Comments on: Some MacBooks have premature age spots
After a few weeks, mystery stains appear on some white laptops, and owners band together to get Apple's help.
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http://www.techknowcafe.com/content/view/336/42/
http://www.techknowcafe.com/content/view/336/42/
Two week to exchange cases is an abhorrent amount of time for any service, but for exchanging something, it is a crime. Apple should send the case to the nearest Apple store (like the one he bought it from, DUH) and have the case exchanged there. I don't know it they have "factory seals" for warranty purposes but if so, just send one with the case. anyone who knows how to use a screwdriver should be able to figure out how to apply a self-sticky warranty seal!
If it takes half an hour to remove and replace the case then they should either fire the guy who doesn't know which end of the screwdriver to use or Apple should fire the designers of the product.
In either case the guy should get his computer back after drinking two cups of coffee not after returning from a two week vacation.
As for your take on when to buy a product... All I can say is it is a good thing such stupid ideas aren't taken seriously by anyone not being chased by men in white coats, because if everyone had such an idiotic philosophy nothing would ever be bought EVER... since they would be waiting for first run of products to be bought by people who don't deserve a good version of the product.
I do not believe having to wait 2 weeks is acceptable for something as widespread as this, especially if you are in a large metropolitan area where you will find a concentration of affected computers. I believe Apple needs to take action to correct the problems in a timely manner. Having to mail back to apple with a 2 week turnaround time is not acceptable. If your city has a store, there is no reason why that store couldn't have that laptop back to you within a day or two, repaired... if Apple would do this. If not, then perhaps you should take lack of quality combined with unacceptable service into consideration the next time you buy a computer.
My experience includes repairing several thousand laptops for different computer makers, many of which were waranty work. I have similar experience with desktops where I have opened up over 10,000 for repair. I have seen similar circumstances where computers have been recalled by different PC makers for various issues, so don't think apple is the only one who has had problems before, they all do. From my observations, Apple has had too many major problems with laptops recently compared to other computer makers.
No doubt someone will respond to this post... someone who ownes an apple but has never removed a single screw from the case. If you want my respect on this matter, they you better be someone on the front lines, fixing computers and not an armchair, couch potatoe who can't even reset a bios on a laptop without turning it on.
Two week to exchange cases is an abhorrent amount of time for any service, but for exchanging something, it is a crime. Apple should send the case to the nearest Apple store (like the one he bought it from, DUH) and have the case exchanged there. I don't know it they have "factory seals" for warranty purposes but if so, just send one with the case. anyone who knows how to use a screwdriver should be able to figure out how to apply a self-sticky warranty seal!
If it takes half an hour to remove and replace the case then they should either fire the guy who doesn't know which end of the screwdriver to use or Apple should fire the designers of the product.
In either case the guy should get his computer back after drinking two cups of coffee not after returning from a two week vacation.
As for your take on when to buy a product... All I can say is it is a good thing such stupid ideas aren't taken seriously by anyone not being chased by men in white coats, because if everyone had such an idiotic philosophy nothing would ever be bought EVER... since they would be waiting for first run of products to be bought by people who don't deserve a good version of the product.
I do not believe having to wait 2 weeks is acceptable for something as widespread as this, especially if you are in a large metropolitan area where you will find a concentration of affected computers. I believe Apple needs to take action to correct the problems in a timely manner. Having to mail back to apple with a 2 week turnaround time is not acceptable. If your city has a store, there is no reason why that store couldn't have that laptop back to you within a day or two, repaired... if Apple would do this. If not, then perhaps you should take lack of quality combined with unacceptable service into consideration the next time you buy a computer.
My experience includes repairing several thousand laptops for different computer makers, many of which were waranty work. I have similar experience with desktops where I have opened up over 10,000 for repair. I have seen similar circumstances where computers have been recalled by different PC makers for various issues, so don't think apple is the only one who has had problems before, they all do. From my observations, Apple has had too many major problems with laptops recently compared to other computer makers.
No doubt someone will respond to this post... someone who ownes an apple but has never removed a single screw from the case. If you want my respect on this matter, they you better be someone on the front lines, fixing computers and not an armchair, couch potatoe who can't even reset a bios on a laptop without turning it on.
