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Keep new MacBook Pro 13 2017 nTB or return

Q

quark11

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 27, 2016
8
1
Hi,

so as a casual user (web, videos, office) I bought a Macbook Pro 2017 base model and am on my last day to decide if I want to return it.

The reason I am asking this is because this is a huge buy for me and I am worried about its durability.

The display is making a sound when I tilt it but I read that this is normal?
Sometimes there is an "electric shock" sound from either of the 2 speakers.
Watching videos sometimes makes them flash the description over the video until I refresh or tab to another tab an back again (I use chrome)

The biggest problem I have is the keyboard. At the moment they are working fine, they are just loud. After having read a lot of complaints I am worried they will break and thus make the MacBook useless in the long run (I plan on using it at least for 4-5 years). I am not planning on purchasing Apple Care at the moment since it adds a lot of cost extra. Also there is no Apple Care+ here.

How likely is it that the keys will fail and will they again be updated in the next model?

Thanks a lot.
 
quark11 said:
Hi,

so as a casual user (web, videos, office) I bought a Macbook Pro 2017 base model and am on my last day to decide if I want to return it.

The reason I am asking this is because this is a huge buy for me and I am worried about its durability.

The display is making a sound when I tilt it but I read that this is normal?
Sometimes there is an "electric shock" sound from either of the 2 speakers.
Watching videos sometimes makes them flash the description over the video until I refresh or tab to another tab an back again (I use chrome)

The biggest problem I have is the keyboard. At the moment they are working fine, they are just loud. After having read a lot of complaints I am worried they will break and thus make the MacBook useless in the long run (I plan on using it at least for 4-5 years). I am not planning on purchasing Apple Care at the moment since it adds a lot of cost extra. Also there is no Apple Care+ here.

How likely is it that the keys will fail and will they again be updated in the next model?

Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...

In 2-3 years you will want to replace the battery. The keyboard is replaced at the same time...
 
quark11 said:
The display is making a sound when I tilt it but I read that this is normal?
Click to expand...
Normal since 2015.

quark11 said:
Sometimes there is an "electric shock" sound from either of the 2 speakers.
Click to expand...
Normal since 2016.

quark11 said:
Watching videos sometimes makes them flash the description over the video until I refresh or tab to another tab an back again (I use chrome)
Click to expand...
Software issue, nothing to do with your Mac.

Take care of your keyboard and it won't break. I've had three butterfly keyboard Macs since 2015 and never had a single stuck key or used a single bit of compressed air. Keep your Mac clean and it will continue to work as it does today. It doesn't magically break - but accidents do happen, and some people are careless.
 
You'd have to be an idiot to return it for a 2015. The 2015 is a fantastic machine, but it is certainly not better than the latest model you have. Honestly, you've got a great machine.

I'd say save up and get Apple Care (before it's 12 months old) so that at least for the first 3 years, things like your screen, hinges, keyboard etc if they decide to break are fixed by Apple. It'll give you a bit more confidence using the machine like it was meant to be used: heavily. It's honestly a bargain against the possible failures.

Every other machine you could possibly buy runs the same risk, only in the world of Windows laptops are so mass produced that even the manufacturer may stop selling parts within 2 years of you buying it! Let alone the cost being high for parts. At least you'll virtually always be able to get parts for Macs due to the high sales of the few models made.

None of those problems are normal, and I don't get them on my MBP 13", so take it to Apple and get them to fix it, you normally don't have to argue. Just show them the problem and they'll sort you out. I've never had an issue with them :)

Keep us updated on what you do OP
 
SB-MBP said:
You'd have to be an idiot to return it for a 2015. The 2015 is a fantastic machine, but it is certainly not better than the latest model you have. Honestly, you've got a great machine.

I'd say save up and get Apple Care (before it's 12 months old) so that at least for the first 3 years, things like your screen, hinges, keyboard etc if they decide to break are fixed by Apple. It'll give you a bit more confidence using the machine like it was meant to be used: heavily. It's honestly a bargain against the possible failures.

Every other machine you could possibly buy runs the same risk, only in the world of Windows laptops are so mass produced that even the manufacturer may stop selling parts within 2 years of you buying it! Let alone the cost being high for parts. At least you'll virtually always be able to get parts for Macs due to the high sales of the few models made.

None of those problems are normal, and I don't get them on my MBP 13", so take it to Apple and get them to fix it, you normally don't have to argue. Just show them the problem and they'll sort you out. I've never had an issue with them :)

Keep us updated on what you do OP
Click to expand...

I'll take my 2015 15" MBP over your 13" Space Grey MBP, all day long. Thank you.
 
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A little update.

I decided at the last moment to return the Macbook.
Actually the electric shocks from the speakers disappeared which was nice but the fan developed a scratching kinda noise which sounds like a mechanical harddrive when the fan was spinning slowly (browsing web, watching videos). It drove me crazy.

Also the fan was running constantly on maximum speed during a game and the screen flickered. I did not research more about it becasue I usually do not aim to play games.

I was actually thinking about getting an appointment at the genius bar because I wanted to keep the headphones which came with the Macbook and made it affordable this way. But I called the tech service and I was told that this noise was normal (my Macbook Air never did this in 5 years).

Sadly my ears are very sensitive and it is very quiet in my room.

Now I do not know what to do. I like the Macbook becasue it has good quality and a great screen and comparable Windows laptops do not come cheap too.

I am in need of a machine and thinking of trying another one when the black friday promotion hits to shave some of the price tag off.
 
Last edited:
bhatiak said:
Your 2015 15" does cost a lot more than his 13" Space grey MBP lol.

Now, would you say the same thing about the base 2017 15"?
Click to expand...

I would.

I have to head back to Apple for a fourth (!) time for the keyboard - the "b" key is starting to repeat again. Top case has been replaced twice already; so I'm not interested in another replacement. What CAN they do?

And for the record, the new keyboard, in my opinion, feels terrible - like typing on glass. Yuck. And yes, the trackpad is far too large. On the other hand, I appreciate how quiet the fans are relative to the 2015 and earlier models. And the speakers are substantially better.
 
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