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

darosk wrote in post #11300185
No, none of the current MBPs use quad-core chips. Even the i7 upgrades options are dual-core chips.

My second mistake about Apple.

Okay.
We don't want yet another locked "Mac vs. PC thread", so let's at least try to play nice and on topic.

Some interesting posts about the heat issue too. This is one time I wish I did not get the latest hot ( pun intended ) item.

http://discussions.app​le.com …hreadID=2407560​&tstart=30

When shopping for a new desktop a few months ago I did my research. I looked thru online PC and mac forums. Spoke with a number of people including friends with mac's and PC's using win 7. Reported problems with PC's running win 7 were higher simply because of the massive volume of PC'ers but I was surprised at the high number of problems and issues with the mac's. So many work arounds for mac users to accomplish things PC users take for granted. Of course this depends on what your using the laptop/desktop for - but for my needs it was a consideration.

Both mac and pc have their problems and reports regarding problems. Don't be fooled. However, the new systems with a current OS are much better than they were a few years ago. That of course won't be of help in your case.

Like Truman said, "Its a recession when everyone around you is losing their jobs. It's a depression when you lose yours".

I also had a very bad experience with Apple tech support. I no longer purchase their overpriced products! I use Dell and Alienware and have had excellent service. They are very quick to replace a problem part or product if you have their extended warranties. The good service has kept me buying their products. I have no affiliation with them. I have on occasion had to speak to a supervisor but my problems have always been resolved to my satisfaction. In this economic climate you would think companies would bend over back wards to keep a customer.

This is not a mac vs pc thing. All computers have issues the issue I have it with how Apple has handled this problem. I paid the premium ( with apple care ) because they always stood by the product. In the past I had a computer that was beyond the warranty that they fixed for free not to mention gave me some other stuff for free without even asking for it. No questions.

I asked to speak to someone who is a manager and the person I talked to ( who was supposedly a manager ) told me he cannot replace it then started patronizing me telling me if it was up to him he would replace it. So I asked him who makes that decision and his response. I do. It was like talking to a kid in a college dorm playing good cop bad cop with me. Then he wanted me to start doing some tests he was going to send me to see if I can find the issue. Its a joke.

I understand your frustration, but to insist that Apple replace something that technically hasn't even gone in for service might be asking too much. Send it in for service and at least give them a chance to actually repair it as everything you've done so far has just been a bandaide. Now if it comes back from servicing and you still have problems you can try and escalate the issue, but at least give them a chance to actually try to repair it.

I gave up on Macs years ago when I felt they spent too much money on advertising, hype and gadgetry and not enough on support for the machines they sell. Have been using PC's now for ten years with never a crash in XP or Win 7 64 bit. Super support from Dell, though I pay for Gold tech support, and immediate replacement of problem parts.

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 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?

So, you've had it diagnosed at an Apple Store? Did they keep it for a few hours to run real hardware tests or did they just run the diagnostic software? If it was the latter, I would have it serviced, not inspected. In store diagnostics is pretty useless if you've already run them at home. You need a paper trail. Apple, like every other major corporation, will almost never 'replace' anything without at least one service attempt.

That said, I've known more people than not that have great experiences at the Apple Store. I've seen logic board replacements months after the warranty was out. Same with HDD's and screen's. If you haven't dropped it (there's a sensor inside that detects rapid falls) or dunked it in water (sensor for that too btw) Apple usually will go out of it's way to help you. I don't know another OEM that goes so far to please it's customer base - not one. If you're having that much of a problem, there may be some mitigating circumstances we or you are not aware of.

Long story short, get that paper trail started if you haven't already. Get everything together (recipts, diagnostic printouts and Apple Service Records) and take them with you when you go to the Apple Store. If you have all that proof and the manager still doesn't want to help, go to another store or call Apple and tell them you need to send it to them directly. If you are persistent, and you have a case, Apple WILL eventually relent.

If this hasn't been solved yet, my first guess would be bad RAM. If possible, try finding a Mac OX-based RAM diagnostic tool to check to see if one of your sticks are bad.

My second thought would be a bad harddrive. Bad HDD sectors = corrupt OS files = your issues.

My third thought is a malfunctioning CPU. It's less likely than the RAM, but could also give you the same problems.

I'd visit the Apple Store again and ask them to check the two of them in-store, in front of you to rule them out.

r31ncarnat3d wrote in post #11300765
If this hasn't been solved yet, my first guess would be bad RAM. If possible, try finding a Mac OX-based RAM diagnostic tool to check to see if one of your sticks are bad.

My second thought would be a bad harddrive. Bad HDD sectors = corrupt OS files = your issues.

My third thought is a malfunctioning CPU. It's less likely than the RAM, but could also give you the same problems.

I'd visit the Apple Store again and ask them to check the two of them in-store, in front of you to rule them out.

Thanks I am going in tonight. I have been reading about many people having issues with this particular machine. I would have to be its hardware since after a full re-install I still got the grey dead screen crashes ( kernel panic )

Tommydigi wrote in post #11300791
Thanks I am going in tonight. I have been reading about many people having issues with this particular machine. I would have to be its hardware since after a full re-install I still got the grey dead screen crashes ( kernel panic )

Yep, that's the same reason why I suspect it's a hardware issue as well. The two most common suspects are the harddrive and RAM.

I'm starting to think it's most likely a harddrive issue, because I reread your post and saw that you had a Macbook Pro and not a Mac Pro like I misread the first time.

Since laptops are meant to be carried around, people naturally do so. Unfortunately, carrying your laptop around (esp if your HDD is on while you're carrying it) carries the risk of physical shock (the F=ma kind, not the electric kind) on your harddrive. Something as simple as rocking your laptop gently or banging on the table the laptop is resting on can introduce shock onto the HDD, which will then corrupt certain sections (called sectors) of your harddrive. Anything meant to be saved on this section will be improperly done so, which could mean a corrupted OS file for you, hence why a reinstall didn't fix the issue.

My two cents

Well after reading through this I am starting to wonder if the i7 is just a mistake by apple

http://discussions.app​le.com …threadID=242019​2&tstart=0
http://discussions.app​le.com …hreadID=2407560​&tstart=30

I can't really think of any issues arising from the i7 other than overheating, but while overheating will cause the freezing issues, I can't imagine it giving OS error messages.

Tommydigi wrote in post #11300870
Well after reading through this I am starting to wonder if the i7 is just a mistake by apple

http://discussions.app​le.com …threadID=242019​2&tstart=0
http://discussions.app​le.com …hreadID=2407560​&tstart=30

The first thing that popped into my head was to say to take those type of threads with a grain of salt because you always see a higher percentage of complainers in a support forum. After noticing that the first thread was 82 pages long it looks as if you're definitely not alone and that there might actually be an issue with this model.