Senior Member
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I'm getting to the point where I feel that it may be necessary for me to dump my MacBook and switch back to a Windows based solution.
Firstly, I'm moving between unsatisified/disappointed and appalled with regards to the quality of the MacBook. Not only is my MacBook hot enough to fry an egg on (not quite, but it does get very, very warm) but it has developed some discolouration on the bottom surfaces and some scratching elsewhere. To add to this, my MacBook is also suffering from the well documented cracking on the top case beneath the keyboard, where the risers from the screen touch the bottom part. This has resulted in a nasty looking crack around 2 inches long that I don't like at all. Personally I feel that this is unacceptable from a nearly 2500 dollar (New Zealand) computer. I am at a loss to explain why Apple created a white notebook computer. This thing shows dirt like a bitch and there are few ingrained things that just don't come out - near the top of the screen is something that looks like iron filings. It's been there for months and does not come off. Though I am kind of pleased and surprised with how it's held up with regards to being white, I thought it would be much dirtier, much faster. Second I'm realising more and more that I need Windows for stuff. I can get access to Adobe CS3 for Windows, but not for Mac and Adobe refuses to switch the licenses out due to them being volume issued or something like that. My school is entirely Windows based, and it's a lot easier from a student's point of view just to use Windows - Macs aren't actually allowed on our network due to supposed (read: bullshit) "compatibility issues". I also like to play a few games here and there which are Windows based. Using Boot Camp is an option, but the MacBook's performance isn't really up to scratch. I like My MacBook for the most part, but it definitely has some major drawbacks. The fact that I can get a better specced Windows laptop for half the price of my MacBook really pisses me off too. For an extra $1000 I get OS X, is that really worth it? I'm not sure what the point of this thread was, I guess I'm looking for advice on my situation. I wonder if I can use the discolouration and cracking as a reason to return the MacBook for a refund? Going to a certified support centre to get it fixed is a lot of extra cost and work for me. Sending it away for a month isn't really acceptable either. Any ideas? |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Maybe AppleCare is vastly different down almost under, but my turnaround on laptop repairs is about 3-5 days, from the time I box it up to the time I unbox it. One time I was without it one business day. Send it out Tue night, got it back Thu morning, repaired.
If the crack is from a known issue, it should be covered. |
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Senior Member
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Sending it in meant that it would go first to somewhere in New Zealand and then to Australia to be fixed. That would take a couple of days and then it would be sent back. Two weeks in transit approximately and a few days to fix it, they said. I can't be without my precious laptop . |
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*AD SPACE FOR SALE*
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cleveland-ish, OH
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Senior Member
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*AD SPACE FOR SALE*
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cleveland-ish, OH
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Veteran Member
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So you're basing your hatred of Apple on the fact that you are too scared to send it off for repair? What are they supposed to do then?
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Long story short, they replaced the keyboard, top case, trackpad and some other components. For free. As part of AppleCare coverage. For a machine that's nearing two and a half years of age. Not that there was anything wrong with those components; they simply started showing their age (admittedly, I hadn't been keeping it squeaky clean all the time, and I also use it on average 10-12 hours a day, each day, so wear and tear did happen). Maybe AppleCare isn't quite as good over there, but you should give it a shot nonetheless. Discoloration sounds to me like a problem they might address. Quote:
What is Apple to do about your schools' policies, really? As for games, few laptops in the price range of MacBooks have dedicated graphics cards. Yes, the lowest-end laptops with graphics cards are significantly cheaper than MacBook Pros, but they also don't have the same build quality, and they'd be completely unsuitable for your main use: school. They're heavy, thick, loud, and have low battery life. Quote:
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Guys, I don't hate Apple.
I love my MacBook, I love OS X and I really like Apple. I just don't particularly like some things about my MacBook. Having said that, buying a Windows laptop and going back to the Borg really is a scary thought. Apple is definitely not to blame for my school's crappy IT policies. I was just saying that having a Windows laptop would make it much easier for me to get on at school. It's a convenience and necessity thing. Farenheit, as I said I have no hatred of Apple. I just dislike the obscene heat, discoloration and cracking I have experienced with my MacBook. Other than that, I love Apple and their products. I don't expect Apple to do anything - they've offered to do what I expected and that's fine with me. It's my own problems that prevent me from using their service, not Apple's fault at all. I'm not to scared to send it off for repair - I'm not able to send it off for repair. This MacBook is used for school stuff and work stuff, I can't afford to have no laptop for two or three weeks while it is repaired. I also can't financially or timewise afford to travel out of town twice to get it repaired. Chucker, I have no doubt that AppleCare's service would be excellent. I know for a fact that it is, having had my broken iPod headphones replaced free of charge when it was my fault they were broken. Apple has agreed that my issues are warranty ones and they will cover them for free. I just can't afford to have the repairs done. I'm a bit stuck as I don't want to give my MacBook up but it looks to me as if I might have to |
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Have you considered renting a laptop while the MacBook is off for repair? Are you sure it'll take "two or three weeks"? It's usually a matter of days here…
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geri to my friends
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Heaven
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Can you borrow/use a friends machine while yours is away?
