Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro screens subject of class-action lawsuit
By Ryan Block 
posted May 18th 2007 8:01AM
posted May 18th 2007 8:01AM
Looks like Apple is about to face its next date in court: a San Diego filing by private citizens Fred Greaves and Dave Gatley calls for a class-action lawsuit, accusing Cupertino of deceptive advertising with regard to the displays on its MacBook and MacBook Pro machines -- specifically alleging Apple's screens aren't nearly as good as they were advertised to be. Citing observances that MacBook (Pro) displays are too often "grainy" and "sparkly", that Apple uses dithering to achieve higher color depths than is feasible for the equipment, and that apparently customers seeking repair or replacement were rebuffed, even "chastised" by rogue Geniuses, telling users they are "too picky about... the quality of the display." So, will this lawsuit blend? Time -- but mostly lawyers -- will tell. [Warning: PDF link]
william,
Get bent you moron. This isn't a rumor. Click read to see the documentation. Fanbois need to be taken out and shot. They contribute nothing to society at large other then being a fucking lemming willing to run off a cliff for a brand. People like you who have no higher bring functions make me sick.
I was thinking about getting a macbook, but with all of the cracking and poor quality of the exterior... and now this, forget it.
Really? Why don't you base your buying decisions on objective information instead of rumours en often exaggerated reports of failures?
We have both a MBP and black Macbook here and we couldn't be happier. So rest assured, at least some units work as advertised!
Don't fool yourself. Apple makes the best laptops around. Best software too. APPLE FOR LIFE!
Bloody money thieving minks!!
I hate it when folk do stuff like this, why dont they just send it back and get a refund or get it replaced?? "No, lets sue and see how much money we can make" when 90% of the time they get nothing.
...really, what is the point? a** hol*s
to droopy1592 ...
btw get a mac, beautiful machines! love mine macbook to bits!! and so does the other 99% of there owners.
yes there is a minority of faulty ones but if you buy your macbook brand new, i seriously doubt you will get any problems!! once you use osx for the first time....your hooked :)
Any company that calls it's sales rep 'geniuses' is full of shit.
You apparently are a PC fanboy. If you've never dealt with Apple support in the stores, how would you know? They are some of the best techs in the business.
"Any company that calls it's sales rep 'geniuses' is full of shit."
Cupajo,
Well its a good thing then that geniuses aren't sales reps. Oh but you would know that if you had even the most vaguest idea of what the hell you were talking about. I love the net. You don't need to be an expert at anything to talk shit about something. *slams head into keyboard*
yeah, i've never heard of this problem... and the reason you don't hear more good stuff is that people don't post about how great something is, only problems
Let me be the first to tell you that this problem is real then. I have a huge bright band at the bottom of my C2D MBP 17", and Apple keeps telling me it's 'in-spec' even though I've never seen ANY laptop with such a wide backlight band.
Slug,
The point of the lawsuit is that Apple wouldn't replace the screens or give refunds. If you read through the lawsuit, you'll see that many people tried to get Apple to do the right thing but failed. If you ever have to deal with a repair at Apple, you'll know what they're talking about.
Obviously, based on his grammar, slug don't read too good.
@ Matt
>If you ever have to deal with a repair at Apple, you'll know what they're talking about.
Not me. I returned a Powerbook to Apple because the HD didn't work (it had slipped down from the washing machine and fallen on a corner..)
They returned it, repaired of course (new HD) within 3 days.
I had 2 shuffles (1st gen.) that had the same funky problem (and in retrospect I could have solved it, but I never read the manual). Got 2 new ones at the genius bar within 3 minutes.
Friend had the 1st gen. 17" and problems with the monitor. After 2 replacements, Apple gave him a new machine.
PS, Sounds like a lot of devices, but I think I have or had about 15 macs and 25 ipods by now.
idk, i've always had great response from apple. I was unlucky with an ipod photo, i had to send it in 5 times. well on the last time, it broke the day after i got it, so i called apple and they said they're sending me an ipod video (30gig.) i was like holy s##$ and then around 2-3 weeks later, i got an 80gig in the mail, it wasnt by mistake. there was a letter saying basically "sorry for the wait/problems. enjoy your new 80 gig ipod, etc." i've loved apple ever since.
Totally not true. My repair experience with Apple was the best I've experienced with any company whatsoever, tech or not.
I shipped my Powerbook out on a Monday afternoon, they replaced the motherboard and had it back to me (in my hands) Thursday afternoon the same week. Totally free of charge (thanks to AppleCare). Could not ask for more from any company, and much better than anything Dell or HP has ever done for me.
The only hardware service I've experienced that was just as good was IBM, but that was for minis and mainframes, not PCs.
I've had to deal with two repairs through Apple, both painless and both went faster than I'd have imagined.
No, I don't know what you're talking about.
