Apple Begins Fixing MacBook Pro Issues 410
Hack Jandy writes "For those of you who bought one of the first generation Macbook Pros, a new replacement may be in your future. Flickering LCDs, overheating and intermittent WiFi connections are all common place for many of these first generation machines, but apparently Apple is fixing the problem. The article claims 'According to Apple, it has begun replacing the mainboard inside its MacBook Pros with a new revision. It calls the updated product "revision D," which is identifiable by product serial number.' If you have a reservation at an Apple Store, they may even replace your MBP with a new one."
Nice! (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Nice! (Score:2, Insightful)
It's not like Apple was re-inventing the wheel. It's an Intel-based notebook. They've been around a while.
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nice! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Informative)
A year?! 3 years is more realistic. My iBook is going on 3 and a half years and it still holds a charge for about 3-4 hours.
Re:Nice! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Interesting)
Dells:
- one spent 7 months in and out of the shop for overheating issues. I finally threw it away. Dell never fixed it.
- one spent about 2 months doing fine, then decided it didn't like wireless anymore. Enabling wireless is about the same as hitting it with a hammer. Click it on and: boom! Windows goes unsta
Re:Nice! (Score:5, Funny)
I like Dell too, but I don't know if I'd buy 4 of them.
Re:Nice! (Score:2)
Re:Nice! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nice! (Score:3, Informative)
I had issues with my titanium powerbook for about a year before I was finally able to get it fixed. it was a display issue that usually reared its ugly head during heavy usage. it took me forever to reproduce the problem, but I was able to do it by playing 2 DivX files, a DVD, running quake3 and tenebrae quake1 all at the same time. it would glitch out in about 4 seconds.
their answer was t
Re:Nice! (Score:2)
Re:Nice! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Nice! (Score:4, Insightful)
What if you don't have one? (Score:5, Funny)
That's nice, what do I have to do to get them to replace my 3 year old iBook with a new Mac Book Pro? That's infinitely more interesting to me
Re:What if you don't have one? (Score:5, Funny)
Do you still have 2 healthy kidneys?
Re:What if you don't have one? (Score:5, Funny)
Won't work. Steve Jobs is a vegetarian.
Why? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Because if no one buys the first generation, there isn't any second or third generation to buy...
Re:Why? (Score:2)
First generation iBook over here... (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:2, Insightful)
Well, no, not exactly. If no one buys bug-prone and defective first generations, companies will realize that they really need to pay for their own beta testing. Then, first generation hardware will become useable and buyable again.
Cinnamon (an apple fangirl, who is still going to buy a 12" Macbook pro when they come out.)
Re:Why? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:4, Interesting)
In 1999 I had a laptop that could burn CDs. I couldn't say that I knew anyone else that could do that.
Maybe it's an ego thing, or maybe it's wanting the latest gadget, or maybe not wanting to worry over upgrading a year later. Maybe a combination of the three.
That, and an important lesson I learned from my mother - "If it's important, don't go cheap." I've found this rule is very wise. If you're going to make a big purchase, it better make you happy and keep you happy for awhile, so why risk it buying mediocre or cheap? If it costs a little more and makes you a lot happier, or does not risk making you very unhappy, it's worth it.
But yes, I agree that when you buy on the bleeding edge you can get cut. I guess so far I've been lucky, and I think what we see in the press is mainly the bad news. (it's easier to find that 10% person that got a bad unit complaining to the world, than it is to spot the other 90% singing the praise)
I personally would have liked to have seen the powerbook line go just a liiiitle further, maybe to a 2ghz 15" PBG4, because that's about the point where I would have made my next upgrade. I'm a little skiddish about the macbooks so I will probably have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Intel world. I hope this powerbook lasts at least another year.
Re:Why? (Score:2)
Hmmm, let's see...
Some people have to have the latest and greatest
I get a kick out of owning a laptop that can still smoke a desktop a year later.
In 1999 I had a laptop that could burn CDs. I couldn't say that I knew anyone else that could do that.
Pretty sure it's your ego.
