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Yet another thread about how Apple has lost me as a customer
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I'm still laugh inside myself when I see 250+lbs people (large-framed americans) laying down their laptop on the table with a banging noise, typing on them like it has a mechanical IBM keyboard, resting their full trunk's weight on the palm area, lugging them on their arm while doing large movements, then smacking their screen shut when they're over, heavily pressing on the lid to make sure it closes well, and vigorously placing them in their laptop bag they're also lugging around without any precaution.
Those are the same people who will then complain about parts "falling off", bent parts, worn keys, repetitive hard drives failures.
Yes, Apple does make pretty sturdy laptops, as Lenovo also does, as well as certain Dell models, but no laptop except Panasonics weak-specs ToughBooks are made to constantly endure such treatment. To a large part, miniaturization and sturdiness are not that compatible. Do manufacturers need to remind users that laptops are fragile machines, built to meet the requirements of nomad use, and are not built like a Model M IBM keyboard, which weighs 6lbs by itself.
Those are the same people who will then complain about parts "falling off", bent parts, worn keys, repetitive hard drives failures.
Yes, Apple does make pretty sturdy laptops, as Lenovo also does, as well as certain Dell models, but no laptop except Panasonics weak-specs ToughBooks are made to constantly endure such treatment. To a large part, miniaturization and sturdiness are not that compatible. Do manufacturers need to remind users that laptops are fragile machines, built to meet the requirements of nomad use, and are not built like a Model M IBM keyboard, which weighs 6lbs by itself.
I have to agree and disagree with you.
First- I have a MBP for my work machine, it's a 2.66Ghz early 2009 model. I love it, but it has problems. The processor heats up BIG TIME. It was up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit the other day, just from normal workday usage. The fan is always running. And the battery life is garbage. 1:00-1:15 is all I can get from it- terrible. And now I hear something is literally clunking around in there... impending bad hard drive? The hard drive does make a lot of noise when the computer boots or wakes up, it's not normal. This MBP's assortment of shortcomings is odd to me since I have several Powerbook G4's that have never given me a lick of trouble in 5-6 years of usage.
However, I also truly believe that Apple is the greatest company in the known universe. They take customer service to the highest level I have ever seen. Just some examples:
I bought a used white Macbook battery on Ebay for very cheap, it arrived bulging and didn't work... the Apple Genius just hands me a brand new replacement at the Apple store.
My liquid-cooled Mac Pro 2005 leaked and died earlier this year. 3 years out of warranty, and Apple replaced my dead machine with a 2009 Mac Pro, for free. I did not have to jump through any hoops or beg. In fact, I just submitted a request for work/repair online. An Apple rep called me the next morning and told me they were going to pay for my repairs; they even made me an appointment at the Apple store for 11am that morning. The repairs were too costly, hence they offered me a brand new machine instead, which was wheeled out of the Apple store at 11:30am that morning.
Apple has always done me right, and I will be a customer for my entire lifetime.
I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble getting your MBP repaired. Have you tried calling Apple and politely stating your case? If you get stuck, politely ask to speak to a manager or someone who may be able to assist you further. The Apple Store geniuses don't have the final say, I've had better experiences calling and talking to Apple reps on the phone. Then they call the Apple Store and tell them what needs to be done.
First- I have a MBP for my work machine, it's a 2.66Ghz early 2009 model. I love it, but it has problems. The processor heats up BIG TIME. It was up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit the other day, just from normal workday usage. The fan is always running. And the battery life is garbage. 1:00-1:15 is all I can get from it- terrible. And now I hear something is literally clunking around in there... impending bad hard drive? The hard drive does make a lot of noise when the computer boots or wakes up, it's not normal. This MBP's assortment of shortcomings is odd to me since I have several Powerbook G4's that have never given me a lick of trouble in 5-6 years of usage.
However, I also truly believe that Apple is the greatest company in the known universe. They take customer service to the highest level I have ever seen. Just some examples:
I bought a used white Macbook battery on Ebay for very cheap, it arrived bulging and didn't work... the Apple Genius just hands me a brand new replacement at the Apple store.
