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What imperfections does your new 14 or 16 inch have, that you are willing to live with?
- Thread starter The Cockney Rebel
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Switzerland for now. I thought they would maybe give me some AirPods or something, but they called me back with that offer, which was surprising.
A luxury handbag is a cosmetic item, so cosmetic imperfections are taking away from one of its primary functions. Replacing it because of a cosmetic issue is normal, because you bought it to look good. Replacing a functional hiker's backpack, on the other hand, because of a slight discoloration - is a different case, even if it's expensive.
A premium notebook is, while usually attractive, not a cosmetic item. I love how my Apple devices look, but small cosmetic issues are not as important, because their primary function is not to look good. Again, there is a balance here - some cosmetic issues warrant a replacement, in my opinion, because you do want to get a quality product. But returning a MBP because of, say, light leaking from the keyboard - that's not worth the time and effort. Especially since the results might be worse.
All I’m gonna say about this is, I had multiple ~2k MBPs 2017, iPhone SE’s 2016, X’s, 11P’s, all of which had considerable quality issues. Every single one. New ones, as well, not second hand. Either from Apple or a Carrier.
My MBP is garbage, had I paid for it I’d be mad as can be. I hope for you to find a unit that delivers in what you paid for, but in my experience your gonna return them often until you get the one you’re actually pay for.
My MBP is garbage, had I paid for it I’d be mad as can be. I hope for you to find a unit that delivers in what you paid for, but in my experience your gonna return them often until you get the one you’re actually pay for.
My expectations of cosmetic perfection tend to exist on a sliding financial scale. If I'm buying a $500 laptop, I'll be much more accepting of a cosmetic issue than I will on a $5000 device. A slightly misaligned panel in the interior of a new $20K car, for example, would be acceptable to me (and was one time). The same misalignment on a $120K vehicle, however, would not.
It’s not a technical issue by any mean and it’s insignificant but I would love the MagSafe connector to be color matching the space Grey MBP. Not a big deal, but this is the kind of detail that Apple is usually careful of
Returned my first one because there was a slight blemish with the touchID button. Then I bumped up from 512 to 1tb. 2nd one, flawless in every respect. Best computer I've ever owned by a mile given the current tech available on launch day.
Got a M1 Max 16" (32 GB 2TB). Used it for more than a month now. Flawless and perfect. I am happy I lucked out, if indeed there are significant number of people getting theirs with issues.
I feel small things like you describe would not have affected my daily use but it would have made me restless and driven me insane. Which is why I am glad mine has looked and has behaved flawlessly so far.
I feel small things like you describe would not have affected my daily use but it would have made me restless and driven me insane. Which is why I am glad mine has looked and has behaved flawlessly so far.
ikr but THAT will never happen
I have a 16" M1 MBP BTO that has a tiny burr (chip in the aluminum) in the top case seam just under the HDMI port. I noticed this when unboxing, but because it was mostly a cosmetic defect that I don't look at everyday, did not affect the MBP functionality, and the rest of the MBP was so damn perfect, there was no way I was returning it, especially given the wait times for BTO.
With respect to your two issues, I would have definitely returned any clicking or creaking in the hinge, as those imperfections run the risk of future spontaneous display cracks that are hard to prove physical impact or abuse did not cause. However, the gaps between the bottom of the display and "Tappy" keys are more subjective. I have the gaps between the bottom of the display myself, but believe that virtually all of the new MBPs have this given the design if you look hard enough and they are probably more glaring on the bright Silver then my Space Gray. I would never return an otherwise perfect MBP for this alone. The "Tappy" keys, well that's hard say. These key caps are not glued down, but rather clicked into place on the scissor mechanism. Are some a little rattly, perhaps.
With respect to your two issues, I would have definitely returned any clicking or creaking in the hinge, as those imperfections run the risk of future spontaneous display cracks that are hard to prove physical impact or abuse did not cause. However, the gaps between the bottom of the display and "Tappy" keys are more subjective. I have the gaps between the bottom of the display myself, but believe that virtually all of the new MBPs have this given the design if you look hard enough and they are probably more glaring on the bright Silver then my Space Gray. I would never return an otherwise perfect MBP for this alone. The "Tappy" keys, well that's hard say. These key caps are not glued down, but rather clicked into place on the scissor mechanism. Are some a little rattly, perhaps.
It is worth every penny to get one of the transparent screen protective films that fit your model MBP. Not the really cheap ones and you can get them in matte or gloss. But I have learned over the years that it will protect the screen from the keys and especially from the oils from your fingers that can then transfer to the display and erode the protective film. I've only had that happen on one MacBook Pro in the past and it was entirely cosmetic. But it took Apple a long time to admit that the peeling away of protective coating on the glass was a defect and I missed the window on the free repair program. I also personally bought a clear thin protector for my keyboard and a custom fit protective case to snap onto the outer MacBook casing. I bought this MacBook pro at the end of 2019 and it still looks like the day that I bought it.
