My little rant: Selling my MBP.

[Carlsen]

Hi,

I've been a Mac user for six months now - it's about to change though.
I'm not starting this thread to fire up a war between Mac's and PC's, OS X and windows. Only writing this to share my experience/opinion on the Macbook Pro and OS X in general, and hear others people's experiences.

I bought my Macbook Pro (2GHz CD, 1GB RM, 80GB 5400rpm, 4x SD, 15,4") some six months ago. The nice finish and first-hand rugged feeling persuaded me - along with OS X, the promise of a more comfortable "ride" without malware and other gibberish.

I was thrilled. Networking was pretty easy, although the same settings applied - they were just more logically placed. OS X has a very nice way of dealing with floating windows. Exposé is a great tool and a the dock seems like a good solution - at first..

Over time my fascination with OS X went away, and I started looking more at the Macbook Pro itself. The very build of the Pro was one of the things that really amazed me in the beginning. The MBP is gorgeous. It's properly engineered to look good - but the fun ends there. I understand why they push and push on to make it thinner. But maybe there's a reason the competition hasn't gone and made the cases so compact as is the case with the MBP. Remember, they all basically use the same components. These are standard. Apart from the logic board, made by ASUS I hear?

First, I've taken really good care of my MBP. I have really babied it. IT doesn't have -one- single scratch or dent, apart from one (very small one) on the bottom.

The laptop itself has some really bad inconsistencies. Stuff that really just should work, but seems a little strange and half-finished.

• My logic board needs replacing. After six months. If it was DOA, I could understand. But six months of use and then dead?
• The keyboard is rubbish when compared to the IBM I had. The keys look like they've been thrown on, some skewing and others just not lining up properly. The 'O' key has from day one been harder to activate than the others.
• The screen is grainy. This is a chipset issue (I've read), hopefully the new logic board will fix this.
• The trackpad button is inconsistent - the button is loose and makes a double clicking sound when pressed. Pretty bad for a very expensive laptop.
• It scratches waay to easily. Of course, I knew this when I bought it. Anodized aluminium isn't exactly robust.
• The battery time is awful. 3,5 hours MAX. Really sub-par.
• General stuff. Sometimes you have to hold the power-on button for three seconds to turn it on, other times it just goes on as soon as you touch it. It's worrying that your machine doesn't behave the same way every time you turn it on. The LEDs for the CAPS-LOCK and NUM-LOCK buttons build up charge, lighting when the buttons aren't on. This goes away when you press them, then builds up again. Rubbish.

The exoskeleton of the MBP works great for a really stiff build. But I'm afraid the way the exoskeleton work combined with the solid mounting and very compact fit inside, will lead to the components directly taking punishment for everything you subject the case to.
But the things that got to me is that in general, in ALL these things, it's just not a proper quality product. It's certainly not worth the extra cash. In my opinion, at least. It feels like a product in it's beta stage.

Software-wise I still like OS X. Not for being OS X, but for being a UNIX based platform with cute skin that (in most cases) keeps the user out of terminals.
To be honest, I would be just as happy with an Ubuntu install. As I see it, you have the same malware free environment, lots of great freeware, eyecandy (at your wish) and stability.

So, in the future it'll be an IBM T60 with Vista and Ubuntu.

It's been great being here, browsing this forum has helped me out a few times

EDIT: And by the way, pardon the bad grammar. Hope you made it through safely

 

[juanster]

i think you are doing the right thing, you tried it, you did not like it you are getting rid of it, we can t all like the same thing always. It 'd be a different thing if u were saying you don't like it or want it and you have never even use it or tried it...anyways good luck..

 

[Cybergypsy]

I have used macs for 20 years and my Sig line said it all, just Bought a HP iq770 desktop and love all the features, still love the G4 imac... current model no Thanks.......loving vista....and this known as the imac killer......Happy till gets better QC!

 

[aurajun]

Sorry to hear this..

Dude, that sucks! Sorry to hear that you've had so much trouble with your MBP.

 

[Carlsen]

I have used macs for 20 years and my Sig line said it all, just Bought a HP iq770 desktop and love all the features, still love the G4 imac... current model no Thanks.......loving vista....and this known as the imac killer......Happy till gets better QC!

Four bad macs in six months

Sounds like I'm not alone then.

 

[JDN]

Im sorry to hear you experience has been less than pleasing.

However, i would like to share my experience as it could not be more different from you own and think it gives browsers of the forum a more rounded views of macs.

