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Mac Quality
- Thread starter scoobierules
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Thats what they want you to believe, so you'll buy a computer from them. I just walked into a store that wanted close to $800 for a used white imac 17inch....aren't those the ones known for the vertical line issues!? Stay away from those things like the plague....?
It has nothing to do with hating or the silly dark side. Why defend the indefensible ? Apple quality has gone down hill over the last couple of years. iMacs are the most returned computers in my store.
And the situation is getting worse with the latest graphics fiascos on Macbooks.
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayR...STORY=/www/story/03-24-2009/0004993489&EDATE=
"Silence! This criticism of the company is unfounded".
It's amazing how times have changed. Would love to see an ad like that today.
It would be interesting to see the stats on Apple product returns with regard to versions. It's no secret that rev A products are a bit of a gamble, but I'd love to see how much the quantifiable quality increases with each revision.
I think quality is subjective unless it breaks. The alu keyboard is not flimsy unless it breaks. Don't be fooled by thinness.
You are so right about subjective as it applies to the aluminum keyboard.
Quality as expressed by OP was two fold; a) actually QC failures and b) perceived inferior quality as exhibited by the change in keyboard styles.
As I expressed earlier in this thread manufacturing quality standards seem to have fallen in general, however the keyboard issue has more to do with the appearance of being supplied with an inferior product. To many the new keyboard looks and feels less substantial and therefore must be a cheap alternative to providing a "real" keyboard.
Have a long drawn out discussion about perceived reduced value from included components is pointless since this will go on forever (we all have different perceptions). Deciding whether the real reduction in build quality should be a reason to buy non-Apple products is something to be considered, though even this borders on pointless as well, since all manufacturers are using similar components and outsourcing manufacturing to the same companies.
Count yourself blessed if you get a "good enough" Mac (phone, or other device).
Cheers,
The imac keyboards are horrible for long typing sessions. Try do some programming (1000+ lines) or write a report of 25 pages. You will get cramp in no time
Esthetically it's pleasing and it looks great (built quality is great too). But when it gets to ergonomics, the keyboards and mouse included with the imac 2g are horrible. RSI in no time guaranteed.
The keyboard and mouse are in the cabinet, collecting dust. Replaced it with the logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser
The previous white keyboard (G1) were a lot better. Great click feeling and feedback.
And being a critic is a good thing. Quality control anyone?
Esthetically it's pleasing and it looks great (built quality is great too). But when it gets to ergonomics, the keyboards and mouse included with the imac 2g are horrible. RSI in no time guaranteed.
The keyboard and mouse are in the cabinet, collecting dust. Replaced it with the logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser
The previous white keyboard (G1) were a lot better. Great click feeling and feedback.
And being a critic is a good thing. Quality control anyone?
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious reason for the "chiclet" keyboard design, which is to get people used to tap-typing in a similar way to typing on a touch screen i.e. iphone (and possibly that rumoured touch-screen netbook). I'm sure it also helped them build the MBA so thin but to spread that design to desktop keyboards seems odd.
as a professional writer who might write 5000 - 10 000 words in a day, there is just no way I could use that sort of keyboard. In fact I wish some company would start making keyboards that were HEAVIER again instead of lighter -- those heavy old corporate IBM-style keyboards were very comfortable to work with, and would even let you set the keys' pressure sensitivity and turn the click sound on or off. They also lasted for years and years without breaking. The previous Mac keyboard (the "dust tray" as I used to call it) stopped working less than a year after I bought my dual G5 in 2005, and since they aren't covered by Applecare I replaced it with a Logitech instead. It's better than the Apple for its size, programmable keys and height adjustment but it's still too lightly built, and still has too much space between the keys which causes a lot of dust problems.
At this point, beyond quality I'm really questioning Apple's decision to have only ONE mouse and ONE keyboard etc. in their product lines -- I know anyone is free to buy other brands, but still, why not have two or three models at least? Dell has DOZENS of different Dell-brand keyboards on their site! I would choose an Apple model first if I had the choice, but they don't offer a choice! I know the usual answer -- they don't have the market share to offer as many products as Dell or what have you, but if they don't diversify a bit to cater to different tastes, they'll NEVER GET enough market share!!!
as a professional writer who might write 5000 - 10 000 words in a day, there is just no way I could use that sort of keyboard. In fact I wish some company would start making keyboards that were HEAVIER again instead of lighter -- those heavy old corporate IBM-style keyboards were very comfortable to work with, and would even let you set the keys' pressure sensitivity and turn the click sound on or off. They also lasted for years and years without breaking. The previous Mac keyboard (the "dust tray" as I used to call it) stopped working less than a year after I bought my dual G5 in 2005, and since they aren't covered by Applecare I replaced it with a Logitech instead. It's better than the Apple for its size, programmable keys and height adjustment but it's still too lightly built, and still has too much space between the keys which causes a lot of dust problems.