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Two or three weeks was the estimate I was given. It's a great idea, but unlikely to be successful. Thanks anyway geri. |
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Whenever I have had repairs to made in NZ it has taken hours. I just drop it in in the morning and then pick it up at my leisure some time later in the day. All through applecare. I guess I am lucky that I live near many authorised dealers and repairers.
But good luck with the borg.... Angels bleed from the tainted touch of my caress |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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If you live in a place that might cause two or three-week repair turnarounds, then you will always have the current problem when repairs are needed. You will either need to rent a substitute laptop or buy a back-up, so that you will always be covered when repair situations arise. Right? I hope you can find a rental. |
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Lovable Bastard
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston-ish
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I'll sound off with a less popular opinion: if you need Windows, you need Windows. It sounds like your school is totally unsupportive of Mac OS X, in the same boat, I'd be considering a PC laptop as well. (Luckily, my school embraces Apple. In fact, I'm the Campus Rep )
But... don't fall prey to the "better speced laptop for half as much" myth! It may be better speced but if it costs that much less than the MacBook and has better specs, the build quality is probably awful. Spend a little more and get yourself an XPS, or better yet, a ThinkPad. If you do buy a PC, hang on to the receipt. Logic, logic, logic. Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end. |
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Going Strange...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Sounds like he's more displeased about the build and service. |
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ಠ_ರೃ
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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I held off posting in this thread since you probably know my opinion anyway, but just to clarify... what you need to do is analyze the situation and determine how much OS X really helps you. That's what I did when it came time to decide whether I wanted to stay with it or not. In the end, I decided that while I like OS X, it wasn't good enough to justify the added expense. Windows still works just fine, contrary to what many people here believe.
It's just a series of trade offs. With OS X, you have an OS that you like and are familiar with, and you still have the option of using Windows. But with the added problems of servicing it, having a Mac is less convenient. Does that totally balance out the advantage of having OS X? It's up to you. |
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Lovable Bastard
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston-ish
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Sounds like he wanted a real GPU, too. And even if that wasn't the case, keeping a Mac around to use it exclusively for Windows seems a little silly, yes?
Logic, logic, logic. Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end. |
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Going Strange...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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And he already owns the MacBook. |
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ಠ_ರೃ
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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2. Convenience issue. If you have to use Windows for work but want to use OS X at home, you have to reboot twice every day (minimum). More if you have to do work stuff at home or if you want to boot into Windows to play games. 3. Servicing. If AppleCare has really bad support in New Zealand, having to wait a few weeks to get your computer back is unacceptable. However, this can only be a factor if you buy from a company that is known to have good warranty service in NZ. That might be difficult, but some Google research will probably help you out. |
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Going Strange...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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ಠ_ರೃ
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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Basically, the difference between what we're saying is that you're saying that for him to buy a new computer, he should have a good reason to do so (which I agree with). I'm saying, he already has a good reason to do so, and he has to decide whether it's a good enough reason to move on it. My argument is: - It's not worth putting up with crappy slow AppleCare service for the MacBook. - Get it fixed and then sell it while it's still worth something and before the 1-year warranty runs out. - Replace it with a notebook whose company provides quick support to customers in New Zealand. In the end, only iFerret can decide what he wants to do. All we can do is lay out the facts for him and help him understand what the situation will be. |
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Lovable Bastard
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston-ish
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Also, sounds to me like he would be selling the MacBook to help pay for the PC laptop. |
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Senior Member
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Thanks guys .
Going into the store I bought it from today to see what they say. Last edited by iFerret : 2008-09-28 at 19:50. |
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Senior Member
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Okay, shop sending it to Renaissance/Apple today or tomorrow.
Will be without my lappy for 15 working days at least It really has to be done though, as both sides of the palmrests have cracked and the top of the screen bezel is cracking now too. The glossy coating on the screen has also developed some defects - bubbling and scratching and that sort of thing. |
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Senior Member
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Well I got my computer back yesterday and can conclude that Renaissance (who provide technical servies like repairs for Apple in NZ) are an extremely useless company.
They rang a week or two after the MacBook got sent in to say they were waiting for authorisation form Apple to do the repairs (Apple had indicated previously to me and Renaissance that it was warranty covered) and told me to ring Apple Australia to get them to hurry it up a bit. I did so and was told Renaissance had not requested anything, no notes had been made and no authorisations asked for or given. Anyway, after Apple got involved things sped up a lot and I now have the MacBook back which is excellent. They replaced the top case, screen bezel and even the battery. The battery didn't seem to have any problems though. Unfortunately not all is well - the new battery seems to have about half the battery life under pretty much the same usage conditions. Furthermore, the screen bezel doesn't seem to have been applied very well as it is coming off in the corners. Looks like shit. I also found food crumbs in the laptop, which I don't think were mine. I don't know whether to just live with it or take it back again... |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta
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I'd take it back again
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M AH - ch ain saw
Join Date: May 2004
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Oh I think I will call Apple.
Some customer service guy gave me his number, so I'll give him a call on Tuesday (Monday is a public holiday, he doesn't work weekends). Thanks guys. |
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