Macbook pro dissapointment

[7even]

Sharp + VGA = Error

lol exactly, it'll never be pin-sharp through VGA. I noticed the difference immediately switching VGA->DVI with my PC. DVI is pixel-sharp, while VGA is always slightly blurrier. I would recommend using DVI, and investing in a DVI switch if you need to share one monitor with two computers.

As for scratching easily? I don't believe this, as I've had one macbook pro for almost a year and it had no scratches on it. And that includes slipping it in and out of a case almost daily.

I think the OP lost a bit of credibility in my eyes when he mentioned the keyboard. The keys on the keyboard are exactly the same width apart as on any desktop keyboard, measure it. They look more separated because they're blockish instead of pyramid-like.

 

[CrackedButter]

I hear you but the "Pro" is just a label.

For those protesting against any Apple quality criticisms do you think the Chinese QC is somehow magically better in the Apple factory? Apple has no physical justification for the prices they charge. The innards are not of premium quality and the shell while pretty is still just a cheap piece of aluminum. The OS I would agree is worth more than Windows as it does work so well but that hardly justifies a nearly double price point. The main beef I hear from people who are unhappy about he cost is simply that Apple puts premium prices on standard quality items...that is not unreasonable to be upset about. This is not like a BMW vs a Yugo where there is a true massive difference in the quality of the guts.

Remember the premuim they charge the next time you walk into an apple store and realise how Much stuff they offer is free, hands on access with any machine and near unrestricted access with software, free wireless, genuis bar, seminars and concerts.

 

[harperjones99]

Remember the premuim they charge the next time you walk into an apple store and realise how Much stuff they offer is free, hands on access with any machine and near unrestricted access with software, free wireless, genuis bar, seminars and concerts.

I would happily take a cut in price in trade for those things not being available...make my 2000 dollar machine 1200 (a price that still gives them a premium over comparably equipped PCs with the same guts) and I will sign a release to never use those services "free". (which they are NOT anyway if the premium is subsidizing them)

 

[ricof]

Sound and trackpad right click work in windows for me.

Scratches easily? Do you live in a beach or something?

Get a PC and join the mediocrity

 

[harperjones99]

Get a PC and join the mediocrity

My first two Apple products had defects and I am in day 35 of trying to get something done about them through the supposedly wonderful service with nothing positive so far. I would be happy if my Apple products were at LEAST mediocre.

 

[ricof]

I'm sorry to hear that. What are you doing about it?

 

[harperjones99]

I'm sorry to hear that. What are you doing about it?

Waiting for the calls from the next higher up that never come when they say they will...which results in me having to take the time to call back spend the obligatory 30min on the phone to ask why nothing is happening. Everyone I speak to there keeps telling me my situation would upset them as well yet they keep dropping the ball. I have thought about giving the old sjobs email a buzz but it seems so ridiculous to even have to consider that and judging from the replies from him I have seen posted online you have about a 50% chance of him telling you to get bent as well.

In any case I won't be joining the Apple fan club for life...I was happy with the switch for about a week then reality hit.

I do love the OS and the track pad...those are two things I cannot get anywhere else...but the rest is entirely underwhelming and to me not at all worth the cost. Were the products more in line with other brands I would still be unhappy with my service but the premium just makes it sting that much more.

 

[airplaneman]

Fact still stands : when I buy a $2400 laptop I expect the external lcd display to be pin sharp, and more importantly I expect it to work.

The problem is, the laptop does work. If you're dissatisfied, please get a Windows PC. You can't possibly expect Win7 to work well in Bootcamp because it's not officially supported. Parallels is a VM, and far from perfect. Also, you can't blame the computer for a random external display being not "pin-sharp". All you have to do is adjust the settings. I fail to see how you researched this purchase thoroughly, fully aware that there was a chiclet keyboard, 2 USB ports, and a long-lasting non-removable battery to name a few, before you bought it.

And no, I'm not a "fan boy". I've built my own PC and love it just as much as my Mac.

 

[Rampant.A.I.]

I would happily take a cut in price in trade for those things not being available...make my 2000 dollar machine 1200 (a price that still gives them a premium over comparably equipped PCs with the same guts) and I will sign a release to never use those services "free". (which they are NOT anyway if the premium is subsidizing them)

...Meanwhile, back in our universe...

 

[harperjones99]

...Meanwhile, back in our universe...

Hey I am not the one trying to justify the premium by stating those services...if butter boy wants to assert that they are worth the cost to him then I will offer a fair alternative to those who it is not...not saying it would ever happen because in the end the assertion is nonsense and the premium is profit not a benefit.

 

[ricof]

I would march into my nearest Apple store and tell them you won't leave until your problem. Demand to speak to the person highest in command and don't settle for any of their b******t.

Apologies if you have done this already!

 

[harperjones99]

I would march into my nearest Apple store and tell them you won't leave until your problem. Demand to speak to the person highest in command and don't settle for any of their b******t.

Apologies if you have done this already!

There is no Apple store anywhere near here and on the phone I tried being nice, being demanding, all tactics...at this point I am calmly detached and just going to not settle for anything less than what I paid for and any time lost being covered as this has cost me money so far. This is going to take a while it's clear.

