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I think your chances of really liking it are good enough for you to take the risk. And if you do, you will be really happy and most likely not go back to PCs.

I mean personally (although I admit I dont know much about computers), when i switched to :apple: i basically liked EVERYTHING more than PC. It was all cleaner, more straight forward, simple, efficient, and just overall nicer. :)
I have been very satisfied since then. And iam not a gamer so i have never really considered PCs possible advantage in that department.

If you do end up having any hardware problems (hey, it happens:(), apple warranties are usually pretty liberal. It is not unheard of for them to just replace a whole computer on the spot with an upgraded version just because of a few dead screen pixels. Of course they may be tight @$$#$ sometimes but that usually mens you just have to fight with them a bit or try another store. But if you are under warranty you can usually get any hardware problem fixed easily, and possibly w/ overcompensation.

...also you can always upgrade to applecare (3 yrs coverage) in due time after your purchase, so there is no immediate rush. (i think the limit for an upgrade is one year, but iam not sure about that)
 
1 dead pixel. Got it in june. I sort of hope that 5 more die before applecares up so I can get a new screen.....


dont get me wrong, its a tiny little defect but yeah, its there.

Are you sure it is dead and not stuck? I thought I had a dead pixel on my MacBook Pro from a couple years ago. I put up with it for months because it was a work machine that I didn't pay for anyway but it always bugged me. Then someone casually noticed and asked me if I had tried a conditioning image to remove the stuck pixel. Stuck pixel! I had no idea such a thing existed.

Apparently sometimes a pixel will stick in a certain state and can literally be jostled out of it by quick changes across certain color spectrum ranges. I'll be damned it worked fine, after a little while with the image on display, all pixels were fine.

So anyway, if you know for sure it's a dead pixel (Black on a white screen is a good indication) I apologize for wasting your time but if not, there's a number of options to try and fix it.
 
Seems like these Alu Books are built like tanks.

Just don't pick them up at the edges with the ethernet, FW connectors, etc - else there is a chance that the case will bend. Also don't spill liquid on the keyboard, or big chance of logic board failure. Apart from that they are tanks, yes.

Still undecided myself, looking that 13 and 15", but reading these forums it's obvious that Apple suffers from HW issues, like every other manufacturer (more than some, less than others). The two differences is that:

1. The customer service seems to be pretty good

2. People mistake customer service with reliability: after an aggravating wait as they repair a laptop time-after time, they end up coming away with a new machine and feel good about the experience whilst 'insert-name-of-non-Apple-manufacturer' users are still working on their 3-year old systems, perhaps not using their manufacturer's customer service at all.

Comes time to fill in the various reader surveys:
Apple user: well I had a problem here or there and replaced 2 dead machines, but hey they gave me a shiny new one: yes I'm very satisfied with Apple laptops (PS make sure you get AppleCare )

Non-Apple user: meh, my Dell, IBM, HP is still plodding along, I had a few problems with (ExpressCard, Gfx drivers, whatever), spoke to CS about buying a new battery, got put through to an Indian call-center. Satisfaction: medium.
 
Just don't pick them up at the edges with the ethernet, FW connectors, etc - else there is a chance that the case will bend. Also don't spill liquid on the keyboard, or big chance of logic board failure. Apart from that they are tanks, yes.

Still undecided myself, looking that 13 and 15", but reading these forums it's obvious that Apple suffers from HW issues, like every other manufacturer (more than some, less than others). The two differences is that:

1. The customer service seems to be pretty good

2. People mistake customer service with reliability: after an aggravating wait as they repair a laptop time-after time, they end up coming away with a new machine and feel good about the experience whilst 'insert-name-of-non-Apple-manufacturer' users are still working on their 3-year old systems, perhaps not using their manufacturer's customer service at all.

Comes time to fill in the various reader surveys:
Apple user: well I had a problem here or there and replaced 2 dead machines, but hey they gave me a shiny new one: yes I'm very satisfied with Apple laptops (PS make sure you get AppleCare )

Non-Apple user: meh, my Dell, IBM, HP is still plodding along, I had a few problems with (ExpressCard, Gfx drivers, whatever), spoke to CS about buying a new battery, got put through to an Indian call-center. Satisfaction: medium.
Exactly! I'm finding this common as well. Its good to see that many people are not having issues though. I'm happy that Apple's customer service is top notch but who wants to deal with customer service all the time?
 
I've had a 2.53Mhz 13 inch for a week now - it's perfect except that last night when it was dead quiet i noticed the fan making a fairly noticeable whooshing even though I wasn't doing anything much. Could the fan in mine be noisier than average? I guess it's an easy job to change it.
 
I know that people complain about products but when you keep hearing about the same problem from different people it kind makes you second guess. I'm not letting anyone cloud my judgment. I'm a typical broke college kid and $1300 is a lot of money to me. I just want to make the best and most informed choice.

