Problems with 17" Macbook Pro

[vgoklani]

Hi,

I received my 17" Macbook Pro a few days ago, and I am having a few problems with it:

1. The latch is not secure! I closed the laptop, carried it with me vertically, then rotated it slightly so that the screen was at a 15 degree angle (you can imagine a coordinate system set up such that your body [standing straight up] would correspond to 0 degrees). The latch just opened - I nearly dropped my laptop...I did this a few times, and the latch keeps opening.

2. The clutch on the display is loose - that is, the screen slides back and forth with very little resistance.

3. the screen is NOT uniformly bright! The top left corner is not dark as the top center part of the screen.

4. The laptop runs very hot!!! Just try using Aperture, with 2G of ram, you can't put it on your lap

5. occassionally, the central part of the trackpad goes dead - you have to move your fingers several times before the cursor starts moving (I had this same problem with the 15" macbook pro)

6. The discs from the dvd drive don't come all the way out when I eject, I have to drag it out.

I guess they don't do quality control in China....

 

[iHeartTheApple]

Hi,

I received my 17" Macbook Pro a few days ago, and I am having a few problems with it:

1. The latch is not secure! I closed the laptop, carried it with me vertically, then rotated it slightly so that the screen was at a 15 degree angle (you can imagine a coordinate system set up such that your body [standing straight up] would correspond to 0 degrees). The latch just opened - I nearly dropped my laptop...I did this a few times, and the latch keeps opening.

2. The clutch on the display is loose - that is, the screen slides back and forth with very little resistance.

3. the screen is NOT uniformly bright! The top left corner is not dark as the top center part of the screen.

4. The laptop runs very hot!!! Just try using Aperture, with 2G of ram, you can't put it on your lap

5. occassionally, the central part of the trackpad goes dead - you have to move your fingers several times before the cursor starts moving (I had this same problem with the 15" macbook pro)

6. The discs from the dvd drive don't come all the way out when I eject, I have to drag it out.

I guess they don't do quality control in China....

Ouch! That's too bad, man. I was looking forward to getting one of these soon. The latch/screen tightness issues would be the main problem for me. As far as the screen brightness, I have the same issue on my 17" PB when it first comes out of dim (energy saver) mode or sleep mode. It just takes a bit of time for the screen to light back up and then it's uniform. I believe there are some threads out there discussing this on a couple of the PB models, so there's probably no real problem there...that is, if it eventually becomes uniform. I've also experienced similar disc ejection issues with my PB, but it only happens with some CD/DVDs...not all of them. Sometimes they only pop out about half way, rather than most of the way.

Anyway, good luck with it and keep us posted.

 

[AlBDamned]

Ouch! That's too bad, man. I was looking forward to getting one of these soon. The latch/screen tightness issues would be the main problem for me. As far as the screen brightness, I have the same issue on my 17" PB when it first comes out of dim (energy saver) mode or sleep mode. It just takes a bit of time for the screen to light back up and then it's uniform.

Yep, this happens on my 15" PowerBook too.

vgoklani> Your Macbook does sound like a bit of a lemon. The screen black spot thing itself could be enough to send it back. See what you can do. Those things are too much money to have them built like a 1980's Skoda.

 

[PatrickF]

5. occassionally, the central part of the trackpad goes dead - you have to move your fingers several times before the cursor starts moving (I had this same problem with the 15" macbook pro)

This has been discussed before. The trackpad has the same "problem" on the 15" models. Luckily it's a simple fix. Go to System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Trackpad -> untick "Ignore accidental trackpad input"

 

[MachBoy]

Faulty Screen Brightness

Hi,

I received my 17" Macbook Pro a few days ago, and I am having a few problems with it:

<snip>

3. the screen is NOT uniformly bright! The top left corner is not dark as the top center part of the screen.

<snip>

I guess they don't do quality control in China....

I agree about the lack of QC. My MBP 17" arrived on Monday last; it took about 15 seconds to see that the screen brightness was just horrible -- vastly too bright at the bottom corners, pitch dark at the top left and wandering all over in between at every brightness setting available. About the only real selling point for this machine is video work, but with so uneven a brightness palette (so much so that contrast cannot be maintained even when all pixels are flooded with the same bits) it's useless for such tasks.