 

[CrackedButter]

Hey I am not the one trying to justify the premium by stating those services...if butter boy wants to assert that they are worth the cost to him then I will offer a fair alternative to those who it is not...not saying it would ever happen because in the end the assertion is nonsense and the premium is profit not a benefit.

Not trying to justify it per se, just pointing out that you get other perks over other stores that sell computers. Just think years ago there weren't Apple stores so once you bought the machine that was it, you were on your own apart from the bog standard warranty.

Don't get me wrong I'd like to pay less, we all would but that isn't going to happen. Complaining about the price of something after willing buying it doesn't make much sense unless it was a need (like food, warmth or shelter kind of need) which no computer is. So I can't side with you on this, as you weren't forced to buy a Mac in the first place.

 

[harperjones99]

Not trying to justify it per se, just pointing out that you get other perks over other stores that sell computers. Just think years ago there weren't Apple stores so once you bought the machine that was it, you were on your own apart from the bog standard warranty.

Don't get me wrong I'd like to pay less, we all would but that isn't going to happen. Complaining about the price of something after willing buying it doesn't make much sense unless it was a need (like food, warmth or shelter kind of need) which no computer is. So I can't side with you on this, as you weren't forced to buy a Mac in the first place.

How are you supposed to know you are not happy with the use until you use it? And are you confusing me with the OP again? Thought I would head you off this time before you started accusing me of not answering questions that you had actually asked of someone else.

 

[CrackedButter]

How are you supposed to know you are not happy with the use until you use it? And are you confusing me with the OP again? Thought I would head you off this time before you started accusing me of not answering questions that you had actually asked of someone else.

I know who you are, don't worry about that. Your mistake is fighting tooth and nail over something like this as if you are the OP. I think I've made my point clear, so have others by reminding the OP that they have 14 days grace to return the unit if they are not happy with it.

You've missed my point however when you say: "How are you supposed to know you are not happy with the use until you use it?"Like any person with common sense, you walk into the Apple store and take advantage of all those wonderful freebies that YOU would gladly dispense with for the sake of a lower price.

IF you don't live near an Apple store, you still have the 14 days grace.

 

[ski2moro]

How are you supposed to know you are not happy with the use until you use it?

Your defensive attitude is understood.

I think you identify with the OP because your Mac didn't meet your expectations. Especially when one switches from one platform to the other, much research is necessary before making your purchase. Just because your research is flawed or you didn't ask the correct questions, there is no reason to expect the Polish retailer to take your computer back.

I thought I read on another forum that you already bought a computer that fits your needs better. You were trying to sell it and were having trouble selling your Mac because you didn't speak Polish?

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Hamlet.

 

[dgdosen]

lol exactly, it'll never be pin-sharp through VGA. I noticed the difference immediately switching VGA->DVI with my PC. DVI is pixel-sharp, while VGA is always slightly blurrier. I would recommend using DVI, and investing in a DVI switch if you need to share one monitor with two computers.

As for scratching easily? I don't believe this, as I've had one macbook pro for almost a year and it had no scratches on it. And that includes slipping it in and out of a case almost daily.

I think the OP lost a bit of credibility in my eyes when he mentioned the keyboard. The keys on the keyboard are exactly the same width apart as on any desktop keyboard, measure it. They look more separated because they're blockish instead of pyramid-like.

He could have been a troll.. He got four pages of responses out of this forum.
I would think most competent software developers would know the differences in quality of VGA and anything else. And even though Windows 7 isn't supported in bootcamp, it's not bad. Native 64 bit Windows 7 support will be appreciated.

 

[harperjones99]

I know who you are, don't worry about that. Your mistake is fighting tooth and nail over something like this as if you are the OP. I think I've made my point clear, so have others by reminding the OP that they have 14 days grace to return the unit if they are not happy with it.

You've missed my point however when you say: "How are you supposed to know you are not happy with the use until you use it?"Like any person with common sense, you walk into the Apple store and take advantage of all those wonderful freebies that YOU would gladly dispense with for the sake of a lower price.

IF you don't live near an Apple store, you still have the 14 days grace.

Get off the smug high horse, playing with display models (which is not a premium offering of Apple but rather something you can do standard in all shops) is not going to allow you to work everything out. and being that there IS NO Apple store around here that option is out.


Yes you have 14 days via post but must pay a restocking fee if you return it so you lose money. And that is if you live near a place that allows that. I couldn't even return it within 7 days in the country I bought in and am still in a battle with them trying to get things solved.

You keep acting like the premium pays for it self and I keep showing you how it doesn't.

 

[CrackedButter]

Get off the smug high horse, playing with display models (which is not a premium offering of Apple but rather something you can do standard in all shops) is not going to allow you to work everything out. and being that there IS NO Apple store around here that option is out.


Yes you have 14 days via post but must pay a restocking fee if you return it so you lose money. And that is if you live near a place that allows that. I couldn't even return it within 7 days in the country I bought in and am still in a battle with them trying to get things solved.

You keep acting like the premium pays for it self and I keep showing you how it doesn't.

You really are defensive. You're calling me smug when I'm just trying to make a point about being resouceful.

