Apple Acknowledges MacBook Staining

MacRumors · Jun 30, 2006, 05:30 PM

Jason O'Grady posts on his ZDNet blog that Apple has acknowledged and identified the cause of a staining issue that was affecting a small but significant number of MacBook owners.

Quote:

It appears that the original MacBook plastics were too porous which led to staining after oils become embedded in it from prolonged use.

Apple changed the formulation of plastics in the production line already, so the newest models arriving in retail stores shouldn't have the same problem. The newer top case is reportedly much smoother to the touch than the previous MacBooks which feel slightly rougher.

While Apple typically does not support cosmetic issues that does not affect the operation of the computer, users that have the issue can contact AppleCare to arrange for a replacement of their top casing.

jaxstate · Jun 30, 2006, 05:33 PM

Sheesh, Apple is having all types of hardware problems. Good thing they acknowledging the problem. So what do they plan on doing with the MacBooks that were too porous.

iGary · Jun 30, 2006, 05:40 PM

At least they did something about it finally.

God, I'd hate to work at AppleCare.

iGary · Jun 30, 2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdowns

It's not so bad. Not all customers are like you.

*drum crash*

Ah ha...ah ha ah ha ah ha...

I still loves me some rdowns

SC68Cal · Jun 30, 2006, 06:09 PM

Well, we finally get an explanation and a fix!

WillMak · Jun 30, 2006, 06:24 PM

When did they switch plastics? Like what week of production?

dmw007 · Jun 30, 2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGary

At least they did something about it finally.

True.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGary

God, I'd hate to work at AppleCare.

I was thinking the same thing- poor Apple tech support technicians.

madmax_2069 · Jul 1, 2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGary

God, I'd hate to work at AppleCare.

I would give anything to work there, I love working on Mac's . almost more than life it's self

but that is just a dream and wont come a reality cause i didnt graduate

Stridder44 · Jul 1, 2006, 04:37 PM

What the update?? No?? You've got to be kidding me....

No Rev. A's thank you. Ever.

it5five · Jul 1, 2006, 11:37 PM

So does anyone know when they started shipping good MacBooks? Mine is a week 21, and feels really smooth, but I don't have anything to compare it to.

WildCowboy · Jun 30, 2006, 05:41 PM

Nice to seem them acknowledging and fixing the problem both on the assembly line and in those already sold, but this sort of problem should have appeared during testing prior to release.

sethypoo · Jun 30, 2006, 05:42 PM

This is great news! Now, let's hope that they address the MacBook Pro heat and whine issues. I almost burned myself this morning

.

nagromme · Jun 30, 2006, 05:45 PM

Problem identified, problem acknowledged, problem solved AND existing users given an exchange EVEN though the issue isn't covered by warranty.

We Apple users don't know how good we have it

Apple hardware reliability and support isn't perfect... merely the best in the industry.

Keep complaining about any and all issues... sometimes it gets them fixed!

longofest · Jun 30, 2006, 05:48 PM

Revision A products SUCK (well, mostly)

generik · Jul 1, 2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

Problem identified, problem acknowledged, problem solved AND existing users given an exchange EVEN though the issue isn't covered by warranty.

We Apple users don't know how good we have it

Apple hardware reliability and support isn't perfect... merely the best in the industry.

Keep complaining about any and all issues... sometimes it gets them fixed!

Turn off that fanboism

The staining issues should not have occured in the first place. You sound just like a mother who go "Even though my boy got crushed by the school bus, but it is a good thing that the school still paid up promptly even though it is entirely the fault of the bus driver, all without me having to sue them! Thank you <insert school name>! That money will help me carry on!"

jmmo20 · Jul 1, 2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

Problem identified, problem acknowledged, problem solved AND existing users given an exchange EVEN though the issue isn't covered by warranty.

We Apple users don't know how good we have it

Apple hardware reliability and support isn't perfect... merely the best in the industry.

Keep complaining about any and all issues... sometimes it gets them fixed!

Sorry but that's not accurate

-> The problems hasn't been identified, theyre still investigating

-> Apple hasn't officially acknowledge anything, they're just extending the warranties

-> Warranty does not cover cosmetic issue, but this is not such, this is a manufacturing deffect, not a issue arising from user's wrong use of the computer

and most of all, apple is only replacing those units under 14 days of age, those of us who's got the laptop for longer have to stick with a normal warranty repair which takes weeks (Weeks!!!!)

