~ MacBook [Aluminum] Owner's Thread

[Jeremy08]

Return it and ask for an exchange.

Do you really think they will give me a brand new one if I take it back with the box and everything? I bet they will try to tell me they have to replace the trackpad, and steel my computer from me for an extended period of time...

Don't settle for less. Get it replaced.

Should I even make a genius appointment, or just go in with the box and what not and ask a sales associate to look at it for me...I feel like they will try to say they need to replace the trackpad and steel my machine from me.

 

[VSMacOne]

Battery cover issue

have you guys taken your battery cover off yet? I did earlier just to look under, and when i put it back on it just doesn't seem as tight. Maybe i'm doing something wrong, but it's actually moving arround about 3 mm or so. I'm just wondering if anybody else has gotten that? I just dont want it to start getting looser and looser.
I would appreciate some input from you guys.
Thanks

 

[ubercool]

I bought a new MacBook 2.4 yesterday. Some thoughts:

1. In terms of calibration, I just chose the 2.2 Television Gamma over the default 1.8 choice. I'm not sure what all that really means, but it makes the screen less washed out. I've never had a glossy MacBook before, so that is also part of the learning curve for me.

4. The first MacBook I brought home had a battery/drive cover that didn't close properly. The store replaced it without a problem. This one seems perfect all around. Not bad for a new product...

5. The sleekness, aluminum, size, and weight make this a very seductive computer. So far it has been an excellent replacement for my older MacBook Pro. It's as close as I've come to my old 12" PowerBook.

6. The Firewire issue is somewhat annoying. I'll miss target mode the most. I uploaded files using a combination of an external USB drive and using ethernet file sharing. Since I have a Mac Pro at home, I don't think the lack of Firewire will affect me as much as other people. In fact, I don't think it'll affect me at all.

Thanks, I've tried that television gamma, it definitely is more saturated and contrasty. Hm, so there are battery door cover fitting problems? Glad to hear you had it resolved, but that's a pain to have to deal with.

I think you're not the only one who feels that this is closest we've come yet to a 12-inch PowerBook replacement. I think that many will soon join the party, after they hear us debug any potential problems.

Like you, I have an iMac desktop to rely on for FireWire video acquisition, since my Canon VIXIA HV30 requires a FireWire input for video capture.

have you guys taken your battery cover off yet? I did earlier just to look under, and when i put it back on it just doesn't seem as tight. Maybe i'm doing something wrong, but it's actually moving arround about 3 mm or so. I'm just wondering if anybody else has gotten that? I just dont want it to start getting looser and looser.
I would appreciate some input from you guys.
Thanks

See my post to bensim above. There are some battery cover closing issues. Perhaps you should exchange details with bensim and see if it's the same problem.

 

[VSMacOne]

Bensim, i didn't notice your mention of battery cover problems earlier.

4. The first MacBook I brought home had a battery/drive cover that didn't close properly. The store replaced it without a problem. This one seems perfect all around. Not bad for a new product..

Could you please expand? did it not close or was it just moving? Mine is closing all the way, but it's a little loose like i mentioned above.

Thanks,

OK i've played with it some more and it seems like it's moving more and more. on the right side, where the hard drive is, if i tap on it there's a clicking noise and i can tell it's not latching on all the way... I don't know, if that thing keeps doing that i wonder if it will get worse real quick. Also, would that hurt the hard drive it there is something hitting against it every time i set the computer down?
Maybe i'm being too anal about this... So i would appreciate some input to see whether this is normal or not.
Thanks.

 

[TheSandman2236]

OK i've played with it some more and it seems like it's moving more and more. on the right side, where the hard drive is, if i tap on it there's a clicking noise and i can tell it's not latching on all the way... I don't know, if that thing keeps doing that i wonder if it will get worse real quick. Also, would that hurt the hard drive it there is something hitting against it every time i set the computer down?
Maybe i'm being too anal about this... So i would appreciate some input to see whether this is normal or not.
Thanks.

I'm having the exact same experience (I wouldn't call it an Issue yet). I wanted to take a look, and my cover is having that same affect.

 

[Primejimbo]

I am really liking this new Macbook a lot. My second Macbook in 4 months lol. My wife really likes the "older" model macbook and now gets why I like them and why I like it so much. She's learning a lot about it and she's happy.

 

[VSMacOne]

I'm having the exact same experience (I wouldn't call it an Issue yet). I wanted to take a look, and my cover is having that same affect.

Thanks Sandman. I wonder if that's just something on these new models that we'll have to live with. Does anybody else have the base model and kinda wouldn't mind having the backlit keyboard? I was sitting here tonight typing with the lights off and it's really not as easy as it was on my Toshiba, because the ink on the keys is not shinny at all... Would i be a bad person if I took mine back and upgraded??!!