Also you've not really shown me anything other than contradicting me like we're acting out that argument sketch from Monty Python. For example, 'show' me one alternative store that allows you as much freedom as an Apple store? You can't that's one of the reasons why the stores are so successful.

 

[harperjones99]

You really are defensive. You're calling me smug when I'm just trying to make a point about being resouceful.

Also you've not really shown me anything other than contradicting me like we're acting out that argument sketch from Monty Python. For example, 'show' me one alternative store that allows you as much freedom as an Apple store? You can't that's one of the reasons why the stores are so successful.

I can go into a Best Buy and play with the display models. Again this is not a "freebie" that justifies a premium. I am not going to go round and round with you so you can have it from here.

 

[mrsir2009]

For the scratching problem: they do not scratch easily, and if for some reason yours is then get a skin =)

For the bootcamp problem: you can't expect Win7 which is unsupported to work very well on Mac hardware using bootcamp... If you need to use Windows a lot you should use a PC anyway... Low price tag and will run Win7 better...

 

[CrackedButter]

I can go into a Best Buy and play with the display models. Again this is not a "freebie" that justifies a premium. I am not going to go round and round with you so you can have it from here.

You're still deliberately ignoring all the other perks which I've outlined in a prior post, those things more than anything separate an Apple store from BestBuy. Do I have to hold your hand and run through a checklist of differences with you?

You've already made it known YOU don't care for them, so YOU see the stores as essentially worthless as they don't offer YOU anything YOU value, just because YOU don't value them doesn't mean others won't and include that into the premium we pay for our Macs.

 

[Surely]

You're still deliberately ignoring all the other perks which I've outlined in a prior post, those things more than anything separate an Apple store from BestBuy. Do I have to hold your hand and run through a checklist of differences with you?

You've already made it known YOU don't care for them, so YOU see the stores as essentially worthless as they don't offer YOU anything YOU value, just because YOU don't value them doesn't mean others won't and include that into the premium we pay for our Macs.

I don't mean to jump into the middle of your argument, and I haven't read every single post here, but I just don't agree with you that the premium that we pay for Apple products has anything to do with the features or services at the Apple Stores. Apple products have always been pricey, even before the first Apple Store opened in 2001. I think that it's more of a strategy on Apple's part than anything else- if you're paying more for a product, you think that you're getting something better. Luckily for them, their products typically are better than anything else out there, so the price can be justified.

The features and services at Apple Stores are more of a value-added feature. I don't think it plays any role in the pricing of the products.

You can demo computers in the same way as at the Apple Store at places like Best Buy, Future Shop, Fry's, or any other big electronics store. In fact, I made my final decision to buy my MBP after playing around on one at my local Best Buy.

Just sayin'......

 

[mrsir2009]

I don't mean to jump into the middle of your argument, and I haven't read every single post here, but I just don't agree with you that the premium that we pay for Apple products has anything to do with the features or services at the Apple Stores. Apple products have always been pricey, even before the first Apple Store opened in 2001. I think that it's more of a strategy on Apple's part than anything else- if you're paying more for a product, you think that you're getting something better. Luckily for them, their products typically are better than anything else out there, so the price can be justified.

The features and services at Apple Stores are more of a value-added feature. I don't think it plays any role in the pricing of the products.

You can demo computers in the same way as at the Apple Store at places like Best Buy, Future Shop, Fry's, or any other big electronics store. In fact, I made my final decision to buy my MBP after playing around on one at my local Best Buy.

Just sayin'......

My first Mac was the LC, which was Apple's cheapest colour computer at the time

 

[CrackedButter]

I don't mean to jump into the middle of your argument, and I haven't read every single post here, but I just don't agree with you that the premium that we pay for Apple products has anything to do with the features or services at the Apple Stores. Apple products have always been pricey, even before the first Apple Store opened in 2001. I think that it's more of a strategy on Apple's part than anything else- if you're paying more for a product, you think that you're getting something better. Luckily for them, their products typically are better than anything else out there, so the price can be justified.

The features and services at Apple Stores are more of a value-added feature. I don't think it plays any role in the pricing of the products.

You can demo computers in the same way as at the Apple Store at places like Best Buy, Future Shop, Fry's, or any other big electronics store. In fact, I made my final decision to buy my MBP after playing around on one at my local Best Buy.

Just sayin'......

I'm not arguing, especially not with Harperjones.

You did say you haven't read every post but I myself did make the point about the premium being around since forever but the stores have been around since 2001. Now the money for those expensive stores have got to come from somewhere haven't they, we can't prove or disprove the premiums on macs financed the creation of the stores, but it is logical to assume that right? Anyway that part of the discussion isn't the important bit.

Now my main point is that HarperJones sees no value in how the features (could) play a role in the pricing of Apple's products, but my point to HarperJones is that a consumer can perceive value instead. Nobody can really argue with that because it's a subjective POV, HarperJones btw if you haven't read that particular post, said he doesn't value the Apple stores.

On the last point, you've simply brought up the same point that HarperJones did; that you can demo the machines, again not outlining out the other freebies and also while one person might not value those other freebies, a lot of other people (customers) will.