An IT consultant's take on the new Apple MacBook - the iBook replacement.
I visited the Apple Store over the weekend and took a look at the new MacBook (the iBook replacement). Apple has outsourced the production of this laptop to Asus, but it’s definitely still an Apple. It was supposed to arrive in June, so it is ahead of schedule.…
Article comments
26 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Go to the Apple Dealer as instructed, Moshe. You may get lucky and they'll fix the screen for you. But be prepared to be told that you dropped the unit, etc. Be prepared to bang on the table. If worse come to worse, open the Book up in front of them, come here and type the complaint at BC - as they watch. If they don't give a damn when they see that, they're fools - and you know never top buy another piece of whatever from Apple again...
27 - flakie
I just purchased a 15" powerbook pro for a christmas gift. I put the computer to sleep, and when it was revived the screen was cracked. Since the commuter was less than 2 weeks old I called apple asking them to replace it. They told me I need to see a Mac genius to get the computer replaced. At the store I was told this is
accentental damage and it was not covered. I was basically called a lier. This is a issue they need to address. Luckily I had purchased my computer from another authorized dealer and they replace the computer with no issues. I will never purchase anything from the Apple store and the Genius are morons.
28 - bliffle
I recommend switching to an IBM Thinkpad T40 series computer running a 10gb XP partition and a linux 30gb partition in a GRUB dualboot, with the remainder of an 80gb HDD for "/home" and, perhaps, a 5gb partition for swapping data (like a DVD) between XP and linux. After many years of buying, operating, fixing, programming and cursing just-about every computer known to man, this is what I've settled on as the ideal system. You can get the T40 for about $400 used on eBay, or, better yet, on craigslist where you get a chance to personally examine the system before paying, and discuss it with the seller.
The Thinkpad (at least when IBM was responsible) were tough and reliable, and if they needed repair IBM had an excellent warranty. One time the IBM repair guy came to my home and replaced the Mobo at no cost to me and within a couple of days. I don't know how service will be under Lenovo, but now I have a private repairman and don't need warranties.
The IBM travelstar HDD has a shock-resistant system that protects it when you accidentally hook your foot in a cord and dump the computer on the floor. I've done that several times and the computer doesn't miss a beat.
Replacement parts for all generations of the Thinkpad are readily available from many sources, including eBay, at modest prices.
Fans of the Mac OS will find one of the linux variations of GUI that will be familiar and easy to use. Most of them are cheap or free, amazingly reliable, and very versatile.
29 - Bill Shannon
I have a 2007 MacBook with 2.2Ghz Intel Duo processor and 2GB RAM. It works very well and I would recommend it to everyone. OS X Leopard is an excellent OS, a definite improvement to Tiger.
30 - Lindsay Chapman
I’m having similar problems with my macbook. I’ve only had it for 2 months, I purchased Apple care, and this is what happened to me:
Opened up the laptop one night to use it, everything was fine. Closed the laptop to prevent dust from getting on it while I watched a movie on tv. Opened up the laptop after the movie was over. First thing I noticed was a blue line running down the middle of the screen, then there was some black patches. Over the days it progressively got worse. It looks like it is cracked internally. I brought it to my local apple repair centre, they sent photos of my screen to Apple. Now Apple is refusing to repair the screen, claiming that there was physical damage to the laptop…which there was not! There’s no logical reason why this should have happened to my laptop, and I’m extremely disappointed with the lack of understanding or customer service I’ve received from Apple. Biggest waste of $1900 I’ve ever spent! I’m now stuck with an unusable laptop that I can’t afford to fix (I was quoted $925 to replace the screen). Any ideas on what I should do?
I was considering filing a complaint with Better Buisness Bureau
31 - Michael
I am the Systems Administrator at a school and I've got the same problem with two MacBooks. I had a teacher tell me the same story back in November and I just figured she was covering herself. I sent it into Apple and they told me it would cost $755. Then I had the same story yesterday with another MacBook. They simply opened the lid only to reveal a disastrous crack in the screen. I called Applecare today to explain that there was no misuse on either of them and they said they would ship them into the Service Center, but that they probably wouldn't be covered.
If you're a school looking to go to Apple: Don't. I've sent more MacBooks in for different issues than I've ever sent in for any other laptop model. They're also difficult to manage on your network. They say it's simple. I agree. With simplicity you sacrifice usability and manageability.
32 - hi
I`M A kid and i want an apple i am Good on Computers so When i went on de apple site to by one it had all these extras that i could by What do i rEALLy need on an a mac book
33 - Terri Grauel
Same for me I opened my Macbook gently and right where my thumb lifted the cover a crack formed. It was just a few months old. The Mac people in New York treated me as if I was lying, said it was impossible for a crack to happen in that way. The bottom right casing also had the typical crack that everyone else is getting. Now I've had the computer for two years and theres another crack in same place...right corner. It also has a crack underneath where the back screw is. My screen backlight just went dark. I took the computer in and they said it would be $800 to repair because of excessive abuse. I have been so careful with it because of my first 3 months cracked screen experience. The computer is rarely moved from my desk. the last time it was moved was a month ago. The screen went dark without moving the computer. It seems to me I have two different issues that they are connecting.
HELP!
34 - bhavin
My macbook has not even done three months and like many other cases i read here in this forum; my macbook also received a nasty crack from the inside. LCD crack. I did nothing at all. I kept it on the desk the night i went to sleep only the next day i woke up and found an ugly crack. The outer screen is not cracked only the inside. The apple store are accusing me indirectly to have caused this damage and in a way they are accusing me of being a lier.
I want justice on this thing. . I want to file a complaint against this shit what apple is doing.