Apple's new
Core i7-based iMac might be a performance monster, but it looks like the whole family's having some problems getting
out of the gate: in addition to the
previously-noted performance issues with the Core 2 Duo models, a quick glance across Apple's support forums and on other Mac boards around the web reveals that some machines are showing up DOA and / or with cracked screens. We're a little more familiar with the DOA issue, since the new i7 we just bought doesn't boot at all, but the cracked screen issue seems to be equally common and mostly affecting the bottom left corner, from what we can tell. Now, our review Core 2 Duo 27-inch iMac is perfectly fine, and
Chris Ziegler's new Core i7 machine doesn't have any problems either, so these obviously aren't universal issues, but if you're about to stick one of these under the tree for someone it might be wise to do some surreptitious testing first.
posted November 24th 2009 1:38AM
Hardware problems are extremely overblown on the internet, because only the people with problems are the ones complaining and talking on forums. Everyone else is too busy actually enjoying the product.
Not to gloat but more to say - that my i7 iMac has no noises off the HD, no cracked screen and is working fine. So there are some out there that are working to spec.
Apple will reject itself one day.
Even if it is defective it is still the slickest, most beautifully designed desktop ever. It adds infinite amounts of class and power to any desk.
"Everyone else is too busy actually enjoying the product."
I guess it's because THEIRS ISN'T BROKEN.
Has anyone noticed some major problems with the reply system? I seem to be having a hell of a time replying to someone and its getting attached to a completely irrelevant post.
@djt
Yes...
The funny thing is that I only seem to have issues when using Safari on my Macs.
All of my PCs (Opera or Firefox) work perfectly.
Maybe its because I'm using Chrome then?
@djt Mine are ending up lost in the tubes. I think it may be more broken than the last system.
@DaHarder
One problem I've been having is if I delete the @[username], my comment will likely end up somehwere else for some strange reason.
All flash, zero substance yet again.
@John Doe And you came to this conclusion based on this poorly thought out article that's based on a single experience and a quick scan of user forums? Strong work.
poematik14/ so you would buy any defective electronics as long as their aesthetics satisfy your visual impulse? Do I have to remind any apple fan boys that this electronics are things we actually use in life to better our lives. It's not some art piece you hang up on the wall... that has no functional purpose at all. Don’t matter how apple is good looking, if I need to write up an essay for my upper div class (say due next morning); I want my computer to be functional rather than not working at all. Plus, I’m genuinely surprised that it took world this long to realize apple product is buggy, unreliable (as much as IBM-compatible PC running Windows or even more so than its counterpart) and as defective as comparable to IBM-compatible PC or even more so. Apple products (most of them) were as buggy, unreliable and defective as any PCs since I first used Mac during middle school (late 90s). Also read this HotHardware article (http://hothardware.com/Articles/What-Has-Happened-To-Apples-Software-Quality/) by Shawn Oliver... he mostly deals with Software side, but he communicates the topics way better than i can do it in this small space.
@kittridge Thanks for reminding us that "electronics are things we actually use in life to better our lives". Brilliant. Cue witty Apple "fanboy" retort.....
@kittridge
Are you saying you think iMacs have "no functional purpose at all"? Because that seems to be what you're implying here. And of course, if that's really what you think that would make you a moron.
@jack
that's not what i said, if you read it more carefully... there is no mention of iMac (that it has no functional purpose) in my previous comment. I hope that would ease your anger towards me (because I'm a moron according to you)
"It's not some art piece you hang up on the wall... that has no functional purpose at all"
Engadget thrives on the comments of Apple-haters, that's why they love to scour the Apple support forums for any problem, no matter how minor, and post it there as if it were some kind of crisis. That kind of stuff is the perfect troll bait to generate and register clicks on AdSense, thus, Engadget makes money.
@HighestRanked Quit hogging the weed, bro.
@HighestRanked
You are kidding right? Engadget has been so pro-Apple it hurts to read sometimes. They are, however, also being fair in reporting the bad along with the good as reporters should.
@N900
I think it's because the "@name" thing actually determines where your post goes. I've noticed that every time the comments system put a comment of mine in the wrong place, it was because I was replying to "@Unverified". The system doesn't seem to able to differentiate which "unverified" you were replying to.
*post it HERE
@N900 ah c'mon buddy, you know what I said is true. I mean, would you ever own an iMac?
ouch! with the price you pay for the machine you wish it not to have any problems!
@maczrule
The same can be said for cars or houses. And yet sometimes a very small percentage of them do have problems that require them to get fixed. This is just how things work, nothing is 100% perfect.
@maczrule WTF? How did my comment end up here?
@1 On the upside it now recognises my name change, but still has no sense of time.
well.. they dont have different hardware anymore (macs basically have the same parts as any standard pc now), and apparently their superior build quality is going down the crapper. Any Die hard mac fans care to take a shot at justifying the apple tax?
@addicuss Sure. Show me a comparable AIO computer that's substantially cheaper. One with a 27" 2560x1440 IPS/LED panel, 4gb RAM and an i7. It's got nothing to do with being a "fanboy". I just don't see where the QC iMac is so exorbitantly overpriced, for what it is.
@addicuss
Where to start? You understand that you're not only generalizing, you're not even close to being right? For example: Same parts as any PC huh? Then maybe you can tell me where to get the iMac's power supply? Or the logic board? How about the firmware, is that the same as every PC? Is the case the same, can I buy that at Radio Shack?