I bought my Mac in June 2006 in preparation for a year studying abroad, it is a CD 2Ghz 1Gb RAM 80Gb HD.

To be totally honest i bought the MBP with not a great deal of knowledge on macs. I knew they were different, that about it. I have never been into computers, and just wanted something that would do what i needed and be a bit of fun at the same time.

I am not saying my MBP hasn't had a couple of problems. I went through a patch of kernal panics, but that was due to 3rd party software which i removed. I have never had a single panic since.

Firstly my fascination with OSX is still present and vibrant. I am constantly using the active corners and Quicksilver which make the user experience so much more pleasant.

As for build quality, my MBP has been tested to quite an extent. I travel with it frequently, train and planes ... through countless airports. I couldn't be more impressed with how the MBP has stood up to this. Due to heightened security i've had my MBP handled in a manner i was not impressed with, but it just shrugged it off and carried on serving me faithfully. There are no scratches on the lid what so ever, which even i am a little surprised at (but very pleased non the less) and only minimal 'scuffs' on the bottom which i buff off every couple of weeks. I don't baby my MBP, it is primarily a tool which i need to use in several situations and i don't expect to have to worry about it when trying to work.

My keyboard is perfect. Every key lines up, works efficiently, there has been no fade or skewing. The same goes for the trackpad and button. The two finger scrolling is another feature i really like and use constantly.

I have never had the mentioned issue with the NUM LOCK or CAPS LOCK key lights.

All in all, i think the MBP is a quality product. Which brings me, and everyone else, back to the same age old story. No manufacturer mass producing a product can be expected to have 100% success rate. With the number of different components made by different companies the chances of something having a glitch increases.

PC's are by no means infallible. In my first year at uni alone i never heard the end of people complaining about their brand new laptops being slow, or having yet another virus, or crashing randomly, freezing up.

Some of these points could be argued until we are all blue in the face, and people will still have different experiences/opinions. I just wanted to put a more positive view forward as an example.

(P.S. This took we a while to write, so people may have replied before i press the submit button ... just so you know)

 

[Carlsen]

Im sorry to hear you experience has been less than pleasing.

However, i would like to share my experience as it could not be more different from you own and think it gives browsers of the forum a more rounded views of macs.

I bought my Mac in June 2006 in preparation for a year studying abroad, it is a CD 2Ghz 1Gb RAM 80Gb HD.

To be totally honest i bought the MBP with not a great deal of knowledge on macs. I knew they were different, that about it. I have never been into computers, and just wanted something that would do what i needed and be a bit of fun at the same time.

I am not saying my MBP hasn't had a couple of problems. I went through a patch of kernal panics, but that was due to 3rd party software which i removed. I have never had a single panic since.

Firstly my fascination with OSX is still present and vibrant. I am constantly using the active corners and Quicksilver which make the user experience so much more pleasant.

As for build quality, my MBP has been tested to quite an extent. I travel with it frequently, train and planes ... through countless airports. I couldn't be more impressed with how the MBP has stood up to this. Due to heightened security i've had my MBP handled in a manner i was not impressed with, but it just shrugged it off and carried on serving me faithfully. There are no scratches on the lid what so ever, which even i am a little surprised at (but very pleased non the less) and only minimal 'scuffs' on the bottom which i buff off every couple of weeks. I don't baby my MBP, it is primarily a tool which i need to use in several situations and i don't expect to have to worry about it when trying to work.

My keyboard is perfect. Every key lines up, works efficiently, there has been no fade or skewing. The same goes for the trackpad and button. The two finger scrolling is another feature i really like and use constantly.

I have never had the mentioned issue with the NUM LOCK or CAPS LOCK key lights.

All in all, i think the MBP is a quality product. Which brings me, and everyone else, back to the same age old story. No manufacturer mass producing a product can be expected to have 100% success rate. With the number of different components made by different companies the chances of something having a glitch increases.

PC's are by no means infallible. In my first year at uni alone i never heard the end of people complaining about their brand new laptops being slow, or having yet another virus, or crashing randomly, freezing up.

Some of these points could be argued until we are all blue in the face, and people will still have different experiences/opinions. I just wanted to put a more positive view forward as an example.

(P.S. This took we a while to write, so people may have replied before i press the submit button ... just so you know)

I agree with you to a certain extent.

There will always be faulty items going off the production line, and unless Apple run a 100% quality control, some items are bound to reach the costumers.
However, I find i frightening that so many things are wrong with this very machine. It seems like the workers slapped it together of whatever was lying on the ground, just before getting off from work.

