Apple sold me a defective computer and I don't know what else to do

[MrAverigeUser]

If your notebook does not meet Apple`s criteria then there is little you can do. Apples about one thing $$$ and wants to minimise it`s loses, hence why they ignore their customers, albeit ever so politley until faced with court action. The dGPU saga with the MBP is just getting old, with so many versions of the MBP afflicted over the years. I find now that I am looking for a new portable with dGPU, equally the current 15" rMBP is not on the list, nor will the 2016 model if Apple continues to push consumer grade silicon to the extreme of it`s thermal limits.

Now with the Windows OEM`s catching up on "thin & light" with more powerful cooler running dGPU`s and Apple`s rather humorous pricing for what can be construed as a flawed design, spending $2.5K on the rMBP seems a little unwise, especially given the history. I also believe that Apple will drop the dGPU on their portables as soon as they possibly can, as it flies in the face of Apple`s design ethos.

Q-6

It seems that Dell´s XP15 series are a very good choice in every point. The new (old-fashioned) line of Thinkpads either.
Especially as the recent OSX-Version since 10.8.5 (and IOS versions also) are more and more "thinner" = full of bugs either...

 

[Count Blah]

If your logic board regularly fails every 4 month, then you have a much bigger issue than an allegedly defective GPU. You are either extremely unlucky or there is some serious problems with your usage pattern/electrical grid etc.

I'd buy a new machine next time this one breaks. 4+ years for a laptop is a decent age. More then 1/3 of laptops fail by then.

"allegedly defective GPU"?!?!?!?! Are you sure your name isn't really 'lemming'?

 

[robertparker]

It seems that Dell´s XP15 series are a very good choice in every point. The new (old-fashioned) line of Thinkpads either.
Especially as the recent OSX-Version since 10.8.5 (and IOS versions also) are more and more "thinner" = full of bugs either...

Does Apple really think it can get its customers to buy more Apple products when it sells them $25K lemons?

At some point, we need to draw the line in the sand.

If Apple refuses to fix out laptops, we will go elsewhere.

The Dell XPS 15 is looking pretty slick.

"allegedly defective GPU"?!?!?!?! Are you sure your name isn't really 'lemming'?

Apple probably just do the cheapest repair on the logic board, hoping that it can kick the can down the road until the repair program ends.

 

[Queen6]

Does Apple really think it can get its customers to buy more Apple products when it sells them $25K lemons?

At some point, we need to draw the line in the sand.

If Apple refuses to fix out laptops, we will go elsewhere.

The Dell XPS 15 is looking pretty slick.



Apple probably just do the cheapest repair on the logic board, hoping that it can kick the can down the road until the repair program ends.

I have looked at the new Dell XPS 15 in some detail and agree in principle it`s a very good portable, checking many if not all the boxes, however the XPS 15 is far from trouble free. Looking at some of the XPS 15 specific forums, once again a manufacturer is producing a premium product, with associated premium pricing that does not live up to it`s own expectations, let alone it`s customers...

From a buyers perspective it`s just a minefield, at least with Apple & Microsoft you can get some resolution from the physical store, up to and including refund in the short term. Personally I am extremely reluctant to make a significant tech purchase without this physical presence or a supportive reseller, as frankly it seems we the consumers are being literally barraged with so called premium products that are in fact flawed. Personally I have no issue paying the price points, equally I absolutely expect and demand that the manufacturer stands behind their product, nor via an expensive extended warranty scheme...

Dealing with online or phone customer service is little more than an exercise in frustration, which I would not be surprised is specifically designed to drive the customer into submission, with Apple being the notable exception. Personally I am now unwilling to deal with companies who solely rely on these methods for customer service or resellers that divert you to the same. Unfortunately 80% is now "good enough" or so it would seem.

Sadly this situation will not change until consumers vote with their $$$$, right now I rather feel our options are driven by "the best of a bad lot" not superlative performance & design...

Q-6

 

[robertparker]

I took my 2011 MacBook Pro 17 to another Apple Store.

As I was sitting at the Genius Bar, I saw two other people who also brought in their 2011 MacBook Pro 17.

One was a girl in her 20s. Her MacBook Pro clearly has a defective GPU. There were blue and red vertical lines and blur shaking image. The Apple Genius didn't even have to run the video test to confirm it's the video issue.

The other is a guy in his 40s. His MacBook Pro passes the Mac Resource Inspector and the Video Test, just as mine did. We both give the Apple Genius our MacBook Pro(s) so that Apple can run further diagnostics.

