NutsNGum
macrumors 68030
Why didn't you take it in about this earlier, then? It was probably just a matter of pointing the OS at the system startup disk.
You broke it dude, what do you want Apple to do about it? It's not their responsibility.
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Ridiculous Repair Costs
- Thread starter kg1982
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Why didn't you take it in about this earlier, then? It was probably just a matter of pointing the OS at the system startup disk.
You broke it dude, what do you want Apple to do about it? It's not their responsibility.
I have renter's, but it doesn't cover computer damage methinks. And I'm not a troll; I'm
A pissed off Apple customer without a computer. Compared to my older Apple, this is a cheap piece of crap. The older one lasted 4+ years.
NutsNGum
macrumors 68030
oneMadRssn
macrumors 603
first-- try taking it to a different apple store, or having a different person inspect it. maybe a different person will conclude the damage was caused by something other than a spill, as you claim.
second-- go to ifixit and locate the part you need using their easy website. once you locate what part it is you need (the logic board?), copy and paste the apple part number into ebay or froogle.com and you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. this has worked for me in the past.
third-- while i wouldn't go blindly defending apple, i wouldn't flat-out blame them either. they have been good to many of us. stories of free replacements of repairs out-of-warrantee are common when the issue is a common one (nVidia graphics chipset failing in the 2007-2008 MBP anyone?).
you haven't told us which MBA you have exactly, but I assume it's either the 2010 or 2011 model. both of those do not just suddenly die without some sort of intervention. i have read almost no such cases of that happening on this site or anywhere. that being said, it's probably something you did. if you're absolutely certain it's not something you did, then keep on insisting on it and apple will fix it. talk to a manager if necessary.
second-- go to ifixit and locate the part you need using their easy website. once you locate what part it is you need (the logic board?), copy and paste the apple part number into ebay or froogle.com and you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. this has worked for me in the past.
third-- while i wouldn't go blindly defending apple, i wouldn't flat-out blame them either. they have been good to many of us. stories of free replacements of repairs out-of-warrantee are common when the issue is a common one (nVidia graphics chipset failing in the 2007-2008 MBP anyone?).
you haven't told us which MBA you have exactly, but I assume it's either the 2010 or 2011 model. both of those do not just suddenly die without some sort of intervention. i have read almost no such cases of that happening on this site or anywhere. that being said, it's probably something you did. if you're absolutely certain it's not something you did, then keep on insisting on it and apple will fix it. talk to a manager if necessary.
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Senseotech
macrumors 6502a
A damp rag isn't going to result in the internals showing dampness, especially if time has passed since you wiped it down. The only way the internals will be damp enough to trigger the submersion sensor is if an actual, quantifiable amount of liquid was spilled. Unless you took a soaked rag and plopped it down, the rag excuse is BS.
NutsNGum
macrumors 68030
That would perhaps indicate that you're remarkably cavalier about your attitude towards ~$1000 laptops.
Itpirate
macrumors member
I would bet the farm that the reason it died yesterday is because of the spill in the past. This isn't apples fault, in their defense you bring in a dead laptop, they take it apart and see liquid damage, what else would they say?
It stinks, but chalk this up as a lesson learned. Either pay the money to have it fixed or get a new laptop.
I dropped my iPhone in the water when at a boat ramp last year. It worked for 3 days, but then the backlight started to go out and within a month it quit working all together. That certainly wasn't apples fault, it was mine for dropping it in the water.
^This. At most, a liquid sensor on the keyboard would be tripped, not on the logic board. Take it to another Apple Store and see if they say anything different.
The MacBook Airs are more delicate than the polycarb airs. Polycarbonate is virtually indestructible. Aluminum is softer and more easily dented. Also, there are no escape vents for liquid, so they are fairly susceptible to damage from spills. The MacBook Pros are the same way. It's a function of the unibody design. It doesn't make it garbage or cheap. It just means you need to be more careful about it.
Considering I don't remember spilling anything the computer has been working for four or five months after. And I don't mind paying a little money.. $150 or so, but I was wondering why a damn computer costs more than most car repairs. I had to get an alternator only car replaced and it cost $500. It was also done the same day. Methinks that apple is inflating the price. I was hoping that people knew how to get repairs done for cheaper. Frankly is costs less for me to just trash the thing and get a PC at Best Buy.
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dukebound85
macrumors Core
OP: It won't matter as it's ultimately your fault. It is pricy as they replace the whole motherboard.