Is testing so difficult? (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
I bought a shiny new G4 iBook when they first were announced. Thankfully I bought the extended care, because the trackpad has gone out a few times on me. It finally crapped out for good, and while the warranty still has a few months left, I had to pop the shell to swap hard drives (long story) and I figure that f***s the warranty. So, I drag a usb mouse along with me, which is actually no problem, as I really don't like any trackpads. I'd kill
Refurbs! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Refurbs! (Score:2)
Sorry, correction. Re:Refurbs! (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Refurbs! (Score:2)
The Big Question Is: (Score:5, Funny)
I know some of the
Re:The Big Question Is: (Score:5, Informative)
I've had my stuff replaced by Apple in the past (1st gen 15" Al PowerBook. Doh!). Basically it goes:
1) Get box from DHL
2) They receive laptop by the next day, fix it, and drop it off at DHL.
3) You get nice new laptop back.
Takes about 3 days total.
Mike.
Re:The Big Question Is: (Score:3, Funny)
1. Leave it at the Apple store.
2. Wait 2 weeks with no information.
3. Hurricane hits where the computer is stored.
4. Finally get told that they can't repair it (now four weeks after #1).
5. Get sent a new AlBook.
Re:The Big Question Is: (Score:5, Insightful)
But I didn't let that stop my Mac fever, oh no! I have been wanting a Mac Mini for awhile and now had a perfect reason/excuse! So I bought the Core Duo and headed home to set it up and continue feeding my addiction.
It's really funny, I used to make fun of Mac users because it was so cult like, but then OS X came out and all the suck went away and I got drawn towards the light. I guess long story short, you can put me on the list of people that wouldn't want to be without mine for an extended period. All my windows boxes are gone, it's just my PB and my linux firewall/fileserver/proxy/dev/dhcp/ntp/Myth Tv/asterisk server. And I guess the new family member my Mac Mini.
Re:The Big Question Is: (Score:2, Informative)
By the way, it's true that if you get the static noise sound, you can open the 'Mirror' widget, then close it, and it *usually* won't return unless you reboot or use your camera. Still obnoxious, though. I took mine to an Apple store last month, and a 'Genius' there told me that the noise was w
Caveat Canem (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Caveat Canem (Score:5, Interesting)
Of course... (Score:2, Redundant)
There's the problem, (Score:5, Funny)
If you people would stop flicking your LCD panels around they probably wouldn't break so often. They're quite delicate you know.
Re:There's the problem, (Score:2)
I respect Apple... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I respect Apple... (Score:2)
So then why am I still waiting 12 months later for them to fix my damn superdrive? [crc.id.au]
Re:I respect Apple... (Score:2)
Respect Apple? No thanks.
Intel-based iBooks: New Celeron M due mid-April (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know if any Mac rumor sites have mentioned this (I don't follow them), but the new Celeron M CPUs based on Core Solo architecture (Yonah) are due in mid-April [theinquirer.net]. Since the iBooks are Apple's last remaining Mac products with an ancient CPU/chipset architecture, I wouldn't be surprised is Apple adopted these new Celeron M CPUs as soon as they're available (like they did with Core Duo for PowerBook/MacBook Pro). Als
XP (Score:5, Funny)
I have contacted Apple numerous times without any response.. what the hell kind of support is that?
I really hope they fix my issue or I am going to be a pissed off Apple customer.
"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:2)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:2)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"Moo"ing scared the crap out of me.. (Score:2)
Wheeeew (Score:2)
Got mine on friday and It's REV D (Score:3, Interesting)
I've been using it on my lap already and didn't notice any issues, it doesn't get that hot.
This is by far the nicest laptop I've ever had, it's got teh snappy something bad and just feels fast.
And no mystery announcement April 1st... I'm very happy I decided to get one now.
My experiences with a new W8612 (Score:5, Interesting)
I have the CPU whine, which is fixed by running MagicNoiseKiller [red-sweater.com]. Not a problem at all, since I just set it as a startup item.
My screen is perfect, no flickering or dead pixels, really bright and vivid. Once MagicNoiseKiller has done its thing, this laptop is really pretty incredibly quiet - a lot better than the Toshiba P4 mode it's replacing.
I think the recent cries to the effect that Apple's build quality is slipping are pretty overrated - this laptop feels incredibly solid and well built. I'm a very happy Apple customer - to the point of chuckling madly.
Re:My experiences with a new W8612 (Score:2)
Have you used a Thinkpad? Those suckers are super well-built.
Re:My experiences with a new W8612 (Score:2)
Thinkpads are well-built... near indestructible, actually, and from what I've seen that hasn't changed since the Lenovo takeover. But they...
