Not all macs are created equal (good advice for new/previous owners)

[chosenwolf]

Having gone through about 5 replacement Macbook Pro's, I stand strong with this statement. The difference between my current system and the "replacements" is night and day. I think Apple finally got it right...

On one of the previous replacements, within minutes of use, the computer would heat up and as soon as I start video editing or an iChat video conversation, the fans would kick in with great noise.

Now the new system runs cool to the touch and it could stay on for hours and I would not hear a single fan noise.

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On one of the previous replacements, the display would make noises when adjusting the brightness of the display. This was very annoying especially if you are sitting in a quiet environment.

Now the new system exhibits no strange noises when adjusting brightness.

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On one of the previous replacements, I opened it straight from the box and found a key had popped off the keyboard and would not go back in place. There was also a huge gap between the LCD and computer itself.

Now the new system has no broken/fallen off keys and the display closes perfectly and is evenly aligned.

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Moral of the story: Don't settle for a less than perfect computer (especially since you are paying over $2,500 - $3,000 for it). I GUARANTEE not every system runs the same. Some will come with severe heat issues, others will have display alignment/uneven backlighting issues, and some will come with a broken keyboard right out of the box! Make sure you get a system with a good build and don't settle for anything less.

 

[SC68Cal]

Damn, I would have called my credit card company after the second DOA. That's crazy. Glad this one is working out better for you.

 

[animenick65]

Its sad that you have to be so diligent in checking your computer out of the box for imperfections. They should leave the factory nearly perfect for the prices we pay for these systems. Especially the MBPs.

 

[PDE]

Its sad that you have to be so diligent in checking your computer out of the box for imperfections. They should leave the factory nearly perfect for the prices we pay for these systems. Especially the MBPs.

It really is sad. After going through more systems this past year thant combined over the past 15 years, I have no confidence in Apple's quality control. Nothing should have to be repaired on a brand new computer, but I've begun to think that I should change my attitude toward getting a new computer and instead COUNT ON having to send it in for repair immediately to get it right. If I adjust my attitude, perhaps I'll feel better. The only problem is that I hate paying so much for defective computers - it seems wrong.

I decided to give up with the MBPs (three rev A and three revB) and instead going with a black macbook. I gave my girlfriend my rev A white macbook. However, the black macbook arrived yesterday with a defective hinge that 'thumps' when you open the display. I bought it from amazon because I felt that if I'm going to get a defective computer I might as well pay less ($1399 after rebate, no tax and free shipping). Am sending this back and getting another one. Hopefully that one will be ok. Last week I bought a black macbook for my father at the Apple Store. It, too, came out of the box with the same hinge problem, but the apple store replaced it on the spot.


What's so depressing is all the time this takes and how it makes me completely disillusioned with apple computers. I have absolutely no faith that I'll get a non-defective computer when the new one arrives tomorrow.

 

[nickdj]

You thinkk thats bad. I went through 5 macbooks before i finally got one that wasn't defective out of the box. (not being picky) Here they are:
1. isight camera was not connected and would not function out of box.
2. Froze every every time you booted up.
3. Numerous dead pixels on screen and major gaps in casing.
4. Finally thought i had a "good" one until it ate up the first disk i put in.
5. Seems to work fine. (sigh)

Apple reps dreaded seeing me but every time i brought it in they had no choice but to replace it because probs were so obvious. they were very apologetic and even gave me some discounts on future purchases. Mgr joked that they werent getting many returns because i'm getting all the defective ones. (ha ha, not funny). Anyway, customer service was good.

Im worried that the quality control isnt up to par at apple due to the huge inreases in demand and popularity in the macs.

 

[animenick65]

Im planning on ordering my refurb macbook on friday. I have a bookmark list a page long of posts on what to look for in a new machine. Overheating issues, discolorations, paint flaking, mooing. I'm so freakin scared to open the box to see something wrong with my new $1100 machine.

 

[butaro]

i hope you find something wrong that would be so funny. then you might have a breakdown

 

[chosenwolf]

i hope you find something wrong that would be so funny. then you might have a breakdown

Yeah, it would be very funny.

 

[PDE]

You thinkk thats bad. I went through 5 macbooks before i finally got one that wasn't defective out of the box. (not being picky) Here they are:
1. isight camera was not connected and would not function out of box.
2. Froze every every time you booted up.
3. Numerous dead pixels on screen and major gaps in casing.
4. Finally thought i had a "good" one until it ate up the first disk i put in.
5. Seems to work fine. (sigh)

Apple reps dreaded seeing me but every time i brought it in they had no choice but to replace it because probs were so obvious. they were very apologetic and even gave me some discounts on future purchases. Mgr joked that they werent getting many returns because i'm getting all the defective ones. (ha ha, not funny). Anyway, customer service was good.

Im worried that the quality control isnt up to par at apple due to the huge inreases in demand and popularity in the macs.

You're right - none of the my 10+ (I'm not counting anymore, but at least 10 )defective macbooks/macbook pros this year have had serious functional problems. It was all structural, noise, heat, cosmetic etc. So I guess I'm lucky! In an Apple way!

 

[sikkinixx]

Thats why I refuse to buy Apple's from anywhere other than Bestbuy/Futureshop. There, any problems you take it back no questions asked and get another one. With Apple it's nothing buy RMA's, on the phone with AppleCare and weeks of waiting. No thanks, after I drop $2k on a machine it better be top notch.