There's the electricals, caused by the faulty mainboard. These issues were the power management (reason it gets replaced in the first place), lights, grainy display etc.

Then there's the trackpad button thing. This is a part of it's own (although propably supplied with the top bezel).

Then the bent lid (it has a very clear curve when the laptop is closed). This is a chassis issue, different part again.

The Keyboard. Again, different part.

---

It's just really scary that none of these were caught in quality control. It's awful. If this was a car, I would be quite scared of driving it. Who knows when the steering wheel comes off?

Okay, that was childish. But my point is that this has just been one great dissapointment. I'm happy that you have been so lucky with yours. I'm not willing to take the chance on another Mac again though.

 

[freakonguitar]

I won't try to change your mind or anything, but I will say that there are just as many PC problems. You know why you don't hear about them quite as much? It is because people don't blog every PC issue they have they just return it where as it seems that all the Mac Users seem to go to a place like Macrumors and then they write their every issue, thus making it seem like all the macs are going downhill. I have two macs, and i have had little trouble with them . I have two friends with laptops made by Compaq (HP) and both of them have a dead display within 6 months. I mean they didn't write it in a forum so no one knows that Compaq seems to have displays die. Anyways. There you go, just another idea to throw around. Btw, If you want a really more durable and tough notebook, the Macbook i think would be a lot better. If they are built simular to my ibook that i have i would say they would be the best. My ibook has been accidentally dropped and been carried around in a laptop holster in a backpack for 1.5 years and still is just fine, just has minor surface scuffs on the top and bottom, and some scratches on the bottom, but you gotta use it. It doesn't dent or anything

 

[iSee]

Oh well, sorry to hear it.

I haven't experienced anything but happiness with my MBP. I guess in this case, the "Rev A" MBP (that's what I have) are much more solid than the rev B or C or whatever you have.

The LEDs in your keyboard building up a charge has to be a bad sign . Heh, what else it building up a charge that you can't see???

Well, good luck with that IBM (I guess it's Lenovo now)--those are pretty reliable laptops, IMO.

 

[NintendoFan]

Oh well, sorry to hear it.

I haven't experienced anything but happiness with my MBP. I guess in this case, the "Rev A" MBP (that's what I have) are much more solid than the rev B or C or whatever you have.

The LEDs in your keyboard building up a charge has to be a bad sign . Heh, what else it building up a charge that you can't see???

Well, good luck with that IBM (I guess it's Lenovo now)--those are pretty reliable laptops, IMO.

He has a Rev. A, it's a Core Duo.

 

[phil83]

3.5 hours of runtime off battery!

You got to be kidding me,
I would like you to find a laptop that runs at 2GHZ and has a better runtime or any laptop that will run for more than 3.5 hours.
But...
The other problems, that are dues strictly to machine problems I can see your disappointment

 

[thejadedmonkey]

To the OP, I feel your pain. Sure my Macbook Pro works just great... but I'm not satisfied with my $2000 at all. My old laptop (when it was new) ran XP for 2 hours on a single charge, had a 14.1" screen, and weighed ~4lbs. And it could take all the abuse I could throw at it.

I plan on keeping my macbook pro for another 3+ years, but.. It's not the same. It's big and bulky, the keyboard's absolutely atrocious, I miss not having a scroll wheel on my mouse (yes, I had a laptop with a scroll wheel mouse built in) and don't even get me started on having to adjust to a 1 button mouse.

Yes, it looks like a $2000 machine, but it doesn't "feel" like even a $1500 machine... and wtf is up with the latch. I've gotta use one hand to push the button in and another to open the screen..

at least it comes with an SD card reader like any $2000 dell....oh wait, nevermind

The only reason I'm not thinking about trading it in for a macbook is the screen size, and backlit keyboard.

 

[Carlsen]

I won't try to change your mind or anything, but I will say that there are just as many PC problems. You know why you don't hear about them quite as much? It is because people don't blog every PC issue they have they just return it where as it seems that all the Mac Users seem to go to a place like Macrumors and then they write their every issue, thus making it seem like all the macs are going downhill. I have two macs, and i have had little trouble with them . I have two friends with laptops made by Compaq (HP) and both of them have a dead display within 6 months. I mean they didn't write it in a forum so no one knows that Compaq seems to have displays die. Anyways. There you go, just another idea to throw around. Btw, If you want a really more durable and tough notebook, the Macbook i think would be a lot better. If they are built simular to my ibook that i have i would say they would be the best. My ibook has been accidentally dropped and been carried around in a laptop holster in a backpack for 1.5 years and still is just fine, just has minor surface scuffs on the top and bottom, and some scratches on the bottom, but you gotta use it. It doesn't dent or anything

I've gone through some laptops. IBM's. And none of which have ever been this faulty. Worst case was a CD-drive that needed replacement. Another time, it was artifacts. IBM replaced the board - it then turned out merely to be a driver issue from ATI.

