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I got 99 problems...

C

css136

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2008
51
0
I bought a MacBook Pro last March. 10 months later and it's had SO many problems, I can't believe it. Probably the most unreliable laptop I've ever bought (but I still love it for Mac OS X).

Here's the complete list:
1) DVD drive skipped on brand new movies - had this replaced at the Apple Store
2) The power cord has unraveled at both ends to the point where the conductive metal is exposed
3) My battery has completely stopped working. If I leave my laptop unplugged, it will die without warning at 90% battery life.
4) my screen has black vertical lines on it now (uneven backlit display? I have no idea at this point)
5) The metal case shocks you if you put your wrist on it. And if you are touching the metal case and then you touch somebody else on the skin, it feels very rough (like electrical current is passing from the computer to your hand - very weird)
6) I won't even mention the wireless signal! for some reason, my girlfriend's 4 year old $700 Dell laptop picks up better signals than my $2000+ brand new MacBook Pro.
7) It basically runs way too hot

So anyway, the only problem I've had fixed is the DVD. The people at the Apple Store were really nice about it. The others have happened since I've been living in Europe, so without an Apple Care store, my options have been limited. Well it appears that I'll be making a trip to the USA very soon, so I'm wondering... what is the best thing for me to do about this? I only have the Apple Warranty and I'm just wondering what options I have to get my laptop fixed. It seems like there is an underlying problem (possibly that it runs too hot?) that is the root cause for all of these other problems. Is there a way for me to just get the entire thing replaced? Otherwise, I guess I will just take it to an Apple Store and explain EVERYTHING that is wrong with it?

Any advice and/or suggestions? Thanks everybody.

I don't mean to complain about Apple (I actually love my laptop to death) but the hardware reliability on this thing is a joke. I'm sorry if it came across the wrong way.
 
take your complaints to the apple store and hope they will exchange your computer or give you a new one
 
css136 said:
5) The metal case shocks you if you put your wrist on it. And if you are touching the metal case and then you touch somebody else on the skin, it feels very rough (like electrical current is passing from the computer to your hand - very weird)
Click to expand...

Did you purchase it in the U.S.? This is a known problem when going from 120v to 240v.
 
css136 said:
I bought a MacBook Pro last March. 10 months later and it's had SO many problems, I can't believe it. Probably the most unreliable laptop I've ever bought (but I still love it for Mac OS X).

Here's the complete list:
1) DVD drive skipped on brand new movies - had this replaced at the Apple Store
2) The power cord has unraveled at both ends to the point where the conductive metal is exposed
3) My battery has completely stopped working. If I leave my laptop unplugged, it will die without warning at 90% battery life.
4) my screen has black vertical lines on it now (uneven backlit display? I have no idea at this point)
5) The metal case shocks you if you put your wrist on it. And if you are touching the metal case and then you touch somebody else on the skin, it feels very rough (like electrical current is passing from the computer to your hand - very weird)
6) I won't even mention the wireless signal! for some reason, my girlfriend's 4 year old $700 Dell laptop picks up better signals than my $2000+ brand new MacBook Pro.
7) It basically runs way too hot

So anyway, the only problem I've had fixed is the DVD. The people at the Apple Store were really nice about it. The others have happened since I've been living in Europe, so without an Apple Care store, my options have been limited. Well it appears that I'll be making a trip to the USA very soon, so I'm wondering... what is the best thing for me to do about this? I only have the Apple Warranty and I'm just wondering what options I have to get my laptop fixed. It seems like there is an underlying problem (possibly that it runs too hot?) that is the root cause for all of these other problems. Is there a way for me to just get the entire thing replaced? Otherwise, I guess I will just take it to an Apple Store and explain EVERYTHING that is wrong with it?

Any advice and/or suggestions? Thanks everybody.

I don't mean to complain about Apple (I actually love my laptop to death) but the hardware reliability on this thing is a joke. I'm sorry if it came across the wrong way.
Click to expand...


But a bitch 'aint one?


Anyway, I don't see why you can't take it to an Apple store in Europe? Or send it to Apple Care.
 
I actually only count seven problems. BTW, did you contact Apple about your issues before posting your rant? I'm just thinking that it would be best to give them a chance to resolve your problems before going off. Or at least post a title that was appropriate:rolleyes:
 
Nope, haven't talked to Apple about this yet. I know they have great customer service (not trying to say anything about them) so I'm not anticipating any troubles on that end. I was just making sure that taking the computer to a Genius Bar is the best option. Since I'll only be there 3 days, I don't want to get there and then realize that I should have tried something else beforehand.

Also, I know they won't be able to fix it in 3 days so I was hoping they could figure out a way to ship it back to me in Europe (or at least ship it to my parents in the states).