"check out this can opener: it slices, dices, plays bridge and sings
-- just don't use it to open cans"

Apple had the machine back by Thursday last but as of Friday still could not provide any information regarding when a replacement would be shipped. I've been warned many times to shun Apple's "version 1" hardware. Guess I'm just learning that lesson now....

To others who are considering a MBP 17", I did not have any of the other problems detailed in the original post, but the screen problem alone is enough of a deal-killer. You are forewarned!

 

[assscat]

Mine had a latch problem, so went back to Apple. Nothing else wrong with it at all. In fact, it was a very nice machine. Looking forward to getting the replacement, because the 17" MBP is an excellent laptop.

 

[iwamas]

no problems here

got my 17" MBP today and no problems... uniform brightness... quiet as heck... runs cool. and no latch problems....

 

[shortys408]

i got a pretty bad burn on my leg from my macbook pro

 

[poppe]

At the Apple store the 17" MBP's screen was not like everyone keeps talking about. However, it was dim as dim can be! It was a uniformed brightness, and I put the brightness to the max but still sadly it was very dim.

I just thought I'd through that out there from the Plano store in Texas.

 

[lamina]

Hi,

I received my 17" Macbook Pro a few days ago, and I am having a few problems with it:

1. The latch is not secure! I closed the laptop, carried it with me vertically, then rotated it slightly so that the screen was at a 15 degree angle (you can imagine a coordinate system set up such that your body [standing straight up] would correspond to 0 degrees). The latch just opened - I nearly dropped my laptop...I did this a few times, and the latch keeps opening.

2. The clutch on the display is loose - that is, the screen slides back and forth with very little resistance.

3. the screen is NOT uniformly bright! The top left corner is not dark as the top center part of the screen.

4. The laptop runs very hot!!! Just try using Aperture, with 2G of ram, you can't put it on your lap

5. occassionally, the central part of the trackpad goes dead - you have to move your fingers several times before the cursor starts moving (I had this same problem with the 15" macbook pro)

6. The discs from the dvd drive don't come all the way out when I eject, I have to drag it out.

I guess they don't do quality control in China....

Clearly a defect in manufacturing, call Apple and have it exchanged.

 

[TC1]

Same quality control issue here. Macbook Pro 17" shipped direct from China, arrived Friday. Screen is not uniform at all, and dimmer than the 15" MBP. Horrible for graphics work, which is primarily what it would have been used for.

This one is probably going back this week.

 

[taco2004]

My screen is ok but not extremely bright or uniform. My keyboard does not seem to light up when its dark(i put my hand over the sensor and nothing happens, yes the backlight is on). My MBP also whines(it dont remember it doing it the first day i got it).


I am wondering if I should contact Apple about it. I want one of the upcoming Merom MBP's when they come out. Would apple let me exchange my MBP for one other those once they come out? I got my MBP on May 8th.

 

[antisocial]

I've been warned many times to shun Apple's "version 1" hardware. Guess I'm just learning that lesson now....

To others who are considering a MBP 17", I did not have any of the other problems detailed in the original post, but the screen problem alone is enough of a deal-killer. You are forewarned!

How long is does it usually take before Apple starts manufacturing 'version 2' or 'Rev. B' machines? I'm interested in upgrading to a 17" MBP for graphics work, but the reported screen problems are definately not what I'm after in a new machine.

Does anyone have any idea how long I'd have to wait for Rev B and how I can find out when it happens?

 

[yankeefan24]

Does anyone have any idea how long I'd have to wait for Rev B and how I can find out when it happens?

If you mean Rev. B as in official, you can see on average how long you would have to wait here: https://buyersguide.macrumors.com// you could also tell when it comes out by looking at Apple's home page. They will say it.

If you mean the unofficial as in the 15" MBP is on Rev D, kind of Rev, we have no clue when it will or how to tell what it is.