I'm not saying IBM/Lenovo is god, I just don't think you are necessarily right.

 

[Carlsen]

You got to be kidding me,
I would like you to find a laptop that runs at 2GHZ and has a better runtime or any laptop that will run for more than 3.5 hours.
But...
The other problems, that are dues strictly to machine problems I can see your disappointment

Sure. A friend of mine's Pentium M T43 2,13 runs 6½ hours on a full charge. A T60 2GHz duo core will do almost six hours.

This is, of course, only with office work and webbrowsing - with the display at a low level. But still, it's ALOT better than the Macbook Pro.

 

[emac82]

I think it's stupid to think that it is unacceptable to have a logicboard replacement or whatever within 6 months. It is a mass-produced electronic, and also it's a first generation MacBook Pro, and Apple always has issues with first gen products, but they are the best when it comes to trying to resolve customer issues.

There are many many many pc's issues, and the manufacturer's do not bend over backwards like Apple does to please their customer. They will repair, and repair, and repair a computer quite often before they will replace it, and it's hard to get them to agree to replace it.

 

[phil83]

6 hours?

Sure. A friend of mine's Pentium M T43 2,13 runs 6½ hours on a full charge. A T60 2GHz duo core will do almost six hours.

This is, of course, only with office work and webbrowsing - with the display at a low level. But still, it's ALOT better than the Macbook Pro.

Since I can't really see your friends pentium M run that long I will have to believe you, but in my past experience with dell, sony, averatec, and IBM thinkpads I was lucky just to get a little over 2 hours

 

[Carlsen]

I think it's stupid to think that it is unacceptable to have a logicboard replacement or whatever within 6 months. It is a mass-produced electronic, and also it's a first generation MacBook Pro, and Apple always has issues with first gen products, but they are the best when it comes to trying to resolve customer issues.

There are many many many pc's issues, and the manufacturer's do not bend over backwards like Apple does to please their customer. They will repair, and repair, and repair a computer quite often before they will replace it, and it's hard to get them to agree to replace it.

You must be talking about a specific brand here, unless you are claiming that the whole lot of manufacturers in the industry solder old mainboards together?

Apple was actually on TV in Denmark a while ago. For screwing people over with warranty issues.

..and of course it's unacceptable to have a mainboard replaced after six months. The same way it's unacceptable to have the engine replaced in your car after six months. I'm just thinking.. if this thing say "poof" all by itself after six months - what will happen next, when the warranty is out in half a year? Will I be required to pay for a mainboard replacement (800-1000$, price in DK) on my own? I'm not taking that chance.

 

[Carlsen]

Since I can't really see your friends pentium M run that long I will have to believe you, but in my past experience with dell, sony, averatec, and IBM thinkpads I was lucky just to get a little over 2 hours

2 hours What on earth do you do to drain it that fast?

My past T41p ran way over six hours. Same with my T43. These were 1,7GHz and 1,8GHz machines though.

 

[Max Payne]

I plan on keeping my macbook pro for another 3+ years, but.. It's not the same. It's big and bulky, the keyboard's absolutely atrocious, I miss not having a scroll wheel on my mouse (yes, I had a laptop with a scroll wheel mouse built in) and don't even get me started on having to adjust to a 1 button mouse.

The only reason I'm not thinking about trading it in for a macbook is the screen size, and backlit keyboard.

WTF, dude?! Is it big or do you love it because of the screen size? make up your mind, will you?

To the OP, I am sorry for your misery. I am happy with my MBP.

 

[emac82]

You must be talking about a specific brand here, unless you are claiming that the whole lot of manufacturers in the industry solder old mainboards together?

Apple was actually on TV in Denmark a while ago. For screwing people over with warranty issues.