Afterward, we exchanged phone numbers.

Just seeing them there gave me solidarity.

What annoys me most is that the Apple Geniuses tried dissuade us from sharing our frustrations. "Each case is different and we evaluate each on a case by case basis".

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Yes - apple marketing and psychologic training - that´s where apple still is world leader.

 

[robertparker]

Apple Store just called back and said that my laptop passed all diagnostic tests and that it's a software issue.

Ya, I am sure Apple. You have never lied to me before. Ever.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Being unable to reproduce a not-always-reproducable failure does not mean that there is a software failure.
It means only, that they can´t prove the failure to be existent.

The "genius" is evidently unable to think in a logic way.

Your only chance is to take a video and/or photo of the screen when it happens - to make PROVE of the issue.
I was told that they accept this type of prove.

Hope you win your David vs. Goliath battle against apple finally.

 

[gngan]

Why didn't anyone (esp. in the US) sue Apple for this? They should replace all MBP with defective GPU to a new version without the issue. Apple's replacement program is just going in circle.

 

[Queen6]

Why didn't anyone (esp. in the US) sue Apple for this? They should replace all MBP with defective GPU to a new version without the issue. Apple's replacement program is just going in circle.

Apple is smart and interceded with the current warranty extension. Personally I believe the same, Apple should have been forced to replace all defective MBP`s with a new model, not rehash the same badly designed Logic Boards, which are bound to fail again. This then may make Apple think twice about their design philosophy, as frankly they are making a habit of it with the 15" MBP with dGPU...

Q-6

 

[EdwardSmith36]

When did you came to know about this? I think you return it and get a new pack. It's your right!

 

[Rockadile]

Apple Store just called back and said that my laptop passed all diagnostic tests and that it's a software issue.

Ya, I am sure Apple. You have never lied to me before. Ever.

Did your screen do the same thing like the girl in her 20s before going to the store?
I don't get how yours could pass the test if it was the GPU.

I've had mine fail twice around a year apart and it didn't pass the test both times so they replaced the logic board.

 

[duervo]

Back in late 2011 I bought a brand new Macbook Pro. In 2015 I started having the famous graphics card problem and fortunately the replacement program was already active, so I took it to the nearest repair center and they fixed it. And then did it again 4 more times during the year.

The last logic board lasted 1 month and I rarely even used it. I lost my patience and called Apple support to try and get another solution, because Apple clearly keeps replacing the logic boards with refurbished ones, so the problem will persist. I'm a video editor so I can't avoid using the graphics card heavily.

Anyway, the guy in the Apple support center here in Portugal was really helpful, but said that a final word would have to be given by the Engineering Department. I've waited 2 weeks for an answer and today they called me, saying that I'll have to keep replacing the logic board and won't replace the machine. Later I called Apple US and they said they couldn't override the decision of that department.

I'm stuck with a broken computer and desperate because I can't see where to go from here. I know the 5th logic board won't last long and this loop will keep going until Apple stops replacing them, leaving me with an even more useless computer.

Any ideas on what to do?
Some kind of help would be immensely appreciated.

System's over 4 years old at this point.

If you use it to make a living, then you might want to consider in the future to factor in system replacement every 3 years as part of the cost of the career into which you have entered, because you're not going to get warranty coverage for any longer than that from Apple, unless unforeseen circumstances such as what was found with this particular model grants people a one time warranty extension.

For a 5 year lifecycle, or even a 4 year lifecycle for warranty coverage, you'd be better off going with a different manufacturer. If it were me, and I had to rely on my system working for 3 to 5 years after purchase date in order to put food on the table (and if I needed a dGPU), I would not be choosing Apple as my supplier.

 

[gngan]

Apple is smart and interceded with the current warranty extension. Personally I believe the same, Apple should have been forced to replace all defective MBP`s with a new model, not rehash the same badly designed Logic Boards, which are bound to fail again. This then may make Apple think twice about their design philosophy, as frankly they are making a habit of it with the 15" MBP with dGPU...

Q-6

Just like how Steve Jobs says people are holding their iPhone 4 wrong. Their design is beautiful but they sometimes fail due to design flaw.

Warranty and replacement program has a time limit. People keep saying that Apple honour it by doing this however; electronics life is different to every person (some last longer and some don't). If my MBP can actually last 10 years but because of the design flaw..it would only last 6 years (1 year plus 5 years of replacement program). Unless Apple specifically says this when people buy their computer... I think Apple is at fault.