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Love the MBP, but some of this stuff is discouraging

WhySoSerious

WhySoSerious

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 30, 2007
1,460
97
Dallas, TX
far be it for me to stir the pot, but i've been a WIN user for years...just bought my first Mac last week, a 17" MBP, fully decked out.

love the computer, but i must say, these message boards seem to house a lot of negative comments (not even sure if they are all true or just people posting falacies to scare others from buying Apple).

i know the message board "rule"...if there isn't a problem, then why even post...and if you are having a problem, then post here because this is where you can get help.

i get that, really i do...but come on people. some of these posts are kinda strange. first of all, you are buying a complicated piece of machinery/electronics. if you go into it thinking it'll never freeze, it'll never crash, it'll never run slow, it'll never have a misalligned hindge, then give me some of that kool-aid you're drinking.

i'm reading a lot of posts lately about people complaining over things that are really just normal problems with ANY computer. it's (MBP) a great computer for the money, but still, there will be imperfections here and there...nothing/no one is perfect, so don't have expectations that it should be.

also, for the people who complain about the yellow screen or the dead pixel or whatever else they muster up.....you have read these message boards before; you have heard first hand from your friends; you've been in the apple stores to see it yourself.........so, if you are going to buy, buy at your own risk. don't buy and then start complaining endlessly over flaws that you knew were persistant to begin with. if anything, you should have waited for the problems to be fixed by Apple and then bought. it's silly to see all the posts about "oh, the yellow screens are a huge issue...let me go buy one now and pray my isn't like that"....then when it arrives..."dang apple!!! my screen is yellow!" :rolleyes:
 
but...but...but...the print on my enter key is off by a millimeter, im definitely returning my mac and going back to PC's
 
Roguepirate said:
but...but...but...the print on my enter key is off by a millimeter, im definitely returning my mac and going back to PC's
Click to expand...

lol...right!

or how about...i think my "Y" key is slighty misalligned...

or my MBP has a centimeter gap between the lid and base when it's shut

or my MBP froze up on me (shoot...it's a computer...it's gonna happen...it may even *gasp* crash!) if it happens a lot...take it into the store for repair.
 
box33 said:
lol...right!

or how about...i think my "Y" key is slighty misalligned...

or my MBP has a centimeter gap between the lid and base when it's shut

or my MBP froze up on me (shoot...it's a computer...it's gonna happen...it may even *gasp* crash!) if it happens a lot...take it into the store for repair.
Click to expand...

A centimeter gap would be something to be concerned about. No way I want a gap over 1/4th inch when I close the lid. :rolleyes:

And some of us don't have time or money to take it to a store for repair when the store is over an hour and a half away one way.
 
Box33 has got a point in some respects but in others I would say he is totally in the wrong. Some people do get bad apples and they do need to be returned and discussed, its the way the forum works.

Its like saying, got my Mac and it wouldnt even switch on so instead of saying anything I will live with the fact that its totally useless to me!!!

Many sides and arguments to this thread!!! :)
 
I agree. There are many sides to this. Other than my recent random freezing (and a battery that was acting weird), my Mac has run awesome and performed beyond my expectations.
 
Saw this in another thread:

"If you just get down to using it and stop thinking about these things after a period of time you forget all about it. Unless its actually an issue that is a complete distraction or means that your Mac cannot operate the way it should then I would give it some time and see how you get on with it."
 
There was one guy who posted a couple of weeks back saying he wasn't going to buy a macbook pro due to POTENTIAL problems that could be encountered.
 
anirban said:
Oh I will be annoyed if there is a centimeter gap between the lid and the base when it is shut... absolutely enraged.
Click to expand...

But look at it from the bright side. If you throw your computer away, it will always return since it definitely look like a boomerang. :)

The OP is correct in some respects. There is no perfect product. It just amounts to what a person perceives as fine or not - barring the glaring issues like a computer not working as it should, etc.
 
I agree that people can take things to far and nit pick flaws and problems. However Mac's IMO do have an esthetic quality you can’t find in other computers. They just look better and I think that makes people want to take care of them more.
 
Don't underestimate the impact of a 1mm gap. It makes them impossible to juggle.;)
 
box33 said:
lol...right!

or how about...i think my "Y" key is slighty misalligned...

or my MBP has a centimeter gap between the lid and base when it's shut

or my MBP froze up on me (shoot...it's a computer...it's gonna happen...it may even *gasp* crash!) if it happens a lot...take it into the store for repair.
Click to expand...

lol, yeah...

or how about...i discovered a widespread design flaw in the main logic board that makes it impossible to record clean audio via USB microphone on my $3100 laptop unless there's a plug handy, because battery power won't cut it. (Try it, see for yourself. It affects your laptop, too.) Thankfully, my $1300 laptop can handle this task very well.

or how about...i spent thousands and thousands of dollars on six MacBook Pros just to find one that didn't have a documentable issue significant enough to prevent normal usage. (On the upside, the five bad ones all earned full refunds.)

Jesus, the nerve of some people, thinking they have a right to complain!

P.S. -- I'm sure you meant MILLImeter. If you're willing to accept a CENTImeter gap for your three large, you deserve what you get.
 
xpovos said:
lol, yeah...

or how about...i discovered a widespread design flaw in the main logic board that makes it impossible to record clean audio via USB microphone on my $3100 laptop unless there's a plug handy, because battery power won't cut it. (Try it, see for yourself. It affects your laptop, too.) Thankfully, my $1300 laptop can handle this task very well.

or how about...i spent thousands and thousands of dollars on six MacBook Pros just to find one that didn't have a documentable issue significant enough to prevent normal usage. (On the upside, the five bad ones all earned full refunds.)

