issue with the display. Sort of grey watermark type thing - was a bit weird as it would move slightly.
Point is, I contacted Apple and even though it was over a year out of warranty they agreed to cover the cost of having the display replaced. And all I needed to to was take it to a local authorised Apple dealer in my town, and it was done in about three days.
And, to be fair, I did have a problem with an MBP from 2008 - think it was down to some dodgy nVidia graphics cards at the time. They replaced the logic board and the display under warranty, but the new display had a single vertical line of faulty pixels. Took it back again, and they replaced it with a brand new machine - which by that time was the new unibody MBP.
Pretty good customer service in both cases that I wouldn't be that confident of getting from many other companies.
And yes, I know its only anecdotal - maybe its a coincidence that Apple tends to come out so highly rates in customer satisfaction figures.
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Just a few questions on that.
1. Who is "we"?
2. How much do standalone 5K displays with a comparable spec to the iMac display typically cost?
3. You mention "limitations" - what sorts of things can't you do on your iMac that you need, or would like, to do?
The problem isn't necessarily the solder, it's the thermal characteristics. Lead free solder melts slightly at lower temps than normal solder. Apple should have included this in their thermal calculations but for several years it doesn't seem like they did. This is why you have all these GPU recalls the last few years, both in MacBooks and in iMacs.
Apple pretty much uses the same old components that everyone else uses these days. This notion that these components somehow are more reliable when you slap a fruit logo on it seems mystifying to me.
Here's a short list for you.
2011-2013 MacBook Pro's
27" iMacs with 6970M's
2009-2012 1TB iMacs
3TB iMacs
27" iMac display issues
I don't have some unrealistic expectation that these products should never fail under any circumstances at any time. But Apple often doesn't have this wonderful customer service you talk about. The iPhone 4S has serious issues with Wi-Fi, because of (again) bad soldering. They've STILL never come out with a repair program even though it was such a widespread issue. Just google it: greyed out wifi on 4S.
The first time my MacBook died I thought it was just bad luck and paid the $500 for the logic board replacement. The second time was a mystery. The third time it happened I knew there was an issue. Apple MUST have known long before they actually did the replacement program. Just goes to show you Apple will do anything it can to screw people over. They're not better than Dell or HP, it really is just marketing.
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