Is anyone else concerned that if Touch Bar breaks it's going to cost a lot to fix?

[Hieveryone]

I owned a ntMBP for a little bit not only because I use function keys ALL the time, but also because I concluded that I probably wouldn't use the TB much, and it would just be a fancy feature at risk of breaking and costing me a pretty penny to fix.

Thoughts?

 

[sunapple]

Touch Bar not as much as the TouchID on/off button. If that thing breaks I believe they will replace the logic board. Just wait and see that thing break everywhere in three years.

 

[leman]

No, I am not concerned. That is what warranty is for.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

Well now I'm concerned. I hadn't thought about it before. I do plan to buy the extended warranty sometime in the next year, but that only gets me another two years.

 

[Fishrrman]

Touchbar or not -- they ALL "cost a lot to fix" …

 

[SteveJUAE]

I owned a ntMBP for a little bit not only because I use function keys ALL the time, but also because I concluded that I probably wouldn't use the TB much, and it would just be a fancy feature at risk of breaking and costing me a pretty penny to fix.

Thoughts?

Yes, the new MBP is both the most expensive to buy and repair and AC is almost mandatory IMO.

Before you could balance the risks with a possible repair of $2-400 over 3 years now the risk is more like $4-900

 

[jerryk]

Weren't you planning on just keeping your 2016 as a media consumption device? If so, the touchbar will be a boon for you, since it lets you rapidly move back and forth in media.

 

[thesaint024]

I don't know why anyone would have particular concern about the TB breaking. It's an low res screen with no moving parts and no special cutting edge technology in itself. Like previously mentioned, the power button is more likely to fail, as is the keyboard and trackpad. I do not see this as a likely point of failure. No comment on the TB's usefulness, just it's durability.

 

[Hieveryone]

Weren't you planning on just keeping your 2016 as a media consumption device? If so, the touchbar will be a boon for you, since it lets you rapidly move back and forth in media.

Wait a minute, how is it useful for YouTube videos?

I'm using Firefox btw.
[doublepost=1489871285][/doublepost]

I don't know why anyone would have particular concern about the TB breaking. It's an low res screen with no moving parts and no special cutting edge technology in itself. Like previously mentioned, the power button is more likely to fail, as is the keyboard and trackpad. I do not see this as a likely point of failure. No comment on the TB's usefulness, just it's durability.

True but I mean before it was like Keyboard could break, track pad maybe, screen, etc.

Now it's like keyboard, trackpad, screen, TOUCH BAR, etc.

And the reason why touch bar is scary for breakage is bc I assume cost would be a lot.

I'm not saying it would break or cost a lot idk but it just SEEMS like an expensive repair.

 

[thesaint024]

True but I mean before it was like Keyboard could break, track pad maybe, screen, etc.

Now it's like keyboard, trackpad, screen, TOUCH BAR, etc.

And the reason why touch bar is scary for breakage is bc I assume cost would be a lot.

I'm not saying it would break or cost a lot idk but it just SEEMS like an expensive repair.

As someone else said, any repair is going to be expensive. Everything inside is closed, glued, soldered, etc. But the likelihood of regular function keys breaking seems much higher than the touchbar because of the mechanical parts. The touchbar is relatively low tech so it's not a likely risk. Anything can happen though so get AC if concerned.

 

[Hieveryone]

As someone else said, any repair is going to be expensive. Everything inside is closed, glued, soldered, etc. But the likelihood of regular function keys breaking seems much higher than the touchbar because of the mechanical parts. The touchbar is relatively low tech so it's not a likely risk. Anything can happen though so get AC if concerned.

You really think touch bar would more expensive than function keys? I'd imagine with all the fancy lights and how it changes to different things depending on the app it would be more complicated to fix. It seems high tech tbh

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you are that concerned about the high cost repair of a newer Mac, either self-insure, buy AC+, or don't get a Mac. It is that simple. No need to play the 'what if game.' Life is filled with constant 'what ifs.'

 

[Zenga13]

I've had the top case replaced of my macbook 13" TB because of waterdamage and was charged 532 euro. So, I received a new keyboard, touchbar and battery, since that is all included with the top case.

Not sure if they would replace only the touchbar since it is glued to the topcase too..

 

[Mefisto]

Not sure if they would replace only the touchbar since it is glued to the topcase too..

A friend of mine had one defective key on his machine, and as a result of that had his whole top case replaced at the repair shop.

So yeah, I would assume they do that with the touch bar, power button / Touch ID etc. as well.

 

[Hieveryone]

If you are that concerned about the high cost repair of a newer Mac, either self-insure, buy AC+, or don't get a Mac. It is that simple. No need to play the 'what if game.' Life is filled with constant 'what ifs.'

Yeah but AC is only 3 years total what if it breaks year 4??

 

[no1usethisname]

Yeah but AC is only 3 years total what if it breaks year 4??

do you mean the AC is for 3 extra years after the first year, or is it only 2 extra years, making it 3 in total?

 

[thesaint024]

You really think touch bar would more expensive than function keys? I'd imagine with all the fancy lights and how it changes to different things depending on the app it would be more complicated to fix. It seems high tech tbh

I said everything will be expensive, but the touchbar breaking in the first place is probably less likely than the other mechanical parts.

Yeah but AC is only 3 years total what if it breaks year 4??

In this day and age, any life you get out of a laptop over 3 years is bonus time. Not saying you shouldn't expect a computer to still work after 3 years, but factoring the obsolescence, wear and tear, resulting depreciation, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect to buy a replacement anytime after 3 years. This varies of course, so I hope no one jumps down my throat claiming they always use computers for 6 years. There's a good financial reason extended warranties don't go much past a certain point, the expectation of major repairs on older machines combined with the lower value makes it uneconomical. TLDR, you are worrying too much about this and going into what-if scenarios.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yeah but AC is only 3 years total what if it breaks year 4??