Jesus, the nerve of some people, thinking they have a right to complain!

P.S. -- I'm sure you meant MILLImeter. If you're willing to accept a CENTImeter gap for your three large, you deserve what you get.
Click to expand...

Heh, well you make a good point - but I think the OP was talking about the people who get up in arms over stuff that either a) is more in their head than reality (ie. cosmetic "issues" that don't affect performance/usability) or b) things that are just part of computers, period -- not an actual construction/component problem like the USB microphone thing (can you use a non-USB mic without the power plugged in - out of curiosity?).

Personally, I think that a lot of the complaints you find on forums (and this can go for any product, but it seems especially prevalent in Macland) are either blown-up/exaggerated or only serve to get people paranoid about so-called "defects" they never noticed until it was pointed out by a bunch of usernames on the Interwebs.

I mean, I'm anal as all get out - but I'm not going to get up in arms because the lid on my MB is slightly more flush on the left than it is on the right (we're talking well under a mm difference) because I accept that Apple has a design flaw when it comes to how their MB and especially MBP's close. Something about the thinness of the profile and the magnetic connection - every MBP I've seen (and the TiBook and AiBook's before that) has had the "warping" thing to some extent (and usually unnoticeable to the untrained eye) - it's just part of the deal.

Screen yellowing or darkening, if legitimate is a real issue -- but I have to question how much of it is psychosomatic and how much is based in reality for a lot of people.
 
xpovos said:
lol, yeah...

or how about...i discovered a widespread design flaw in the main logic board that makes it impossible to record clean audio via USB microphone on my $3100 laptop unless there's a plug handy, because battery power won't cut it. (Try it, see for yourself. It affects your laptop, too.) Thankfully, my $1300 laptop can handle this task very well.

or how about...i spent thousands and thousands of dollars on six MacBook Pros just to find one that didn't have a documentable issue significant enough to prevent normal usage. (On the upside, the five bad ones all earned full refunds.)

Jesus, the nerve of some people, thinking they have a right to complain!

P.S. -- I'm sure you meant MILLImeter. If you're willing to accept a CENTImeter gap for your three large, you deserve what you get.
Click to expand...

obviously you didn't grasp the idea behind my post.
 
Apple has tried hard to ensure people view their brand as innovative, esthetically pleasing and high quality. If you believe their brand and then receive a machine that is not up to your expectations (especially if there are obvious flaws), why would you all fault these people? Just because you are okay with mediocre does not make it wrong to demand quality.
 
my MBP has several frustrating issues.. It would take more than that for me to feel ripped off or never buy another mac. I understand that computers are not always perfect, but you do expect a minimum standard when you buy the most expensive laptop on the market.

i.e. if your mercedes was delivered in a box.. you open it to find the hood doesnt line up properly, the alarm deactivates itself randomly, the letters on the speedo were out of place and the car occasionally started itself without warning.. you'd probably be a little bit miffed..

thankfully apple are pretty good when it comes to return policies and exchanges (aside from a few big headed "genius" elitists.
 
If you look hard enough you'll find a flaw in anything.

My overpriced in-wall refrigerator's right handle is 1/2 inch higher than its left (top edge only - way above eye-level - only discoverable by touch if you're reaching up there to steady yourself). You don't notice it and it doesn't impact performance but it's there. The thing cost a lot more than a MBP and is supposed to be high quality.

The passenger side headrest in my minivan doesn't come all the way down to the seatback. It misses by about 2mm while the driver's side is perfect. You don't notice it and it doesn't impact performance but it's there. The thing cost a lot more than a MBP and is supposed to be high quality.

The stitching on my designer sectional sofa is uneven for about an inch on the back of the left arm. You don't notice it and it doesn't impact performance but it's there. The thing cost a lot more than a MBP and is supposed to be high quality.

Thank goodness I have low standards and tolerate mediocrity or I'd never sleep.
 
Honestly, I had an IBM T20 for 3 years, no problems, none.

I now have an R50 which is 2 years old, no problems whatsoever.

I don't think it's valid to assume all computers will have problems and we should expect them.

Many people have computers with absolutely no problems with their systems, but some do. Some of those are statistically significant, and people here have even narrowed them down to a component manufacturer (I'm thinking the 1/3 yellow Samsung screens). Problems like that can and should be corrected.

But i guess you do have a point when people complain about small issues.
 
obviously you cant compare two different products to each other... if you do.. compare your top of the range laptop to a top of the range sofa.. You wouldnt find any problems on a hand made italian natuzi sofa
 
Santa Rosa said:
Box33 has got a point in some respects but in others I would say he is totally in the wrong. Some people do get bad apples and they do need to be returned and discussed, its the way the forum works.

Its like saying, got my Mac and it wouldnt even switch on so instead of saying anything I will live with the fact that its totally useless to me!!!

Many sides and arguments to this thread!!! :)
Click to expand...

Pun intended?
 
DA-Steve said:
obviously you cant compare two different products to each other... if you do.. compare your top of the range laptop to a top of the range sofa.. You wouldnt find any problems on a hand made italian natuzi sofa
Click to expand...

As I sit on my $8,000 hand made Italian sofa (I forget the designer/mfg and am not going to call my wife) I still maintain you can find a problem with anything if you look hard enough. (complex items only - my rolls of scotch tape and alum. foil are fine)
 
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