 

[ubercool]

Thanks Sandman. I wonder if that's just something on these new models that we'll have to live with. Does anybody else have the base model and kinda wouldn't mind having the backlit keyboard? I was sitting here tonight typing with the lights off and it's really not as easy as it was on my Toshiba, because the ink on the keys is not shinny at all... Would i be a bad person if I took mine back and upgraded??!!

You should get an Apple genius to replace it for you. As to upgrading it, that would be another case altogether. Apple might charge you a 15% restocking charge to take it back. Perhaps, they can waive that charge since it's defective. Definitely worth a try. Find a friendly Genius.

 

[RRutter]

You should get an Apple genius to replace it for you. As to upgrading it, that would be another case altogether. Apple might charge you a 15% restocking charge to take it back. Perhaps, they can waive that charge since it's defective. Definitely worth a try. Find a friendly Genius.

Yes, it all depends on the Genius. Haha.. But no, sersiouly (ha) take it to the Apple store, ask for a genius, and ask him/her about what you should do, and what would be the best thing for it.

 

[VSMacOne]

I plan on holding on to this one for a while and I don't really want to put any extra work into it on top of the factory set up. So i'm strongly inclined to take it back tomorrow and get the $1599... I got mine at Best Buy so I'll see if they charge me the restocking fee..
I just want my first mac to be perfect haha i know that's silly, but oh well... we'll see how tomorrow goes. Maybe third time's a charm!!!

 

[RRutter]

Or 6 times! I had to keep going back to Best Buy, because the "Apple Expert" kept giving me the wrong DVI to VGA chord, even though he insisted it was the right one - I went a total of 6 times, one day I went 4 times in 2 hours.

 

[AC Rempt]

I am really curious to hear how owners of older MacBooks like the difference with the new models.

I have a first gen BlackBook, and it's been one of the more disappointing Apple machines I've owned. The trackpad button is really stiff, the screen has some dead pixels and I've had to cover the palm rests with Marware covers because of how readily the case shows fingerprints and wear.

One of the things I hate on the newer Mac laptops is how sleep seems to drain the battery (happens on my BlackBook and my MBA). Is that happening with these models, too?

 

[Kalison]

I plan on holding on to this one for a while and I don't really want to put any extra work into it on top of the factory set up. So i'm strongly inclined to take it back tomorrow and get the $1599... I got mine at Best Buy so I'll see if they charge me the restocking fee..
I just want my first mac to be perfect haha i know that's silly, but oh well... we'll see how tomorrow goes. Maybe third time's a charm!!!

My Best Buy told me that they have done away with restocking fees all together. Even all the new "This item has a 14 day return policy" no longer has "This item requires a 14% restocking fee" on the other half of it.

A friend of mine was debating on getting the MBA.. and asked what the return options were.

Friend : So what is the return policies or options?
BB : 14 days
Friend : Restocking fees or anything?
BB : Nope, we have done away with restocking fees completely
Friend : So I can bring this back in 13 days, and say I didnt think it was worth 1700 dollars? You would refund ALL my money, no restocking fee... just because I didnt like it?
BB : Yep. Obviously you would have to have everything, and it would need to be in near perfect condition. We will have to be able to resell it.

Also, I would like to mention... that while BB still had the restocking fee required. They will not charge you the restocking fee as long as you are going to buy something else from the store.

So, as long as you are going back to BB to get the more expensive model... they wont charge you restocking.

 

[SchneiderMan]

can someone please post a pic of the macbook's back when its closed, the black hinge. i want to compare it with the r8

 

[VSMacOne]

My Best Buy told me that they have done away with restocking fees all together. Even all the new "This item has a 14 day return policy" no longer has "This item requires a 14% restocking fee" on the other half of it.

A friend of mine was debating on getting the MBA.. and asked what the return options were.

Friend : So what is the return policies or options?
BB : 14 days
Friend : Restocking fees or anything?
BB : Nope, we have done away with restocking fees completely
Friend : So I can bring this back in 13 days, and say I didnt think it was worth 1700 dollars? You would refund ALL my money, no restocking fee... just because I didnt like it?
BB : Yep. Obviously you would have to have everything, and it would need to be in near perfect condition. We will have to be able to resell it.

Also, I would like to mention... that while BB still had the restocking fee required. They will not charge you the restocking fee as long as you are going to buy something else from the store.

So, as long as you are going back to BB to get the more expensive model... they wont charge you restocking.

And besides, i'm spending even more money with them, right?! Off to the store it is in the morning!! I really hope those lights and the extra 400hz will be fun. Who's got them right now and is enjoying them??

 

[TheSandman2236]

You should get an Apple genius to replace it for you. As to upgrading it, that would be another case altogether. Apple might charge you a 15% restocking charge to take it back. Perhaps, they can waive that charge since it's defective. Definitely worth a try. Find a friendly Genius.

Do you think that's something they'll see as something to replace? All I see them saying is...'Oh that's normal!'