I got my Powerbook screen replaced for nigh invisible horizontal lines. Those pissed me off when doing photo work though. It was not easy but Apple replaced the display.
Now I found my Acer has the same problem - don't use it for photo work but thought I might as well get it fixed. Acers response: No chance. They won't do it.
Say wha ? I have a MBP and the screen is the best one ive seen till now. Heck our university bought about 1,000 of them and sold them all in a week, and nobody has had any problems. Well except my freind who happened to drop it while it was open, and now has a nice dent on it, but it did survive the fall.
If you think an Apple laptop screen is great, you have never used a WUXGA screen from Dell (or Acer, or Sony, or...). I recently switched to a MacBook Pro at work and it is the worst display I have ever used on a laptop. It's grainy, has poor resolution (1440x900, and they call it "pro"?!), it's dull, and the backlight bleeds all around the edges. Our 4 year old ThinkPads look better. That said, the lawsuit as presented in this post seems like buyer's remorse gone mad.
You apparently are a Mac Fanboy. A "Genius" has 2 canned responses.
"That's under warranty, give it to me and in 2 weeks you'll get a refurbed one"
-or-
"That's not under warranty, but we have a new model..."
Best in the business? HA! you have obviously not spent enough time in the business. Here, we've taken to calling the Genius Bar, the "Petulant Assh*le Bar" They are not "geniuses" they are morons who get a few extra weeks of training. Plain and simple.
My Compaq tablet PC had the most "gainy", "sparkly" LCD display ever! But I don't remember any class action suits against Compaq/HP.
"I got my Powerbook screen replaced for nigh invisible horizontal lines. Those pissed me off when doing photo work though. It was not easy but Apple replaced the display."
I had the same problem with one of my 30" displays. The problem always disappeared after about an hour when the screen got warm. Apple sent me a new one without any problems after just three days, over the weekend!
Fredi
To add to what Josh said -
Larger Apple Stores (Fifth Ave, Chicago, etc.) actually do repairs in-house. Your computer never leaves the building.
_and_
The only thing ever replaced with a refurb is an iPod. Because there are too many of them and getting them apart and back together needs to be done somewhere intended for that purpose.
My guess is this... morons who buy "glossy" screened laptops, are asking for exaggerated, sparkly and grainy. Professionals who buy their laptops as tools instead of bling opt for the matte screens. When Apple talks about the quality of their displays,it's generally going to refer to the matte varieties as these are the ones targeted toward the creative community (the pickiest market of all).
As for Genius Bar turn around times for replacement, my experience has been more on the order of two days, not two weeks! Try and get that response from Dell!
The bottom line is... there are always assholes who buy a great product with the intention of being dissatisfied so they can sue the well-healed manufacturer.
Lets try and remember that every company has issues with manufacture defects and scrutiny from overbearing users. Under the circumstances I do agree with the lawsuit based on the fact the client has the choice to exchange the unit upon pickup for something that is more to their liking. Any person the purchases electronics of any type should know that you test the machine in the store prior to bringing it home. This reduces the risk of being subject to company policy once the unit has left the store. This is lawsuit is about being lazy and not wanting to be proactive. Concerning the comment about PC vs. MAC fan boy flames: you both need to understand the industry first before making rash judgments based on marketing and media. I my self service both platforms as well as several other proprietary technologies and I can tell you from my numbers that Macs suffer the same manufacture defects that any other platform would regardless the OS. Apple’s service is, however, more adept at handling your problem then any run of the mill PC service tech that you can find in your local area. The reason being that the technicians that service Apple hardware and software have to undergo a barrage of tests and certification just to be able to obtain parts and other internal support from apple. This does not hold true for companies such and Geek Squad/Best buy. The comment about “geniuses” is fundamentally flawed by the fact that you actually believe that someone somewhere bestowed such a title based on IQ or other aptitude testing. The title is merely a marketing device to create comfort and trust in their company. The same would go for the Geek Squad Agents, If you actually think that their title was granted by some federal agency based on rigorous training and testing, your cognitive abilities are suffering severe bouts of psychosis and you should seek immediate attention. In summation; one should remember that you are buying a product that needs to be checked in the store for defects and exchanged immediately for a product that is up to spec. Case is point, would you buy a car and take it home without driving it first? It’s your money and your time, waste it however you wish, but when you fall victim to your own ignorance and lethargy don’t go crying to your lawyer. The only thing he is going to do is take advantage of the fine qualities that got you there.
Hmm well I have no problems with my MBP - i love my screen (glossy)
"Brad @ May 18th 2007 8:53AM
You apparently are a PC fanboy. If you've never dealt with Apple support in the stores, how would you know? They are some of the best techs in the business."
And YOU'RE obviously a kool-aid drinking ass. People are being too picky about the display? For that kind of money, you're danm right I'm picky about the display.