Thanks for the comments, folks. I didn't know about the voltage thing (my adapter says 220 V is fine). Also, if you're questioning the title of my thread (uh-oh!) -it was the most appropriate title I could think of and I'm sticking to it. ;)
 
css136 said:
Thanks for the comments, folks. I didn't know about the voltage thing (my adapter says 220 V is fine). Also, if you're questioning the title of my thread (uh-oh!) -it was the most appropriate title I could think of and I'm sticking to it. ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it will work fine–charging and all–but you get that vibrationy feeling when you're plugged in across the Pond. I don't know why, but I don't think that there is anything to do about it.
 
Yah, static shock feeling is a common problem, its also common that the wifi sucks b/c of the aluminum case, and yes its gonna be hot. Good ol heat transfer for effective cooling.
 
css136 said:
6) I won't even mention the wireless signal! for some reason, my girlfriend's 4 year old $700 Dell laptop picks up better signals than my $2000+ brand new MacBook Pro.
Click to expand...

DOes your network name has accents in it? If yes then your Macbook is connecting itself to another Wifi spot. Mine did it.
 
You would think they had an Apple Store in Paris, right? I heard there's plans to build one in the Carrousel du Louvre (or also the Champs Elysees) but as of now, there's nowhere to take my laptop in Paris! Crazy, huh?

I've heard there's an Apple Store in London though...
 
Tallest Skil said:
Did you purchase it in the U.S.? This is a known problem when going from 120v to 240v.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but this is wrong. The power adapter converts the input power from 110-240V to the required voltage for the laptop. No matter what your power voltage is, the voltage and current delivered to the laptop is the same, whether you are in the US, UK or anywhere else for that matter.

My first-gen MBP had that weird 'tingling' sensation if you lightly touched it when it was connected to the power adapter. I'm not sure what causes it, but it has nothing to do with your local power voltage and any conversion for that matter.
 
css136 said:
You would think they had an Apple Store in Paris, right? I heard there's plans to build one in the Carrousel du Louvre (or also the Champs Elysees) but as of now, there's nowhere to take my laptop in Paris! Crazy, huh?

I've heard there's an Apple Store in London though...
Click to expand...

There's a raft of Apple Stores in the UK. London has three (Regent Street, Kingston, Brent Cross), and then there's others around the country (Birmingham, Solihull, Manchester, Exeter, Milton Keynes....etc etc.). Apple's website has the full list.
 
I got 99 problems but my Macbook ain't one!

No but seriously, bummer dude. Where in Europe do you live? I'm from the Netherlands and used to live there for a while. I go back to visit every summer and one thing I noticed in Amsterdam was how many Mac resellers there were, and they have one Apple store. They're opening another one that's going to be 3 floors and 11,000 square feet.

So what I'm saying is, if you live anywhere near a large European city of international significance, there's bound to be an Apple store nearby. Just drive for a bit, I guess.

I see you've got an American spec one, does that make any differences with the 110/220 V stuff? Did you do any switching before you moved?
 
peskaa said:
There's a raft of Apple Stores in the UK. London has three (Regent Street, Kingston, Brent Cross), and then there's others around the country (Birmingham, Solihull, Manchester, Exeter, Milton Keynes....etc etc.). Apple's website has the full list.
Click to expand...
don't forget the new one in white city!
 
Tallest Skil said:
Well, then why did mine only tingle when I was in Ireland? :confused:
Click to expand...

Great logic ;) As I said, I don't know why exactly it tingles, but I do know that many other people (including a good few from the USA) have mentioned this issue, and given that the power adapter delivers the same power to the laptops regardless of input voltage, it has to be something else.

Besides, the power adapter doesn't covert 110V to 240V anyway, it looks at the input voltage, determines whether it is 110V or 240V and converts that down to the required output voltage for the MacBook.
 
I read about the case shocking in another thread a few days ago. Apple UK has acknowledged that this is "normal". It doesn't seem normal to me that a laptop should be electrocuting its user, but it's probably completely harmless.
 
css136 said:
I6) I won't even mention the wireless signal! for some reason, my girlfriend's 4 year old $700 Dell laptop picks up better signals than my $2000+ brand new MacBook Pro.
Click to expand...

Well, my girlfriend bought her MBP in june of 08 and I can't tell you how many hours we spend looking and trying EVERYTHING to fix the drop in our wireless signal.

But since last week, its now working great. We found this method on this forum somewhere.

1. Turn your router off
2. Open Network inside System Preferences
3. Click on Airport, then 'Advanced' and delete all the Preferred Networks
using the "-" button.
4. Turn Airport Off in Menu Bar.
5. Open Keychain (Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access)
6. Find and delete all remembered passwords for your wireless network.
7. Trash com.apple.airport.preferences.plist & com.apple.network.identification.plist in Macintosh
HD/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
8. Restart Mac
9. Switch router on.

In addition of doing all that, we deplugged our router, pressed reset and move it on the top of the shelf where previously it was on the lower end of it.

Since one day, everywhere in our appartement, we get GREAT reception and no drop in our connection.

Hope it helps!
 
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