I will say in spite of all that I find them very pleasant to use (other than the unfortuna
Re:My experiences with a new W8612 (Score:2)
Re:Still awaiting an Intel iBook or similar (Score:2)
The MBP doesn't have FW800 or an internal modem at all. What you'll get in the MacBook non-Pro (the Intel iBook as opposed to the Intel PowerBook) will be a single-core machine. Note that Core Duo came out first, and then they announced the in
I Told you so. (Score:3, Interesting)
This isn't just a "first rev" like so many Mac users seem to think. Honestly, Apple did a really smart thing by keeping the previous form factor: it effectively means that the new-architecture notebooks inherit a huge amount of engineering from their predecessors.
Actually, if you knew the majority of hardware problems with the initial G4 PowerBook were all related to the case (which had problems with it's hinges - which got stiff and cracked, the plastic border round the side which split apart due to stress from the hindges and weak points such as the audio port, the cable for the LCD panel which got streched leading to the displays breaking down, the rubber feet were always coming off and this lead to overheating and stability problems - and this is just a partial list), you'd understand why it's significant, and why the OP has an valid point.
Intel has been shipping fundementally the same motherboard for a few years, so this isn't exactly a brandnew system under the hood.
If it was a PowerPC-based Mac with internals done by PowerPC-partner then I'd wait. Seeming this is designed by Intel with way way more in debt experience making personal computers I wouldnt worry as much. The external casing is still basically a tried & tested Apple Albook so I wouldnt worry too much.
If you're a pro user with a need for native Adobe & Macromedia apps then I'd wait for the universal binaries that are expected late this year or 2008. By that time OS X 10.5 Leopard is expected to be out.
No everyone say to yourself Apple is just a companies not a God.
Schrodinger's Pixel (Score:4, Interesting)
Couldn't believe it - it was right in the centre of the screen aswell. Had to give it back to the client and knew he was going to blame me for it as I knew he had no understanding of the dp concept. Got to his place and said there's some bad news, there's a dead pixel and proceeded, after his obvious shock and dissapointment had settled down a little, to fire it up to show him. A miracle occoured and the pixel was 100% working again. I just couldn't believe it.
I mean what happened there? Was I touched by the hand of Jobs?
2 weeks later the pixel is still fine . . .
Anyone ever had this on a screen before I really would like to know.....
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
D? (Score:3, Interesting)
Buying a first generation Apple product is, in effect paying for the privilige of owning one of their "ready for the public" prototypes.
Seriously, look back in time through all major Apple releases - especially those since the NeXT takeover.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:5, Informative)
From then on, the 5200 had the reputation of the PowerBook that "caught fire", but there were no know or reported incidents.
I guess basically what I'm saying is this: you're lying, or trolling, or both. I kind of think you're trolling because you say it's "pretty embarrassing" to explain that. No it's not. It's not embarrassing at all. If your freaking laptop really did catch fire, it's not because of something you did. But since no consumer issues were logged for the PowerBook 5200 on this issue - and when verified, that is an *extremely serious issue* that requires action - I don't believe you.
Also, Apple has, over the years, maintained a fairly consistent number one position in initial quality, lack of need for repairs, and product support, according to Consumer Reports. This has been consistently maintained, and remains so to this day. Also, the iPod destroys your mass production argument.
Good troll, though. This could replace the "ok, so I'm sitting here and it's taking 17 minutes to copy a 4 meg file from my Power Mac G5" one!
Errata: PowerBook 5300 (Score:2)
There was no PowerBook 5200.
Re:Errata: PowerBook 5300 (Score:3, Interesting)
Also, since the apocryphal story about the 5300, there's been many production models of laptops with battery fire problems -- Dells, Sonys, HPs. It's not as big of a story as it was at one time.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2, Insightful)
I take it when you talk about repairs you're ignoring the software component of things. That was what undermined the company in the 1996-1999 timeframe. I doubt you'd try to seriously argue that OS8 and OS9 were quality products.
I hear what you're saying about the iPod, but I think
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2)
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2)
5200 you say? (Score:3, Informative)
Then again my 5200s are desktop all-in-ones.
You're thinking of the PowerBook 5300.
The only batteries that had problems were the Sony Li-Ion, which according to info at the time, caused two fires on the bench at Apple, but never caused a fire in any consumer machine.
And as it was a recall direct from Apple, I'm guessing you must have ignored it.
Yep, that would be embarrasing.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:5, Informative)
Huh? Where's the "fanboyness"?
Do some research and you will find that they have problems with almost every product they produce. This isn't unique to them. It's common.