And you are forgetting thtat no EVERY user with this is getting the positive response. Many people in europe (in general anywhere in europe but spain) are not getting the warranties extended in order to repair this problem. They're told it's cosmetic.

More info: www.stainedbook.info

weg · Jul 3, 2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

Problem identified, problem acknowledged, problem solved AND existing users given an exchange EVEN though the issue isn't covered by warranty.

Design is one of the more important reasons why people buy Apple, so I'd say that the stain problem is a major deficiency. Ugly notebooks are available for significantly less bucks.. so they SHOULD cover this (it's not exactly an advertisement when your friends ask you why your notebook looks so ugly and you have to say "well, it's one of those new Apples").

THX1139 · Jun 30, 2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCowboy

.... but this sort of problem should have appeared during testing prior to release.

Maybe testers wash their hands more often?

PanicRoom · Jul 1, 2006, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCowboy

Nice to seem them acknowledging and fixing the problem both on the assembly line and in those already sold, but this sort of problem should have appeared during testing prior to release.

As far as I understand it, Apple's secrecy surrounding new products means that there is NO significant user testing beforehand. This is precisley why Rev A products should be avoided: Rev A purchasers are Apple's de facto product testers.

steve_hill4 · Jul 1, 2006, 05:16 AM

The 'r' on my MacBook Pro has fallen off, I wonder how many others have had this problem with theirs?

Doubt Apple would believe it fell off quite easily because since then I managed to dent the corner of the machine. Have chickenpox at the moment and as I wandered through Dover last weekend, trying to find a guest house with a single room for the night, got very hot and tired, held my bag incorrectly and it slowly slipped out. Working great still, with only cosmetic damage, but doubt Apple will believe any problems I ever get with it are unrelated.

dejo · Jun 30, 2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxstate

So what do they plan on doing with the MacBooks that were too porous.

I take it that was a question? If so, the answer was right above your query, not inches away! "...users that have the issue can contact AppleCare to arrange for a replacement of their top casing". I guess you missed that part.

dontmatter · Jul 1, 2006, 02:08 AM

Hmm, interesting. Reminds me of the black marks left from corroded aluminum due to sweating on your hot PB.

But please guys.

"While Apple typically does not support cosmetic issues that does not affect the operation of the computer, users that have the issue can contact AppleCare to arrange for a replacement of their top casing"

The second does should be "do'

And how about this sentence for weird.

"The newer top case is reportedly much smoother to the touch than the previous MacBooks which feel slightly rougher."

Perhaps I'm wrong in assuming that smooth and rough are opposites, but if the new case feels much smoother, shouldn't the old feel mouch rougher?

Jeeze, and the NY Times missed a space after a period in the front page (online) article on blood doping of professional cyclists.

As evidenced by these and apple... it seems that the price paid for putting out flawed products and then fixing them is less than the price paid to make everything right in the first place.

kerisimasi · Jul 1, 2006, 04:00 AM

Hey all, I know the questions has been asked once already, but there doesn't seem to be any replies yet. I bought my macbook june 1st for medical school. I haven't had the need to use it too much other than internet, so I am worried that the stains will show up later. Does anyone know if all the original macbooks are succeptible to the stains? and is there a date at which this porous plastic was taken off the market?? thanks for any help you guys can offer. I am already upset that I messed the free nano by a few days as well as a discounted microsoft office...blah, that's what I get for getting the macbook too early.

Kingsly · Jul 1, 2006, 02:34 PM

Soo... a little stain gets an investigation and replacement... but a MBP that burns my hands and whines like a small child gets nothing?

mark! · Jul 1, 2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingsly

Soo... a little stain gets an investigation and replacement... but a MBP that burns my hands and whines like a small child gets nothing?

burns your hands huh

Jun 30, 2006, 05:40 PM	#3
iGary macrumors Demi-God Join Date: May 2004 Location: La Villa Strangiato	At least they did something about it finally. God, I'd hate to work at AppleCare. __________________ Mac Pro Octophallus 2.8 \| 13" UMBP 2.26

Jul 1, 2006, 04:37 PM	#9
Stridder44 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California	What the update?? No?? You've got to be kidding me.... No Rev. A's thank you. Ever. __________________ The Un-Funny Truth About Scientology (Warning: Graphic images) MacBook Pro 15.4"/2.5 GHz/250GB/4GB RAM iMac G4 17"/800 Mhz/80GB/512GB RAM

