Apple acknowledges MacBook random shutdown problem

Oh, Apple, must you be so coy? For those of you who haven't been keeping score at home, since their debut, some folks have reported that their MacBooks are turning off completely out of the blue, which is, erm, bad. Over at TUAW, they've been chronicling this problem for the last few weeks and have posted a possible explanation to this problem's cause, and an unofficial test to see if your MacBook might be susceptible. Today, TUAW informs us of Apple's first official comment on the issue: "If your MacBook is shutting down intermittently, please contact AppleCare for service." Thanks, Apple -- that's about as helpful as telling us to remove our hand from an exploding PowerBook battery.

[Via TUAW]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 5:51PM]

Is it just me, or is Apple having a LOT of problems these days. Everytime I turn around, they're having another problem with this or that.

So much for superior technology. And although their OS and software are great, their computer hardware (especially their laptops) is completely uninspiring to me.

In the meantime, I think Apple is in dire need of some additional quality control.

Maybe they should just focus on Ipods and writing software for the PC market (more money for them).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 11:52PM]

Apple makes cheap junk and all other PC manufacturers are superior and their stuff always works. You never need to get a PC fixed. And PC companies are always trying new designs. And viruses are not a problem. And it's much better to build your own PC. And Windows is beautiful.

Oh, yeah, and Apple sux.

waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 7th 2007 2:30AM]

Wow, everything you just said is exactly the opposite. That's really cool how you provided a reverse hidden message. At first I thought you were actually serious! You got me....go Apple.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 11:24PM]

Exactly, Keith. I'm glad you finally came to the truth.

But seriously, you need to relax. I think you must have had a forehead vein pop out while you wrote that. Keep that up, and your head will explode from the pressure. The truth is, Apple IS having a lot of problems lately.

To address a couple of things you mentioned, of course, PC's wouldn't have to deal with viruses quite as much if the PC industry would get rid of all their business and TAKE A POWER PLUNGE clear down to a 3-4% market share... you know, kinda like Apple. Viruses are the price you pay for utilizing the most popular computer product on the planet. And you can blame the losers who write viruses and spread them around for all that, not the PC industry. Blaming PC's for what virus spreaders do would be like blaming Honda for people who steal them and commit vehicular homicide. Duh. Of course, we can always use Apple laptops with the mooing fans, or the unpredictable shutdowns, or the explosions, or, or, or...

I just don't like Apple's computer hardware. It's boring to me, terrible quality on their dull LCD screens, their desktops are barely upgradeable (except for their tower - and even that has more limits than a PC), and their laptops are missing things that you can find anywhere on even the ultraportable PC laptops (Cardbus slot, multicard reader? (And more...) Hello?). Look at the Sony SZ portables - they smear these stupid MacBook Pros in terms of quality and features every day of the week.

I see all sorts of new designs from PC manufacturers, so what the grunt are you talking about? Which of course, would make sense considering that Apple is the only Apple manufacturer on earth and PC manufacturers are a dime a dozen.

And you're wrong when you say that Apple makes cheap junk. It's certainly NOT cheap. It's some of the most expensive junk on the market.

And yes, it IS much better to be able to build a computer if you can. And yes, Windows IS beautiful. And yes, Apple does suck - sometimes.

Have a nice day!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2006 11:41AM]

My G4 powerbook lasted one year before it broke and nobody at apple could fix the problem-would'nt start up, completely lost it's operating system. Eight repairs, a motherboard and five hard disks later I decided enough was enough. With the derisory compensation I received I replaced it with a MacBook-now, four months after buying that I have the opposite problem-starts up fine but shuts down at random.Its the i-pod nano battery problem all over again and Apple should hold their hands up and admit that YES-this is a problem and let us know how they can fix it. My local apple store say that "We've not had many MacBooks come back with a problem, overall they seem to be a stable unit"

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2006 12:28PM]

i cant afford to send mine off, it works fine as a desktop but once i try to run off the battery it starts shutting down, same when charging. so basicly i have a discolored laptop that isnt portable... i dropped like 3 months of savings on this laptop. and they wont replace it after not even having it for 6 months. !!! if i were to send it in i would get a new palmrest, logicboard,heatsink,trackpad. just give me a new computer, i cant afford to not have any computer for a month

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 1st 2006 4:53AM]

I think this issue occured through out the world, where Macbook sold. I am Thai and purchased it about 3 months. After the notebook kept shutting down, I went to the store and they said, it happened with the first shipped of Macbook to Thailand. While I sent my email and requested for the new notbook for replacement which the owner refused. They replaced the logic board for me instead, after almost a week afterward. However, that was not the only thing that upset me, they also don't taking good care of their customers' properties. Since when I took back the repaired notebook, it turned out that my notebook was so grossy as well as there were scratched at the bottom of my notebook. I am very positive that I didn't caused that since I left it on my desk and used it during night before I went to bed. So I went back to the store manager and explained the situation, his statement had turned me outrages. He said, since he saw that the keyboard looked very dirty and yellowish to him, then he believed that because it was heavily used. So I just left the store. This is one of the worst decision of my life to decide change from PC to Apple. Not to mention about their none of services mind. I wish I have never decided to sell my PC and bought this notebook.

[Intellectualdiot Posted Oct 26th 2006 8:43PM]

Do you people ALWAYS have to bring your infantile agendas into articles such as these? Some seem content to write off MacBook problems (and for that matter, any detractions that can be aimed towards Apple in general) as insignificant and overglorified while others are firmly entrenched in the "look how the mighty have fallen!" Windows-fanboy tinged condemnation. I hate to decry such a crucial (and apparently unavoidable) part of any article regarding Apple's wares, but is either side planning on shutting the hell up anytime soon?

No rush or anything, I'm just wondering.

[eddieexe Posted Apr 18th 2007 5:51PM]

@Camperton

100,000 is too high. more like 2 out of 5.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2007 12:14PM]

I just bought a macbook 2 ghz and it still has the shutting down issue... If I would have known this I wouldn't have bought one.

[eddieexe Posted May 8th 2007 11:04PM]

It's nothing new. I've heard about it with old macs too. You should just call Apple about it. They're really nice about this stuff.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 20th 2007 11:28AM]

Jeez... I've had my Black MacBook (1st Gen) For easily over a year now and never had a single problem with it. I often use it for non-intensive audio / video editing and capture. You guys really need to calm down and just work with what suits your taste and productivity better!