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thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
I had a macbook pro once. It had a dent in the bottom of the case. Due to the dent, Apple decided I mistreated my macbook pro, and refused to repair a $4 fan unless I paid over $1000 in repair costs, to fix the case, hard drive, and some other things - none of which were broken. Nor would they simply replace the fan for a small cost, it was either all or nothing.
I had to swap the bottom case myself with one I purchased off of ebay, but then when I took it to an Apple store, they "discovered" problems with my screen, power button, and of course the fan (which weren't there before!), and replaced them all for free, because it no longer had a dent. I asked, the original things they "needed" to fix for $1000 before they could fix my fan, were working normally.
Applecare is the worst, and a large part of why I will never use anything Apple for anything important ever again.
I had to swap the bottom case myself with one I purchased off of ebay, but then when I took it to an Apple store, they "discovered" problems with my screen, power button, and of course the fan (which weren't there before!), and replaced them all for free, because it no longer had a dent. I asked, the original things they "needed" to fix for $1000 before they could fix my fan, were working normally.
Applecare is the worst, and a large part of why I will never use anything Apple for anything important ever again.
$755 is Apple's standard repair charge for that kind of repair. I spilled a glass of wine on my 2010 and that is what they charged. For that, they replaced the logic board, cleaned the case, replaced the keyboard, some sensors, battery, and the trackpad. It came back in better shape than it was before the accident.
Sure, it's pricey, but Apple is the only supplier of the parts. A third party shop might be $100 less or so. Remember, just about everything on the MacBook Air is crammed onto a single logic board. There are no removable parts except the SSD and a handful of small parts like the wireless antenna. It is a lot more complex than your 2008 MacBook. That's why it is so thin.
Something happened to it. These things don't just die for no reason. Since the liquid sensors were tripped, the logical conclusion is that something spilled onto it.
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That hasn't been my experience at all. My mother's 2009 MacBook Pro got badly dented when the laptop bag it was in broke (so much so that the ethernet port was crushed and the case wouldn't close right. It was about $250 to fix it. They were able to salvage the bottom case, saving the cost of that, even though there was still a dent on it. They asked her if she wanted to replace the whole thing, but they went ahead and did the partial repair to get it working.
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
Okay think about your example for a second.
You cannot compare and alternator to a logic board. If you compared an engine then you have an example. The logic board is what makes your computer run. The engine is what makes your car run.
Therefore $800 for a logic board on a $1200 dollar computer Isn't that outrageous. To rebuild your engine would cost thousands of dollars depending on the car, which in turn would be a similar percentage to your logic board and the computer.
If it were me I would try and fix it myself with iFix it. Yes, you would be taking the entire thing apart and may be wasting more money. That's a risk we all take with the Air and many thousands have been ruined by accident. Apple makes the best laptops for general use and people are willing to roll the dice with the policy.
Although you can't expect them to repair every laptop that has been damaged by accident. We all know people who have spilt something on one within days of ownership.
Somehow I have managed not to ruin one because I don't leave a drink where it can be knocked over on the keyboard.
There are even consumer groups that are against marketing top heavy hot liquid cups, such as cup of soup, coffee cups, etc because they are responsible for scolding young children because they tip over so easy.
this time it happened to be your laptop, sorry it happened and hope something good comes out of it for you
Although you can't expect them to repair every laptop that has been damaged by accident. We all know people who have spilt something on one within days of ownership.
Somehow I have managed not to ruin one because I don't leave a drink where it can be knocked over on the keyboard.
There are even consumer groups that are against marketing top heavy hot liquid cups, such as cup of soup, coffee cups, etc because they are responsible for scolding young children because they tip over so easy.
this time it happened to be your laptop, sorry it happened and hope something good comes out of it for you
Off Topic but my iPhone 4S's bottom water sensor is half pink, I have had my iPhone since Launch and never it has seen water or even been in wet hands, I have kept it in dry places all the time, Weather is hot and I know humidity played a role in changing my sensor colour 100%. I baby my apple products with cases and screen protectors from the moment I buy them throughout the time frame that I keep them (Owned 3GS-4 and now 4S). So just because a sensor is triggered, it doesn't mean that liquid has been spilled. I am sure after apple examines my iPhone 4S should I ever have to take it in for warranty, they will service it as the top sensor and I'm sure the ones inside are still White(I never opened my iPhone 4S but because of the case and nature its been kept in thats my assumption)
As for OP that made the thread if you don't know then ya do let it dry off I suppose and take it back in and have them inspect it fully, I am sure they will be able to tell you if its actually water damaged because the connectors would start to rust up and/or other visible signs of water damage will be present.