What if you walk outside and fall down breaking your leg? Should you stop walking outside because there is a risk you might fall down?

If you don't have the money to buy and or self-insure a new Mac, don't get one.

 

[3pp]

yeh what if it does break in year 4. what if it breaks in year 10.
it's an entire top case repair, £4-500. the end.

 

[Hieveryone]

What if you walk outside and fall down breaking your leg? Should you stop walking outside because there is a risk you might fall down?

If you don't have the money to buy and or self-insure a new Mac, don't get one.

It's not about the dough. Every student at a college library has a MacBook Pro...
[doublepost=1489879548][/doublepost]

I said everything will be expensive, but the touchbar breaking in the first place is probably less likely than the other mechanical parts.

In this day and age, any life you get out of a laptop over 3 years is bonus time. Not saying you shouldn't expect a computer to still work after 3 years, but factoring the obsolescence, wear and tear, resulting depreciation, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect to buy a replacement anytime after 3 years. This varies of course, so I hope no one jumps down my throat claiming they always use computers for 6 years. There's a good financial reason extended warranties don't go much past a certain point, the expectation of major repairs on older machines combined with the lower value makes it uneconomical. TLDR, you are worrying too much about this and going into what-if scenarios.

Yeah no need for hypotheticals true. I'm just saying if one doesn't use the touch bar it's a risk...that's unnecessary.
[doublepost=1489879624][/doublepost]

do you mean the AC is for 3 extra years after the first year, or is it only 2 extra years, making it 3 in total?

I'm not exactly sure but if I remember it's 3 total years. So like if you buy a MacBook Pro in 2010 with AC you're covered till 2013 but I'm not 100% sure maybe someone can confirm this?

 

[smirking]

As so many other people have already said, I'd be a lot more worried about other things breaking before the Touchbar did. It's just not something that's likely to go. I doubt the OP is consumed by the fear of his or her iPhone's screen just suddenly not turning on for no reason sometime after a couple of years. We know from experience that this just doesn't happen under ordinary circumstances.

But, let's say my Touchbar were to die exactly 3.5 years after I bought my MBP. If I'm not planning to buy a new MBP by that point, I doubt I'll want to spend the kind of money need to fix the Touchbar. I'd just buy an external keyboard to use with my MBP. In fact, that's mostly how I use my MBP now anyway.

I mostly use it in clamshell mode and even when I use it as regular laptop, I sometimes prefer to put the previous general Apple Bluetooth Keyboard on top of the low profile keyboard on the new MBP. I do like the new keyboard, but sometimes the old Apple Bluetooth is more comfortable for me. Problem solved.

If the Touchbar dies, your computer will still work. If the screen dies, you're screwed. I'd worry more about things that have no workaround should you not want to spend the money to fix it.

 

[lauramayer]

Yeah but AC is only 3 years total what if it breaks year 4??

You should sell your Apple devices after 2 or 3 years. You get a decent amount of money and you can buy a new device.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It's not about the dough. Every student at a college library has a MacBook Pro...
[doublepost=1489879548][/doublepost]

Yeah no need for hypotheticals true. I'm just saying if one doesn't use the touch bar it's a risk...that's unnecessary.
[doublepost=1489879624][/doublepost]

I'm not exactly sure but if I remember it's 3 total years. So like if you buy a MacBook Pro in 2010 with AC you're covered till 2013 but I'm not 100% sure maybe someone can confirm this?

You are representing yourself as a college student now. When you first joined, you represented yourself as an adult who was rich (you named cars, and other things you had etc.)

 

[bunnspecial]

Short of physically damaging it, the touchbar has no moving parts so really isn't subject to wear. In that sense, it SHOULD be more durable than the function keys.

There aren't rashes of broken screens outside of events like dropping the computer with it open or dropping something heavy on it. I'd put the risk of breaking the touch bar about on par with the risk of breaking the screen.

I'm not a fan of the overall direction of Apple laptops and have been very vocal about that(which is why I'm still using a 2012) but Apple has been consistently reducing the number of moving parts in their computers. Outside the keyboard, the only moving parts in the new MBP are the hinge and the fans. Compare that to my 2012, which also has physical buttons in the trackpad, an optical drive, and as it shipped a spinning platter in the hard drive(that's gone). Fewer moving parts tend to increase durability.

 

[Hieveryone]

You are representing yourself as a college student now. When you first joined, you represented yourself as an adult who was rich (you named cars, and other things you had etc.)

You think I'm a college student? Not quite. But I'll take it haha. College is fun.
[doublepost=1489884396][/doublepost]

You should sell your Apple devices after 2 or 3 years. You get a decent amount of money and you can buy a new device.

Question: My MacBook is a late 2013 and I'm getting 460 on Gazelle I think. Is that good? I paid like 1500? I think.
[doublepost=1489884509][/doublepost]

Short of physically damaging it, the touchbar has no moving parts so really isn't subject to wear. In that sense, it SHOULD be more durable than the function keys.

There aren't rashes of broken screens outside of events like dropping the computer with it open or dropping something heavy on it. I'd put the risk of breaking the touch bar about on par with the risk of breaking the screen.

I'm not a fan of the overall direction of Apple laptops and have been very vocal about that(which is why I'm still using a 2012) but Apple has been consistently reducing the number of moving parts in their computers. Outside the keyboard, the only moving parts in the new MBP are the hinge and the fans. Compare that to my 2012, which also has physical buttons in the trackpad, an optical drive, and as it shipped a spinning platter in the hard drive(that's gone). Fewer moving parts tend to increase durability.

Makes sense. If there's no physical keys that in theory should make it more durable maybe bc it's just a screen.