New Buyers Dont Worry Macrumors make you paranoid!!!

[drvelocity]

My Apple product track record:

23" (or close) Cinema Display - Received in perfect condition, sold two years later without any issues.
30" Cinema Display - Received in perfect condition (3 years ago), still working without issue.
Macbook, 2006 - Received in perfect condition, DVD drive died in 2007, entire system died in 2008.
Ipod Nano 4G, Video 30GB - both received in perfect condition and still working without issue.
Iphone 2G (Refurbished) - Received in perfect condition, still working without issue.
Iphone 3G (x5, 4 bought for resale) - All received in perfect condition.
Macbook Pro, 2007 - Received in perfect condition, still working perfectly today.
Macbook Pro, 2008 - Received in perfect condition, no issues to date.

So all in all, I've had one item die on me, but everything was received without any issues, even a single dead pixel. I'm satisfied.

 

[MowingDevil]

So far I've had:

PowerMac 7600/120 never a single problem/had it for years and way longer than I should have
PowerMac 9600/300 never a single problem/upgraded it to a G3/500
iMac Core2Duo 17" 1.83 not a single problem
iPod Nano 8gb never a single problem
iPod Shuffle 1gb just received it
MacBook Pro 2.53 had it one week and due to some graphic artifacts its having the logic board replaced because of the 9400.

So there ya go, thats 12 yrs of Mac use and had my first problem this week.

Seriously, if I didn't have all that positive experience and came here to do some research I'd probably have been scared off into buying a Vaio or something like that. As others have said, take the feedback here with a grain of salt...

 

[Fidgetyrat]

I to got a perfect 2.53. Never in my life have I had an LCD without at least 1 dead/stuck pixel. I'm pleased


Though, I did accidentally receive a used MBP when I went to pick it up at the store. Apparently a half hour before I waked in, some guy returned his that he picked up that morning. Said he wanted an iMac instead.. After a while on the phone and a bunch of apologies, they gave me $240 off for keeping the *used* one. I wonder which employee put the box in the wrong pile.

Imagine opening up a brand new machine to find its seals tampered with and the machine already registered.. hehe.

Can't complain. Free money.


Besides that, Ive never had a single apple product arrive with a fault.

 

[GCY]

All the problems everyone is experiencing actually made me not want to get a MBP. I've been waiting for the new release for about a year. I am disappointed to see that there weren't many significant upgrades from the old model though.

Before I got my first gen MB in Aug. of 06, I read many people are having problems with the random shut down and screen flickering. I decided to pull the trigger anyway. The MB was fawless for about half a year when the screen flickering started to occur. Apple repaired it and it came back right after my warranty expires. Now I just noticed the battery seems to be faulty also.(shuts off around 30%)

My point is, if the item is perfect when you got it, it doesn't mean a problem will occur at some point. I just got a new HP with 2.80Ghz, 512GB 9600m GT, High res screen, among others for $1300 on ebay($1000 after 10% paypal coupon, $200 cashback) This will do until apple's next major MBP upgrade

 

[MowingDevil]

All the problems everyone is experiencing actually made me not want to get a MBP. I've been waiting for the new release for about a year. I am disappointed to see that there weren't many significant upgrades from the old model though.

Before I got my first gen MB in Aug. of 06, I read many people are having problems with the random shut down and screen flickering. I decided to pull the trigger anyway. The MB was fawless for about half a year when the screen flickering started to occur. Apple repaired it and it came back right after my warranty expires. Now I just noticed the battery seems to be faulty also.(shuts off around 30%)

My point is, if the item is perfect when you got it, it doesn't mean a problem will occur at some point. I just got a new HP with 2.80Ghz, 512GB 9600m GT, High res screen, among others for $1300 on ebay($1000 after 10% paypal coupon, $200 cashback) This will do until apple's next major MBP upgrade

Who's to say you won't have trouble w/ the next major upgrade? After waiting a year you should have gotten this machine, its awesome! No its not perfect but it is beautiful and is very powerful, it does the trick. Like anything, sometimes you get a perfect one othertimes you might get a lemon. You might even get one that needs a fix or two but at least Apple will look after you until they get it right. So whats going to happen when the next upgrade happens and then all the posts start flooding in about whats wrong with it? ...and the wait will continue.

 

[apolloa]

I called Apple sales today asking where my replacement is? The lady took a look and put me on hold, she then came back and advised that the order had a Hold pace on it? This was because it was a BTO machine? Anyway she said everything looked to be in place and the machine "should" be dispatched from China on Monday.
That's Ok as the more I wait hopefully the more chance of these glitches being resolved. But it did make me think, if I hadn't of called when would they of actually sent the machine? I've a feeling never.
Just to remind you all though, this is a potential 24 day's waiting for the replacement since I had my first one delivered on the 4th. And that's assuming it comes by next week Friday. Couriers don't work weekends. So it does have the potential to slip to December, that would make it nearly 1 month before the replacement arrives if it does!

