Hello everyone,
I need some feedback on issues I'm having with a new MBP 15.4". Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hopefully giving me some advice.
I used Macs from 1987 till mid-2000, when my Powerbook G3 Wallstreet finally gave out.
After a colleague offered to purchase my Windows laptop that I'd been using since 2005, I decided it was time I went back to Macs, especially since I could run Windows on it for 2 pieces of software I need for work.
Ordered directly from Apple. Received Feb 8th, 2008:
MacBook Pro 15.4", 2.6ghz, 200GB HD/7200RPM. Upgraded RAM to 4GB myself. Am using a wireless Mighty Mouse & Apple wired keyboard (need the number pad).
Software: Leopard 10.5.2, iWorks(factory installed), Adobe CS3 Design Premium, Firefox, VMware Fusion(purchased), Parallels Desktop 3.0(day 3 of 14 day trial). (using Windows XP Pro), Office:Mac 2008(in trial mode. Not planning to purchase). On the Windows's side, have Quickbooks Pro 2006, Office 2007.
Here are the issues I'm having:
1. After using for a few minutes, anywhere from 10-30, both the mouse & keyboard start having 3-8 seconds pauses when they don't respond. They'll be fine for 20-30 seconds, then 3-8 seconds of no response time. This is true of both the built-in keyboard/trackpad as well as the external kb/mm. I cannot begin to tell you how aggravating this is. It happens even if I restart & run absolutely nothing, just let the computer sit there.
2. If I put the computer to sleep, either with the power button or by closing the lid, when I try and wake up the computer, I can hear the HD, the DVD drive, etc. and it seems to be working, yet the screen is blank. Nothing makes the screen work. I was being forced to hold down the power button to force a shut down and restart. After researching on line, someone suggested plugging/unplugging the AC adapter while waking up. This works 50% of the time.
3. When the KB/Mouse "pause" mode starts to happen (#1 above), sometimes when I type a letter, that letter will repeat 6-10 times.
4. After reading reviews online, it seemed that VMW Fusion was preferred over Parallels, so I bought it. Has not worked well for me. EXTREMELY slow, almost to the point of unworkable. 8-10 times, I have to forcequit Fusion after working 5-10 minutes, then reboot, then rerun Fusion. That is why I downloaded Parallels a few days ago to see if that runs any better. So far, it's mixed. It does some weird things with KB/Mouse, but once the application is running, it seems more stable and much faster, so far.
5. I was using an external monitor, a 19" HAANS. Whenever the MBP was rebooted with the external monitor connected, the external monitor would not "wake up" after the reboot. Nothing would fix it except unplugging it, restarting the MBP & then reconnecting the monitor once the Finder was back up. "Detect Displays" doesn't work, unplugging/replugging didn't work.
Thinking maybe it was the monitor, I switched it with the NEC 19" MultiSync 90GX I used at home. Now, if the MPB is rebooted, at least the monitor wakes up & displays an image. However, for some reason, the setting for the monitor is switched to "Display 2" and the resolution being used is incorrect. Again, "Detect Displays" doesn't work, unplugging/replugging doesn't work. Only solutions is to disconnect, reboot the MBP, & then connect it again.
Considering the issues I'm having and the resulting troubleshooting I have been having to do the 20 days that I've had this computer, rebooting is being done at a rather ridiculous clip, so now I've simply stopped using the external monitor until I can get a hold of these issues.
6. Whenever I try to mount a .dmg file, it takes forever. When I mounted the Firefox .dmg file, which is a little over 17MB, it took 9 min 22 sec. (I timed it). For a $3200 computer, that is simply unacceptable.
7. For no apparent reason, Airport will disconnect from my wi-fi network, both at home & at work. This happens approx. 3-6 times during the day at work. No matter how long I wait (the longest I held out, waiting to see if it would reconnect, was 1 hour). I have to manually go in and resetup the network. When I do that, it will reconnect. This issue also seems to be worse if other of the listed problems are occurring, such as the kb/mm pauses, etc.
I have spent days upon days scouring online mac forums trying to resolve these issues. I removed iStat Pro from the Dashboard (really liked it), have reset PRAM so many times I can't remember. Fixed disk permissions at least 10 times. Reset the PM unit at least 5 times.
To say that I'm frustrated would be an understatement of monumental proportions. My productivity has reached new lows. My excitement at finally going back to Macs has now dwindled dangerously low, almost to the point that faint threads of regret have started creeping up on the edge of my thoughts.
Any advice you can give that may lead me to solve this mess would be very appreciated. Is this something specific to my computer? Would doing a harddrive wipe & restore help? Is this an issue with the MBP that I'll just have to live with (God forbid!!)?
I have an appointment today after work with the Genius Bar so I'll see if that helps. Thanks again for your time and feedback.