Actually, I don't disagree with this at all. Considering I've been working with Apple products in varying capacities for over 22 years, I've seen *plenty* of problems, and publicly take Apple to task for various issues (e.g. 1 [apple.com], 2 [apple.com], 3 [apple.com], etc...and that's just from the last couple days.)
Apple products have problems, defects, and failures, like any other product.
The point I'm making is that they are no more perfect than anyone else so get over it. Overall they make good quality stuff but so do many other companies.
No, no one's "perfect". But Apple actually is better, statistically. By the measure of various consumer reporting organizations like Consumer reports, they are consistently (valid from a statistical standpoint) better than all other computer manufacturers in the categories of support, repairs, and quality in a quantifiable way. Someone's got to be the statistical best in these categories, and Apple is consistently it. Sorry to disappoint.
What of it? Is this guy not alowed to have a problem with his iBook without some fanboy flaming him?
Um, "a problem"? Catching on fire is "a problem"? No, it was a myth of epic proportions that never affected any shipped consumer units for which Apple suffered on its portable line for years afterward. See this post [slashdot.org] for numerous examples of proof of this.
Oh yeah, I forgot...clearly he must be a troll...
If the shoe fits...
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2)
So you're saying it's impossible I was one of those 100? I actually just checked it and found that the battery is clearly marked as a "Lithium Ion". So obviously mine didn't get recalled. You're right, it was a 5300, my bad. I'm going to post pix of it online to prove it to you. Course, you'll then just say that I lit it on fire with a lighter just now. So really I can't win. Tell me if you want the pix and I'll post them.
Also, I love your little rs
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:3, Insightful)
No. All of them got recalled. But whoever you bought it from obviously didn't return it.
I'm going to post pix of it online to prove it to you. Course, you'll then just say that I lit it on fire with a lighter just now. So really I can't win. Tell me if you want the pix and I'll post them.
No, if you have a LiIon 5300 that re
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:3, Insightful)
So their machines suddenly became useless? Ingenious!
You Mac fiends are such stupid goons. Your justifications are wonderful but just don't hold water.
Except that they do. I just explained to you specifically why PowerPC Macs will still be fine in an enterprise/institutional/professional environment, exactly as they were before the I
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:3, Insightful)
So all you care about is the value of the p
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2, Insightful)
"No, it was a myth of epic proportions that never affected any shipped consumer units for which Apple suffered on its portable line for years afterward. "
Uh-huh. And the first generation of Playstations didn't have heating problems despite claims to the contrary. Sony said so.
I'm not particularly criticizing Apple here, but I'm not going to dismiss a problem as a "myth" because a corporation says it's a myth. Other companies have done the same thing, denying actual problems with their products. And sim
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:5, Informative)
And I do know that because my job for the past 11 years has been to be intimately familiar with all Apple products, problems, business issues, etc., from all perspectives, supporting one of the top three largest institutional Apple sites in the world. The 5300 issue was a myth, period. It was the thing everyone asked about when they were thinking of buying an Apple laptop. "Oh, is this the one that catches on fire?" And the store staff would explain to them, no, there was an overheating/fire incident with a Sony LiIon battery in a 5300 in Apple's testing lab, and all LiIon 5300's were recalled. Every battery after that was NiMH. So, yeah, it was true that a 5300 "caught on fire". A prototype, in a lab. Tens of thousands were shipped, all but 100 without LiIon batteries, and even those LiIon units were all recalled, with no issues reported to regulators (except for the one person here claiming that it happened to him and that he "never reported it").
So, that's why it's a "myth". Because it is. Someone else summed it up nicely here [slashdot.org].
Also, I did ask him for proof, which he sidestepped by calling me a "stupid goon". I predict no such "proof" is forthcoming, but if it indeed exists, I told him I'd be more than interested in seeing it since it would be the first known actual 5300 fire incident in consumer hands, that conveniently was never reported to Apple or any regulatory or consumer agency, unearthed about a decade later.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2)
I call B.S. (Score:4, Interesting)
AFAIK there were only two incidents nationwide of the problem with the PB5300, and the same problem occurred with other makes of bleeding edge laptop at the time.
I guess you prefer a company that produces consistently sucky, unoriginal machines consistently over one that produces awesome machines with occasional exceptions. Heck a few bad products in twenty years is actually very good going. Indeed, it's a rare product that Apple produces that is critically acclaimed OR commercially successful (the new $99 leather iPod case being such a product).