Didn't you look at it before you bought it? Numbskull
I don't own one of these shitty things
I think Apple's quality has went down hill lately from what I've heard and experience myself
I have had to have my battery replaced and have them replace the screen and dvd drive in the last couple weeks, and now I am about to call them to complain about the job they did (the lcd bezel is coming loose, guessing from laziness when they replaced the screen last week), I think I should get a new MacBook because of this crap, and then after that maybe sell it and buy a Thinkpad or Vaio SZ
also, their CS department sucks compared to most I've experienced. It took multiple tries over two days to get someone decent, and they are way too pushy with the extended warranty, which there is no one I'm going to buy given my experience with their support so far.
*notices it's 9AM*, time to call Apple, again
The MacBook display is just fine for its product class. It's significantly brighter and more saturated than those in the iBooks and 12" PowerBook.
On the other hand, the MacBook Pro display is crap, especially for its class. In the three models I've examined, the backlighting was terribly uneven, the color wasn't very saturated and there was a noticeable shift in color towards the bottom of the display. The displays were also rather grainy (much like the 20" Apple Cinema Display). I was so disappointed in the display that I settled for a basic MacBook. And I'd argue its display is actually better than the MacBook Pros.
I have a four year old 867MHz PowerBook G4 that has a much better display than both the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This doesn't seem right. You'd think over time, the displays would get better. Not worse.
Love my macbook. Just switched from PC. Thing is simply amazing. Can't say enough good things.
my macbook is ther best thing iv ever spent money on :) its my first mac and it was love at first sight :p previously i owned a dell laptop, an hp laptop and a custom built pc built by yours truely. both laptops sent back for refunds because of problems.
iv had my mac for 6 months, iv droped it, spilt water on it, stood on it. (yes im clumsy :p) but no problems.
the only bad thing i have to say about it is it didnt come with enough ram, but that was sorted with a quick trip down to my local computer store.
So buy one, its the best laptop you can buy at the moment in my opinion.
The screen on the MacBook Pro is fantastic. The support at my local apple store (Orlando) has been knowledgable and efficient. A bad keyboard was replaced instantly. While there arfe occasional flaws in any product, this issue smells of predatory lawyers, customers who think they can make a quick buck, and ... dare I say it ... Ballmer (a poor man's Karl Rove).
Just to add to the list of people that are actually satisfied with their MacBooks, I, and two of my friends are all very happy with ours, especially the displays. Once again it's a case of the anti something crowd who speaks much louder.
I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that Apple isn't the only company to have made a bad product or two in a production line.
I really wish all of these Mac prima donnos that complain about every-little-fucking-thing they can would just fuck off to the PC side. They're a worthless vocal minority that makes all Mac users look bad. Hey assholes, it's a fucking computer!
Cupajo @ May 18th 2007 8:47AM
Any company that calls it's sales rep 'geniuses' is full of shit.
^^^^^^^^^
I agree
So do I, except Apple's geniuses aren't sales reps so I guess they get a pass.
I am so tired of this crap. It's lawsuits like this that are ruining American businesses. You know folks, If you don't like the freaking screen, send the damn thing back to Apple and go buy a Dell. That's called freedom of choice, excersize it.
And I highly question whether Apple is having any more problems with thier hardware than anyone else. Any manufacturing process is going to have a certain percentage of faulty goods. It's called reality folks.
Besides, I personally do now know anyone who has ever had a problem with any mac they've owned. I've owned three myself and never have had an issue. Are others having issues, I'm sure of it. But as a percentage of all machines sold, I'm sure it's a VERY small number. If it wasn't, Apple stock wouldn't be at $110 right now.
"I am so tired of this crap. It's lawsuits like this that are ruining American businesses. You know folks, If you don't like the freaking screen, send the damn thing back to Apple and go buy a Dell. That's called freedom of choice, excersize it."[SIC]
What!?
it is suits like this which have shaped American business.
Apple sold the MacBook Pro as a device posessing an 8 bit RGB Liquid Crystal Display screen. Since, it is clearly not an 8 bit screen, as it has been tested as being 6 bit, this is false advertising. Which is Illegal.
"If it wasn't, Apple stock wouldn't be at $110 right now."
The iPhone just debuted and was a success. That's why the stock is so high. Apple DOES have other products.
The percentage of people who will notice the problem is relatively small when compared to the market at large but when compared to the target market of the MacBook Pro it is much greater than it seems. It may be a small group but it is the group with the most to lose to this underhanded tactic
Sales reps. Tech support. Whatever the fuck they are, they are far from "geniuses". Yes, I have a Mac. Yes, I've had to deal with these clowns. No, they are not geniuses.
If you want step by my place and I will show you a high-end Apple laptop computer for which I paid arround $2300 that has been five (!) times for repair whithin warranty for major issues (display, 3 mother boards, top-case). I have neer ever seen such a big failure rate in a laptop.
