List of known issues of Apple hardware

[da-vid]

I think it would be amazingly helpful to have an organized list of known issues of Apple hardware for each device and revision/version they release. This could be a section of the Buyers' Guide, since the intention of such a list would be to warn prospective buyers.

This list would be particularly helpful for first-gen Apple computers. In 2008, for example, I bought a 13" MacBook unibody, and the trackpad on that particular model breaks over use, even after being replaced. (I know four other people with the same 2008 model who all have the exact issue, while 13" MacBook Pros don't.)

Then, there are the more publicized issues, such as the iPhone 4 antenna (though apparently plenty of people are still denying that) and the 2009 iMac displays.

But anyway, a list of widespread issues on Apple hardware would be greatly helpful to me, and I'm guessing a lot of other people too, when I decide to buy my next computer. I'm planning on getting a new one in 2012, which is when the next MacBook Pro redesign is rumored to happen -- so naturally, I don't want to jump into another first-gen Apple computer without first knowing there are no widespread issues.

 

[Hellhammer]

Such list would just scare people and make it look like all Apple products suffer from extensive issues. When a new product is released, there are always some issues. Sometimes they are very minor but in some cases, the issues are more widespread and serious, such as the iPhone 4 antenna issue. In general, ALL computers can suffer from certain issues, such as dead/stuck pixels, backlight bleed, noisy hard drive etc.

While such list might be useful in some cases, I think it would cause more harm than gain. The number of defective devices is fairly small in the end, most people are pleased with their purchase. It would also be hard to define what qualifies as a widespread issue and it would also require constant updating of possible fixes and other news.

 

[maflynn]

Don't the MR forums function as this. Doing your due diligence by browsing Mac forums and using google seem to work for most of us

I don't think trying to create a list would be viable

 

[miles01110]

AppleDefects.com isn't up anymore? Poo.

 

[da-vid]

Such list would just scare people and make it look like all Apple products suffer from extensive issues. When a new product is released, there are always some issues. Sometimes they are very minor but in some cases, the issues are more widespread and serious, such as the iPhone 4 antenna issue. In general, ALL computers can suffer from certain issues, such as dead/stuck pixels, backlight bleed, noisy hard drive etc.

While such list might be useful in some cases, I think it would cause more harm than gain. The number of defective devices is fairly small in the end, most people are pleased with their purchase. It would also be hard to define what qualifies as a widespread issue and it would also require constant updating of possible fixes and other news.

So, you want to hide issues because it'll affect sales? I wasn't aware MacRumors was in the business of selling Apple products. Besides, the current Buyers' Guide as it is has "Don't buy!" listed for half of Apple products approaching the end of their product cycles. How is this any better than what I suggested? Also, having a list of issues doesn't necessarily deter people from buying products, but it does create a list of potential issues buyers might want to look out for in their new purchases, which they can get fixed or replaced by Apple.

And anyway, dude, you missed my whole point. I specifically said "widespread" issues for a reason. All products have a chance of being defective, obviously. But it's really not that hard to determine what issues are widespread when MR has such a huge community to help.

Don't the MR forums function as this. Doing your due diligence by browsing Mac forums and using google seem to work for most of us

I don't think trying to create a list would be viable

I am well aware that you can find issues if you search through forums. But you need to know what the issue is beforehand in order to know what to search for. Do you see a problem here?

By "viable", do you mean that such a list would be too large of a task to complete? Each Apple device usually has at most 1-2 widespread issues. A short description and whether or not the issue is fixable is really all that is needed per issue.

 

[Doctor Q]

The Mac Guides section would be an appropriate place for "Known Issue" lists, as parts of the existing product pages (example) or as separate Guides.

The advantage of using Mac Guides (not the forums) is that multiple users can maintain each Guide.

The upside of having a source for "known issues" is that the lists could help shoppers or Apple product owners.

The downside is that if the lists aren't properly maintained then out-of-date information will become misleading and do more harm than good.

 

[Hellhammer]

So, you want to hide issues because it'll affect sales? I wasn't aware MacRumors was in the business of selling Apple products. Besides, the current Buyers' Guide as it is has "Don't buy!" listed for half of Apple products approaching the end of their product cycles. How is this any better than what I suggested? Also, having a list of issues doesn't necessarily deter people from buying products, but it does create a list of potential issues buyers might want to look out for in their new purchases, which they can get fixed or replaced by Apple.

And anyway, dude, you missed my whole point. I specifically said "widespread" issues for a reason. All products have a chance of being defective, obviously. But it's really not that hard to determine what issues are widespread when MR has such a huge community to help.

I don't want to hide issues but making a huge list full of issues will sure make it look like every single Apple product is defective in some way. There are already too many threads in which someone is afraid to buy an Apple product because he has read all these forums where people report different issues.

Moreover, what would be the definition of widespread? Since MR is so big community, it doesn't mean that the issue is widespread if 10 people report that they suffer from the same issue. Usually, the widespread issues can be read on Front Page.

Like Doctor Q said, such list would require constant maintaining in order to provide more use than harm. A guide can be created by anyone so if you think this is something that you would like to see, you can pull the trigger and do the work on your own.

 

[miles01110]

Besides, the current Buyers' Guide as it is has "Don't buy!" listed for half of Apple products approaching the end of their product cycles. How is this any better than what I suggested?

The Buyer's Guide offers advice based on historical refresh cycles, not product-wide defects. Surely even you can see the difference between what the Buyer's Guide and your proposed "defects guide" aim to achieve.

And anyway, dude, you missed my whole point. I specifically said "widespread" issues for a reason. All products have a chance of being defective, obviously. But it's really not that hard to determine what issues are widespread when MR has such a huge community to help.

In recent memory there have only been a few significant "defects" that have affected entire product lines- the NVIDIA graphics card issue and Antennagate being the most widely publicized. Both of these received extensive coverage in the media as well as by Macrumors on the front page. Defects on this magnitude are quite rare.

 

[VulchR]

I agree that this kind of information might be useful, but there would have to be extreme care about aspects such as whether Apple has acknowledged or denied the problem, the quality of the evidence suggesting that there is a problem, and an absolute commitment to keep the list up to date, removing problems as they are resolved. Sounds like a lot of work to me, and a potential legal nightmare for MR....

 

[maflynn]

By "viable", do you mean that such a list would be too large of a task to complete? Each Apple device usually has at most 1-2 widespread issues. A short description and whether or not the issue is fixable is really all that is needed per issue.

No I mean not viable as a forum thread is not the best mechinism to maintain a list. The thread will become polluted with posts.

Plus how will someone differentiate between a problem with my MBP vs. a design flaw. Say I post that MBP's fans are ineffective to cool the laptop I made a statement of fact but in reality its only related to my laptop. People will not want to wade through a 500 post long thread to see if a given apple product is fairly problem free.