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do all apple computers have issues?

Here's my Apple purchase history over the last couple of years (I run my own business, hence the largish number!):
iMac Ruby
iMac "lampstand"
eMac
PowerBook 12"
PowerMac
2 x MacBook Pro 15"
2 x MacBook 13"
2 x Mac Mini
Mac Pro
Macbook Air
3 x iPhone
iPod touch
3 x iPod shuffle
iPod 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th gen
2 x iPod Classic
3 x iPod Nano (1st, 2nd and 3rd gen)
Apple TV
5 x airport express
3 x Airport Extreme (1 old, 2 new)

I've never had a single problem with any of them, which is much more than can be said for other electronic items:
In the same timescales, I've had 3 PC laptops (1 IBM, 1 Dell and 1 Toshiba) and they've all failed with various problems (2 keyboards, 1 motherboard). I've also had 2 failed N800s, a failed DVD recorder and 3 failed phones

Based on my personal experience, I find Apple to be by far the most reliable manufacturer!
 
Phil A. said:
Here's my Apple purchase history over the last couple of years (I run my own business, hence the largish number!):
iMac Ruby
iMac "lampstand"
eMac
PowerBook 12"
PowerMac
2 x MacBook Pro 15"
2 x MacBook 13"
2 x Mac Mini
Mac Pro
Macbook Air
3 x iPhone
iPod touch
3 x iPod shuffle
iPod 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th gen
2 x iPod Classic
3 x iPod Nano (1st, 2nd and 3rd gen)
Apple TV
5 x airport express
3 x Airport Extreme (1 old, 2 new)

I've never had a single problem with any of them, which is much more than can be said for other electronic items:
In the same timescales, I've had 3 PC laptops (1 IBM, 1 Dell and 1 Toshiba) and they've all failed with various problems (2 keyboards, 1 motherboard). I've also had 2 failed N800s, a failed DVD recorder and 3 failed phones

Based on my personal experience, I find Apple to be by far the most reliable manufacturer!
Click to expand...

There can be only one man who runs his own's business and has used so much Apple stuff....

The hell with your nickname: YOU MUST BE THE STEVE HIMSELF!
 
Everyone is talking about problems with their Macs, but if Apple has so many problems bringing out a machine that is so called "issue free" then why isn't there a computer company that is doing better than them? I mean is the grass greener somewhere else?

Personally everything is going to have problems, nothing works perfect, and with the unlimited differences from one user to another anything is possible to go wrong.
 
amanda8501 said:
Everyone is talking about problems with their Macs, but if Apple has so many problems bringing out a machine that is so called "issue free" then why isn't there a computer company that is doing better than them? I mean is the grass greener somewhere else?
Click to expand...

Once again, someone is trying to use the McDonald's-argument:

Food from McDonald's must taste well and be very nutritional, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

Coca-Cola has to be the best product, both in taste and with regards to quenching your thirst, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

Microsoft has the best software products of anyone, otherwise they wouldn't be the market leaders.

Ikea is making great quality products, otherwise they wouldn't sell as much.

Walmart stands for quality, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

You want me to continue?

Personally everything is going to have problems, nothing works perfect, and with the unlimited differences from one user to another anything is possible to go wrong.
Click to expand...

We're talking rates here. By your argument, a company could ship faulty products to every other person, and it would be fine, because "all products have problems".

And just for fun apparently, you make what I call "a Microsoft" (i.e. a big corporation-excuse): It must be the user that are at fault. I think you need to research what problems Apple's hardware has had, before you try to blame the users for the problems.
 
Tosser said:
And just for fun apparently, you make what I call "a Microsoft" (i.e. a big corporation-excuse): It must be the user that are at fault. I think you need to research what problems Apple's hardware has had, before you try to blame the users for the problems.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the reason i'm switch to an Apple, I was working so long with all the shiitty stuff for windows/microsoft, I actually believed it was my fault when something didn't worked as it should. Then I saw a fellow-student on a MacBook, and after some time, I decided I just would accept the shiitty stuff anymore and finally could blame it on microsoft.

I'm so done with windows...
 
MYRZ said:
That is exactly the reason i'm switch to an Apple, I was working so long with all the shiitty stuff for windows/microsoft, I actually believed it was my fault when something didn't worked as it should. Then I saw a fellow-student on a MacBook, and after some time, I decided I just would accept the shiitty stuff anymore and finally could blame it on microsoft.

I'm so done with windows...
Click to expand...

haha, yes, and that's the exact same reason I switched to macs many years ago (12? can't remember, but thereabouts [edit: I just counted, it's 16 years ago. Man, getting oldere here]).

Don't be fooled, though. Apple might be considered small when compared solely on the OS-penetration in relation to Windows, but Apple is one of the biggest computer manufacturers out there. Apple is a huge corporation with 18 billion dollars in the bank (litterally – a cash reserve).

They're not the "little guy" anymore – especially with the iPod cash cow and the resulting lowest denominator consumer focus. And they surely don't act like it any more either – except, of course, when it comes to marketing and on forums like these where people still think that Apple is out there to give their customers the best possible. For them I have but these three words: "Disk mode" and "crippling".
 
My Apple experience:

3-year old PB G4. Two logic boards + Power adapter. All promptly fixed under warranty.

2-year old iMac 2.1 G5 20''. Superdrive broken. Was offered to be fixed, but I do not really need optical drive so I declined.

2-year old iPod Mini - flawless (I finally broke it by dropping it on a hard floor, but this is 100% my fault).

1-year old iPod Nano 2nd gen 4Gb - crashes and freezes after synching. This is a known problem - I am too lazy to get it fixed. I suspect that it can not be fixed since it is a software problem.

