Hate to hear you've been going thru a rough time OP... but my mid-2009 13' MBP is still rocking along flawlessly & I'm running High Sierra on it. Great great little machine even at 9 year old!
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Apple Repair is backlogged. Straw broke the camel's back today. Done with MBP
- Thread starter kjvmartin
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Apple used to be synonymous with quality products and legendary customer service at all levels. After tiring of BSOD errors on my Dell in college, the fluidity and simplicity of a circa 2007-2008 iMac was very appealing. Further, if something went wrong, I knew it would be no problem to get it corrected.
Interesting. They are coming up with no red flags on the diagnosis, but the issue is easily reproduced. He saw some poor quality playback on a download iTunes TV show and immediately said "new logic board"
My prior interest as a PC enthusiast had me wondering about codecs and other software issues, but those ideas bounced off the Genius.
So I am to think they could be doing all of this for nothing and when Mojave comes out the video issue will be resolved?
Not sure whether to be relieved or more frustrated that their technicians don't have better information.
I do not run beta on my daily machine, so I will have to wait.
kjvm
My current MBP is a replacement. It took 4 separate issues to finally get the first one replaced. I am only on #3 this round. I don't think there is a magic number?
Yeah, I believe (and this is just speculation on my part) that Apple released the eGPU functionality a little too early still without completely vetting out the video bugs that came with accommodating for eGPUs. There is a very good chance some of the video drivers and GPU settings that worked fine before they added this functionality, and now they have partially broken code.
I switched back to High Sierra and I still occasionally have the graphics glitch on mine with static on waking up my computer (I created a thread and a lot of other users have this issue), but after three replacements it’s clear it’s the software, not the hardware. I’m waiting for the public release of Mojave to see if it’s gone.
Unfortunately Genius Bar employees aren’t typically privy to software fix information until Apple publicly announces an issue and/or fix to a major software bug. This is probably by design, as there are many caveats that Genius Bar level employees may not know when trying to diagnose software issues. Heck even individual apps that users install may unintentionally be causing an MacOS bug, but that typically requires engineering to dig into your device image.
Even the senior advisor I got for my issue (who was awesome btw), initially was just as boggled as I was when she saw what was happening. I would be more relieved than frustrated at knowing it’s a software issue and not hardware.
I opened this thread just to see some other MBP concerns. I’m in need of a new ‘something’ and exploring my options.
Background: I’ve had APPLE laptops since the original Duo 230, that makes more than a few years, and more than a few [all laptop] models. Back in the day, it was very exciting to get a new MAC computer; innovations, something really new in look and hardware, and the feeling of progress (for the most part). But times have changed.
How can I get excited when there are so many problems; keyboards, overheating, unexplained glitches...Yes, there is more computer power, but its still not the most innovative laptop and as has been said, we are paying a premium, so why can’t it all be ‘cake.’
My personal complaint: I bought the last version of the 2011 MBP 17”, dual core processor, all the ports I needed, 16gb of RAM, and put in a 1tb SSD, everything I needed in a MAC laptop, but the well known issue of its graphic card had it in for repair 3 times, and a few months ago a month out of a year since the last time, it died again. That would have made 4 major repairs in 7 years, not right, not good. Being declared a ‘legacy’ model APPLE will no longer service it. APPLE did acknowledge the hardware problem, and to their credit did do all the service at not cost for those past problems, but if not for this defective problem I’m sure it would have been going for at least a few more years and I’d be very happy still using this computer.
So now what to do? Buy a new 2018 MBP and hope for the best, keyboard issue solved?, random glitches, fine in many ways, but paying a premium and really just hoping for the best possible ‘luck,’ and I can use this computer for years to come. I’ve been seriously thinking of a 2015 MBP because I much prefer the keyboard, and its only ‘defect’ seems to be the lamination of the display. But even used at a price and for 3-year old tech has me wondering if that is smart. Another option is going iMAC when the new models come out. Maybe more dependable, and all around more for the money although not as portable - with a 21” I could still move it from one location to another as long as its not often. And of course the last option of going WINDOWS, which [as mentioned] I’d dread after so long with MAC OS and hardware.