I agree with the post that if you have ever dealt with Apple repair support (at least in Europe) you would understand why the class action suit. I wish they would exist in Europe.
It's one thing to have a crappy display on a PC, but one of Apple's biggest target markets are all the web designers, graphic designers, photographers, and filmmakers for which a good, nay, excellent display is crucial.
Apple has made a big hoopla about their displays for quite a while now, and they certainly charge you for it. They're running up against the likes of Planar, NEC, and Eizo with their MacBook Pro and Cinema Displays with what they cost, so there just aren't any excuses.
Come on Apple, get your crap together.
If enough people have issues to justify a "class action" lawsuit, then there is something behind the problem. At any rate, I have a Macbook Pro and Mac Mini; the display on the Macbook Pro is far from top of the line. I've seen some Dell laptops with displays that whip the floor with my screen. Apple computers are nice to look at but they are far from the most dependable products on the market. I still can't figure out why they still make the thing out of aluminum that can withstand the slightest tap against a hard surface when hot. For the most part, the computer works great but I've had my share of problems with my past Apple computers and the CS reps (I refuse to call them geniuses) don't know any more than the average rep.
I took a look at the discussion forums concerning screen problems with the Powerbook on Apple's website recently. It turns out there are a number of people who have reported problems with the MP screens. My sister is one of them and she is now outside of warranty. One very disturbing bit of information I got from the Apple forum is a customer who stated that Apple removed a string of complaints about this problem from their website. That, if true, is absolutely dispicable of any company, let alone Apple.
If there is a sytemic problem they should face it. And if they choose to ignore it then litigation is the little man's alternative.
OBJECTION!
I would have to agree with select posters. The MacBook (non-Pro) screens are excellent for a low-end laptop. The MacBook Pro (15-inch) screens in my experience have been excellent as well (typing on one right now). The MacBook Pro (17-inch) screens on the other hand - wow, are they bad for such a high-end laptop. Even in-store models that you'd think would want to show off the best look awful, even side-by-side with other Mac laptops.
Also, when grousing, please recall that there are two different types of displays you can have installed in a current-gen MacBook Pro - matte and glossy - so please be sure you're taking this into account.
The only problem I have with Apple screens is their lack of hi-res panels. All the other manfucturers will let you get high-dpi panels. I understand their reasoning, I just think it sucks.
It is threads like this that convince me there's no intelligent life on earth
I've found my Powerbook to be overly fragile in the past (I mean, come on- it dents if I look at it funny, and over the course of one school year I had to perform $1000 worth of repairs on it, not counting display replacement which I will not do- it sits and acts like a desktop at home now), but do you see me suing Apple? No! I go and buy a Panasonic Let's Note T5 instead (I think they're called Toughbooks in the US- not that they deserve the name; I broke the display on mine in a week with an unknown cause- when I left home and put it in my bag, it was fine, when I took it out a half hour-long subway ride later, the display was broken). I don't sue Panasonic just because they claim that the laptop can survive such conditions (I bought mine in Japan anyway- despite having reciepts and everything I didn't sign up for the international warranty when I purchased it so I have no leg to stand on).
I have dual Apple 23" Cinema displays. Best ones I've ever owned.
My 17" MacBook Pro came with a pixel stuck on red, and you can see the back-light bleed around the edges. The vertical viewing angle is an absolute joke. It is by far the worst LCD display of every laptop and flatpanel I own (eight counting the Mac).
And the tattooed and pierced sales clerk I bought it from was wearing a "Genius" t-shirt.
I normally don't experience buyer's remorse, but I consider buying this thing one of the worst mistake I've ever made. I hate Apple and I still got suckered by the perception that it's somehow "better".
I agree, Apple has a history of being extremely reluctant to fix any problems with their computers. I have owned Apple computers for most of my life, and have found that if you have a warranty and can demonstrate the problem and get them to understand it as well (probably the most important part and the hardest), then they will fix it for you, somewhat grudgingly I might add. If there is any doubt in the person you deal with's mind, you will not get a repair. I actually had to demonstrate several times that my G5 was completely fried about 3 weeks after getting it. They put it through the same exact tests that I did (let's face it, there are only so many ways to power a computer on), and they wouldn't believe anything I said until they had repeated the tests multiple times. Later on with the same computer, I went through problems involving overheating that they were unwilling to address aside from blowing compressed air through the unit to remove dust particles (which seems to work, but I have to do it every few weeks, the G5/Mac Pro has a faulty design, a large open-grated area for dust/anything else to enter, that they won't readily admit to obviously). They actually had the nerve to say that I didn't know what I was talking about because of course the Apple store is nice and chilly and it wouldn't crash for them running their Apple certified tests. So, I had to take videos and pictures of it crashing over and over to even get them to acknowledge that I wasn't lying about it. Beautiful.