Do you, though?
Once you die, will someone remember you by your pristine 2019 MacBook Pro, or will it end up as electronic waste?
While I’m easily the most careful with things in my family and use them for a good long time, in some cases probably for the rest of my life, the only thing I care about really trying to preserve is a book from 1638 where I more look at myself as a temporary custodian. My own stuff is here for me to use and enjoy as I live, and if that means the odd scuff mark - well it’s not as if I don’t have them myself. And my battery is continously degrading. ?
And the things I’ve inherited, well I appreciate the wear! They are the marks of my grandfather, his use, his hands. If the wear wan’t there, it would just be an object that existed during his time, it would show no sign of him, no presence. Now when I see the wear from his hands, I remember the roughness of their skin on my cheek as a boy.
Perfection in devices, as in skin, is a marketing myth. It was never worth much in the first place.
I bought this computer to use it, which I am, happily. When not working on it, I am enjoying streaming videos in HDR on this display, and playing games using CrossOver. I am sure there are imperfections in my device too, but am I going to insult the worth of the time in my life by looking for them specifically? Hell, no!
Is there a removable one? One that I can put easily before closing the lid and then remove? Because I'm not using that while working. I don't like how they look and I don't like how they feel when typing.
In a constant effort to offset the general vibe that more negative experiences are likely to be discussed on forums than positive ones, my 14" M1 Max Space Gray MBP came out of the box perfect, and has been an absolute beast. I ordered within probably 15 seconds of the store opening for orders, and got it on official release day.
I got my Intel i9 16" MBP on release day in 2019 also. I had no issues with that one either and only sold it because I was sick of the heat generated by that laptop with monitors connected or any apps beyond browsers/email/music open, and the M1 Max is such a big leap for pro video work.
Prior to that, I had a first generation, launch day batch 2016 Touch Bar 15" MBP in space gray, the first USB-C and Touch Bar equipped 15" MacBook Pro. It took three units in the first week or two before I had an issue free one - first one had an abnormal clicking noise in one or two of the keys as if the mold was off for the butterfly mechanism, the second I encountered a bug in the Boot Camp drivers that played a loud screeching noise and blew out the speakers (Apple took the blame for it - all I did was install Windows and the official Boot Camp drivers), and the third was perfect until the butterfly keyboard situation did me in on wanting an upgrade after three years. On the upside, Apple let me keep the power supply and USB C cable each time so I ended up with three 87W USB C chargers, all of which are still in heavy rotation today on my 14.
I got my Intel i9 16" MBP on release day in 2019 also. I had no issues with that one either and only sold it because I was sick of the heat generated by that laptop with monitors connected or any apps beyond browsers/email/music open, and the M1 Max is such a big leap for pro video work.
Prior to that, I had a first generation, launch day batch 2016 Touch Bar 15" MBP in space gray, the first USB-C and Touch Bar equipped 15" MacBook Pro. It took three units in the first week or two before I had an issue free one - first one had an abnormal clicking noise in one or two of the keys as if the mold was off for the butterfly mechanism, the second I encountered a bug in the Boot Camp drivers that played a loud screeching noise and blew out the speakers (Apple took the blame for it - all I did was install Windows and the official Boot Camp drivers), and the third was perfect until the butterfly keyboard situation did me in on wanting an upgrade after three years. On the upside, Apple let me keep the power supply and USB C cable each time so I ended up with three 87W USB C chargers, all of which are still in heavy rotation today on my 14.
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I have nothing left that still uses usb-a. Only gadgets that require charging, which I can do on an outlet anyway.
No thumb drives for backup of old files? I have *many*! But then again, I'm an IT manager that is absolutely anal about backups.
Seems either you are very unlucky, or your standards are very high, or some of both. Perhaps higher standards than Apple can usually provide. I have returned items which have defects, but generally accept minor imperfections that do not affect its main functionality or purpose, as nothing is perfect.
The dilemma with returning for the latter reason is that the replacement may be worse in some other more important respect, and (if not replaced) one loses all usage and enjoyment of the product.
What is an imperfection for one person is a defect to another, so there is a big gray area of what is acceptable.
Another reason I have returned items is because it turns out I don't like it or it doesn't fit (like clothing) - in which case there is no point keeping it as it would not be used.
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Basically got rid of all thumb drives. I bought a 2TB external SSD the size of a credit card. For large backups I have lots of 3.5" drives that are connected via Raid enclosure. There are two USB-A gadgets I use, but they are connected to my Thunderbolt hub and don't need them to be with me all the time. So when I travel, nothing USB-A with me.No thumb drives for backup of old files? I have *many*! But then again, I'm an IT manager that is absolutely anal about backups.