sadmac
Sep 24, 2003, 06:16 PM
So I made the switch hook, line and sinker. I purchased a 17" powerbook, 23" LCD Monitor, an iSight, a 30 GB iPod, and a Airport Extreme Base Station.
I was super excited about the switch and finally having a robust Unix laptop (sorry Apple calls them portables 'cause they're too hot to sit on your lap). The joy lasted for about 2 days when I noticed a number of pixels had died or glowed continuously bright red, not only on the powerbook, but on the 23" screen as well! I figured I could live with the funky pixels and went merrily on my way when 9 days into the trip the latch stopped working, and I had to use rubber bands to carry it to meet with clients. (How embarrassing was that?)
By this time I'd fully transitioned to the powerbook and have grown accustomed to the speed, wireless access, and ease of always having a shell at my fingertips. Even though it was still under warranty, I had gone ahead and bought the extended AppleCare warranty because after all, old notebook computers can be temperamental. I called up Applecare and described my woes. They were great. They decided they would RMA the system and send out a replacement system so I wouldn't have to experience any downtime. Three weeks and several phone calls later the RMA sticker finally arrived. Another week past and phone call, and they confirmed that the replacement system had been sent from Taiwan. It arrived at last, and I proceeded to learn how to transfer a completely configured system to one that is fresh out of the box. If anyone has to do this, the key is a FireWire 800 cable, target disk mode, logging in as root, and a simple drag and drop. (Make sure you know what you're doing with the system files or you'll really screw things up) Some of the files that wouldn't copy for some strange reason worked if you use diskcopy and then move the disk image file to the new system.
So, then I was all setup on the new system and ready to run again. Latch worked, no dead pixels! Yay! BUT WAIT! Not only has Apple released an updated 17" powerbook, but now the Airport Extreme only works if you are in the same room as the base station. You can't even go around the corner. It seems to only work line of sight. <Sigh> Here we go again. I called AppleCare again. They stepped me through a number of networking tests, no luck. They determine that the antenna must be detached. They told me to call a local authorized repair center. The repair center, a local business and certified Mac specialist, was very friendly and since I had bought the AppleCare support, they would send someone to my house the next day! So when the repairman finally comes four days later, he tells me he's never worked on a 17" powerbook. Ok, now I'm nervous. He attempted to open the system, and struggled. Just short of forcing it and seriously damaging it, he called his shop where someone looked up the repair information to correctly remove the keyboard and access the Airport card and antenna. The repairman was a genuine nice guy, but we discussed what a joke it is these days to actually get a certification from Apple or Dell. Apparently they don't really offer technical training like they did in the old days. Well, the technician fiddled around, unsure if what he did would work or not. After he closed it up, it did seem to function better, but I think in retrospect I was just anxious to see it that way. After he had gone and it got a real work out, I discover that in fact, it still got miserable reception. I was SOL.
Back to AppleCare. This time I'm back on the front lines with people who, despite reading the case notes need to replicate many of the same tests from the last call. Gone are the representatives who will do whatever it takes to solve the problem (including an offer to return the system for a complete refund). Now it is left to me to surrender the system to the same tech people who have tried to fix the system once. Sadly, my livelihood depends upon this system. It costs me several hundred dollars a day to be without it. Does that concern Apple? Not any more. Although they won't come right out and tell you that, it is certainly implied in statements such as "Lost work is not covered in your warranty." And, "There is nothing more I can do for you." And, "You're welcome to address complaints to the corporate headquarters. Here is the address..."
So what am I to do? Of course I'll take the system in to see if my Airport works with the repair shop basestation. That's what Apple wants, and as a sheep-like consumer, what alternative do I have? What I really want to know is what happened to the old Apple I remember from before I switched away and back? I had really hoped that Steve Jobs being back had elevated Apple's self-esteem. Instead it appears it is nothing more than a soul-less corporation who only cares about increasing their revenues even if that means peddling faulty products. I waited for months to be able to afford making the switch with all the bells and whistles, and I've really been let down. Now I'm stuck with a brand new (yet out-of-date) system that isn't functioning as advertised, and the Apple representatives seem to be trying to make me feel as if for some reason this is my fault.
My recommendations to you if you are considering a switch: Don't be too quick to trust that Apple will fully stand behind their product. Make sure you have good backups of your data in case Apple deprives you of your brand new system for a week or more. I believe knowing the person from whom you are buying the system is helpful. That way, you have a friendly face to whom you can go with unexpected problems. Phone support can really be cold and heartless.
