No longer a fan of Apple computers - Am I off base here?

Just thought I would share my bad experience with Apple computers.

First let me say I was always a long time supporter of Apple owning several machines and always recommending apple computers but this has me rethinking my position.

About 7 months ago I purchased a macbook pro loaded with everything ( 1 of my 4 machines I use by Apple, 2 at work and 2 at home but older ) with a Cinema display with apple care for a total of around $4000. The macbook pro was an I7 quad core with 8 gigs of ram upgraded Hard drive and display. From the moment I started using it I noticed it was not performing very well so I called apple and they had me check somethings and claimed it was fine. I pretty much kept it on the charger most of the time but when I did take it off the charger the battery only lasted about 2 hours ( much less then the 8 - 10 they advertise ) After countless calls to tech support telling me to check various things and run disk utilities as well as a few trips to the apple store to replace the battery and test it the machine began doing whats called kernel panics where it simply turns grey and it must be restarted ( I loose everything I have been working on since its a full crash )

Again countless calls to tech support having me do various tests before finally erasing the hard drive and starting over with a full reinstall. Still same problem, about 2 days after cleaning it out and reinstalling the system software I am still having the same trouble so I finally asked apple to replace or refund me for the machine since it has never worked. Apple has flat out refused to do anything but repair the machine but I feel a repair of something that has never worked properly is not fair. They claim that its to far past the date of purchase for a replacement even though I have had so many issues with the machine that I cannot even use it for work.

Now I understand they cannot replace ever computer that has a minor issue but my issues make the machine useless. I was hoping that something can be done since the "higher up" person I spoke with told me they will not replace it since I need 3 or 4 hardware failures to possibly get a replacement and even then they are not certain. I don't feel comfortable with a machine this expensive that has to be repaired so many times that has hardly even been used.

They did agree to take it in and look at it but that does not seem right to me. In the past Apple offered great support but I feel things have changed with how this matter was handled so I am stuck sending in my machine for about 2 weeks while they look at it and let me know.

Does this seem right?

This does seem odd. I am using a mac that is a few years old that had a hard drive failure less than a year ago. I bought it without extra warranty or anything and Apple replaced it with a new higher capacity HD years after any of the warranties would have covered it. This was the only problem I have had with my mac and I'm not sure why you are having so much trouble with them. The only thing I am wondering is what is so bad about them fixing this machine instead of replacing? Maybe check out local lemon laws to see if this could be covered or try talking to someone other than the person you have talked to already. In my experience talking to the right person (also at the right time) can make all the difference in the world...Anyways Good Luck and if they fix it and you still don't want it, feel free to send it my way!

I have used Mac since 1984. I have owned just about every Mac ever made - for business, so extensive working environments. And I also use Windows-based PCs as well. Just to clarify that, so you know I am an experienced Mac user.

I have never heard of anyone ever having your issue on a Mac -- and the Apple store not being able to fix it and give you back a working laptop.

Battery not lasting long, then they replaced a new battery -- and it still doesn't last long?

And then kernel panics? When you crash, are you clicking or actually doing anything on the laptop? Or does it just crash randomly?

My first guess would be bad RAM, which would lead to all the issues you are indicating -- but anyone at ANY Apple store can easily check for bad RAM chips - so I can assume they checked this and that is not the problem. Double check -- did they test the RAM? One bad RAM chip can cause crashes - on any computer, and it is a simple fix. They have software that will test each chip to see if they are 100% working.

Does it crash enough that you can make it happen... so you can show someone at an Apple store? Is an Apple store near your home, so this is not an inconvenience?

This is not normal, and Apple is REALLY GOOD at fixing hardware issues. So this strikes me as being very out of norm.

Macs are very stable, I can go weeks without a crash, and I use many intensive apps at the same time -- all the time.

KurtGoss wrote in post #11298792
Macs are very stable, I can go weeks without a crash, and I use many intensive apps at the same time -- all the time.

You call that stable? Weeks?

mike_d wrote in post #11298890
You call that stable? Weeks?

That was my thought also. If that's stable give me a PC.

johnnybfan wrote in post #11298909
That was my thought also. If that's stable give me a PC.

Right. I can't tell you the last time any of my PC's crashed unless it was the result of a hardware failure like a bad hard drive.

Try a different Apple store.

My MBP developed a dead pixel about 4 months after buying it. Took it to the Apple store and they sent me out the door with a brand new one 5 minutes later. Had a iPod Touch go belly up 9 days before the warranty was up...again, they replaced it, pretty much no questions asked, with a new one.

KurtGoss wrote in post #11298792
Macs are very stable, I can go weeks without a crash, and I use many intensive apps at the same time -- all the time.

Operator error??

Been using Mac's exclusively since 2005 and havent had one "crash" yet...

I was considering MBP recently, as i think it is the best portable workstation due to the battery life.

Tommydigi wrote in post #11298675
Just thought I would share my bad experience with Apple computers.

First let me say I was always a long time supporter of Apple owning several machines and always recommending apple computers but this has me rethinking my position.

About 7 months ago I purchased a macbook pro loaded with everything ( 1 of my 4 machines I use by Apple, 2 at work and 2 at home but older ) with a Cinema display with apple care for a total of around $4000. The macbook pro was an I7 quad core...

You sure about that?

Credibility took a hit in my book.

If the battery is not lasting long, then your laptop is most likely drawing too much current for some reason. Overheating b/c of this and therefore crashing.

They should fix it properly and not give you the run around because they don't know what they are doing.

I'm in the IT industry and there are lots of idiots everywhere.

Good luck.

johnnybfan wrote in post #11298909
That was my thought also. If that's stable give me a PC.

I have used Macs and PCs for over 25 years. PCs crash twice as many times as Macs. It's not even close. In fact, Windows 7 runs more stable on my Macs than my PCs.

Choose Apple if you want innovation... choose a PC if you want the cheapest, lowest common denominator. Microsoft is in a race to the bottom... it's no wonder that Apple's market capitalization just went over Microsoft.

iTunes, iPhones, iPads, computers.... and then Microsoft has introduced.. Xbox?

KurtGoss wrote in post #11299005
I have used Macs and PCs for over 25 years. PCs crash twice as many times as Macs. It's not even close. In fact, Windows 7 runs more stable on my Macs than my PCs.

Choose Apple if you want innovation... choose a PC if you want the cheapest, lowest common denominator. Microsoft is in a race to the bottom... it's no wonder that Apple's market capitalization just went over Microsoft.

iTunes, iPhones, iPads, computers.... and then Microsoft has introduced.. Xbox?

Mate, this is hardly OT or useful in information.

hqqns wrote in post #11299021
Mate, this is hardly OT or useful in information.

It is if the OP is considering returning his Mac and replacing it with a PC!

But thanks for playing and jumping in with your very helpful reply.

KurtGoss wrote in post #11299028
It is if the OP is considering returning his Mac and replacing it with a PC!

If you buy a $4000 PC then I'm sure it will be just as stable as any Mac, and it seems his Mac ain't as crash hot has you make out all Macs to be.

Anyway, I think the OP's real beef is with Apple's service and not product overall.

Apple's problems with iPhone4 may just be the tip of the iceberg with quality.