Jun 30, 2006, 05:41 PM	#11
WildCowboy macrumors god Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: nowhere near the infinite loop anymore	Nice to seem them acknowledging and fixing the problem both on the assembly line and in those already sold, but this sort of problem should have appeared during testing prior to release. __________________ 15" 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro -- 15" 1.67 GHz PowerBook -- 14" 1.2 GHz iBook

Jun 30, 2006, 05:45 PM	#13
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	Problem identified, problem acknowledged, problem solved AND existing users given an exchange EVEN though the issue isn't covered by warranty. We Apple users don't know how good we have it Apple hardware reliability and support isn't perfect... merely the best in the industry. Keep complaining about any and all issues... sometimes it gets them fixed! __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Jul 1, 2006, 05:16 AM	#20
steve_hill4 macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Propping up the bar.	The 'r' on my MacBook Pro has fallen off, I wonder how many others have had this problem with theirs? Doubt Apple would believe it fell off quite easily because since then I managed to dent the corner of the machine. Have chickenpox at the moment and as I wandered through Dover last weekend, trying to find a guest house with a single room for the night, got very hot and tired, held my bag incorrectly and it slowly slipped out. Working great still, with only cosmetic damage, but doubt Apple will believe any problems I ever get with it are unrelated. __________________ If I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink. - Vivian Stanshall

Jun 30, 2006, 05:33 PM	#2
jaxstate Banned Join Date: Apr 2006	Sheesh, Apple is having all types of hardware problems. Good thing they acknowledging the problem. So what do they plan on doing with the MacBooks that were too porous.

Jun 30, 2006, 06:09 PM	#5
SC68Cal macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2006	Well, we finally get an explanation and a fix!

Jun 30, 2006, 06:24 PM	#6
WillMak macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2005	When did they switch plastics? Like what week of production?

Jul 1, 2006, 11:37 PM	#10
it5five macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2006 Location: US, unfortunately	So does anyone know when they started shipping good MacBooks? Mine is a week 21, and feels really smooth, but I don't have anything to compare it to.

Jun 30, 2006, 05:42 PM	#12
sethypoo macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA	This is great news! Now, let's hope that they address the MacBook Pro heat and whine issues. I almost burned myself this morning .

Jun 30, 2006, 05:48 PM	#14
longofest Demi-God (Editor) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Falls Church, VA	Revision A products SUCK (well, mostly)

Jul 1, 2006, 02:08 AM	#22
dontmatter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: SEATTLE, BABY! (or a nice little liberal arts college campus in the middle of nowhere...)	Hmm, interesting. Reminds me of the black marks left from corroded aluminum due to sweating on your hot PB. But please guys. "While Apple typically does not support cosmetic issues that does not affect the operation of the computer, users that have the issue can contact AppleCare to arrange for a replacement of their top casing" The second does should be "do' And how about this sentence for weird. "The newer top case is reportedly much smoother to the touch than the previous MacBooks which feel slightly rougher." Perhaps I'm wrong in assuming that smooth and rough are opposites, but if the new case feels much smoother, shouldn't the old feel mouch rougher? Jeeze, and the NY Times missed a space after a period in the front page (online) article on blood doping of professional cyclists. As evidenced by these and apple... it seems that the price paid for putting out flawed products and then fixing them is less than the price paid to make everything right in the first place. __________________ Insert witticism here. Or spelling correction.

Jul 1, 2006, 04:00 AM	#23
kerisimasi macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2006	Macbook stain question Hey all, I know the questions has been asked once already, but there doesn't seem to be any replies yet. I bought my macbook june 1st for medical school. I haven't had the need to use it too much other than internet, so I am worried that the stains will show up later. Does anyone know if all the original macbooks are succeptible to the stains? and is there a date at which this porous plastic was taken off the market?? thanks for any help you guys can offer. I am already upset that I messed the free nano by a few days as well as a discounted microsoft office...blah, that's what I get for getting the macbook too early.

Jul 1, 2006, 02:34 PM	#24
Kingsly macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Squirtin' calls on mah Zune phone yo...	Soo... a little stain gets an investigation and replacement... but a MBP that burns my hands and whines like a small child gets nothing? __________________ OMG its teh Zune phone!!!11!!!!!!one!!!1!

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