Next thing Jordan is going to tell us all is that the Chinese are no longer Communists and that ALL the profits we are supplying them with are not going into the military.
wookie
Next thing Jordan is going to tell us all is that the Chinese are no longer Communists and that ALL the profits we are supplying them with are not going into the military.
wookie
That appears to be some sort of cop-out no matter how he is describing the situation because tomorrow a hardware component might go and he will have to submit his laptop to Apple for fixing, and also be without it for a period of time. If the discolouration problem is a big enough issue, he can find the time to do it. And yes, do it while you have the offer on the table from Apple. Other people seem to be having a very tough time getting Apple to respond.
1month old machine, then they will see!!
There's been just one thing stopping me from sueing apple to
the customer protection authorities in spain, and that is they
provided a solution, not the best one, but a solution
nonetheless.
Regarding the time issue.. it's true.. i had a conference last
week, have to give a speech and a presentation on july 18th and
then i have some more importatnt work going on the week
after... so it's just impossible for me to get the macbook
repaired anytime soon.
By the way: i'm munoz-olaya :)
I do not believe having to wait 2 weeks is acceptable for something as widespread as this, especially if you are in a large metropolitan area where you will find a concentration of affected computers. I believe Apple needs to take action to correct the problems in a timely manner. Having to mail back to apple with a 2 week turnaround time is not acceptable. If your city has a store, there is no reason why that store couldn't have that laptop back to you within a day or two, repaired... if Apple would do this. If not, then perhaps you should take lack of quality combined with unacceptable service into consideration the next time you buy a computer.
My experience includes repairing several thousand laptops for different computer makers, many of which were waranty work. I have similar experience with desktops where I have opened up over 10,000 for repair. I have seen similar circumstances where computers have been recalled by different PC makers for various issues, so don't think apple is the only one who has had problems before, they all do. From my observations, Apple has had too many major problems with laptops recently compared to other computer makers.
No doubt someone will respond to this post... someone who ownes an apple but has never removed a single screw from the case. If you want my respect on this matter, they you better be someone on the front lines, fixing computers and not an armchair, couch potatoe who can't even reset a bios on a laptop without turning it on.
That appears to be some sort of cop-out no matter how he is describing the situation because tomorrow a hardware component might go and he will have to submit his laptop to Apple for fixing, and also be without it for a period of time. If the discolouration problem is a big enough issue, he can find the time to do it. And yes, do it while you have the offer on the table from Apple. Other people seem to be having a very tough time getting Apple to respond.
1month old machine, then they will see!!
There's been just one thing stopping me from sueing apple to
the customer protection authorities in spain, and that is they
provided a solution, not the best one, but a solution
nonetheless.
Regarding the time issue.. it's true.. i had a conference last
week, have to give a speech and a presentation on july 18th and
then i have some more importatnt work going on the week
after... so it's just impossible for me to get the macbook
repaired anytime soon.
By the way: i'm munoz-olaya :)
I do not believe having to wait 2 weeks is acceptable for something as widespread as this, especially if you are in a large metropolitan area where you will find a concentration of affected computers. I believe Apple needs to take action to correct the problems in a timely manner. Having to mail back to apple with a 2 week turnaround time is not acceptable. If your city has a store, there is no reason why that store couldn't have that laptop back to you within a day or two, repaired... if Apple would do this. If not, then perhaps you should take lack of quality combined with unacceptable service into consideration the next time you buy a computer.
My experience includes repairing several thousand laptops for different computer makers, many of which were waranty work. I have similar experience with desktops where I have opened up over 10,000 for repair. I have seen similar circumstances where computers have been recalled by different PC makers for various issues, so don't think apple is the only one who has had problems before, they all do. From my observations, Apple has had too many major problems with laptops recently compared to other computer makers.
No doubt someone will respond to this post... someone who ownes an apple but has never removed a single screw from the case. If you want my respect on this matter, they you better be someone on the front lines, fixing computers and not an armchair, couch potatoe who can't even reset a bios on a laptop without turning it on.
(white) and I bought it mack on 5/22. I don't have any of these
discoloration issues, at all.
In looking at these pictures, this discoloration looks like dirt. I
know they say they can't clean them, but if the issues was really
with the plastic, more areas woul dbe discolored. As I see it, It's
only discolored in the places where their hands rested and
fingers touched the track pad and button.
Perhaps some people just have corosive disgusting skin. I don't
know, but I think it's a user issue.
plastice has been around long enough to develop stain resistant
plastic.