TR
I need some feedback on issues I'm having with a new MBP 15.4". Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hopefully giving me some advice.
I used Macs from 1987 till mid-2000, when my Powerbook G3 Wallstreet finally gave out.
After a colleague offered to purchase my Windows laptop that I'd been using since 2005, I decided it was time I went back to Macs, especially since I could run Windows on it for 2 pieces of software I need for work.
Ordered directly from Apple. Received Feb 8th, 2008:
MacBook Pro 15.4", 2.6ghz, 200GB HD/7200RPM. Upgraded RAM to 4GB myself. Am using a wireless Mighty Mouse & Apple wired keyboard (need the number pad).
Software: Leopard 10.5.2, iWorks(factory installed), Adobe CS3 Design Premium, Firefox, VMware Fusion(purchased), Parallels Desktop 3.0(day 3 of 14 day trial). (using Windows XP Pro), Office:Mac 2008(in trial mode. Not planning to purchase). On the Windows's side, have Quickbooks Pro 2006, Office 2007.
Here are the issues I'm having:
1. After using for a few minutes, anywhere from 10-30, both the mouse & keyboard start having 3-8 seconds pauses when they don't respond. They'll be fine for 20-30 seconds, then 3-8 seconds of no response time. This is true of both the built-in keyboard/trackpad as well as the external kb/mm. I cannot begin to tell you how aggravating this is. It happens even if I restart & run absolutely nothing, just let the computer sit there.
2. If I put the computer to sleep, either with the power button or by closing the lid, when I try and wake up the computer, I can hear the HD, the DVD drive, etc. and it seems to be working, yet the screen is blank. Nothing makes the screen work. I was being forced to hold down the power button to force a shut down and restart. After researching on line, someone suggested plugging/unplugging the AC adapter while waking up. This works 50% of the time.
3. When the KB/Mouse "pause" mode starts to happen (#1 above), sometimes when I type a letter, that letter will repeat 6-10 times.
4. After reading reviews online, it seemed that VMW Fusion was preferred over Parallels, so I bought it. Has not worked well for me. EXTREMELY slow, almost to the point of unworkable. 8-10 times, I have to forcequit Fusion after working 5-10 minutes, then reboot, then rerun Fusion. That is why I downloaded Parallels a few days ago to see if that runs any better. So far, it's mixed. It does some weird things with KB/Mouse, but once the application is running, it seems more stable and much faster, so far.
5. I was using an external monitor, a 19" HAANS. Whenever the MBP was rebooted with the external monitor connected, the external monitor would not "wake up" after the reboot. Nothing would fix it except unplugging it, restarting the MBP & then reconnecting the monitor once the Finder was back up. "Detect Displays" doesn't work, unplugging/replugging didn't work.
Thinking maybe it was the monitor, I switched it with the NEC 19" MultiSync 90GX I used at home. Now, if the MPB is rebooted, at least the monitor wakes up & displays an image. However, for some reason, the setting for the monitor is switched to "Display 2" and the resolution being used is incorrect. Again, "Detect Displays" doesn't work, unplugging/replugging doesn't work. Only solutions is to disconnect, reboot the MBP, & then connect it again.
Considering the issues I'm having and the resulting troubleshooting I have been having to do the 20 days that I've had this computer, rebooting is being done at a rather ridiculous clip, so now I've simply stopped using the external monitor until I can get a hold of these issues.
6. Whenever I try to mount a .dmg file, it takes forever. When I mounted the Firefox .dmg file, which is a little over 17MB, it took 9 min 22 sec. (I timed it). For a $3200 computer, that is simply unacceptable.
7. For no apparent reason, Airport will disconnect from my wi-fi network, both at home & at work. This happens approx. 3-6 times during the day at work. No matter how long I wait (the longest I held out, waiting to see if it would reconnect, was 1 hour). I have to manually go in and resetup the network. When I do that, it will reconnect. This issue also seems to be worse if other of the listed problems are occurring, such as the kb/mm pauses, etc.
I have spent days upon days scouring online mac forums trying to resolve these issues. I removed iStat Pro from the Dashboard (really liked it), have reset PRAM so many times I can't remember. Fixed disk permissions at least 10 times. Reset the PM unit at least 5 times.
To say that I'm frustrated would be an understatement of monumental proportions. My productivity has reached new lows. My excitement at finally going back to Macs has now dwindled dangerously low, almost to the point that faint threads of regret have started creeping up on the edge of my thoughts.
Any advice you can give that may lead me to solve this mess would be very appreciated. Is this something specific to my computer? Would doing a harddrive wipe & restore help? Is this an issue with the MBP that I'll just have to live with (God forbid!!)?
I have an appointment today after work with the Genius Bar so I'll see if that helps. Thanks again for your time and feedback.
TR
