Apple Identifies Logic Board Issue With 'Very Small Number' of 2018 MacBook Airs, Will Fix Free of Charge

[keysofanxiety]

If accidental damage does prevent the logic board replacement from being completed, Apple says the customer must pay for necessary repairs in order to get the logic board replaced at no cost.​

It's really astonishing how Americans prefer to cover their tracks which such stupid clauses rather than to just do things the right way from the start.

Also: good job, Louis Rossman. There are no good Macbooks after 2015 - I can testify, because I have a 2009 and a 2016 MBP and there is one of both that still works the same as on day one, and it's not the newest one.

It’s not so astonishing that if there’s accidental damage which will prevent a replacement logic board from being fitted, they can’t do it.

If anything, it’s astonishing you think this is different to any other OEM or even outside the realms of common sense. If your DELL motherboard fails, they won’t replace it if the plastic chassis is in pieces — even if that damage wasn’t directly causing the issue.

 

[Khedron]

Is the number as "small" as those broken keyboards or even smaller?

Maybe even smaller than the number of bent iPad Pros (Tim says 9 people were affected)

 

[Hazmat401]

The MacBook is next

 

[Khedron]

Either way, all of these “small problems” and “small number of customers” etc. add up. Every product they release seems to be coming with an apology and replacement program.

The worst is the most recent MacBook Pros which were in the keyboard replacement programme before they were even on sale.

Apple now ships products with day one known defects. It's as if Samsung still went ahead with the Fold launch but had a replacement programme.

 

[Wags]

The logic board has failed two times on my MacBook (2015). Apple won’t replace it without charging me $400+. I have a brick now because I won’t pay that price. I’m so disappointed in Apple. I’ve never had so many issues with a MacBook before. And this isn’t counting the audio and keyboard issues as well.

Probably just acknowledging the MBA because redesign and don’t want extra bad press. Q&A down over better margins.

 

[GadgetBen]

You can buy the platinum colored Surface Laptop2 for $799-. Bigger, better screen, quadcore processor.

If you bought an Air then you got ripped off.

Yeah but it’s cheap and nasty for a reason. It runs Windows.

 

[DVD9]

It’s not just MacBooks... even the iPads are developing white spots all over the 10.5 screen.. Chinese junk. Apple refuses to acknowledge it too. Unreal.

 

[ksec]

The MacBook is next

It is the idea when people keeps crying for USB-C or one port to rule them all, when we used to have ONE power port for high voltage. Everything were good and simple.

For some people we sort of knew these, but were always hopeful things would improve. 4 years down the road this hasn't happened.

 

[zombierunner]

I don’t get why Apple has had so many issues with their laptops over the past 4 years.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Apple did not describe any symptoms unfortunately. I said "undisclosed" issue but I'll add another sentence to make it abundantly clear

It's still possible to read between the lines. If the defect has been isolated to a specific production run, then just pull everything from that production run and call it a day. As soon as they describe the associated symptoms, everyone with with any make or model Mac with seemingly similar symptoms expects service. Denying a free logic board to all those ineligible people is hardly good for the reputation.

 

[genovelle]

It’s not so astonishing that if there’s accidental damage which will prevent a replacement logic board from being fitted, they can’t do it.

If anything, it’s astonishing you think this is different to any other OEM or even outside the realms of common sense. If your DELL motherboard fails, they won’t replace it if the plastic chassis is in pieces — even if that damage wasn’t directly causing the issue.

It’s astonishing that they have to have such a clause in the first place.

 

[Scarpad]

knock on wood my 2017 MacBook I just bought is working fine, bought AppleCare thou

 

[Khedron]

I don’t get why Apple has had so many issues with their laptops over the past 4 years.

Tim slashing QC for higher margins

 

[coolfactor]

Note to self; don’t purchase any Apple laptops made from 2015 and later. Opt for a desktop with a classic, replaceable, functional keyboard. Got it. -Self

You can always buy that laptop, and attach a wired or wireless keyboard of your choosing. You have that option.

I'm not excusing Apple's design decisions, but if a laptop is ultimately a better choice for you, so you can grab-and-go, this is a good option.

 

[nutritious]

Apple is a company that has lost its soul. Even Ive doesn't want to work at Apple anymore. Problem is Tim is mentally ill and will never let go of power.

 

[coolfactor]

Does not surprise me, these days Apple has become pretty lame with their desire to hide everything that even smacks of a problem.

You highlighted a line that doesn't seem valid. It's impossible for _every_ single Apple employee to be aware of every policy at every moment. It takes time to spread the word and for people to absorb. the info. I think that's all that the author was saying... that you should not expect to walk into an Apple store, ask about this particular policy, and expect a consistent answer.
[doublepost=1561834875][/doublepost]

I don’t get why Apple has had so many issues with their laptops over the past 4 years.