I was super excited about the switch and finally having a robust Unix laptop (sorry Apple calls them portables 'cause they're too hot to sit on your lap). The joy lasted for about 2 days when I noticed a number of pixels had died or glowed continuously bright red, not only on the powerbook, but on the 23" screen as well! I figured I could live with the funky pixels and went merrily on my way when 9 days into the trip the latch stopped working, and I had to use rubber bands to carry it to meet with clients. (How embarrassing was that?)
By this time I'd fully transitioned to the powerbook and have grown accustomed to the speed, wireless access, and ease of always having a shell at my fingertips. Even though it was still under warranty, I had gone ahead and bought the extended AppleCare warranty because after all, old notebook computers can be temperamental. I called up Applecare and described my woes. They were great. They decided they would RMA the system and send out a replacement system so I wouldn't have to experience any downtime. Three weeks and several phone calls later the RMA sticker finally arrived. Another week past and phone call, and they confirmed that the replacement system had been sent from Taiwan. It arrived at last, and I proceeded to learn how to transfer a completely configured system to one that is fresh out of the box. If anyone has to do this, the key is a FireWire 800 cable, target disk mode, logging in as root, and a simple drag and drop. (Make sure you know what you're doing with the system files or you'll really screw things up) Some of the files that wouldn't copy for some strange reason worked if you use diskcopy and then move the disk image file to the new system.
So, then I was all setup on the new system and ready to run again. Latch worked, no dead pixels! Yay! BUT WAIT! Not only has Apple released an updated 17" powerbook, but now the Airport Extreme only works if you are in the same room as the base station. You can't even go around the corner. It seems to only work line of sight. <Sigh> Here we go again. I called AppleCare again. They stepped me through a number of networking tests, no luck. They determine that the antenna must be detached. They told me to call a local authorized repair center. The repair center, a local business and certified Mac specialist, was very friendly and since I had bought the AppleCare support, they would send someone to my house the next day! So when the repairman finally comes four days later, he tells me he's never worked on a 17" powerbook. Ok, now I'm nervous. He attempted to open the system, and struggled. Just short of forcing it and seriously damaging it, he called his shop where someone looked up the repair information to correctly remove the keyboard and access the Airport card and antenna. The repairman was a genuine nice guy, but we discussed what a joke it is these days to actually get a certification from Apple or Dell. Apparently they don't really offer technical training like they did in the old days. Well, the technician fiddled around, unsure if what he did would work or not. After he closed it up, it did seem to function better, but I think in retrospect I was just anxious to see it that way. After he had gone and it got a real work out, I discover that in fact, it still got miserable reception. I was SOL.
Back to AppleCare. This time I'm back on the front lines with people who, despite reading the case notes need to replicate many of the same tests from the last call. Gone are the representatives who will do whatever it takes to solve the problem (including an offer to return the system for a complete refund). Now it is left to me to surrender the system to the same tech people who have tried to fix the system once. Sadly, my livelihood depends upon this system. It costs me several hundred dollars a day to be without it. Does that concern Apple? Not any more. Although they won't come right out and tell you that, it is certainly implied in statements such as "Lost work is not covered in your warranty." And, "There is nothing more I can do for you." And, "You're welcome to address complaints to the corporate headquarters. Here is the address..."
So what am I to do? Of course I'll take the system in to see if my Airport works with the repair shop basestation. That's what Apple wants, and as a sheep-like consumer, what alternative do I have? What I really want to know is what happened to the old Apple I remember from before I switched away and back? I had really hoped that Steve Jobs being back had elevated Apple's self-esteem. Instead it appears it is nothing more than a soul-less corporation who only cares about increasing their revenues even if that means peddling faulty products. I waited for months to be able to afford making the switch with all the bells and whistles, and I've really been let down. Now I'm stuck with a brand new (yet out-of-date) system that isn't functioning as advertised, and the Apple representatives seem to be trying to make me feel as if for some reason this is my fault.
My recommendations to you if you are considering a switch: Don't be too quick to trust that Apple will fully stand behind their product. Make sure you have good backups of your data in case Apple deprives you of your brand new system for a week or more. I believe knowing the person from whom you are buying the system is helpful. That way, you have a friendly face to whom you can go with unexpected problems. Phone support can really be cold and heartless.
