That New Octo SMELL

stevetannen · Apr 18, 2007

Hey All,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I got my new 3.0 Mac Pro Octo via fed ex this weekend. It's blisteringly fast, I've taken it through its paces and am thoroughly pleased. EXCEPT...it stinks to high heaven. It's a plastic-burning type smell, seems almost toxic, the smell coming out the back fan. I have to shut it down and leave the room every few hours to air it out, it's that bad. I've heard about the "new mac smell" and had a tiny taste of it with a new macbook last summer, but this is different - it's intense, nauseating, and makes you feel funny. Friends and neighbors have agreed: this can't be good.

Anyone else had this experience? Does this smell last? Do I bother calling Apple? Do I put it in the garage and run extra long monitor cables in? (If so, do those exist?)

Any ideas, suggestions, snide flames at my ignorance, all are appreciated. I've been trawling the net and can't come up with much. Thank you!
Steve Tannen

QCassidy352 · Apr 18, 2007

call apple. that's not normal; something needs to be fixed or replaced!

piltupso · Apr 18, 2007

I got a new 2.66 Mac Pro back in August and use it in a small room and never noticed any smell even right out of the box.

AlBDamned · Apr 18, 2007

stevetannen said:
Hey All,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I got my new 3.0 Mac Pro Octo via fed ex this weekend. It's blisteringly fast, I've taken it through its paces and am thoroughly pleased. EXCEPT...it stinks to high heaven. It's a plastic-burning type smell, seems almost toxic, the smell coming out the back fan. I have to shut it down and leave the room every few hours to air it out, it's that bad. I've heard about the "new mac smell" and had a tiny taste of it with a new macbook last summer, but this is different - it's intense, nauseating, and makes you feel funny. Friends and neighbors have agreed: this can't be good.

Anyone else had this experience? Does this smell last? Do I bother calling Apple? Do I put it in the garage and run extra long monitor cables in? (If so, do those exist?)

Any ideas, suggestions, snide flames at my ignorance, all are appreciated. I've been trawling the net and can't come up with much. Thank you!
Steve Tannen

I know this sounds stupid, but have you checked inside it to make sure you removed all the plastic protection film and sheets?

When I got my G5 a long time ago it was covered in the stuff, inside and out, on the bay doors, everywhere.

Otherwise, I'd check inside it thoroughly. it could just be a little bit of something from the packaging that's got lodged somewhere.

Hope you can get it sorted.

twoodcc · Apr 18, 2007

AlBDamned said:
I know this sounds stupid, but have you checked inside it to make sure you removed all the plastic protection film and sheets?

When I got my G5 a long time ago it was covered in the stuff, inside and out, on the bay doors, everywhere.

Otherwise, I'd check inside it thoroughly. it could just be a little bit of something from the packaging that's got lodged somewhere.

Hope you can get it sorted.

was gonna say the same thing. please check this before calling apple

Celeron · Apr 18, 2007

Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.

stevetannen · Apr 18, 2007

twoodcc said:
was gonna say the same thing. please check this before calling apple

Yes, I looked inside. Nothing obvious. I'm amazed to hear a computer maker would wrap parts inside with plastic, that seems...problematic. A bit like plastic wrapping the car engine parts under the hood.

I have searched "mac smell" in these forums, but I mostly come up with complaints about co-workers body odor.

Thanks for your help everyone - to Apple's phone lines I go, armed only with a powerful smell.

stevetannen · Apr 18, 2007

Celeron said:
Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.

AWESOME. Thank you. Great to hear someone else had something like this, and it gives me a thread to pursue. You rock, thank you.

Steve

AlBDamned · Apr 19, 2007

stevetannen said:
AWESOME. Thank you. Great to hear someone else had something like this, and it gives me a thread to pursue. You rock, thank you.

Steve

Would be great if it was just the power supply as that's a pretty easy fix.

Jiddick ExRex · Apr 19, 2007

Have you repaired permissions?