My liquid-cooled Mac Pro 2005 leaked and died earlier this year. 3 years out of warranty, and Apple replaced my dead machine with a 2009 Mac Pro, for free. I did not have to jump through any hoops or beg. In fact, I just submitted a request for work/repair online. An Apple rep called me the next morning and told me they were going to pay for my repairs; they even made me an appointment at the Apple store for 11am that morning. The repairs were too costly, hence they offered me a brand new machine instead, which was wheeled out of the Apple store at 11:30am that morning.
Apple has always done me right, and I will be a customer for my entire lifetime.
I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble getting your MBP repaired. Have you tried calling Apple and politely stating your case? If you get stuck, politely ask to speak to a manager or someone who may be able to assist you further. The Apple Store geniuses don't have the final say, I've had better experiences calling and talking to Apple reps on the phone. Then they call the Apple Store and tell them what needs to be done.
I've been in exactly the same position as you. Three times, in fact. Two Dells and one HP.
My Macbook Pro, however has been flawless.
This is living proof that it's all in the individual's experience. Mine so far has been horrid. Anyone would be happy if they were taken care of and anyone would be mad if they were screwed over. It makes all this "Apple is better" "No they aren't" stuff all the more ridiculous.
I do think the front line phone people are some of the more friendly and understandable (not from India) that I have ever dealt with and I know if it were up to them I would have been more than taken care of...but by the time you get escalated you often get to someone who is already on the defensive and tired of dealing with "problems" and takes it out on you. I have actually lost money so far and have been ignored and not called back more than once. I am always very nice and make it a point to say "hey I know you deal with a lot of nasty people so I appreciate your time"...sometime even that doesn't work.
It is all in the luck of the person you get helping you and has nothing to do with any company being "better".
It's still covered under EU law that states that certain electronic goods must work for at least 24 months after purchase.
Do a little research into it and then take it back to wherever you bought it and quote it to them. They have to honour it.
Have you ever seen a link to actual regulations? I haven't been able to find any source info...seems everyone knows of this law but it would be nice to have a paper to take in and say "lookie here pal" when they blow you off.
Processors do heat up big time. That happens. It's normal. 176 degrees isn't bad, my Air reaches 180+. Also my Air has about 3 hours of battery, and my 17" MacBook Pro has 7.5 hours of battery. 1-1:15 of battery is horrible for a 2009 model.
While I do want to trust you, I sincerely have no clue on how you could achieve a company to actually OFFER for FREE a brand same-value machine when repairs are deemed too costly on a 4-YEAR OLD machine.
Usually, they will offer you to actually BUY a new machine. Have you been using the Force? Kindness is not sufficient, and you can't honestly play the "poor student card" when you come in the store with a 3-and-a half grand machine.
As far as the CPU is concerned, 176°F for an idle CPU is, well, too high. On my MacBook, which uses a similar (not identical) CPU, 176 is the temperature I can't get above of while load is maxed. If it's idle, then you may have a thermal paste problem, or if you used your computer in a dusty environment, the radiator's fins may be blocked. As you can only get an hour battery life, chances are your problem is software somewhere. If your computer spun its fans for long periods of time, it may be dusty as well.
get on to trading standards. In the UK there are consumer protection laws that state goods must last a reasonable time. I'd consider it 'reasonable' that a £1600 laptop lasts longer than a couple of years.
We have much better warranty protection than the US, so don't worry about 'nice' letters to Apple, I'd be a little stronger with them.
We have much better warranty protection than the US, so don't worry about 'nice' letters to Apple, I'd be a little stronger with them.
I'd like to think it's the DC board, but it appears that the CD drive and harddrive still spin up, which makes me suspect that it is all getting power.
No mother****ing board should cost that much. A MacBook Pro 13 inch with a 2.53 GHZ CPU is $1499, so the board alone is not that much. Its just Apple ripping you off. Just like they do with RAM.
It isn't like the logic board is a seperate component. Once you take that out you are basically left with the shell, a keyboard, screen hard drive and disk drive. Of course Apple will charge markup and fees for service but the cost is in line with replacement costs for replacing a GPU,Motherboard, CPU, sound card w/ optical, network card, power supply etc if someone were to destroy all their components.
But how is it right that parts bought individually total up to often more than twice the original cost? Try buying just the shell, or the screen etc...the prices of parts are ridiculous...not even close to reasonable. I understand it's how companies do things but it's still wrong and I can empathize with anyone who gets upset about it.