So, I definitely believe that people are having problems. The geniuses are essentially a bunch of people who think they know Macs because they had a 6 week course on it. Sorry, but they don't know shit, ever.
I love the way this is the only comment in the whole thread on the Phoenix Wright image, yet it's been voted up the highest.
Just after reading this article I noticed the "Hi! I am a Mac, I am a PC & I am a (Apple) Genius" ad playing on Engadget. No offence, but it made me want to puke.
Lol, Phoenix Wright meme.
Glad to hear you had a good experience. It took me actually calling AppleCare up to get them to fix my problems because the Genius Bar people in my area have a really, really bad attitude (their attitude is the stuff of legends around my area). I've owned a CD MBP and a C2D MBP and I've been through 5 screens now. I carry my laptop separately and baby it, so it's not from mishandling it.
On the other hand, I am repeatedly told that the huge bright backlight line--that I don't see on friends' Dells, Sony Vaios and ThinkPads--is in spec. I'd like them to be convinced without a lawsuit that that's a defect, but if it takes a lawsuit, that's Apple's fault and no one else's.
Seriously, the quality Apple is delivering sucks. I don't know if any other manufacturer is doing better, but: Apple is by no way the cheapest brand. Nevertheless they only do offer a one-year warranty and they charge a hefty price for an upgrade to 3 years warranty. My iBook had three repairs (among them one screen replacement) in 2 years. You don't wanna call that iBook a product of good quality.
I have been following the grainy screen problem for a long time because I'm planning to buy a Macbook Pro. I have been to many stores and seen many friends' laptops, over a period of six months or more, and EVERY SINGLE 15" MBP I HAVE EVER SEEN has the grainy screen. Glossy or matte, doesn't matter. The Macbook screens don't have it, the 17" MBP doesn't have it, the previous generation of Powerbooks didn't have it. It's obviously something to do with the supplier of the screens just for the 15" MBP.
The screen would be perfectly understandable on a budget laptop for $500, but considering it's worse than any screen AFAIK that Apple has ever sold, it should never have been accepted for use in a Pro model.
Alright look, people. I have been noticing that the MacBook Pro's with Matte displays had crappy screens with a "glistening," "sparkly," "grainy" look to it, especially when you're running windows. You can take a perfectly gray square in Photoshop and drag that window around the screen and literally SEE the grain patterning of the display -- TERRIBLE. I went to the Apple Store and this same effect was apparent on all their new, display models. I asked the Apple Store Employees about this, even a Genius, and they simply denied that it was even there!! It's almost like some people simply believe they cannot even see it. Well just because some people have crappy vision does not mean the screens are not grainy and bad! And believe me, Apple will not fix this problem, they will deny it exists -- so hence why these guys were forced to file a lawsuit. I own a PowerBook G4 and it has the good screen on it, before they went to the crappy Made-in-China-looking ones. I've been waiting to buy a MacBook Pro until they fix this problem. If I had bought one, I would definitely try to get in on this class-action lawsuit, but fortunately, I "tried before I buyed".
The only person I know who received this treatment with iPods is another Scott--someone close to me, who happens to work at an Apple Store. I'd be amused if you were him.
PS -- I should add that in my long-standing 23-year history using Macs, Apple has always used the HIGHEST QUALITY displays -- Sony Trinitrons, Mitsubishi Diamondtrons, etc. -- in its screens. They usually offered an "economy" model that was crappy but their expensive ones were always the best you could buy on the market.
Their laptops also had some of the best screens usually, they were one of the first companies to use Color Active Matrix LCDs and rightfully so -- a large segment of Mac users make their living doing things like Adobe Photoshop or working with video.
Now I think it is very unethical and a stupid career move for Apple to put sub-par LCD panels in ANY of their products. I understand Apple needs to turn a profit, but the quality of the SCREEN is not a corner that should be cut. I would rather pay more for a computer that has a better screen, since the screen is what you look at 100% of the time you're using the computer.
But apparently, many people have bought and own MacBook Pros with the grainy matte displays and they don't even notice it! In fact, my girlfriend has one, and I complained to her, "How can you stand the quality of this grainy screen?" But she says, "I don't even see whatever this grain is you're talking about." I guess I'm just in the vast minority of people whose color vision is good enough to notice the grains. Most people don't even seem to notice it, let alone be bothered by it... maybe I'm just a perfectionist but that's also why I buy from Apple.
lol sorry, i dont work anywhere near an apple store. the closest one to me is at least 30 minutes away.
> > >
My guess is this... morons who buy "glossy" screened laptops, are asking for exaggerated, sparkly and grainy. Professionals who buy their laptops as tools instead of bling opt for the matte screens. When Apple talks about the quality of their displays,it's generally going to refer to the matte varieties as these are the ones targeted toward the creative community (the pickiest market of all).