The first MacBook I saw in the Seattle Apple store had dirty
looking plam rests. I dismissed it as just the hazzard of being a
floor model. But maybe the plastic used is some kind of dirt
magnet. Why can't Apple just use the same plastic for the
keyboard side as they do with the outsides of the case? They
certainly have enough expertise with the iPod's plastic - should
be a no-brainer.
and there is not a mark on it. Besides is it not the same white
plastic that was used on the iBooks. I too think it's a user issue.
Wash your freakin' hands people!
Stupid stupid stupid insecure stupid pc owners.
(white) and I bought it mack on 5/22. I don't have any of these
discoloration issues, at all.
In looking at these pictures, this discoloration looks like dirt. I
know they say they can't clean them, but if the issues was really
with the plastic, more areas woul dbe discolored. As I see it, It's
only discolored in the places where their hands rested and
fingers touched the track pad and button.
Perhaps some people just have corosive disgusting skin. I don't
know, but I think it's a user issue.
plastice has been around long enough to develop stain resistant
plastic.
The first MacBook I saw in the Seattle Apple store had dirty
looking plam rests. I dismissed it as just the hazzard of being a
floor model. But maybe the plastic used is some kind of dirt
magnet. Why can't Apple just use the same plastic for the
keyboard side as they do with the outsides of the case? They
certainly have enough expertise with the iPod's plastic - should
be a no-brainer.
and there is not a mark on it. Besides is it not the same white
plastic that was used on the iBooks. I too think it's a user issue.
Wash your freakin' hands people!
Stupid stupid stupid insecure stupid pc owners.
It's possible that there is some variation in the quality of some of the batches of plastic being used for the cases, but that means they screwed up on due diligence with their supplier(s). Otherwise, if 20% of users really are having this problem due to their body chemistry (which is entirely plausible - my wife has aqueous nervosa, profusely sweating hands much of the time, and the salt alone causes all sorts of havoc with objects she handles), then the case material most likely wasn't adequately tested with a wide enough variety of users (if at all). Apple used to have every non-technical new hire try out its products in development (before they gained inside knowledge), usability engineers would videotape the users doing so, and then go back and interview them to find out why they did unexpected things, among other purposes. This is one of many reasons that their products generally have been such a hit with customers in the general population, who actually get a chance to try them out (one of the most important reasons for the Apple stores is so that new customers can do just that).
The plastic used for the keyboard is almost certainly not appropriate for the case (which has been a very expensive polycarbonate, in earlier models, and may have been replaced by a cheaper material, such as a polystyrene used in many low-end PCs - what plastic airplane and ship models are made from). Apple does climb out on limbs and starts sawing away at them at the trunk by doing things like making laptops out of white plastic, G4 Titanium PowerBooks with highly-vulnerable hinges made from extremely brittle castings with tiny-cross-sections, iPod Nano screens made from highly-scratchable clear plastic, and G4 Cube cases from plastic that seems to develop microcracks, among other faux pas.
As Apple continues down the path of making Macs more and more like PCs at the lower price points, I suppose the quality is doomed to follow down-slope, too. They certainly won't be able to afford to replace/repair very many machines as the prices dwindle, so expect them to get even more ornery about replacements/repairs than they have already been.
Let's see what Apple does - the standard disclaimers whenever someone points out a flaw are getting a bit tiresome, though.
All the Best,
Joe Blow
It's possible that there is some variation in the quality of some of the batches of plastic being used for the cases, but that means they screwed up on due diligence with their supplier(s). Otherwise, if 20% of users really are having this problem due to their body chemistry (which is entirely plausible - my wife has aqueous nervosa, profusely sweating hands much of the time, and the salt alone causes all sorts of havoc with objects she handles), then the case material most likely wasn't adequately tested with a wide enough variety of users (if at all). Apple used to have every non-technical new hire try out its products in development (before they gained inside knowledge), usability engineers would videotape the users doing so, and then go back and interview them to find out why they did unexpected things, among other purposes. This is one of many reasons that their products generally have been such a hit with customers in the general population, who actually get a chance to try them out (one of the most important reasons for the Apple stores is so that new customers can do just that).