At this point, beyond quality I'm really questioning Apple's decision to have only ONE mouse and ONE keyboard etc. in their product lines -- I know anyone is free to buy other brands, but still, why not have two or three models at least? Dell has DOZENS of different Dell-brand keyboards on their site! I would choose an Apple model first if I had the choice, but they don't offer a choice! I know the usual answer -- they don't have the market share to offer as many products as Dell or what have you, but if they don't diversify a bit to cater to different tastes, they'll NEVER GET enough market share!!!
I seriously doubt market share has anything to do with the lack of choice (not only in keyboards but in GPUs and and other config options). Apple has been all about limiting choices to maintain control and consistency, ostensively as a method of maintaining software and hardware compatibility over time. This limiting of choice really just keeps Apple from having to support more options thereby helping to maintain the highest hardware margins in the industry.
I've said it many times; so long as people keep paying high prices for mediocre hardware configs just to get OS X and a pretty design (glassy/glossy issues aside) Apple has no motivation to expand options. Just look at how long people have clamored for a desktop between the mini and the Mac Pro!
Perhaps when Jobs retires, other, more flexible voices at Apple will listen to our plaintive cries.
Cheers,
I'm still banging away on the keyboard from my 2002 vintage mirrored-door G4 at home and a 6 year old IBM whateveritwas tower. Maybe I'll get a mini later this year and get to figure out what the new keyboard is all about.
No keyboard or mouse provided when you buy a mini.
More Apple not providing value after you spend $599 on a very limited system that almost everyone, myself included, upgrades immediately. So unless you want to pay even more money for a keyboard that looks nice to some but is less functional for heavy typists, you shall not experience the Aluminum keyboard with your new mini.
Cheers,
I think the build quality on the imacs and the alu macbooks are superb. The imac is the best built desktop computer i have ever owned and the macbooks are much better built than the plastic ones in my view.
I've had the imac 14 months and its still in pristine condition. The macbook was purchased in december and is still flawless.
New iMac's quality is poor, very poor. I ordered my on 3rd and got it on 12th and it had a dead pixel. Called to Apple and I got it replaced. It came yesterday and surprise, surprise it has one too! This time it's not annoying and it's hard to find but still. I don't want replacement anymore because I won't help. I'll call to Apple and tell how happy I'm about their products quality. It can't be bad luck anymore, it's because Apple wants too big profit and the lose the quality.
No good Apple, no good, this is the wrong way...
No good Apple, no good, this is the wrong way...
G4 466 DA tower bought in Jan 2001. Just replaced the mouse a few months ago. My son had been playing to many on-line video games and had been pounding it waaay to hard. 8 years and counting........... It just keeps running and running. I'm trying to figure out which one is going to break down first. My G4 or me break down and buy a new computer. It's been a great computer. The only thing I've added is a larger hard drive, USB 2.0 card, and added memory from the original 128MB to 640MB.
G4 466 DA tower bought in Jan 2001. Just replaced the mouse a few months ago. My son had been playing to many on-line video games and had been pounding it waaay to hard. 8 years and counting........... It just keeps running and running. I'm trying to figure out which one is going to break down first. My G4 or me break down and buy a new computer. It's been a great computer. The only thing I've added is a larger hard drive, USB 2.0 card, and added memory from the original 128MB to 640MB.
Wow you had it since Jan 01? I guess you had your moneys worth out of it and the rest!
Definitely got my money out of it. I was ready to buy a G5 and then Steve Jobs said they were switching to Intel and I decided to wait. I usually buy a new computer system every 3 to 5 years on average, but now I'm kind of in the mode of "let's see who breaks down first". I have my computer in the family room and whenever I have new company, they always marvel at what a beautiful new computer I have. My 18 year old friends love it and always want to get on it when they come over. I don't believe I could have have a better computer. Originally, it came with OS 9.2 (or 9.1?) Then I went OS X and from Start to Desktop went from 3 to 4 minutes to now with 10.4.11 it's about 35 to 40 seconds.