I can say that APPLE repair service has been good. A visit to the APPLE Store and actually talking with someone is a plus. With iphones and multiple iPads, iPods its a system changing out of will be a challenge.
APPLE has changed a lot, and not all in the best way. The question is if I can keep going along, or if its time for a change myself?
And an addition after thought... I’d have to think hard, but from my experience I don’t remember APPLE/MACs having so many isssues soon after release. Problems showed up years later. What is going on?
Background: I’ve had APPLE laptops since the original Duo 230, that makes more than a few years, and more than a few [all laptop] models. Back in the day, it was very exciting to get a new MAC computer; innovations, something really new in look and hardware, and the feeling of progress (for the most part). But times have changed.
How can I get excited when there are so many problems; keyboards, overheating, unexplained glitches...Yes, there is more computer power, but its still not the most innovative laptop and as has been said, we are paying a premium, so why can’t it all be ‘cake.’
My personal complaint: I bought the last version of the 2011 MBP 17”, dual core processor, all the ports I needed, 16gb of RAM, and put in a 1tb SSD, everything I needed in a MAC laptop, but the well known issue of its graphic card had it in for repair 3 times, and a few months ago a month out of a year since the last time, it died again. That would have made 4 major repairs in 7 years, not right, not good. Being declared a ‘legacy’ model APPLE will no longer service it. APPLE did acknowledge the hardware problem, and to their credit did do all the service at not cost for those past problems, but if not for this defective problem I’m sure it would have been going for at least a few more years and I’d be very happy still using this computer.
So now what to do? Buy a new 2018 MBP and hope for the best, keyboard issue solved?, random glitches, fine in many ways, but paying a premium and really just hoping for the best possible ‘luck,’ and I can use this computer for years to come. I’ve been seriously thinking of a 2015 MBP because I much prefer the keyboard, and its only ‘defect’ seems to be the lamination of the display. But even used at a price and for 3-year old tech has me wondering if that is smart. Another option is going iMAC when the new models come out. Maybe more dependable, and all around more for the money although not as portable - with a 21” I could still move it from one location to another as long as its not often. And of course the last option of going WINDOWS, which [as mentioned] I’d dread after so long with MAC OS and hardware.
I can say that APPLE repair service has been good. A visit to the APPLE Store and actually talking with someone is a plus. With iphones and multiple iPads, iPods its a system changing out of will be a challenge.
APPLE has changed a lot, and not all in the best way. The question is if I can keep going along, or if its time for a change myself?
And an addition after thought... I’d have to think hard, but from my experience I don’t remember APPLE/MACs having so many isssues soon after release. Problems showed up years later. What is going on?
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This is what's disconcerting to me.
I remember having issues with a ALU 15" powerbook but the 2018 model seems to have a slew of complaints. Let me say that I don't have any of these issues, but seeing many people deal with them is alarming.
1. coil whine.
2. speaker crackle
3. T2 Kernel panics.
4. Light leaking on the display
5. thermal throttling.
I am waiting on a replacement, I was having issues with the kernel panic, but it wasn't enough of a deal breaker for me, then I started having issues with the display where it would act like the old old CRTs where it appeared like it had to warm up before the screen would function appropriately. It was weird, but it kept getting worse so I opted for a replacement, if the replacement doesn't work flawlessly I will just return it and probably opt for a laptop that is highly portable and works well with linux and build a beastly desktop I can offload all my heavy work on to.
Just curious, when you had the screen issues, was it like a static screen on boot from sleep? If so I started a whole thread on this where a lot of people are having a similar issue, although with no kernel panics.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nitor-static-after-waking-from-sleep.2113498/
The screen issues I have been experiencing are clipping/green lines/flicker during video playback. Very annoying.
To update the OP issue. The Apple store has agreed to do my repair on site within a span of about 12 hours. They told me to expect a call before the end of the week to schedule my drop off. This did not occur. I've grown so accustomed to a low bar for customer service that I am not surprised. The manager said he does not think it's a software issue, but that if the logic board doesn't solve it we will know for sure. He said they don't just replace logic boards unless they have to, as it's expensive.