..and of course it's unacceptable to have a mainboard replaced after six months. The same way it's unacceptable to have the engine replaced in your car after six months. I'm just thinking.. if this thing say "poof" all by itself after six months - what will happen next, when the warranty is out in half a year? Will I be required to pay for a mainboard replacement (800-1000$, price in DK) on my own? I'm not taking that chance.

That is why there is warranty on a product for a year, to cover against unforseen defects. Or you can buy AppleCare or a regular extended warranty to cover against defect for 3 years (or sometimes 5 with some warranties). It is a little naive to think think that stuff doesn't break within the first year. Laptops are EXPENSIVE to fix, which is why I tell everyone to buy warranty on them.

I've seen HP or Toshiba laptops require a motherboard replacement when it is 2 months old...I don't think they make a crappy product, it just happens sometimes.

I don't think PC manufacturer's solder motherboards, they replace them. I mean it is hard to get them to replace the whole computer with a brand new model.

 

[veedubdrew]

On my MacBook, if I drag two fingers on the trackpad, it scrolls. If i do a two-finger tap on the trackpad, I get a right-click action. I find this far more intuitive and ergonomic than a physical scroll wheel and a right-click button.

I configured this behavior under System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad.

If your machine has this option as well, perhaps it could alleviate a few of your issues.

-Drew

To the OP, I feel your pain. Sure my Macbook Pro works just great... but I'm not satisfied with my $2000 at all. My old laptop (when it was new) ran XP for 2 hours on a single charge, had a 14.1" screen, and weighed ~4lbs. And it could take all the abuse I could throw at it.

I plan on keeping my macbook pro for another 3+ years, but.. It's not the same. It's big and bulky, the keyboard's absolutely atrocious, I miss not having a scroll wheel on my mouse (yes, I had a laptop with a scroll wheel mouse built in) and don't even get me started on having to adjust to a 1 button mouse.

Yes, it looks like a $2000 machine, but it doesn't "feel" like even a $1500 machine... and wtf is up with the latch. I've gotta use one hand to push the button in and another to open the screen..

at least it comes with an SD card reader like any $2000 dell....oh wait, nevermind

The only reason I'm not thinking about trading it in for a macbook is the screen size, and backlit keyboard.

 

[NightFlight]

I think it's stupid to think that it is unacceptable to have a logicboard replacement or whatever within 6 months. It is a mass-produced electronic, and also it's a first generation MacBook Pro, and Apple always has issues with first gen products, but they are the best when it comes to trying to resolve customer issues.

There are many many many pc's issues, and the manufacturer's do not bend over backwards like Apple does to please their customer. They will repair, and repair, and repair a computer quite often before they will replace it, and it's hard to get them to agree to replace it.

I see where he is coming from. I've had 3 Dell laptops, my last one lasted 5 years and didn't have a single hardware failure. If I switched to a Mac (which I am planning to do) and experienced the same problems as the OP you better be sure I would be just as upset.

Sure, he would get great customer service but his experience has already been tainted. That experience might not be worth it to someone who was coming from a PC with no complaints, such as myself.... I just want something different.

 

[emac82]

I see where he is coming from. I've had 3 Dell laptops, my last one lasted 5 years and didn't have a single hardware failure. If I switched to a Mac (which I am planning to do) and experienced the same problems as the OP you better be sure I would be just as upset.

Sure, he would get great customer service but his experience has already been tainted. That experience might not be worth it to someone who was coming from a PC with no complaints, such as myself.... I just want something different.

Yeah, I realize that, but personally if it were me, and since it is a CD, not a C2D (and since there were many issues with the CD's) I would call explain, and see if I could get an upgrade to the C2D, and I'm sure he would have a much more positive experience with his new one.

 

[e12a]

all of those saying your laptops got over 4 hours of batt life have to realize...
its a Pentium M with ridiculous (in a good way) SpeedStep technology which can underclock dramatically. I used an old T40 with a worn out battery. I got barely one and a half hours...one lecture.

Give me some stats on equivalent (in terms of feature sets) Core 2 Duo/ Core Duo laptops please.

 

[TantalizedMind]

I have two friends with laptops made by Compaq (HP) and both of them have a dead display within 6 months.

I can testify to this! No joke! I bought a Compaq laptop in 2001 and on it's 6th month the display died. But I also had to bring it in 3 other times before that for repairs. That was the first and last PC I owned. Then in 2003 I gave my laptop to my parents and got a PowerMac G5. Still using it today. I "REALLY" want a Black MacBook; but I don't "NEED" it.

Then again I didn't "NEED" to spend $ and pimp out my Scion tC..