< < <
Sorry to say but YOUR GUESS IS WRONG. For indeed, it is the MATTE display ones that have the worst grain! If you cannot see it then get your eyes checked, because I promise you it is there. In fact, the glossy screens in my experience do not have the graininess nearly as badly as the matte screens. I almost thought that maybe they went to the glossy screens BECAUSE THEY KNEW the matte screens were so bad, and they wanted to give more discerning users an option...
Yeah this is bs, I have MacBook Pro as well and it's amazing. No complaints with my screen, it's certainly better than most other laptop screens i've seen
I just bought a macbook and the display kicks *ss.. WTF people.. We have an Army of mb and mbp's here at work and not a single problem. (300 total)
Fanboy bait. I have noticed that Apple laptop displays aren't as good as other displays I've used, but are still better than most of the Dells and HPs I've seen in school. I have a preference for the displays on Sony laptops which I have found to look great but I prefer Mac OS so I use both. My Sony TR3A is quite old but its display looks better,(crisper brighter etc) than my current Mac Book and a lot better than most people I run into (who usually compliment how its so small yet the screen is so good). I do admit that the current TX is a little bit of a let down in the screen dept considering how much I love my TR. I like Apple's computers in general for their looks (not too mention I have a few that are about 10 years old still running) and the OS but the screens could be better. The only screen that Apple has currently that looks really good for some reason or another is the 24 inch iMac.
"The point of the lawsuit is that Apple wouldn't replace the screens or give refunds. If you read through the lawsuit, you'll see that many people tried to get Apple to do the right thing but failed. If you ever have to deal with a repair at Apple, you'll know what they're talking about."
Uh...I just got my macbook repaired. Theyre not suppost to replace a broken battery but they did no questions. They replaced also replaced the super drive just cause it was alittle noisy...And then they sent it back 2 days before they said it was suppost to be. The macbook line has its problems but if you get a bad one they are very good at replacing.
My brand new MacBook Pro's screen was unacceptable to me as a graphic artist accustomed to using a good screen. It exhibited very uneven backlighting, with both obvious banding & vignetting. Fortunately, the Genius agreed with my assessment, and Apple will replace the screen under warranty. Hope the next screen is better.
I have a 13" white MacBook (daughter uses it), and a 17" MacBook Pro. Love both of them. I use mine for digital audio recording (Logic Pro) and... basically everything now, too. I was a Windows user and developer (still do a little Windows-based dev work) for almost 10 years, and buying the MacBooks pretty much converted me to Mac. I only take my HP notebook out to (a) do Windows development like I said, and (b) to watch UFC On Demand fights.
The only original problem I've encountered was when I took the first MacBook Pro home. It emitted a loud high pitched noise depending on the brightness of the display. Lowering the brightness reduced the noise. I immediately took it back to CompUSA, they verified the problem, and swapped it for another new one. Never a problem since. The original MBP problem was a fluke, and I figured as much before I took it back.
The only other "problem" was when I dropped the MBP while it was on. Soon after that, applications began taking a really long time to start up, and the HD was very active for a long time after startup. The OSX startup CD Disk Utilities found the problems (directory and file errors) but couldn't fix them. So I bought DiskWarrior and it fixed everything.
I teach in a school system that uses Apple computers. Over the past ten years I have seen numerous problems with their hardware. I understand that things will happen with all types of technology--but I have seen the death of many built in Apple monitors. Until last year, I was working on an old "Tommy-the-Tooth" G3. I witnessed the demise of most of the built in monitors within three years. Our students used first gen eMacs--those bit the dust as well. We are now using iMacs. I personally own a 20inch iMac. I run dual monitors. Aside from the built-in Mac monitor, I use a 19 inch LG Flatron. I can tell you that the LG with 2000:1 contrast ratio puts my iMac monitor to shame. I also have an IBM T22 lappy built in 2001 that has a better-looking monitor.
Still, I'll stick with my Mac. As much as I enjoy Ubuntu on my PCs, I prefer my mac.
"Hey guys, lets sue Ball Park for not making their franks plump like they do in the commercials."
This is the biggest load of sh*t I've seen in years. I own a MacBook Pro and love it to death. I never heard anyone having problems with their MacBooks.
Oh snap! Now, just time will tell when I get a check in the mail, or some sort of discount voucher.
I'm glad to see this. I jumped ship to Macs, and have been dissapointed in the quality of their hardware. I have a dark patch on my macbook that occurs in the lower left corner of the screen. I tried to take it in to the Arden, California store, and the "genius" looked at it for about 2 minutes and said that "it's something [he] wouldn't recognize if I didn't point it out to him, and that [he] need[s] to see more significant problems before the can justify replacing an $800 monitor."
WTF?! Apple, if you created a problem, it's your responsibility to fix it. It's not my fault that you half-assed such an expensive piece of equipment...