Also try reset PRAM.

disconap · Apr 20, 2007

It sounds like something is a bit off in the cooling. I don't really know the physical architecture of the new line, but I would definitely call Apple immediately. At very least, they can tell you what to do.

PhotoGraphic · Apr 22, 2007

Celeron said:
Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.

I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.

xJulianx · Apr 22, 2007

I thought my MacBook smelt like pineapple when I got it out of the box.

jimN · Apr 22, 2007

PhotoGraphic said:
I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

PhotoGraphic · Apr 22, 2007

jimN said:
Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all.

Please point out to me where I am slandering anybody. Thank you.

yagran · Apr 22, 2007

jimN said:
Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

i agree with you there jimN, but i do feel sorry for you PhotoGraphic and i understand your annoyed that you mac stinks out the place, but slander is not the way forward if your seriously looking to persue legal action

yagran · Apr 22, 2007

you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

FireArse · Apr 22, 2007

Fumes

yagran said:
you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

Yagran has a point about damage to reputation without legitimate reason.

However - I've worked with heavy duty PSU's in consumer electronics (52-port 3Com switches) and I saw a lot of them go in all sorts of ways. It was my job as a Reliabililty Engineer to make them fail. None had me worried about the fumes given off.

F

PhotoGraphic · Apr 22, 2007

yagran said:
you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

I wish you would read my posting carefully before replying. I said that I want to have the air in my workspace analysed (if affordable). I said that Apple will have worries if the smell contains carcinogenic substances.

I have not suggested anywhere that Apple may be giving me cancer.

Again: please read my posting before replying. Do not reply to something you imagine I have written.

bartelby · Apr 22, 2007

PhotoGraphic said:
Again: please read my posting before replying. Do not reply to something you imagine I have written.

It's an odd thing to say if you don't actually think it does!

Why would you pay for analysis if you don't think it will come back positive?

bearbo · Apr 22, 2007

PhotoGraphic said:
I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.

there are few substances that are not carcinogenic. Table salt is a carcinogen, however at a much higher level of consumption than say, benzene vapor. Because of the fact that in this very un-ideal world, nothing can be burnt completely, therefore it's very likely that there is carcinogenic substances in the resulting vapor that smells like burnt. However the presence of those substances doesn't mean it will be cancer causing.
Also, a substance doesn't have to be carcinogenic to be harmful. Lots of substances can result in damage in health at a low concentration over a period of time long before it can cause cancer.

jimN said:
Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

But he didn't actually accuse Apple of anything. He merely said he'd like to look into that, would that still be illegal?

bearbo · Apr 22, 2007

bartelby said:
It's an odd thing to say if you don't actually think it does!

Why would you pay for analysis if you don't think it will come back positive?

one might suspect it does, but not sure. and more importantly, hoping it'd come back negative.

have you never had any medical exams, and you hope the result of which will come back negative (and mostly believe it'll come back negative) but just want to be sure?

more obviously, have you not seen those pregnancy testers sold in grocery stores that women use to see if they are pregnant (and hoping they arent)

bartelby · Apr 22, 2007

bearbo said:
one might suspect it does, but not sure. and more importantly, hoping it'd come back negative.

have you never had any medical exams, and you hope the result of which will come back negative (and mostly believe it'll come back negative) but just want to be sure?

more obviously, have you not seen those pregnancy testers sold in grocery stores that women use to see if they are pregnant (and hoping they arent)

I've never suspected anything was wrong and had an exam, no.

bearbo · Apr 22, 2007

bartelby said:
I've never suspected anything was wrong and had an exam, no.

so you always knew something was wrong before you had a medical exam?

All workers at chemical plant (or related field) have to take a drug test before they are allowed to work there. This is to ensure that they are not under the influence of any illegal drug. But that doesn't mean that they are all suspected to be on crack.

yagran · Apr 22, 2007

bearbo said:
But he didn't actually accuse Apple of anything. He merely said he'd like to look into that, would that still be illegal?

not specifiacally but slander is more about damaging a reputation. which comments may do, for instance browsing a forum and seeing it may be carcinogenic could lead to a bad rep and consequently loss of sales...

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