I just want my new machine it's plenty fast enough, I researched it and chose the correct model and now just want it. The only main reason I wanted to change from my Mac Book Pro I got last November is cause I totally f*&$^%( hate it's keyboard! - and from reading some posts on here I'm glad it's not just me.

 

[GCY]

Who's to say you won't have trouble w/ the next major upgrade? After waiting a year you should have gotten this machine, its awesome! No its not perfect but it is beautiful and is very powerful, it does the trick. Like anything, sometimes you get a perfect one othertimes you might get a lemon. You might even get one that needs a fix or two but at least Apple will look after you until they get it right. So whats going to happen when the next upgrade happens and then all the posts start flooding in about whats wrong with it? ...and the wait will continue.

well, I was pretty disappointed with this upgrade to start with. With apple, a whole new upgrade can come in a year or less, you just never know. I'm pretty sure in a couple of months time, they'll bump up the speed and what not. Ultimately, I don't want to invest in sometime that'll be "old" in just a few months or half a year. I'm sure there will be 3+ revisions 1 year from now. When I got my first gen MB, they updated the processor with C2D a few months later. I was pretty pissed about that. I will def. get a MBP in the future just not sure when yet.

 

[MowingDevil]

well, I was pretty disappointed with this upgrade to start with. With apple, a whole new upgrade can come in a year or less, you just never know. I'm pretty sure in a couple of months time, they'll bump up the speed and what not. Ultimately, I don't want to invest in sometime that'll be "old" in just a few months or half a year. I'm sure there will be 3+ revisions 1 year from now. When I got my first gen MB, they updated the processor with C2D a few months later. I was pretty pissed about that. I will def. get a MBP in the future just not sure when yet.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Their pattern for the past few revisions have been 8 months. There were loads of people here who said a revision was imminent last summer...waiting every tuesday ("this is the one!" they'd say). ...and people waited, and waited, and waited. If their recent pattern is any indication, the next upgrade for the 15" MBP will be June 2009. If you want to wait until next summer go for it. But then there will be bugs and new issues and people will say just wait for Nehalem or the next revision. And then there will be more bugs and the promise of a new speed bump/revision just around the corner...

MacBook Pro Release History

This machine will not be revised in a couple of months, that we know. If you think it will be old in 6 months....then gawd man how will you ever be happy? Because ALL computers are considered old in 6 months from their release date. Seriously.

I guess it just depends on whether you need one or want one...and if you have one that serves you well right now.

 

[GCY]

yea true but I guess it'll depend on when you purchased the item and not when the item is released. I mean if you purchased a new MBP and apple released an updated version in a month or two, you'll be somewhat pissed. You're already paying a premium to start with, don't you at least want it to be the latest and greatest for a year or so?

 

[apolloa]

yea true but I guess it'll depend on when you purchased the item and not when the item is released. I mean if you purchased a new MBP and apple released an updated version in a month or two, you'll be somewhat pissed. You're already paying a premium to start with, don't you at least want it to be the latest and greatest for a year or so?

That's impossible with ANY computer. No computer brought now will be the latest and greatest a year from now. The only way that will happen is if technology just stops!
You can always build your own PC, then continuously upgrade it and change it's parts if you HAVE to always have the latest thing.

 

[MowingDevil]

I know we'd all be pissed a bit, but in the end does it really matter if you have the latest and greatest....or is it more important that you have a good machine that works? I'm just saying that the waiting game is a dangerous cycle to get into and there's always going to be something better coming out just around the corner.

 

[miamialley]

I do find it ironic that the OP remarks that new buyers should not be paranoid about buying when his girlfriend's came with a dent.

That's precisely what people are paranoid about.

 

[Smacky]

Forums like these help inform buyers
Knowledge is power!
What other bargaining power does the consumer have against a corporate giant like Apple?

 

[akdj]

"I'm on my 5th MBP so there you go. YAY Apple."

What??? C'mon, really? Posts like this, just make you roll your eyes.

I agree with the OP, totally..Even though there was a ding in his girlfriend's computer. The internet is almost TOO informational. Folks that don't own the gear, never used the gear, or have an axe to grind against the gear....or maybe they are a competitor to the gear...you never know who is on the other keyboard. Maybe just an envious dork trying to demean your purchase because he/she can't have one. It's not just computers though I am into photography and home/pro audio gear. The same can be said for internet forums pertaining to those. Unfortunately, the better known and respected the site is, the more the parasites that show up.

A good example is this thread and my quote to begin this reply. Are you going to listen to a guy that says he is on his 5th Mac Book Pro with no elaboration OR guys like DrVelocity or Mowerdevil that take the time to post their experiences over the last 10 years with 5 different machines?