1-week old iPod Nano 3rd Gen 8gb - flawless (so far).

co-worker's 2-year old iMac 2.1 G5 20'' - flawless

co-worker's 2.5-year old PB G4 Al 15'' - spent more time being repaired than being used. A lemon.

2-year old Airport Express - flawless.

Yes, Apple hardware has problems but their service is good, so I am not hesitant to buy their stuff. However, if you are planning an expedition to Mars where Applecare can not reach, I would advise against buying Apple laptops - Thinkpads would be the laptops of choice.
 
nsbio said:
Yes, Apple hardware has problems but their service is good, so I am not hesitant to buy their stuff. However, if you are planning an expedition to Mars where Applecare can not reach, I would advise against buying Apple laptops - Thinkpads would be the laptops of choice.
Click to expand...

I guess that would make dealing with Apple Europe like a trip to Mars.
 
MYRZ said:
Ooh? is Apple Europe's service no good? I'm really interested in this, as a soon-to-be MacSwitcher and European...
Click to expand...

Apple Europe customer's service sucks. All those surveys about apple coming out in the top: They're american.

Whenever you have a problem with a Mac, you have to call Ireland. And if you get lucky, you'll get hold of someone knowledgeable – and you better improve your english, if you're not a native speaker, because otherwise, they will claim it is your fault the computer isn't working.

When that is done, if lucky, they'll send you a box to ship the faulty hardware within a fortnight, and when (if) it arrives, you will notice that it will be shipped to Holland (it's a European hub). First when they get it down there, will they even consider shipping a new one (Usually takes another week before it's actually shipping from Asia).

If it's "just" a repair (i.e. a known defect, such as switching the logic board or even getting a new battery, if not under the battery replacement programme), it will be shipped to a service center in your country, the part to be exchanged will first be ordered when they have your computer. Which – on the surface - sounds well enough, until you discover, that they already know what was wrong with it, and that they won't even check the computer before exchanging the part.

If the problem persists, and you notice it when you pick it up (they do deliver, but who wants to wait even more?), they can't do anything. You have to get back on the phone, calliing Apple, and making them open yet another ticket, and convince them, that something is _still_ wrong with your computer.

(there are many more ways they make it hard for you, but for now, that will have to suffice).

Yup, Apple Europe sucks.


Also, what's funny (or not), is that the OP didn't actually receive that "excellent service" NSbios claim Apple provides. And he's apparently living in the US.

Edit:
Albeit anecdotal, here's a few links:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2007/08/is_apples_custo.html (this is about an american survey).

A second install of the above (still about the US, which is still not as bad as the european):

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2007/10/so_how_will_app.html

other anecdotal "stuff":


http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/1036/

http://classic.spymac.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=63763

http://www.planetfeedback.com/apple+computer+inc/customer+service/apple+customer+support/151710

http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2007/02/19/apple-customer-service-experiences-wikinomics/
 
All computers have problems, not just Macs. I've had many problems with every PC I've ever owned. It sounds to me like you just got bad luck and it put a bad taste in your mouth. It is very unfortunate this happened to you but I'm sure that when you get your new machine it will work flawlessly and hopefully restore your faith in switching to :apple:.
 
Yeah, I agree when it comes to customer service. It is more convenient to be located in the U.S. If you are somewhere else, well.. it is not as pleasant. For example, it always sucks to have your computer being sent away to another country for repair, waiting weeks for it to be fixed.
 
My G5 has been a disappointment under Leopard. But the MBP has been fine (wish the battery lated longer, though).
 
To the OP...

My MBP (still running Tiger) has been flawless. My Mini (running Leopard) is running off our HDTV and has been flawless as well (doesn't really count as I've only had it a month).
 
Tosser said:
Once again, someone is trying to use the McDonald's-argument:

Food from McDonald's must taste well and be very nutritional, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

Coca-Cola has to be the best product, both in taste and with regards to quenching your thirst, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

Microsoft has the best software products of anyone, otherwise they wouldn't be the market leaders.

Ikea is making great quality products, otherwise they wouldn't sell as much.

Walmart stands for quality, otherwise they wouldn't do so well.

You want me to continue?
Click to expand...

I think you are stretching my point, which was that everything has its faults. Even though you attacked me you didn't asker the main question, is there a company that is doing what Apple does but better?
 
The only problem I have is a small dash like bubble on the very bottom of my screen about 2mm up from the bottom left corner. Its not exactly a problem, but it does disturb me as i tend to look at it.
 
I have owned several Apple systems over the years, starting with a Mac IIci with nary a problem.
 
All of my computers have issues of one sort or another, but my Mac's have been particularly good in comparison:

- Mac IIci (bought used), absolutely rock solid
- Quadra 800 - minor software issues related to '040, but no hw problems
- PMac 8100 - minor software issues related to PPC conversion
- PMac 9500 - memory failures, some PCI issues, otherwise fine
- PowerBook 540C - great laptop, no issues, worked for years
- Powerbook G4 - died of old age after 6 years, some OSX issues
- Macbook Pro SR - no issues so far, almost a year old

Nothing near as bad as the issues I've had with Dell and Windows (especially with 3rd party drivers).
 
amanda8501 said:
I think you are stretching my point, which was that everything has its faults. Even though you attacked me you didn't asker the main question, is there a company that is doing what Apple does but better?
Click to expand...

I'm not stretching your point at all. Your argument is that Apple cannot have a problem with the quality, otherwise they wouldn't be "doing so well" (i.e. selling as much as they do). Hence you parallel sales figures to quality. And that, Amanda, is the McDonald's argument.
 
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