The plastic used for the keyboard is almost certainly not appropriate for the case (which has been a very expensive polycarbonate, in earlier models, and may have been replaced by a cheaper material, such as a polystyrene used in many low-end PCs - what plastic airplane and ship models are made from). Apple does climb out on limbs and starts sawing away at them at the trunk by doing things like making laptops out of white plastic, G4 Titanium PowerBooks with highly-vulnerable hinges made from extremely brittle castings with tiny-cross-sections, iPod Nano screens made from highly-scratchable clear plastic, and G4 Cube cases from plastic that seems to develop microcracks, among other faux pas.
As Apple continues down the path of making Macs more and more like PCs at the lower price points, I suppose the quality is doomed to follow down-slope, too. They certainly won't be able to afford to replace/repair very many machines as the prices dwindle, so expect them to get even more ornery about replacements/repairs than they have already been.
Let's see what Apple does - the standard disclaimers whenever someone points out a flaw are getting a bit tiresome, though.
All the Best,
Joe Blow
scratch like crazy..
Then we have the Imac G5 power issues.. with it going to sleep
prematurely..
Now we have the Macbook and its warn out white finish..
What next?
Can someone tell me what Jonathan Ive is thinking??
Is he suffering cheap material for design or what??
Jonathan we can do without the shiny finish okay.. just give us
durable please... I hope to see it in you next line of portable
devices or suffer my commentary..
the percentage of early reports, and by one statement made by
Apple, there are some issues with the plastic formulation that some
fabs are using. Ive specifies the kind of plastic to be used. The
power supply issues you mention? Not Ive.
Did you nano scratch?
scratch like crazy..
Then we have the Imac G5 power issues.. with it going to sleep
prematurely..
Now we have the Macbook and its warn out white finish..
What next?
Can someone tell me what Jonathan Ive is thinking??
Is he suffering cheap material for design or what??
Jonathan we can do without the shiny finish okay.. just give us
durable please... I hope to see it in you next line of portable
devices or suffer my commentary..
the percentage of early reports, and by one statement made by
Apple, there are some issues with the plastic formulation that some
fabs are using. Ive specifies the kind of plastic to be used. The
power supply issues you mention? Not Ive.
Did you nano scratch?
computer must be computer ignorant, which is why they buy
Apple in the first place."
You couldn't be more wrong. Its not ignorance that draws people
to Apple's computers. Its the whole fact that there is a far better
option as oppose to using just Windows.
Also, Apple wasn't the first to introduce colour to a computer's
enclosure. Thats agruable and left for historians to decide, but
i'm sure they're one of the first to recognize that Industrial
design is just as important as using a computer. If you have
used Mac OS X, then you would know that Apple means
business, and that its not just about the colour of the enclosure
of a computer's case. Its about who makes the best platform in
terms of useability which they have already covered with Mac OS
X and who makes the best computer from an engineering
standpoint which Apple gets high marks for.
What computer company or software company can claim that?
Only Apple.
anything about computers. Obviously, you have never used one (or
if you have you didn't kow what you were doing). If you want a
computer to read e-mail, type memos and crash every other
day...buy a PC. If you want a computer that can run media rich
content (graphic design, digital photography, movie editing, etc...)
and run endlessly without crashing once...buy a Mac.
computer must be computer ignorant, which is why they buy
Apple in the first place."
You couldn't be more wrong. Its not ignorance that draws people
to Apple's computers. Its the whole fact that there is a far better
option as oppose to using just Windows.
Also, Apple wasn't the first to introduce colour to a computer's
enclosure. Thats agruable and left for historians to decide, but
i'm sure they're one of the first to recognize that Industrial
design is just as important as using a computer. If you have
used Mac OS X, then you would know that Apple means
business, and that its not just about the colour of the enclosure
of a computer's case. Its about who makes the best platform in
terms of useability which they have already covered with Mac OS
X and who makes the best computer from an engineering
standpoint which Apple gets high marks for.
What computer company or software company can claim that?
Only Apple.
anything about computers. Obviously, you have never used one (or
if you have you didn't kow what you were doing). If you want a
computer to read e-mail, type memos and crash every other
day...buy a PC. If you want a computer that can run media rich
content (graphic design, digital photography, movie editing, etc...)
and run endlessly without crashing once...buy a Mac.
Richard Quick
www.richardquickdesign.com
- Hope it ain't as bad as my Nano
- by richardfquick July 2, 2006 6:32 PM PDT
- That sucks.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 2 pages (144 Comments)Richard Quick
www.richardquickdesign.com