 

[PDE]

Im planning on ordering my refurb macbook on friday. I have a bookmark list a page long of posts on what to look for in a new machine. Overheating issues, discolorations, paint flaking, mooing. I'm so freakin scared to open the box to see something wrong with my new $1100 machine.

There's some good news: the mooing was fixed with a firmware update, discoloration was only in the beginning and should be fixed by now without exception. Overheating is not common, though getting burned is - just kidding. Heat is fine with the macbooks and now you can use smcfancontrol to turn up the fans a little if you're longing for a cooler laptop. Paint flaking on the black models can still happen but, truthfully, it only happened to me and a few other people. IMO it's not a big problem, though I would use some kind of protection (sounds like a condom ad) just to be on the safe side.

However, with apple computers, anything can happen. There might be other surprises! Seriously though, chances are you'll get a perfectly fine macbook. And, as others have pointed out, Apple customer service is really good when it comes to replacing and fixing things until you're happy. Eve the stone faced, nasty apple genius I took my last MBP to (for the poor display quality) told me: "we'll replace one more time and after that we'll continue to repair and the replace the display until it meets your requirements". Not that that is a very good deal for me (and possibly futile) , but it kind of sums it up. They will rather spend lots on the occasional picky customer than spend much more on getting it right for everybody from the beginning.

 

[chosenwolf]

Thats why I refuse to buy Apple's from anywhere other than Bestbuy/Futureshop. There, any problems you take it back no questions asked and get another one. With Apple it's nothing buy RMA's, on the phone with AppleCare and weeks of waiting. No thanks, after I drop $2k on a machine it better be top notch.

So Best Buy doesn't hassle you if your system has problems? I will definitely be buying more stuff from there in the future.

 

[nickdj]

your prob better off getting a refurb anyway. at least you know any probs it may have had have been fixed. i was very close to getting a refurb on the last replacement. I asked for one, but the rep wasnt sure how to process the transaction in the store. instead they agreed to inspect the computer in the store upon opening.

on a positive note: this macbook really does run nicely. i'm new to mac and everything seems to run very smoothly, interface is easy to get used to, and i havent seen a pop up since using it! If the Quality Control was better i would have paid twice.

 

[terrymr]

So Best Buy doesn't hassle you if your system has problems? I will definitely be buying more stuff from there in the future.

I never buy anything I might want to return to best buy ... unless it's within 7 - 30 days depending on the type of item, they refuse point blank to do anything other than direct you to the manufacturer.

If your box contains spaghetti sauce instead of the item you bought, tough they won't replace it.

 

[tjcampbell]

I am on my second MBP and the two machines are complete opposites. This ones quiet and speedy, while my first arrived with "loud crunching noises from within" a streak of dead pixels and several random shut downs. I am now very, very satisfied with the new MBP but I feel sorry for those that are first time customers to apple that experience the same sort of DOA troubles that I had.

 

[mckvakk]

i have numerous problems with the casing on my Macbook. the sad thing is that since i bought it at a regular store, they have two chances to repair it before i can return it or get a new one. They've had one chance allready, but it costs me a lot of money to get it to the store or a service centre :/

 

[EGT]

This is the byproduct of mass production.

Glad you got your perfecto machineo.

 

[Garden Knowm]

FYI -
My 17 inch C2D

I have had it for 10 days now. I have used motion, fcp, safari, and photoshop extensivley....(several hours of FCP daily).... 2 nights ago i set up in front of a roaring fire (fireplace with apricot wood)... I have never heard a fan.. other than a gentle hum...

I have not worked with the C2D on my lap so I do not know if it gets hot.. but I have never felt heat from it either... My old Titanium 667 used to get so hot that I would sweat...

iloveyou

 

[SteveG4Cube]

your prob better off getting a refurb anyway. at least you know any probs it may have had have been fixed.

I couldn't agree more. I've got a refurb black MacBook, refurb. G5 iMac, and my sister's had a refurb. iBook G3 and MacBook. All of which look brand new, work flawlessly, and come with the same warranty as new ones - plus they're cheaper. It's been inspected/serviced by a person rather than being built on some assembly line. My iMac even came with 1gb of ram and a 250gb HD instead of the advertised 512mb/160gb (it's a rev.a, but I think they rebuilt it with comparable rev.b components). I've heard other stories about upgraded components from other refurb. buyers as well. It's win-win.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

I think these problems are mostly due to the PPC to Intel transition.

Not 1 single problem with my ibook from day 1. Go figure..

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

Yeah, my iBook was also perfect from when I got it. And while I really crave for a mbp or just a macbook, I get more and more content with this last rev. iBook.

When I buy my next portable, it's definetely gonna be a 15" MBP that I buy in the Apple store, and not leaving the store until a couple of hours of intensive use.

 

[other]

Since I sold my iBook (that I never ever had any problems with), I've been longing to come back to OS X. I bought a MacBook the day the C2D MB's were released, and now it's in for repair. They said it would probably take 15 days. Great, I needed it for school, but whatever...

 

[chosenwolf]

I think these problems are mostly due to the PPC to Intel transition.

Not 1 single problem with my ibook from day 1. Go figure..

I agree, my first mac was a 12" iBook G4 and it worked absolutely great. No case flaws, quiet, no overheating, good display, etc.

Just about any mac out of the box would be error free. This is what happens when Demand grows...