I have a 17" Core2 Duo MBP matte display. And viewing angles are horrible, about 2 inches on either side of the display it's significantly darker than the center of the display, and there is a nasty white bar at the bottom. I hardly think that this is worth 3000 dollars. I'm disgusted and I am hopeful that something is in fact going to be done about it. Take a look at pictures I took of my display in a dark room, then tell me you think this is acceptable:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8339569@N06/sets/72157600223455835/
APPLE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
Whoa! Those pictures Willis C posted are TERRIBLE! I have a $300 Compaq that looks like that, but it's MEANT to be a cheap laptop. That's completely unacceptable from a machine that costs 10x as much.
What bothers me the most about this is what was said about customers "chastised" by rogue Geniuses, telling users they are "too picky about... the quality of the display." I have had several encounters with these so called geniuses at my local Apple Store in Glendale, CA, I've seen them be very cocky and arrogant towards customers, including myself.
I've had 7 macs since 1990 and have NEVER had any issues until this past couple of years. My 13 month old iMac 17" died of a blown logic board, I did not have an extended warranty so the Apple quoted $900 to fix it. My G5 at work less than 2 years old, same problem. I now have 2 Intel Imacs at home and work (with extended warranties) and I'm happy so far.
I feel that Apples quility has gone downhill.
I know 3 people with MacBooks and personally I think the displays look like crap, I would have expected better quality because it's an Apple product.
I bought a MacBook Pro 17" around 7 months ago and noticed the poor grainy quality and excess light bleeding in from all sides of the LCD. I had the first MBP replaced only to get another which was just as bad. When I tried to get that one replaced, I was only ignored by the reseller for over a month so I took it to Apple direct. I then fought for another 2 months trying to get my money back but ended having to get yet another replacement which although was slightly better, was not what I excepted for the amount out $4600AUS.
What also shocked me was finding out that the LCD is only the equivalent to an 18bit LCD and this was confirmed by Apple themselves. It seems that the driver in the OSX system is able to dither the colors to help with the lack of color depth.
I own a Digital Communications Agency and use both PC's and Macs and there is no doubt Apple are slipping with hardware and Customer service. When you pay a premium price you should be guaranteed a premium product!
HA! Those guys are just going to be buried by their own attorney's fees, and then will have to pay Apple's attorney's fees when they lose for being a waste of Apple Legal's time. Seriously, Apple Legal are a bunch of sharks.
And I dont' know what those jerks are whining about- I've had a battery issue and a top case crack, and both issues were fixed the same day. And I know people keep bitching about the extended warranty- but with a piece of equipment that I know little to nothing about it's interior, yeah, I'd rather pay a bit and take it in when I have problems.
Well, I like mine. I dont care what anybody else says.
My old titanium g4 with 32 megs of video memory will run my external second monitor at 1580 by something...the new 17 in macbook pro will only run the same monitor at 1280 x 1024 with 256 mb of video ram. I have had numerous powerbooks and I have to say the quality and performance of the 17 in macbook pro is noticeable less. It is a very poorly made computer compared to the previous laptops made by apple. I am surprised beyond measure at this revelation. The problems I have had with this machine are to numerous to list here. I was happy to get it as I have always really loved my apple laptops and depend on them in a very serious way but clearly something is wrong here and that something is clearly in steve jobs. he is utterly hands on in the development of every apple product and it is clear he has made some calculated choices here to put money and mass production above previous consideration of quality and performance. I have been using these lapstops since the powerbok 160 and there is a huge difference now for sure.
William
lol... I love how Apple users have to get so defensive about their products. Apple ownership is such an identity thing that when someone says they might have a problem, the Applites take it as a personal offense.
I've been around long enough to have owned an Apple II. I went to Windows for a long time, more a matter of convenience than preference. But I recently returned to Apple (MacBook Pro) and I could not be more happy. The computer and service has been excellent. After gaining a fair level of expertise with Windows up to XP, I had to "relearn" the Mac OS and it's been a great learning experience. I'm not anti-anything. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, But I'd reccommend Apple if someone wanted my opinion.
I have a PowerBook G4, have had it for almost 7 years. Never had a virus, never crashed, never a problem. My wife has gone through 6 lap tops (Dell, Hew. Pac, and Compac) in the past 5 years due to virus, crashing and more. I am waiting for the LED screens to hit the market for MacBook Pro. No matter what people will say about Apple, the reality of it all is that it is by far a better machine. I have 5 friends that have defected from PC and they all say the same thing "WHAT WAS I THINKING". I hope the PC users continue to enjoy their computers as they slowly come to Apple leaving the DARK SIDE behind!!!
The only people who benefit from a class action are the lawyers.