I don't get why consumers don't realize that pushing the boundaries results in unknown consequences. It's not like Apple is churning out the same old hardware every year for the past 30 years. Every year, they re-engineer, make smaller, add capabilities, make faster, etc, etc. These changes influence the outcome when each new version is mass-produced. Manufacturers need new processes, new training, new tooling, etc. etc.

There's bound to be problems along the way.

 

[nvmls]

The MacBook is next

Louis Rossmann™
Educating Sheep Since 2013

 

[Swift]

I remember long ago when I bought a G4. The second one they brought out. I got it going, and then suddenly, I got crazy graphics. I called up Apple, they diagnosed it over the air, and they arranged for a local shop -- no Apple Stores yet -- to come to my house and put a new graphics card in it. Great service.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

If accidental damage does prevent the logic board replacement from being completed, Apple says the customer must pay for necessary repairs in order to get the logic board replaced at no cost.​

It's really astonishing how Americans prefer to cover their tracks which such stupid clauses rather than to just do things the right way from the start.

Also: good job, Louis Rossman. There are no good Macbooks after 2015 - I can testify, because I have a 2009 and a 2016 MBP and there is one of both that still works the same as on day one, and it's not the newest one.

I have a 2004 PowerBook G4 that still boots up faster than some current windows laptops lol. Also still runs perfectly albeit not many modern apps support it anymore.

 

[ilujon]

The logic board has failed two times on my MacBook (2015). Apple won’t replace it without charging me $400+. I have a brick now because I won’t pay that price. I’m so disappointed in Apple. I’ve never had so many issues with a MacBook before. And this isn’t counting the audio and keyboard issues as well.

THAT is egregious.

 

[keysofanxiety]

It’s astonishing that they have to have such a clause in the first place.

Come on pal. That’s what the MacRumors editor wrote to save their backs if it doesn’t go right. It’s not an actual Apple clause

 

[needsomecoffee]

Apple should figure out how to get Rossman on board as a consultant. Their engineers likely think he would not bring value I'd guess despite his practical insights. Reminds me of a previous life working for a very technical mfg. Same assembly lines in Singapore killed the more mature lines in US in all stats categories. Sent a friend of mine in to analyze why. His conclusion was that the engineers in Singapore actively sought out information and applied ideas from the line workers. In the US - even after the conclusions were presented - the engineers continued to do process improvement work without closely listening to the line workers who were really treated simply as automatons. Hey they had advanced engineering degrees so what insights could simple line workers provide?? Singapore's stats continued killing those in the US. Became quite the political topic as the US engineers were very dogmatic, and refused to change their ways. So, Apple hire Rossman please - sure he's a tad abrasive, but man has he got a valuable real-world, pragmatic engineering background.

 

[kingofwale]

"very small amount"...just like the design defect with iphone 6.. right??

 

[dominiongamma]

"very small amount"...just like the design defect with iphone 6.. right??

What design problem did the iPhone 6 have ?

 

[derekamoss]

Yeah but it’s cheap and nasty for a reason. It runs Windows.

Says you... Every single person who bashes a Surface can't say anything is better Mac wise other than the OS and never mention the hardware or usability that the surfaces provide. Everyone who used to have Macs and now own Surfaces and likes them never complains about well Macs have OS X and not Windows and you know why? Because we have actually used both OS's and actually can see the benefits and faults of each one and appreciate them. Even if windows was a little superior to OS X, which it is not, the fact of the versatility's of surface products (touch screen, tablet form factor that can be a laptop, laptop that can detach into a tablet, various ports people still use such as SD and normal usb, an "iMac" Surface Studio) that we wished since 2001 that an iMac can do, still a magnetic charger like apple used to have, no touchbar, can draw on it with a pen, etc etc) would make up for it anyways. I just can't understand why people are still holding Apple on a holy grail.

Do I wish Apple had come out with products like the Surface, Yes and would have stayed Apple. At this point, anyone who uses the excuse, it runs Windows is either, ignorant, so in love with all things Apple they are blinded by the faults and Stagnation of MacOS. (Back in the day Apple used to boast about the new features in their operating system like Job's saying Jaguar had 120+ new features) Windows isnt without its fault either but I can contest to having used both systems I tinker with Windows just like I did OS X ( up to mountain lion) and rarely have any issues. My dad, who has a Macbook Pro and only knows how to get on facebook and google and netflix has stability problems more often than my Windows machine. Hung/ or crashing of first party apple software. I used to tell people on windows restart your computer and fix the problem you cant leave it running all the time with out messing up and now I dont have to restart my Surface unless their are updates, but still have to tell my dad when he has a problem to restart to fix...