 

[bensim]

Bensim, i didn't notice your mention of battery cover problems earlier.

Could you please expand? did it not close or was it just moving? Mine is closing all the way, but it's a little loose like i mentioned above.

Thanks,

When I opened the new MacBook and placed it on my desk, I noticed a funny sound. It was the sound of loose metal clicking (the best I can do). I lifted it and put it down again. Same noise. I was concerned. It just didn't seem "tight" like my old MacBook Pro.

When I looked at the battery cover, I noticed it was sliding around a bit. There was a slight gap between the cover on the inside edges, and this was causing the noise when I put it down. It just wouldn't close completely and securely. I could use my finger and pull down the inside edge (the edge in middle of the computer, not the one near the front of the computer) of the cover. It was a pretty small distance but enough to cause problems.

I called Apple and they told me to bring it back to the store. The store swapped it after inspecting it for about 10 seconds. The ones on display in the store didn't have this problem, and this certainly helped my case (no pun intended).

The replacement is perfect.

 

[ubercool]

Or 6 times! I had to keep going back to Best Buy, because the "Apple Expert" kept giving me the wrong DVI to VGA chord, even though he insisted it was the right one - I went a total of 6 times, one day I went 4 times in 2 hours.

Six times? That's out of control. BTW, the Apple Store staff didn't know about the Displayport cable either. I scored one at the big San Francisco Apple Store later Wednesday evening. I'm guessing that a lot of store staffers are confused by the new output port.

 

[TheSandman2236]

When I opened the new MacBook and placed it on my desk, I noticed a funny sound. It was the sound of loose metal clicking (the best I can do). I lifted it and put it down again. Same noise. I was concerned. I just didn't seem "tight" like my old MacBook Pro.

When I looked at the battery cover, I noticed it was sliding around a bit. There was a slight gap between the cover on the inside edges, and this was causing the noise when I put it down. It just wouldn't close completely and securely. I could use my finger and pull down the inside edge (the edge in middle of the computer, not the one near the front of the computer) of the cover. It was a pretty small distance but enough to cause problems.

I called Apple and they told me to bring it back to the store. The store swapped it after inspecting it for about 10 seconds. The ones on display in the store didn't have this problem, and this certainly helped my case (no pun intended).

The replacement is perfect.

Sounds like mine, I'll go in and have it replaced.

 

[VSMacOne]

When I opened the new MacBook and placed it on my desk, I noticed a funny sound. It was the sound of loose metal clicking (the best I can do). I lifted it and put it down again. Same noise. I was concerned. I just didn't seem "tight" like my old MacBook Pro.

When I looked at the battery cover, I noticed it was sliding around a bit. There was a slight gap between the cover on the inside edges, and this was causing the noise when I put it down. It just wouldn't close completely and securely. I could use my finger and pull down the inside edge (the edge in middle of the computer, not the one near the front of the computer) of the cover. It was a pretty small distance but enough to cause problems.

I called Apple and they told me to bring it back to the store. The store swapped it after inspecting it for about 10 seconds. The ones on display in the store didn't have this problem, and this certainly helped my case (no pun intended).

The replacement is perfect.

This is a relief. I'm glad it's not just me being extra picky. It's going back tomorrow and i'll be getting the $1600. I think I'll be able to get good use out of the lit keys and extra power/storage. Wish me luck with Number 3!!

I'll post tomorrow regarding any differences.

 

[Clayne]

looking at the front of mine, eye level at the base I can see a slight gap in between the base and the hdd/battery lid. I'm tempted to get it replaced, but I really don't want to :/

Also, I'm also hearing a click when I set it down.

 

[TheSandman2236]

Could everyone who has or has had (and gotten theirs replaced) post in this thread. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/584475/ I'd like to see how wide-spread this is.

 

[ubercool]

looking at the front of mine, eye level at the base I can see a slight gap in between the base and the hdd/battery lid. I'm tempted to get it replaced, but I really don't want to :/

Also, I'm also hearing a click when I set it down.

Wow, four people already with loose battery cover plates that click. I guess we have a fit 'n finish problem here. Hope everyone can get it resolved.

 

[VSMacOne]

yeah that's the first thing i'm gonna check right there in store once i get it swapped out.

Has anyone else noticed that when you option click on the desktop and click on Get Info, you can see a date that the Desktop folder was created. Mine says Monday, March 31st 2008, 9:52 pm.
Just out of curiosity what does everybody else's say? And is there any significance to that date?
Just a random fact for me

 

[ubercool]

Has anyone else noticed that when you option click on the desktop and click on Get Info, you can see a date that the Desktop folder was created. Mine says Monday, March 31st 2008, 9:52 pm.
Just out of curiosity what does everybody else's say? And is there any significance to that date?
Just a random fact for me

Mine says the identical thing. (18:52; I set the clock to international time).