Mac Book Air lemon? Losing faith in Apple.

[Axxie]

Like everyone else on the same road, all of you lovely folk out there, since being introduced to Apple I've remained faithfully dedicated to their beautifully crafted, breathtaking and innovative products, or I was until yesterday evening when, for the first time in seven long years, I contemplated switching back to Windows.

Since buying my Macbook Air in July, I've had a HD failure, a faulty screen hinge mechanism, a faulty WiFi card, a broken microphone and now, my keyboard seems to be faulty as keys are sporadically deciding to stop responding, most notably, the return (enter) key, which refuses to at all.

I really don't know what to do at this point: It's going away tomorrow for it's umpteenth repair and I'm left lingering with the feeling that this will be it for the rest of it's lifespan, constantly having it break down on me when I need it most and thus having to go a week or two at a time, not to mention that I live a fair bit away from my nearest Apple store after moving.

I'm not one to complain, I'm really not - I always defend Apple against the usual hoards of haters, but I feel helpless at this point and unable to even justify what I'm supporting, I splurged my savings on a beautiful machine that in turn has done nothing but let me down...

So what I'm leading up to here is, as I slowly lose faith in Apple, would there be any point in me pursuing AppleCare for a replacement machine? I don't want an Air, anymore, I don't like them - I don't trust them. I'll take anything, even if it's lower-spec, so long as it's reasonable - but I don't even think they do that.

I don't know, I need some advice. Help?

 

[NT1440]

sounds like you got a lemon......

 

[Axxie]

sounds like you got a lemon......

Ironic, I never was any good at making lemonade. Heh.

 

[NT1440]

Ironic, I never was any good at making lemonade. Heh.

I'd personally exchange it given the number of problems its had. Approach it gently by asking something like "I bet all these repairs have cost you guys the cost of the computer by now".

 

[detz]

I'll trade my white macbook for it. ;-)

With all of your issues you might fall under the lemon law depending on your state and they might have to give you a new one. I would get a list of your issues and records and give them a call and tell them just what you wrote; how you're a loyal user but how you think this is ridiculous. Good thing you have Apple Care!

 

[gcmexico]

The moment it broke down on you, you should have asked for a new one...why even repair it? a machine you just bought shouldn't break down immediately, go back and get another one or get your money back (this might be too late for you)...I never understand people...if you bought a car and the motor stops responding after a week, you would go back to a dealership and say "give me a new car" enough said

update: and stop blaming Apple, 1 bad laptop means nothing compared to the awesome products they have produced for over 30 years...geez

 

[liquidtrend]

the fact that apple has taken care of every problem is pretty good of them.
now you might have a lemon...and that happens sometimes. it happens with everything.

why lose faith in apple because you just pulled the short string in a purchase.

and...have you tried contacting apple or speaking to the service manager about all these problems.

your macbook is logged in their system and they save every scar your machine receives. i dont see why (if you are having ALL these problems) apple wouldnt help you out if you asked.

 

[cmwade77]

I am with everyone else, ask for it to be replaced as it is a Lemon.

 

[justit]

I had to laugh at the title "Losing Faith in Apple" Let's get real, it's a for-profit company not a religion.

Would you "lose faith" if your GE microwave goes out on you?

 

[tubbymac]

I'd be just as irritated and annoyed if I had to get a product repaired five times as well but since I haven't seen many people complaining about the same thing I don't think your unlucky experience is typical. Like everybody else said it sounds like you got a lemon. I'd firmly demand a replacement the next time you go in for Applecare.

 

[mhnajjar]

I had to laugh at the title "Losing Faith in Apple" Let's get real, it's a for-profit company not a religion.

Would you "lose faith" if your GE microwave goes out on you?

The guy has the rights to express himself and we have to aid him instead of trying to be funny.


OP, I feel your pain and I would say do NOT get a MBA since it is a crippled machine if we are going to compare it to what other Apple machines are capable of doing.

If you cannot or do not want to get a MBP, then you might be better off with another company.

I myself have been considering the Vaio TT and I am just waiting for the refresh to come to decide on that, but my love to Apple might make me get a MBP since I do not really move that much and I would not mind carrying the 17" around since I had one for almost two years let alone the 15".

Regardless of the company's name, you deserve what you paid for and if you feel the entire line of the company is not serving your needs or giving you 100% your money's worth then feel more than free to look somewhere else and forget about the people that would tell you that you just got a lemon because you are experienced more than them now due to the different various faults you have faced with the MBA.