It's kind of interesting to compare, but my wife's Samsung Chromebook Plus recently lost touch screen functionality near the end of the 1 year warranty. I barely use the touchscreen, but to preserve possible resale value, I called and was e-mailed a shipping label that day. It was repaired and back to me within a week. It has otherwise been flawless. $300 "cheap" Chromebook with a QHD display has been wonderful and was repaired expeditiously when needed.
$1500 MacBok Pro has been an absolute debacle. I think it's the worst electronics item I have ever purchased.
Concerning enough to make me hold off, just becoming a lottery if you get a good one or a lemon.
Q-6
This is too funny!
I actually ordered a maxed out X1 (8650U/1TB/16GB/HDR Display) and expect it early next week. ($1800 out the door with 3yr +ADC warranty, Office and a $100 Southwest airline voucher all included)
Really wanted a maxed out 13" MBP, but it appears Apple is asleep at the wheel. Its seems they have striped down the OSX team so badly now that its now starting to bleed.
Anyways, we shall see how the X1 goes!
Windows 10 has matured to the point of being tolerable. If this was 2015 with Windows 8, it would have been a nonstarter idea in the first place.
Thinkpads also work very nice running other operating systems.
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So it seems, if I had not been so quick to order the 2018 model and instead waited a bit longer, the odds are rather high I would have not purchased it. As it stands, I was unaware of the T2 issue, coil whine and speaker crackling at the time of purchase. I think the latter issues are a minority and many of us don't have those problems but that doesn't marginalize those poor souls dealing with the problem.
I'm about a month in on my ownership and its been a solid laptop, I'm very happy that I chose this over the Razer. The Razer's short comings are resolved in this laptop and so it checks off all of my must haves and wants.
True, equally you are still running 3rd party solutions to reduce the operating temperature, which frankly the notebook should be capable of regulating without such intervention. Apple is selling premium products and that invariably brings higher expectations, excuses from Apple not required.
I'll let the dust settle, as right now as not in a hurry and Apple have burnt a lot of bridges...
Q-6
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This is too funny!
I actually ordered a maxed out X1 (8650U/1TB/16GB/HDR Display) and expect it early next week. ($1800 out the door with 3yr +ADC warranty, Office and a $100 Southwest airline voucher all included)
Really wanted a maxed out 13" MBP, but it appears Apple is asleep at the wheel. Its seems they have striped down the OSX team so badly now that its now starting to bleed.
Anyways, we shall see how the X1 goes!
Windows 10 has matured to the point of being tolerable. If this was 2015 with Windows 8, it would have been a nonstarter idea in the first place.
Thinkpads also work very nice running other operating systems.
That is a heck of a price ? Did you get that from Lenovo direct ? I was looking at the Costco version for $1499 but your deal is way better.
Lenovo is showing your deal for $2200, did you find some stackable coupons?
From my admittedly very short stint with the touchbar MacBook Pro I got the same impression - certainly well built machines, but not tanks like the unibody and retina generations were. Somehow felt more highly strung and like a knock or two that wouldn’t have phased previous machines could cause problems.
Yeah it used to be a relatively simple pay more for better machine, now it’s pay way more for an arguably better machine. You do get the feeling they are wringing every last penny out of you nowadays, with their attention always half on what it’ll do to their profits and share price over just getting on and making what they want and pricing it suitably to aggressively. The power cable being removed from the box, no more screen cleaning cloths, moving to USB C but not including an adapter for the most ubiquitous connector in the world (still, now) in the box - it’s nickel and diming.
That's my assessment, and all the reviews I've seen regarding the 2016, 2017 and 2018, they highlight the build quality.
Certainly no debate as far as fit and finish go - they even feel solid to hold, just, I don’t know, less robust somehow?
While the build quality is higher, I think they feel more delicate.
Apparently you have issues and judge others that look different than you, in 2018 that's odd to me.
What's the deal with the power cable being removed from the box? By that i mean what does that actually mean? Surely they include a cable for wall charging it, right?
Mac Pro 2013 here.. Almost 5 months, been through rounds and rounds of repair and replacements. Still not fixed yet.
You only get the duckhead for putting charger straight into socket. No extension cable.
I hear you. My 2010 MBP is still going strong - no issues in 8 years. I'm running High Sierra on mine as well.