My MacBook troubles may be over
Published on 8 Nov 2007 at 12:52 pm.
8 Comments.
Filed under apple, genius bar, macbook.
You may recall reading about the many problems I’ve had with my MacBook in the past year.
Yesterday I had an appointment at the Genius bar about the disk scratching. I felt I should get a replacement machine, and I went in determined to get one, even if it meant making a scene. Of course, before shouting demands and making a ruckus, I explain the various repairs my machine has had and that I felt I should have the entire machine replaced.
The Genius looked up my serial number, then asked me to wait a minute, he needed to go in back. He came out about two minutes later and said “give me a few minutes while I call someone to bring down your new machine.” That’s right! I barely had to say anything, and they agreed to replace it.
I sure hope this new MacBook is more reliable than the last. It’s the new model released on November 1. I plan to do a review of it here shortly, but I wanted to note a few things:
- The screen has more noticeable dithering. It’s not “sparkly” as some have described the previous MacBook screens, it’s an even dither, but it’s quite distracting.
- It comes with a micro-fiber cleaning cloth similar to the iPhones, but as large as the MacBook itself. Very nice touch! I’m glad they brought this back (cinema displays did or do come with them). I wonder if the new iMacs include it as well.
- It has a unique build of Mac OS X installed. I have no clue what’s different about it.
- There is no embedded numeric keypad, even though it is advertised as having one.
Eytan on 8 Nov 2007 at 3:35 pm: 1
YEah, if you hit the numlock key, you get a numeric keypad - look on your keyboard over the letter K for example…
Holland Rhodes on 8 Nov 2007 at 4:17 pm: 2
@Eytan I know where the numlock key should be, the new MacBooks don’t have it.
Partners in Grime on 8 Nov 2007 at 5:17 pm: 3
Yep, the new iMacs come with a snazzy black cleaning cloth. (It’s not quite as big as my 24-inch screen though.)
Hack This Mac : So-long .mac! on 8 Nov 2007 at 11:31 pm: 4
[...] « My MacBook troubles may be over [...]
Mario on 9 Nov 2007 at 6:50 am: 5
You see what happens when you DON’T make a scene? You actually get what you want. I’ve worked at two Apple Stores and that’s standard procedure if a computer has had too many repairs within a short time period. You don’t even need to tell them that you think it should be replaced: they’ll look up the serial number, verify that it has had a lot repairs and there are still problems, then they’ll replace it.
Too many people walk into stores ready to fight if something goes wrong with their purchase. Computers are complex products and any number of things can fail. Remember, the customer service people are there to HELP you (within their level of authority) not fight you. Remember this the next time you need to seek customer service from any company.
Hack This Mac : New MacBook Reviewed on 12 Nov 2007 at 12:58 pm: 6
[...] bought my first MacBook at about 10:00 AM on the morning they were announced. And for better or worse, I’ve had nearly each revision of the MacBook (the exception being the speed bumped [...]
Dustin on 4 Jan 2008 at 8:00 pm: 7
I just got a new Macbook to replace mine I bought a few months ago that got destroyed in an accident. My Macbook from a few months ago had a beautiful screen with no visible dithering as it was so smooth. This new one bugs the heck out of me. ALSO, this new macbook’s display seems to have a very light diagonal grid superimposed on the entire screen. Does yours? Light greys seem to show it off the most if you look at it just right. It’s very distracting…
I’m tempted to try to get a replacement screen. I wonder if the local store can just swap it out so I don’t have to be without my machine for weeks…
Johan on 13 Feb 2008 at 12:56 am: 8
Same thing happened to me. I got my screen replaced 2 weeks ago and now I also have this ‘grid’ which basically adds a little texture to everything displayed. Very annoying as I work as a designer - and I don’t always appreciate the added texture