Good luck on your next machine

 

[stubeeef]

NOT a religion!

Like TarHeel Basketball is a GAME.
Shelby Cobra is a CAR.
Straduvarius is a VIOLIN.
The Sistine Chapel ceiling is just a MURAL.

My apple is how i often communicate, express myself, pay my bills, record the history of my children growing up, and make my life easier! I appreciate it all the more because at work I use WINBLOWS and I know the difference.

(TarHeel Basketball> which is a religion> the Dean Dome is a Chapel, Dean Smith is a God>>>>>>>>Apple is a religion>OSX is a Chapel, Steve Jobs is a God.)

****The above is somewhat satirical; I am a Christian with only ONE real GOD****

 

[longball11]

NOT a religion!

Like TarHeel Basketball is a GAME.
Shelby Cobra is a CAR.
Straduvarius is a VIOLIN.
The Sistine Chapel ceiling is just a MURAL.

My apple is how i often communicate, express myself, pay my bills, record the history of my children growing up, and make my life easier! I appreciate it all the more because at work I use WINBLOWS and I know the difference.

(TarHeel Basketball> which is a religion> the Dean Dome is a Chapel, Dean Smith is a God>>>>>>>>Apple is a religion>OSX is a Chapel, Steve Jobs is a God.)

****The above is somewhat satirical; I am a Christian with only ONE real GOD****

Weird...though i am a tarheel basketball fan

 

[Abstract]

I sometimes use the term "umpteenth time" as well, but in this case, I want to know how many times approximately, and how many of the repairs were for major parts like the logic board?

If things really are as serious as you say, I'd phone AppleCare, tell them that your laptop has been in repair for 6 weeks out of the 26 weeks you've owned it since July (for example), or around 1 out of every 4 days you've owned it (for example). Tell him in that perspective, and the person on the other end will DEFINITELY understand. Telling someone that your machine has been in repair "a lot of times" doesn't have the same impact.

Tell them how frustrated you are, and how upset you are since this affects your work and income. If the person on the other end is human, he'll either get you to talk to a manager, or authorize a replacement for you if he's allowed.


MBAs should be good machines. You've just had bad luck. Try to remember that, and hope that they'll give you an awesome replacement.

 

[dissdnt]

After 3 repairs they should replace it for you without question.

 

[waffle911]

If you cannot or do not want to get a MBP, then you might be better off with another company.

If he had a MBA... likely for the purpose of being mobile, rather than powerful... why would he get a MBP? He could just get a regular Mac Book. A little more powerful, similar form factor, a little thicker, and a little heaver. A MBP would be a big shift away from what it seems the OP actually needs and uses the machine for.

I myself have been considering the Vaio TT and I am just waiting for the refresh to come to decide on that, but my love to Apple might make me get a MBP since I do not really move that much and I would not mind carrying the 17" around since I had one for almost two years let alone the 15".

I've dealt with Sony laptops before... they're rubbish. Warranty is similar to Apple's, except that customer service is worse. The pricing is even in Apple's territory for comparatively spec'd notebooks. Haven't come across one that was still in appealing condition (sometimes not even in working order) after one year's use (by people who baby the things). I am sort of careless with my polycarbonate early '07 MB and it still looks decent. The letters are still on the keys, for one thing (which I can't say the same about my classmate's Sony). And the Wi-Fi still works (My sister's Vaio's physical Wi-Fi switch broke).

Wait a minute, backup. You're actually making a decision between a thin-and-light anemic Sony TT (11") and a MBP (15")? You need to figure out what your priorities are. Granted, the Sony has Blu-Ray (and barely the power to run it), but do you need portability or performance?

Regardless of the company's name, you deserve what you paid for and if you feel the entire line of the company is not serving your needs or giving you 100% your money's worth then feel more than free to look somewhere else and forget about the people that would tell you that you just got a lemon because you are experienced more than them now due to the different various faults you have faced with the MBA.

So, Sony's right out, then. You really want a Lenovo, or maybe an Accer or MSI, or Asus. Lenovo's probably your best bet, though. Built like a tank, but isn't heavy as one. [/SONY BASHING]

 

[SFStateStudent]

Well, from the looks of your posts since July 2008, a total of (6) as of today; I hope you've established a well documented history with AppleCare with regards to your MBAir. Replacements are usually given after three repairs or issues that warrant a replacement, but other times replacements are given for DOA (Dead On Arrival) issues; such as a non-working battery/hard drive/OS glitch, and so on etc. I've had a replacement and upgrade all in one shot, so I think it's possible. Did you purchase AppleCare? That's always a plus; give it a shot at the Apple Store and keep us advised... Good luck.