It sucks to get one of the few crappy machines that slide through quality control, but i have a mac book pro (15")and i love it. I think the screen is great ( i got the matte screen) and pretty much everything about it is great. It is the first laptop i have owned where i didn't immediately feel some sort of regret. The 12" G4 powerbook was good, but as soon as i got it , i felt that i should have got the 14" that had more features and only a big heavier. I had a panasonic toughbook, that was light and fast but it had dead pixels in the middle of the screen and panasonic wouldn't replace the screen because it was fewer than 9 pixels. I had a Dell C640 that was fast, but hot as shit - so hot that it would regularly burn out the hard drives. i had to keep it on a laptop cooler....
Probably the same guys responsible for the false e-mail in Apple's system about the iPhone & OSX10.5 delay. Apple's legal team should hang them out to dry and force them to watch VGA for 20 years.
I'm on a macbook pro right now and I have no clue what those people are on about. The screen is pretty great and I imagine if this problem were so, there wouldn't be much of a designer market for apple products.
Well I posted earlier about how my display had horrible backlighting and was extremely uneven. I can now confirm that I have a good display. I had apple replace it this morning. No more uneven backlighting & no more dark shadows. Viewing angle of course is still poor, and same quaility when displaying gradients. but at least the display doesn't look like shit now!
I just purchased my first MBP after purchasing the iMac about a yr ago. I also own an HP zd8000 (cost about the same as my 15" MBP 2 yrs ago) and the switch from a glossy screen to a matte screen definitely showcases a different look. However, I have not noticed the "grain" in the MBP matte screen until reading this thread. It obviously wasn't apparent enough for me to notice it without someone pointing it out. I had so many problems with my HP - too heavy, a multi-media power laptop - but too complicated to use to max potential, HOT - it literally melted my video card, and the $500 3-yr warranty didn't mean jack to CompUSA - I still had to pay $300 to replace the USB board due to "customer abuse". Right. I'm seriously going to abuse a machine I paid $2300.00 for. Give me a damn break. I've not had ONE problem with my iMac so far..and love my MBP a ton since I got it. I work in the printing industry, we use them at work. I've not heard a complaint from anyone.
As for the class-action lawsuit - good luck. Those things usually aren't worth the time nor the effort. But - I have dealt with HORRIBLE customer service (HP + CompUSA - will never buy from either AGAIN)and if people feel they're not receiving the product that was promised, they have every right to sue.
Well, I never had a problem with the screens.
DO NOT BUY AN APPLE MACBOOK - THEY ARE PIECES OF SHIT - I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE OF THEM - UTTER RUBBISH!
Sorry for the Caps, but I felt I had to drown out the Apple forum trawlers spreading their nonsense. APPLE, STOP PAYING PEOPLE TO REFLECT YOU POSITIVELY!
I had three Macbooks, and they were all returned due to faulty cases. I have a Pro now that I use for FinalCut, and it's also shit. Why can't a PC manufacturer make a quality computer that's not overpriced. AGHHH
Hey why do positive comments have to be made by people who are paid. I have a macbook, it's great, and I would love it if apple could pay me for saying this, but they're not.
I had 4 bad macs in the last 8 months, I went back to Vista after 20 years with Apple! Needs Better QC!
I have had 4 bad macs in 8 months and a regular on Mac Rumors, its not that i dont love macs...they are just Crap at this point...needs QC!
OBJECTION!
Good luck to them - Apple barely acknowledged the Random Shutdown Syndrome other than a firmware update 4 months after the fact :) We had this site setup to capture people's problems and Apple never even returned my emails even after a report from Sky News in the UK on the issue - oh well, we'll see what happens with this one I guess.
Cheers! Matthew
http://www.macbookrandomshutdown.com/
yeah so far my macbook has been awesome; every computer has some complaints/ rumors somewhere.
I purchased 2 of them in June 2006 for my business. To date: They have both been repaired 3 times as of this week. I also took friends to the apple store and was responsible for 3 referals on Mac Books. Two of those Mac Books have been replaced 2 times. Issues as such: Dead spkears, Dead Keyboard,
Crashing, overheating- Slow performance, Yellow casework, trackpad buttons failing, DVD drive failing to read and burn DVD's, and battery that dies from one moment to the next, oh and a Screen with 4 dead pixels and discolored spots.
I have been a long time computer user since the Commodore 64 days... I love macs and pc's and have some vintage machines as well that I collect. There is something wrong here, at least with the early revisions models.
I have been burned with Apple before (Mac 8500, G3 beige 1st generation) In my experiecne they have had a history of dismissing claims.
My expereinces are in the New York city area
I would recommend purchasing your machine from the Applestore, preferably a well staffed store. I use the apples Store in Soho New York City. I would not recommend a store such as Techserve in New York City. They refused to service my machines yellow case and non responsive trackpad. They are also rude, argumentative and try to dismiss your claims. The same yellow case and busted trackpad complaint in the apple store was quickly fixed.
Proceed with caution, I recently adivsed 2 more folks to purchase 2 Macbooks. So far they are very happy and have zero issues. They run Vista great.
This is consitent with Apple as they seem to improve as new versions of machines are released.