Just thought id add that my macbook works fine...does everything its supposed to, and more. and it ROCKS! 
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Considering a MacBook? BE WARNED
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Fujitsu produce internal hard drives for some of the MacBooks. I don't suppose he knows anyone who could make the call to Apple and lean on the appropriate person?
Seriously though, the Core Duo MacBooks sucked badly. The Core 2's are mostly great they're not all perfect, but I think it's certainly true that the adage once a lemon, always a lemon certainly holds here. In my experience, though three is the internal magic number, things depend very much on the circumstances of the repairs. I think you've just gotten very unlucky with who answered the phone. The two logic board replacements, screen and superdrive alone are grounds enough for a replacement in my mind, considering the component costs for those make up a good part of the total value of the raw cost of the unit.
I would certainly recommend pursuing this through the channels mentioned here (small claims, etc). Being patient enough to put up with so many repairs is one thing, but for them to brush off a completely reasonable request for a decent resolution to this is a bit ridiculous. If you don't mind me asking, where have you been getting these repairs carried out? At one of the UK Apple Stores?
To the OP:
Your best chance actually might be an email to sjobs@apple.com. Instead of threatening legal action, just go over the heads of the people you're talking to if they're being unreasonable. Most who go that route and have any sort of reasonable complaint end up with a replacement computer very quickly, sometimes with some extras but certainly with star treatment. Sounds like you did get someone very unreasonable, and that you need to pass that along to someone who really knows what they're doing.
To all of those blasting the MacBooks, though, the failure rates on the MacBooks are far better than iBooks were from my experience as a tech, and Apple's Quality Control is still the best in the industry. Those are really very poorly educated claims, based solely on poor personal experiences and not on any sort of traceable data. Apple's QC hasn't suffered lately, there's simply more of them and those who get bad ones are always vocal (I think the problems is worsened by the number of switchers with unrealistic expectations).
jW
Your best chance actually might be an email to sjobs@apple.com. Instead of threatening legal action, just go over the heads of the people you're talking to if they're being unreasonable. Most who go that route and have any sort of reasonable complaint end up with a replacement computer very quickly, sometimes with some extras but certainly with star treatment. Sounds like you did get someone very unreasonable, and that you need to pass that along to someone who really knows what they're doing.
To all of those blasting the MacBooks, though, the failure rates on the MacBooks are far better than iBooks were from my experience as a tech, and Apple's Quality Control is still the best in the industry. Those are really very poorly educated claims, based solely on poor personal experiences and not on any sort of traceable data. Apple's QC hasn't suffered lately, there's simply more of them and those who get bad ones are always vocal (I think the problems is worsened by the number of switchers with unrealistic expectations).
jW
I have a CD macbook too, which I bought a week after it was released.
I had :
-bad optical drive
-logic board replacement
-power cord broke
-yellowing of palm rests...can't believe no you didnt have that!
-battery failed and showed the x
-hard drive replaced
it sucked pretty bad...but its still alive and no problems since!
I had :
-bad optical drive
-logic board replacement
-power cord broke
-yellowing of palm rests...can't believe no you didnt have that!
-battery failed and showed the x
-hard drive replaced
it sucked pretty bad...but its still alive and no problems since!
Read the entire thread. They already sent an email to that address, and are dealing with a very high level employee. It's really rather surprising how this has been handled, and I think at this point they are absolutely correct in turning to legal means when their repeated attempts at reasonable resolution failed.
I don't know - something smells here. Yes, they've had a lot of problems, and Apple refuses to replace it, but we haven't been told Apple's reason for the refusal. Maybe they dropped it in the toilet at some point. Most people end up getting a favorable resolution if they have a legitimate bitch. Or maybe It's just my normal skeptisism rearing its ugly head . . .
If we had caused accidental damage, or water logged it, then why would they continue to repair it? Apple would love to find some accidental cause so they could use that against us... But they have not and will not!
This is a totally legitimate case and you have no reason to doubt it.
The Rev. A Core Duo MacBook is a pile of junk.
i will heed this warning if I ever get the continuum transfunctioner working and end up back in time around 2 and a bit years ago. thanks for the update.
This might be true, but to classify ALL Macbooks in the same catagory is not a fair statement. You got a bad one, it happens with everything. I would keep pushing Apple for a replacement.
We had a white macbook from the original release it did have a lot of problems although mostly minor:
ir - didn't work from new
case discolored
battery scratched in repair *
keyboard failed x2 *
trackpad failed x2 *
front lip cracked x2 *
bottom case cracked - clearly from pressure within
noisy fan
All of these were repaired relatively quickly (the ones with * whilst we waited). I was pretty dissapointed as it was my 1st macbook and I had expected perfection!
however I have now had about 6 months use with no problems at all.
My back core 2 duo has however had no problems at all.
ir - didn't work from new
case discolored
battery scratched in repair *
keyboard failed x2 *
trackpad failed x2 *
front lip cracked x2 *
bottom case cracked - clearly from pressure within
noisy fan
All of these were repaired relatively quickly (the ones with * whilst we waited). I was pretty dissapointed as it was my 1st macbook and I had expected perfection!
however I have now had about 6 months use with no problems at all.
My back core 2 duo has however had no problems at all.
What about the iBook G4s which had "non-Industry standard" parts (PowerPC architecture)?
I have one of the Core Duo 1.83 Macbooks, its been a great computer, got it at the end of the life cycle though. Only probs I've ever had was a small crack on the bottom front and the shinny areas from rubbing, hardly anything I can't live with. I would have no problems getting a new one and plan on it. I am sorry you had such a hard time with yours though that sucks! Hope you get it fixed.
Sorry, missed that little note at the end of the post. I'm surprised there wasn't a better response from that.
jW