 

[tubbymac]

Haven't come across one that was still in appealing condition (sometimes not even in working order) after one year's use (by people who baby the things).

Well you've come across one now. My two Sony laptops are still in pristine condition and I don't really baby my machines either. I am careful with my machines though and try not to bump them around needlessly.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I would press for an exchange in a nice way. You bought a laptop to do mobile computing and you've been deprived of that for an inordinate amount of time.

Was this a new Gen.2 machine bought from Apple? I don't think you're having a normal experience especially if it's a newer MBA. I have both gen.'s and even though gen. 1 isn't perfect, neither have had any of the issues you've described.

 

[iBlue]

the fact that apple has taken care of every problem is pretty good of them...

No it isn't. It's the least they can do according to warranties and what should be standard of care. I find Apple to be appalling compared to larger PC companies such as Dell <gasp> when it comes to problems.

They can and should replace this whole lemon scented air.

 

[hodgeheg]

WTF are you talking about?

Everyone telling him to replace it is attacks?

Oh wait, nvm, your just here to troll arent you?

Check his other posts - there's a pattern.

OP, I second all the others saying to go for a replacement. I've heard of AppleCare swapping for other machine models before, but it does seem luck of the draw. I would try to stay polite, but firm, and have all the details at your fingertips.

If the Air (assuming it worked) is the machine for your needs then I wouldn't rush to change to a different model. On the other hand I know what it's like to feel you just can't trust something.

Best of luck

 

[marbles]

I sometimes use the term "umpteenth time" as well, but in this case, I want to know how many times approximately, and how many of the repairs were for major parts like the logic board?

If things really are as serious as you say, I'd phone AppleCare, tell them that your laptop has been in repair for 6 weeks out of the 26 weeks you've owned it since July (for example), or around 1 out of every 4 days you've owned it (for example). Tell him in that perspective, and the person on the other end will DEFINITELY understand. Telling someone that your machine has been in repair "a lot of times" doesn't have the same impact.

Tell them how frustrated you are, and how upset you are since this affects your work and income. If the person on the other end is human, he'll either get you to talk to a manager, or authorize a replacement for you if he's allowed.


MBAs should be good machines. You've just had bad luck. Try to remember that, and hope that they'll give you an awesome replacement.

^^ do that .

 

[organerito]

the fact that apple has taken care of every problem is pretty good of them.
now you might have a lemon...and that happens sometimes. it happens with everything.

why lose faith in apple because you just pulled the short string in a purchase.

and...have you tried contacting apple or speaking to the service manager about all these problems.

your macbook is logged in their system and they save every scar your machine receives. i dont see why (if you are having ALL these problems) apple wouldnt help you out if you asked.

Because nobody wants to almost 2000 dollars for something that performs worse than a 300 dollars computer.

 

[mr.steevo]

Hi,

My friend had a G5 iMac that had problems shortly before the 1 year warranty expired (he didn't get Apple Care). I don't remember what it was exactly, but Apple repaired it. Then he continued to have the same problem with it until it died last summer. Everytime it went back to Apple and they repaired it at their cost as it would break within the 30 or 90 day repair warranty. When it did go in the summer of '08 they offered him a brand new iMac, which he took gladly.

Anything is possible with Apple as long as you are patient with the people you talk to and clear with what has been done to the machine for how many times. Clearly they thought his situation was ridiculous and so gave him a new machine. Awful nice of them.

s.

 

[j5045096]

The moment it broke down on you, you should have asked for a new one...why even repair it? a machine you just bought shouldn't break down immediately, go back and get another one or get your money back (this might be too late for you)...I never understand people...if you bought a car and the motor stops responding after a week, you would go back to a dealership and say "give me a new car" enough said

update: and stop blaming Apple, 1 bad laptop means nothing compared to the awesome products they have produced for over 30 years...geez

I agree with you about going back to Apple and requesting a new one. I would have done that after they made just the second or third repair! BUT, don't blame Apple? I know it was the Chinese factory that made the computer but it's Apple's responsibility to do quality control. I think he's justified for being a little upset with Apple. I mean, they still do make the best stuff in my opinion and probably 99.5% of the time it's problem free, but even mighty Apple needs to be held accountable sometimes if you spend hard earned money to buy THEIR product when you could have spent your money on somebody elses laptop and theirs doesn't work right (okay I know - none of us would ever do that because well, the other guy makes junk but still).