Let's be clear here: Apple uses standard components like hard drives and memory for the sake of compatibility. They also use industry standard ports like DisplayPort, USB, 1/8" audio/TOSlink for the same reason. They use Intel chips as well, for obvious reasons.
But nothing else is "the same as any standard PC". For one thing, iMacs use really good LED-backlit H-IPS panels. Those cost more than the shit monitors most PCs come with. The entire machine, inside and out, is designed by Apple. So it's a custom made logic board with Apple ROMs on it, it's a custom made power supply, custom fans and fan placement, basically everything inside the machine is custom made aside from the aforementioned standard components.
Unless you think you can tell me where I can buy those things outside of Apple. If you're so sure there's an "Apple tax", why don't you show me an all-in-one PC that is as fast as the i7 iMac and has all the same standard features AND the same LED backlit H-IPS 27" monitor for less money. And comes with the OS for free, and comes with good software like iLife for free, and everything else the iMac comes with.
Ok fair enough.. it may have been an overgeneralization on this particular mac. However there is a reason there is an active hackintosh scene. Maybe no one's gotten around to building an i7 mac that rivals the core i7 imac yet (and for all i know someone has already). But there have been many hackintosh systems that not only run well, but beat out similar apple hardware in benchmarks and for much much less. And yes their boards are custom built and designed by apple. Intel also custom builds boards for their own chips. That unfortunately does not translate into either performance or value.
as for whether or not the "apple tax" exists I won't even debate that with you. It exists to varying degrees throughout almost all of of apples products. From their shitty mice to their great computers. One man's "apple tax" is another man's "premium for superior hardware and software" and I respect that.
Now there is something to be said about paying a premium on something that is built well (not to mention something that is built for you). And I will admit Apple has always had (for the most part) solid hardware design and build. But I will say I have been disappointed with them as of late. Some of their unibody laptops had issues with screens, battery covers, and a whole slew of other things. and now this. Even my iPhone 3g developed cracks in it after a few weeks of light handling. Almost a year later it's still in one piece, but the cracks look horrible and I cant understand how such a defect could have slipped out to a piece of hardware in production. and I know problems like this happen to every hardware manufacturer (RROD comes to mind). The point is Apple justifies charging hundreds more (in some cases) for build quality and superior hardware. If that's the image they want to sell (at a premium no less) than problems like this slipping out are simply unacceptable.
so overgeneralization about this particular model? I'll give you that for now but I wouldn't say I was wrong.
So, Apple trumps Microsoft again.... Microsoft gives you a 360 that will work for about a year then give you a RRoD and you have to get it repaired.
Apple gives you a computer that won't bother with giving you the joys of actually working out of the box so you don't have the disappointment of the failure later.
Next commercial: "I moved all of my stuff to a Mac, then I logged in with a guest account on Snow Leopard and it deleted everything! They fixed that and I'd already made to change, so, I bought this awesome new Mac with the same guts as my crusty old PC and once I get it replaced with one that works it's going to be so great..."
DOA huh ... Anyone ever thought about the shipper ? Lately a lot of my boxes through UPS come to my home like they have been on the road for 3 years ... and oh yeah they "never" drop any of our deliveries ...
@BlackWolF
That's it, blame the shipping, it'll never be Apples fault!
"Outer box, inner box and all packing were in excellent shape. When I finally unwrapped everything I discovered the lower left hand corner of the glass was cracked in three places."
"I just received my new i7 27" and the screen on the lower left is shattered as well. There's no apparent damage to the styrofoam or box so it looks like that's a weak spot in the screen and how they are being packed in the boxes."
"I agree that the packaging was insufficient. My box was totally undamaged too, so the screen crack either happened when it was put it (which you would hope would never even be shipped) or just by the force of being dropped or something."
Source: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2235367&start=0&tstart=0
@ChazClout
... "or just by the force of being dropped or something."...
Why being sarcastic about me trying to say shipping may be at fault when you basically said the same in the end of your reply to me ???
@BlackWolF
So they've ALL been dropped in exactly the same spot to cause exactly the same damage then they've been shipped over to completely different locations over the world.
That'll be it! I am teh dumb! forgive me!!!1111!one
@ChazClout
Wow, you must be a short tempered person ... Where in my reply did I say you were stupid ? I don't see it ... But ok ...
It could be that the iMac "does have a weak spot on the lower left" ... I do not deny that AT ALL ... but "maybe" 0.01 % have been broken on arrival ... So you are saying that can NOT be a shipping thing right ?
You must work for UPS or FEDEX then LOL
Here's a thought. In the next few weeks or months all those faulty core-i7 27" iMacs will start showing up for sale on the Apple Refurbished site. Could be a great deal for those who wait.
*Insert another generic Apple bashing comment here, and a HIGHEST RANKED box up there ^ *
Unbelieveable: Apple, the elite has problems? Who would have imagined it?
broken screen here... but works. I have to say the new 21.5" 3.33 is a touch faster than the 27" 2.8 quad (both with 8 ram) In my personal real world testing that is.
it's just display, wait, no display
the good thing apple has going for them is there os.
if apple developed there os to be compatible with most hardware,like linux. u get a mac (os) with the upgraded ability of beefing up ur system the way you want (pc). and it would be reasonable to charge the same hefty price microsoft charges for there os. i guarantee most people will buy the os and ditch windows.