 

[Apple Corps]

My screen is ok but not extremely bright or uniform. My keyboard does not seem to light up when its dark(i put my hand over the sensor and nothing happens, yes the backlight is on). My MBP also whines(it dont remember it doing it the first day i got it).


I am wondering if I should contact Apple about it. I want one of the upcoming Merom MBP's when they come out. Would apple let me exchange my MBP for one other those once they come out? I got my MBP on May 8th.

taco2004 - you want to use your MBP for several months and know if Apple will upgrade you to the newer Merom MBP when available - one question:


ARE YOU PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK???

 

[taco2004]

taco2004 - you want to use your MBP for several months and know if Apple will upgrade you to the newer Merom MBP wen available - one question:


ARE YOU PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK???

Nope! I would even return it now and get a refund to use on a Merom MBP. If that would not work then i would pay extra money for one.

 

[Pistol Pete]

got my 17" MBP today and no problems... uniform brightness... quiet as heck... runs cool. and no latch problems....

thanks for the 1 person who spoke up,.....


i hate these topics...a few people going outrageous with their problems...it will happen face it. you knew the risk of rev. a machines...deal with it and with apple directly instead of complaining. can these people help you? no.

can apple? yes. deal with it and grow up.

quit giving apple such a bad name, if you care for the company than do the right thing.

/rage

 

[plarusa]

thanks for the 1 person who spoke up,.....


i hate these topics...a few people going outrageous with their problems...it will happen face it. you knew the risk of rev. a machines...deal with it and with apple directly instead of complaining. can these people help you? no.

can apple? yes. deal with it and grow up.

quit giving apple such a bad name, if you care for the company than do the right thing.

/rage

Complaining about a machine costing more than $3K and does not work as expected is justified.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Complaining about a machine costing more than $3K and does not work as expected is justified.

Think what you want.

 

[MovieCutter]

Complaining about a machine costing more than $3K and does not work as expected is justified.

Complaining over and over again to people who can't help you isn't justified. Go to Apple, complain to them, THEY can help you. Stop flooding the boards with whiney posts about miniscule things.

Gaps between the screen and the chassis when closed and not in use, non-110% perfect brightness over an extremely thin and huge screen, and heat coming from a notebook that is at least 3x faster than the previous versions IS NOT "DOES NOT WORK AS EXPECTED"!!! People are LOOKING for these "defects" and complaining beyond belief. I cannot BELIEVE I'm even seeing people complain about a 2mm gap when the thing is closed and they aren't even using it!!!

 

[witness]

When I bought my last 17"PB, I had to have it replaced twice before I got a working one, but apart from a minor firewire issue, my 17" MacBook Pro has none of the issues listed here. I'm very happy with it.

Being one of the first off the production line I didn't expect it to be 100%, but I know from experience that if you have problems, Apple will always put things right in the end.

 

[Electro Funk]

Would apple let me exchange my MBP for one other those once they come out? I got my MBP on May 8th.

no they will not... i believe you have 14 days to return your MBP with a restock... If it was BTO then it must me DOA to send back for exchange...

somebody correct me if im wrong...

 

[MachBoy]

thanks for the 1 person who spoke up,.....

<snip>

quit giving apple such a bad name, if you care for the company than do the right thing.

/rage

actually, i do not care for the company. it will thrive or die on the strength of its products and creativity. i do care that what i buy (from any company) is not defective. the screen problem which i described would, perhaps, be tolerable in an $800 general purpose notebook; it is intolerable in a $3k professional-grade video workstation.

to apple's great credit, it has performed well in responding to the problem; however, having just returned the replacement for the first MBP on account of the same substantive problem (non-uniform brightness with hot spots at lower right & left and a "bar" across the bottom of the display), i surmise there's a design or manufacturing defect. the operative word is surmise. having replaced once, apple is now trying to repair machine #2. i remain optimistic, but guardedly so.

the reason some of us post to these forums is to be assistive to others. your posting is, by contrast, more vituperative than assistive.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

I think it's great to know the "risks" on the new machines. I for one would use the 17" for design and graphics, so it's good to know if it's bright enough for the task...

 

[BWhaler]

Send it back then and get a new one.

Complaining about it here will get you absolutely nowhere.