Our representation on this board is such a tiny fraction of 1% of the entire world buying audience for Apple products. With that said, for so few problems to rear their ugly head....seems like Apple does a fantastic job 99% of the time. If that wasn't the case, would most of us be here?

To the dude on his 5th MBP, give up dude. Go back to buying Dell. Their bound to get it right on the first try

 

[mhnajjar]

The guy who is on his 5th MBP simply got sick of re-typing the issues but you can go and read his posts

 

[fallen1981]

I do find it ironic that the OP remarks that new buyers should not be paranoid about buying when his girlfriend's came with a dent.

That's precisely what people are paranoid about.

Actually my point was that it was resolved without issue and that this is something that plagues all manfacturers not just Apple. When I had a problem with my dell Studio it took nearly a day on the phone to resolve the issue even then they would not agree to a fast replacement and I had to get my money back. They delivered it without a backlit keyboard and kept wanting to put me through tech support, which they did about 7 times each person dumber than the last. Still had to wait forever for the credit card refund.

Apple issue was sorted in about half an hour. So buy with confidence that if there is an issue it can be resolved!!!!!!!

 

[MowingDevil]

I agree with the OP, totally..Even though there was a ding in his girlfriend's computer. The internet is almost TOO informational. Folks that don't own the gear, never used the gear, or have an axe to grind against the gear....or maybe they are a competitor to the gear...you never know who is on the other keyboard. Maybe just an envious dork trying to demean your purchase because he/she can't have one. It's not just computers though I am into photography and home/pro audio gear. The same can be said for internet forums pertaining to those. Unfortunately, the better known and respected the site is, the more the parasites that show up.

Great point. I know it opened my eyes a bit when I saw a few 'companies' posting here as regular people....they're weren't trying to fake it or anything but you could tell where their interests laid. One was a boutique skin/cover manufacturer and the other was a computer distributor. It just really got me thinking though, if corporations could pay someone to post on Wikipedia pretending to be an unbiased contributor then surely they'd pay someone to spend time on forums & specialty sites.

Anyone see The Corporation? Remember the part where people had been paid to go out in public and talk about a product so other passers-by could overhear them? I know for a fact in the music biz people are paid to go to message boards & try to hype a specific band in order to generate "natural" buzz. Just remember that next time you hear people praising the benefits of a brand...or ripping another one, you never know whats behind it ESPECIALLY something as anonymous as the internet.

When you see someone posting here who you don't recognize its probably best to take what they say w/ a grain of salt. I think of that one poster who was going around saying 7 or 8 nVidia models all have the exact same solder problem including the new notebook GPUs. He had NOTHING to back it up other than his friend told him he read it in The Inquirer or something to that effect. He could be bogus, or even if he isn't his source could have been. Its clearly false information but a good lesson could be learned from that.

 

[MowingDevil]

Actually my point was that it was resolved without issue and that this is something that plagues all manfacturers not just Apple. When I had a problem with my dell Studio it took nearly a day on the phone to resolve the issue even then they would not agree to a fast replacement and I had to get my money back. They delivered it without a backlit keyboard and kept wanting to put me through tech support, which they did about 7 times each person dumber than the last. Still had to wait forever for the credit card refund.

Apple issue was sorted in about half an hour. So buy with confidence that if there is an issue it can be resolved!!!!!!!

My stolen computer fiasco was resolved faster than that so that should put Apple's customer service in context w/ your Dell experience. I think my replacement was ordered within 6 hours BY AppleCare and it would have been sooner but I didn't have a computer to email the evidence.

 

[apolloa]

My stolen computer fiasco was resolved faster than that so that should put Apple's customer service in context w/ your Dell experience. I think my replacement was ordered within 6 hours BY AppleCare and it would have been sooner but I didn't have a computer to email the evidence.

I Repeat..................

I called Apple sales today asking where my replacement is? The lady took a look and put me on hold, she then came back and advised that the order had a Hold pace on it? This was because it was a BTO machine? Anyway she said everything looked to be in place and the machine "should" be dispatched from China on Monday.
That's Ok as the more I wait hopefully the more chance of these glitches being resolved. But it did make me think, if I hadn't of called when would they of actually sent the machine? I've a feeling never.
Just to remind you all though, this is a potential 24 day's waiting for the replacement since I had my first one delivered on the 4th. And that's assuming it comes by next week Friday. Couriers don't work weekends. So it does have the potential to slip to December, that would make it nearly 1 month before the replacement arrives if it does!

I just want my new machine it's plenty fast enough, I researched it and chose the correct model and now just want it. The only main reason I wanted to change from my Mac Book Pro I got last November is cause I totally f*&$^%( hate it's keyboard! - and from reading some posts on here I'm glad it's not just me.

...................

Personally I DO wish I was being paid to lie, unfortunately not and I'm potentially in for another week's wait, and even then the thing could still be defective. Bloody hope not though!