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New Macbook Air - my 4 years old Toshiba was faster and more reliable....

thaimac

thaimac

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 13, 2009
18
0
Sector F6-2
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
 
i wouldn't say your 4 years old Toshiba is faster than the new macbook air! I'd bet you money on that! Seem like you need to reinstall OSX because I never had any issue with LION or SL! Did you have Office 2011 installed?
 
thaimac said:
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

Perhaps you should take it to the Genius Bar and ask for help? Reinstall Lion and see if that fixes anything? Lemons happen.
 
1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
​

It shouldn't. You may have imported some corrupt information and hence every time you load it - it encounters the corrupt file and crashes. You already said that the genius borked moving your mail from outlook to mail (I'm assuming from a PC - hence possibility of corrupt / unreadable pc files now in your mail)


2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work​

Not sure what the heck you did here. I've been using macs for the last 15 years and never had that problem. Did you delete or modify the extensions also ?


3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!​

What version of excel are you running ? Are you running earlier than Office 2011 ? If so - i would certainly upgrade to 2011 as it's far out the best version of office on the mac, and fast.

Office 2008 has some rather serious issues with Lion and Office 2004 is not compatible at all.

So if you are running an older version update, and if you are running Office 2011 - update the program to latest patch.

I assume you are not however - otherwise you could have moved Outlook PC - Outlook Mac rather than mail.


4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!​

It really shouldn't be. It does sound like you have either bonked up the operating system some how (if your new to mac's it's understandable - i've seen many new users delete files from library or change file names and lose applications or some functionality). Or you have a dodgy machine.

Certainly I would try re-installing the operating system first to check that out of the way - and if you still encounter slow performance after that return it for a new computer.
 
Yep.. sounds like something's seriously wrong. MacBook Air's are swift computers. Especially if you're only doing Office type work. Reformat the drive and reinstall the OS. If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself, take it back to the store and tell them about your problems. If you bought it at an Apple store they should do this for you no problem (at no charge!).

Furthermore, if the Genius failed to do his/her job (transferring your mails) why did you pay them the £80? :confused:
 
thaimac said:
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound right at all. My MBA's been great. When you do take it back I'd also complain about the £80 charge, is that for the one to one programme or something? I'd definitely ask for a refund if they failed to do that task.
 
Don't muck around with it a moment longer. Something is seriously wrong… take it back, and ask for a replacement.

thaimac said:
Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound right either. You can't pay for a service and get nothing in return. Explain this to them when you take it back, and if they have any sense they will make things right.
 
To get your emails across from outlook. Use Outlook to Mac , its a great little app.

Or alternatively setup a googlemail account and fling the emails to the server then sync them to the mac via imap.
 
kalsta said:
Don't muck around with it a moment longer. Something is seriously wrong… take it back, and ask for a replacement.



That doesn't sound right either. You can't pay for a service and get nothing in return. Explain this to them when you take it back, and if they have any sense they will make things right.
Click to expand...

I think it is indeed the One to One service.

apple said:
There’s no better way to get set up, get trained and get going on your new Mac than with a One to One membership at the Apple Retail Store.

One to One costs just £79 for a full year and is available only at the time you purchase a new Mac from the Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store.
Click to expand...

If they suggested I buy that and then failed the first task I'd be mad, I'd want a full refund. That's awful service.
 
Yeah, but apple stores regularly have free 'welcome to mac' classes, and there's usually time at the end to handle questions.

Or, he can exchange it and do a personal setup, where the blue shirt can transfer files, etc., from his Toshiba (or at least ensure he's doing it properly).

And one-to-one is a bargain. I fully think they're not going to let me sign up again next year, even if I buy a new mac.:eek::D
 
thaimac said:
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

Your problem is with Lion. NOT the Air itself, unfortunately. You're not alone.
 
thaimac said:
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

sounds like a troll to me..
 
drakkardnoir said:
sounds like a troll to me..
Click to expand...

Well, I'd agree that it seems a strange post, but maybe just someone who is feeling a touch angry?

If I had this kind of difficulty I'd be in the Apple shop getting it sorted, not wasting time posting on here and complaining. There is obviously something wrong and it's a new product, so take it back and get it fixed/replaced or get a refund for faulty goods.

To say that a 4 year old Toshiba was faster is ridiculous, unless there is a fault with the Air or Software or what has been done to the machine by OP.

If I had this kind of problem with a new Mac I'd be back in the shop to get it sorted.
 
I highly doubt, highly highly doubt that your 4 year old toshiba is faster than the your MBA, even if you have a faulty machine. My MBA is at least 2X faster than my 2009 MacBook Pro, really wish I got a geek bench score on it. Just take it back to Apple, they'll find the problem and fix it for you. Thats what they are there for..
 
thaimac said:
got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

:
She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

Maybe you need some help from a different Apple store and genius ...

In any case, my old Toshiba is slow and hardware falling apart -- you must have gotten a lemon, and/or, lemon support.
 
thaimac said:
Am I the only one who got a a rotten apple in the bunch of new macbook airs? I keep on reading raving reviews, but the machine I finally, after years, got my wife to buy (thus convincing her to migrate from Windows) is really unimpressive, even compared to her 4 years old Toshiba PC, my 4 years old macbook and even my dad's 7 years old Powerbook:

1. Mail crashes ALL the time,
2. I just changed the name of few word and xcel documents from finder, and they immediately went blank (zero bytes), so she completely lost one entire day of work
3. In excel, it takes a couple of minutes to simply display a print preview!
4. generally it's really really really slow in everything it does, taking ages to open any application, all the animations throughout the whole OS are slow and just add to being generally an incredibly frustrating user experience!

Do you think I've just being unlucky and should take the machine back to be replaced, or is it just a 1,500 GBP piece of c...p?!?

Oh forgot to mention I spent 80 GBP for a genius at the Apple store to migrate all my emails from Outlook to Mail, and of course they failed. They got my 80 quid though!

She desperately wants to go back to Windows, and honestly from what I've seen, I think she 's right, that computer is completely unusable!
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I've had 3 faulty MBA until I got a properly working one. Just return/exchange it. If you got it from Apple, they are usually very helpful and have no problem doing it.
 
Minhthien said:
i wouldn't say your 4 years old Toshiba is faster than the new macbook air! I'd bet you money on that! Seem like you need to reinstall OSX because I never had any issue with LION or SL! Did you have Office 2011 installed?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have Office 2011. How do I reinstall Lion on a MBA?
 
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