I had a Powerbook 5300 and it sucked in many ways (mainly the hinge that held the screen up was wonky, as was the case with numerous other laptops I've owned or used), but it never caught fire.
Ah, that explains it. (Score:3, Funny)
Their products are beautiful and wonderful, but they never can get over that hump that other big companies surmount to being able to mass-produce a product while maintaining its greatness.
I was wondering why the iPod never really took off . . . That was a neat little music player. Such a shame.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:2, Interesting)
However, what's very interesting is how well they do given their technical incompetence relative to other companies. For example, despite the fact that iP
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:3, Insightful)
I'd place better odds on OS/2 coming back from the dead over MS getting over "the glitchy part" before Apple does.
Bullshit alert- 5300 fires A MYTH (Score:5, Informative)
A unit (ONE, 1, Uno) AT APPLE caught fire because the BATTERY MANUFACTURER (Hi Sony!) LIED about the specs of the Lithium Ion battery. ~1000 units had shipped to resellers and ~100 made it to customers, but Apple was able to get them ALL back. None of them caught fire except the lab unit.
http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/tidbits-295.htm l#lnk2
In short: 1)Apple's supplier was at fault, not Apple. 2)Apple caught the problem and acted immediately instead of waiting for consumers to discover the problem.
Seems like they did everything right, chief. Next time, troll harder.
Re:Reminds me of that sweet Powerbook 5200 (Score:4, Insightful)
Any little problem with their laptops is magnified because 1) Apple gets an inordinate amount of press, both good and bad 2) iBooks and Powerbooks outsell pretty much any other model of notebook out there.
It's true that Apple has a small percentage of the overall market, but they're pretty much as big as Dell or Gateway. I think they were 3rd last I checked. And they have fewer models than the other guys, so they sell more of the few models they do have.
Dell has like, fifty different laptops. If there's a problem with the Dell Latitude 43094.23B, you don't really hear much about it because it's only one of their many models. Apple only has one 15" MacBookPro. Thus the small problems are magnified.
Also remember that Apple uses the same manufacturers as the other guys. ASUS, Quanta, etc. I think a lot of people don't realize that. What, you think ASUS does a crappy job on their Mac contract but a vastly better job for Dell or Sony or whoever else they build for? That just doesn't make any sense.
I've used a variety of laptops over the years from Dell, Compaq, IBM and ASUS and they've all had little quirks at least as annoying as the ones that that the MacBook Pros apparently have.
Re:"5200?" Also, you're lying. (Score:2)
Well, the PowerBook 5300 did better than the Aluminum PowerBook G4 [nilzero.com]
Re:Speaking of replacing your Mac (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Speaking of replacing your Mac (Score:4, Informative)
If you're looking for something actually older that'll cost far below new, you can always check macofalltrades.com.
Re:will the new MacBook please stand up (Score:2)
Re:Story == BS (Score:2)
Most week 12 machines still have the problem.
I assume you wrote this because you perform tech support on newly-purchased Macs or in some other fashion have the inside scoop. Or are you gathering information about this in some other fashion?
I'm not saying you're wrong, because I don't know the truth of the matter myself. It would just be helpful to know on what basis you are making the statement that week 12 machines still have the problem.
Re:Story == BS (Score:3, Informative)
Re:But... but... but... QWZX (Score:5, Funny)
Re:a more appropriate response (Score:2)
We received about 15 MacBook Pros about two weeks ago. Luckily enough, there were just enough for us to distribute to the IT department and spare the rest of the company from beta testing new hardware.
Other than being unable to print from my Active Directory account because I used the Migration Assistant, and a screen bug that
Re:Don't they check their spelling and grammar? (Score:2)
Manufacturing defects? (Score:2, Interesting)
So far as I know, there are no design defects with the product. The problems seem to be assembly. Flickering displays and intermittent network connections could be something as simple as lousy soldering, for example. (Disclaimer: I have no special knowledge and am speculating.)
Things like that only happen once you start mass production.
Is it just me, or are a lot more companies having recalls recent
Re:i just don't get macs (Score:2)
First of all I will say you have some legimate gripes with the power adaptor and the keys leaving marks on the screen. It's obviously too late now because I'm sure your Titanium PowerBook is out of warranty but you could have gotten the power adaptor replaced for free. Some time after the Aluminum PowerBooks (AlBooks) came out Apple changed the plug design a bit to include strain relief. I believe the marks on the screen though are not rubber but are skin oils. Apple also corrected this with the AlBooks