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In for repair... trackpad + 'N' Key

Trepex

Trepex

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 5, 2007
635
20
Ottawa, Canada
I've been unimpressed with my trackpad from day one. It's really loose and has a secondary click to it. My GF's new SR MBP had a really sturdy one, so I had a good comparison there. Lately I noticed my N key wasn't seated properly and it has been getting worse over the past couple of days, to a point where it now often wouldn't function properly every couple of presses.

Problem is that I live in Ottawa Canada and we have no Apple store here. I didn't want to ship my lappy back to Apple so I had been living with the problems... until...

I discovered these guys called TheMacGroup, in Ottawa. They are an authorized reseller, have authorized repair people, and I called them up to find out that yep they service machines bought elsewhere which are covered by AppleCare!!!

Anywho, I just got back from taking it in. The guy put a finger on either side of the button, felt the rocker effect and saw how loose it was, "yeah that's not right. Is it under warranty?" Me: "Yep, only a month old." Him: "Wow, okay we'll order a new top for it and get it fixed right up." He then explained to me that the entire top is replaced in the MBPs unlike the PBs and that my funky N key on the keyboard would be fixed by consequence, when they replaced the whole top.

Yay Apple, and yay TheMacGroup!!! I should have it back by Wednesday :)

For those having problems with their trackpad buttons, the repair guy told me that if it's under warranty it's definitely worth getting it replaced because it's definitely a minority with buttons like that and it's not right. He said if you're out of warranty, really give it a second thought because you can't just replace the pad, but in fact replace the entire top, thus costing yourself quite a bit of bling...
 
vicious7 said:
The nation's capital does not have an Apple Store? Blasphemy!!! :D

Good luck with the fix. I wonder if there's a MacGroup in T-dot?
Click to expand...

I know, it'd ridiculous that there isn't an Apple Store here! That said, these folks seem really great. I was talking to the repair guy himself and he seemed really knowledgeable and friendly. Generally "repair guy" and "friendly" aren't synonymous... :\
 
I had a very hard track pad button on my PB 15 and they also had to change the whole top, but they didn't change the keyboard
 
can you elaborate on your trackpad button? Mine when pressed a little has a metallic noise to of before you actually click it. Not a big problem, but since the nearest apple store is an hour away, I'll wait to see a genious. If it is the same problem I might take it in.
 
WillJS said:
can you elaborate on your trackpad button? Mine when pressed a little has a metallic noise to of before you actually click it. Not a big problem, but since the nearest apple store is an hour away, I'll wait to see a genious. If it is the same problem I might take it in.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same problem. Apparently it's generally an issue if the button itself isn't perfectly shaped and can rock back and forth. If the button lies perfectly flat, then it comes flush with the actual switch mechanism and there is no initial click sound as it makes contact with the switch, before the clicking of the switch itself.

The techie I spoke to said it's not an 'accepted' flaw and it shouldn't be like that. Should be easy to get the top of your own MBP replaced for the same reason, at any point that its under warranty. I noticed the issue on day 1 but waited until it was convenient for me to go in. That said, the earlier you go, the more likely your success if you end up having to deal with an Apple Store jackass...
 
Trepex said:
Exactly the same problem. Apparently it's generally an issue if the button itself isn't perfectly shaped and can rock back and forth. If the button lies perfectly flat, then it comes flush with the actual switch mechanism and there is no initial click sound as it makes contact with the switch, before the clicking of the switch itself.

The techie I spoke to said it's not an 'accepted' flaw and it shouldn't be like that. Should be easy to get the top of your own MBP replaced for the same reason, at any point that its under warranty. I noticed the issue on day 1 but waited until it was convenient for me to go in. That said, the earlier you go, the more likely your success if you end up having to deal with an Apple Store jackass...
Click to expand...

*schedule's appointment*

Thanks, I'll get it looked at. :)
 
Update: 6 days and waiting.

Just called the shop and I guess it looks like the repair guy hasn't had a chance to take care of my MBP. They were good enough to pass me his email addy and said to contact him directly.

Oh well. At this point I'm still better off than had I shipped it off to an Apple repair depot.

I miss my baby! :(
 
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