17 "mbp - Dead On Arrival?

[macbook123]

So I'm extremely happy with the screen and overall feel of this laptop, but two things are odd.

1) Although I was initially able to connect wirelessly, it seems to have stopped working after I used the ethernet cable for a while and installing all the software updates. When I click the Airport symbol in the menu bar, I don't get the usual "Airport On/Off" option, but only a message "Airport not configured" and "Open Network Preferences". When choosing that, there's no Wireless option among the options, just Built-in Ethernet, some Parallels Host Guest (no idea what this is), Bluetooth PAN, and Built-in Firewire. Does all this mean the my wireless card is dead?

2) The laptop doesn't seem to be charging fully. Had it on power source for 5 hours now and the battery only shows 74% full (I used it for only 5 minutes on battery after I got it). When I unplug I only get about 3 hours of remaining time, though wireless is off. It should have 7 or 8 hours! Does this mean the battery is broken?

Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

 

[gatepc]

if its brand new I would definitely call up apple and say something about it.

 

[macbook123]

if its brand new I would definitely call up apple and say something about it.

Well, the reason I'm posting here is that I want to know if what I'm experiencing could be normal, i.e. could there be a setting for the wireless card I'm missing, and could it be that it takes very long to charge the battery the first time?

 

[aethelbert]

I'm assuming that you've already done this for the wireless issue, but can you create a new network profile in the System Preferences panel? You didn't mention it specifically, but I figured that it would be worth a check before getting too worried about it. Also, my AirPort and bluetooth are disabled quite often in which case I have to reboot and reset the PRAM. As for the battery, the drive may be undergoing its initial indexing which can use quite a bit of power.

 

[macbook123]

I'm assuming that you've already done this for the wireless issue, but can you create a new network profile in the System Preferences panel? You didn't mention it specifically, but I figured that it would be worth a check before getting too worried about it. Also, my AirPort and bluetooth are disabled quite often in which case I have to reboot and reset the PRAM. As for the battery, the drive may be undergoing its initial indexing which can use quite a bit of power.

Thanks for this. I was indeed able to create a new network profile for the Airport. I just am concerned that this was erased by the computer to begin with. Never happened to me with previous Macs. Do I have to worry that this laptop will repeatedly erase the network profile?

As for the drive, it is now up to 90%. You may be right about the indexing. I'll keep you posted.

PS: One more question, can I return a mac bought in one store to another if it's not working within the first two weeks? Will be traveling across the country starting tomorrow.

 

[geoffreak]

You can go to any Apple store within the first year and get it fixed for free. Buy extended AppleCare for that to be increased to 3 years. AppleCare is only a hardware warranty, so you may want to purchase insurance if you are going places that your MBP could get damaged or broken.

You can return the MBP for a refund within 2 weeks for a 15% restocking fee so long as it is stock (you didn't customize it online).

 

[Consultant]

Within return period, you can exchange for a new one of the same model at no charge.

 

[geoffreak]

Within return period, you can exchange for a new one of the same model at no charge.

Only if they can find a problem with your current one. You can use the excuse, "if my MBP already has a problem to begin with, it is going to develop even more later on" and they should swap it for you, assuming they have the same model in stock.

 

[aethelbert]

Thanks for this. I was indeed able to create a new network profile for the Airport. I just am concerned that this was erased by the computer to begin with. Never happened to me with previous Macs. Do I have to worry that this laptop will repeatedly erase the network profile?

I wouldn't worry about it disappearing again. If it does, it's likely a software problem that fixing permissions, or at worst a reinstall, would fix. I've had a bluetooth PAN profile erased in the past without my command, but it's not much effort to put it back.