Is Apple Lowering Quality or Am I Getting Pickier?

[TheSpaz]

I'm a very long time Mac user and I've always had such great experiences with every Mac I've owned. I used to tell people about how high quality the Macs were but, as of late, I've been reconsidering that judgement. Recently I've purchased a MacBook Pro with screen problems and hardware abnormalities so I returned it so I could get a Mac Pro and Apple Cinema Display. I got the 20" Cinema Display and that had inconsistent color across the screen so I returned that for another one that had the same problem but, a little bit less and it has backlight bleeding all over the place. So far I'm happy with my Mac Pro but, I hope I stay that way and I really want it to last a long time.

So the question is... is Apple lowering it's quality standards so that we can have cheaper computers or am I just being too picky and making a big deal out of nothing. What are your thoughts? It seems like ever since the Intel switch... people have nothing but complaints about them. So far I haven't seen any major problems in the Mac Pro forum though *crosses fingers*.

 

[clevin]

I don't know old macs, but this generation isn't as good as i expected, apple's design and osx are good, but hardware and quality control are really not that good.

I would think there are 3 reasons, 1. lower the expense, with cheap hardwares (I think apple laptops' LCD is cheap stuff). 2. quality control getting loose due to the massive production, 3. switching to intel chips has some design flaws, which is reasonable.

 

[Spock]

3. switching to intel chips has some design flaws, which is reasonable.

I have been with Apple for a long time and I have never heard this many complaints about hardware since the Intel switch I was around during the 68k to PPC switch and the OS 9 to OS X switch and i dont remember this many complaints but, that does not mean anything Im sure Apple ships out more good units than bad.

 

[sohosid]

I don't think it's happened since the switch to Intel.

As a long time Mac user, I'd say that quality started to slip sometime around the introduction of the first iMac.

I've still got a G3 Lombard and a PB 1400, and both feel more solid and better constructed than my much newer G4 Ti.

The G5 / MacPro towers feel much more like the old products than either the G3 or G4. So far, my G5 iMac (now just over a year old) is (touch wood) looking rather well built too....besides often spitting out DVDs from time to time.

 

[andy.barron]

bring back OS 6.0.9!!!

seriously though it sounds like your video card.

 

[Spock]

bring back OS 6.0.9!!!

seriously though it sounds like your video card.

I dont recall a 6.0.9 i think it went 6.0.8 to 7.0

 

[andy.barron]

christ it was a while ago Spock, sorry!

 

[Spock]

christ it was a while ago Spock, sorry!

Take a chill pill andy this is important stuff you should know Your Mac OS versions.

 

[wmmk]

well, i know that a lot of people on these boards speak out about having bad apple hardware, but my mac mini was perfect, and my MacBook Pro may or may not have the"moo" issue (it sounds a little moo-ey when reading large files off of large DVDs), but honestly, I couldn't care less. it's a great machine, and this so called moo is really not that loud, and I barely ever put data DVDs in my mac unless installing software, and I'm usually not recording high quality audio while installing software.

 

[aquajet]

I dont recall a 6.0.9 i think it went 6.0.8 to 7.0

There was 6.0.8L for certain later machines that would normally require System 7. Don't forget about that!

 

[clevin]

well, i know that a lot of people on these boards speak out about having bad apple hardware, but my mac mini was perfect, and my MacBook Pro may or may not have the"moo" issue (it sounds a little moo-ey when reading large files off of large DVDs), but honestly, I couldn't care less. it's a great machine, and this so called moo is really not that loud, and I barely ever put data DVDs in my mac unless installing software, and I'm usually not recording high quality audio while installing software.

my mini is good too, so far, I can only tell the LCD of laptop is cheap,

 

[vincebio]

theres not even a debate about this one..

i have a macbook, its got power supply issues.
i have a iMac G5 rev.b - it has power supply, logic board and bluetooth issues.
i have a 23" ACD with lighting issues on some appz.


i still have a 17 powerbook 1.5 - its perfect
i still have an bondi imac, and although slow and dusty, is still perfect.

i keep telling poeple who are craving for marketshare gain to take a step back and think about it a little....the bigger apple gets, the less time they have to put the screws in correctly....if you get me.

100% QC slip!

I love apple's products, will always support and use them, but in return it would be nice to buy a computer and not have to take it to a repair centre now and again thru its life...

charge us more for higher quality stuff, or at least give us the option to choose what we want to pay for...we will all pay it im sure.

 

[the vj]

Apple getting very bad technically.

I got a 30" cinema display with a big shadow across.

I have a 12" Powerbook and I have been waiting """4 months"""" for the replacement of the track pad even still under warranty.

I think Apple has to compromise a lot regarding quality controls to mantain volume or... to justify more apple care. Nothing last more than a year now days.

 

[Spock]

There was 6.0.8L for certain later machines that would normally require System 7. Don't forget about that!

System 6.0.8L was for the Classic Classic 2 Powerbook 100 LC and the LC II
I didnt forget. I have a few active System 6 systems set up.

 

[iJawn108]

I can tell you this... my Rev A macbook is built much better than my freinds insperon. I'd say they are very good quality but their definately not perfect.

 

[charkshark]

My Macbook (Rev A) had a faulty inverter board, once that was replaced my screen cracked, once that was replaced, my heatsink was not working properly so tey replaced the logic board. It has been quite a journey, but now it is working great and couldn't be happier. The overall build quality is to a high standard, but not every product can be built perfect. Several of my friends' Macbooks have not had any problems. Apple's build quality is surely better than most PC manufacturers, my dell is quite flimsy, and my friends' HP has had several hardware problems related to build quality.

 

[princealfie]

Any new Apple now is better than Dell.