A bit off topic... Get a refurb 13" MBP and spend the $200 you save on AppleCare.

My early '06 MB refurb (purchased in '06) has been going strong for over three years, but I'll be getting rid of it in February anyway (keep the cycle going).

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=MTE3NjY

It looks like they are out of the 13" MBP, but check every day. They had some all last week.
 
I have only had my MBP for a week, but so far so good. The thing is solid and is perfectly put together. The screen is brilliant and the fans are behaving so far. If this is in fact how using this computer will be like, I think it is the best machine I have ever used given its portability and price point.
 
I don't have the 13" but would like to answer this thread. The first bad boy I got did have a faulty fan. The second was fine.
 
The first 13" MBP I received had a bad screen (lines of flashing pixels), but it's replacement has been perfect. Added 4GB of ram and 7200RPM 320GB hard drive and it's fantastically fast. Hoping to add a SSD when the prices drop.
 
I know that people complain about products but when you keep hearing about the same problem from different people it kind makes you second guess. I'm not letting anyone cloud my judgment. I'm a typical broke college kid and $1300 is a lot of money to me. I just want to make the best and most informed choice.

Oh, I actually forgot to add my input about my own MBP. I have the 13" 2.53 with SSD. No issues whatsoever. Perfect screen, smooth, but firm hinges, excellent keyboard and very quiet. Still buying the Applecare as it's a consumer product and components can still die.

One note for you my man, please be sensitive to others on this forum in terms of money. The "broke college student" doesn't fare too well for me. A "broke" college student doesn't necessarily need a MBP, a low cost PC would suffice for most to get through school. A MBP is not a requirement for college. I am a working class guy that has financial responsibilities and buying my Macbook Pro was a stretch out of my pocket as well so it's just as important for me to make sure my money is well spent. :p
 
Oh, I actually forgot to add my input about my own MBP. I have the 13" 2.53 with SSD. No issues whatsoever. Perfect screen, smooth, but firm hinges, excellent keyboard and very quiet. Still buying the Applecare as it's a consumer product and components can still die.

One note for you my man, please be sensitive to others on this forum in terms of money. The "broke college student" doesn't fare too well for me. A "broke" college student doesn't necessarily need a MBP, a low cost PC would suffice for most to get through school. A MBP is not a requirement for college. I am a working class guy that has financial responsibilities and buying my Macbook Pro was a stretch out of my pocket as well so it's just as important for me to make sure my money is well spent. :p
I'm glad that your SSD is running fine. But, I wasn't trying to offend anyone by saying that I was broke. :p I never said that I needed a MBP. It's something that I want and I've saved up to get. I wasn't trying to belittle your financial responsibilities at all.
 
13 in MBP

Had mine since they came out and not one single problem. In Barcelona right now returning from a med cruise. Worked great on the ship and in all hotels. In fact it works so good I am afraid to install SL. I have it but really can't see why since this is my traveling computer.
 
Satisfaction level

Is anyone out there completely satisfied with their 13" MBP?

I can't speak to the SSD issue - I opted for a 7200 RPM 320 GB Hitachi HD - but since my purchase in June '09 I haven't experienced a single issue with my MBP 2.26. Most loved features are: great screen, keyboard, trackpad, build quality, plenty of power, and a good price. So far so good - pretty much 100% satisfied...BUT...I'm still evaluating the battery life. I'm at 94% of my original capacity after ~4 months, not bad I guess, but we'll see.
 
I think your chances of really liking it are good enough for you to take the risk. And if you do, you will be really happy and most likely not go back to PCs.

I mean personally (although I admit I dont know much about computers), when i switched to :apple: i basically liked EVERYTHING more than PC. It was all cleaner, more straight forward, simple, efficient, and just overall nicer. :)
I have been very satisfied since then. And iam not a gamer so i have never really considered PCs possible advantage in that department.

If you do end up having any hardware problems (hey, it happens:(), apple warranties are usually pretty liberal. It is not unheard of for them to just replace a whole computer on the spot with an upgraded version just because of a few dead screen pixels. Of course they may be tight @$$#$ sometimes but that usually mens you just have to fight with them a bit or try another store. But if you are under warranty you can usually get any hardware problem fixed easily, and possibly w/ overcompensation.

...also you can always upgrade to applecare (3 yrs coverage) in due time after your purchase, so there is no immediate rush. (i think the limit for an upgrade is one year, but iam not sure about that)

Lol I've never had that experience because I have never owned a PC. I brought my first Mac 15 years ago :D
 
My first mac. It's not perfect. I'm very annoyed.
Audio/microphone that doesn't work in windows. Clickey keyboard, screen redraw issues, random freezing, supersensitive hard drive parking mechanism.
Hell, I want to get rid of mine!

Just a little tip, I don't know what Windows your using or if your using it via virtual machine or BootCamp, but I had the same issue of "no audio/microphone" response, I installed the RealTek audio drivers and it works perfectly now. Hope it helps.
 
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