Minor Apple rant

[alex matson]

I bought a Macbook Pro about 18 months ago. $1650 refurbed direct.
About six months later, the optical drive started spitting out discs. I dealt with it until it got too frustrating, considered getting the drive replaced but ultimately ended up getting an external Samsung for about $50. It's a bummer that it takes up two USB slots to power it, but it seemed to have the best price/reliability factor, and I only need it infrequently.

A few weeks ago I got rid of a bunch of stuff and moved my computer desk about five feet across the room - and five feet closer to the wireless router upstairs. I seem to have a dead spot there, because i constantly lose reception. So now when I net it up, I disconnect the external monitor, speakers, hub, keyboard and mouse and take it to my bed. Until this time I never ran the laptop on battery power. Never realized that was bad. A warning in the form of an automatic message, would that kill the engineers to arrange?

Now the laptop will shut off with no warning and plenty of battery power. My profile says the battery is good, has been on 33 cycles, which according to the Mac forums means it's got plenty of life left. Also, I've learned that this was an issue for my particular make and model, and that while Apple was taking care of people's issues for a while...that time is over. So, I've learned that it's a good idea to test the laptop's battery while the warranty is still in effect.

Last night, when the laptop died again, just after I'd been looking the issue up and read that my battery had an 88% charge and almost three hours of power left, I got really annoyed thinking how much this thing cost. Apple wants what, another 3 bills for a decent warranty? I realize computers break down - but I don't think arbitrarily deciding to quit dealing with a known issue for what is supposed to be a premium product is cool.

I read there's a way to restore battery life by using the computer until the battery dies, leaving it off for five hours and then fully charging it, but when the computer shuts down before the battery is depleted, this doesn't work, obviously. I downloaded Apple's battery update only to be told my computer doesn't need it.

For me, if these computers now use the same processor as everyone else, the mechanical parts break just as quickly as the competition, and the warranty is useless for anything but an obvious lemon...what am I paying for?

Don't get me wrong - I love Macs and am quite used to the way they work. But cmon - I have to pay for iWork just so I can read and write Word documents? Known issues with no support? For $1650 - used? Pbbbbt.

[kslight]

I'm by far not an Apple hater but in my opinion the 2-3x premium over a similar PC is for OS/software and a pretty package anymore since the hardware is the same. Apple still feels like extended support is extra like everyone else. I'd say if apple doesn't want to fix it then lesson learned...it doesn't sound like you've contacted them about it directly though? And have you tried a replacement battery? Longer power cord until you decide to replace it?

I guess they don't feel like an automated message to use the battery is needed because most people buy a laptop to run off a battery....similar to a cell phone.

[alex matson]

Yeah, I just use the cord. The mag-safe cord will unplug though, especially in bed.
(My basement is heated only by an oil filled radiator, so it's always chilly down here.)

I didn't buy a laptop for portability per se, just for the price.

[Snarl 12/8]

My Apple airport base station, UFO thingy broke a couple months after the warrantee died. I searched the interwebs and found a 500 page (I'm not shitting you) thread on the Apple forums about the exact issue I had. There was a step by step procedure, with pictures about how to replace the two caps that had burnt out - on the Apple forums. So, I called Apple to ask them to do the fix for me since this was a "known issue". THey said it wasn't a known issue. I told them that there was a 500 page thread about it on their own forums, but they wouldn't back down. It took me about 4 hours to disassemble and fix the UFO. I didn't bother putting it back together, since it was the design (no air vents - so it'd look cooler) that killed it in the first place. Ever since that episode I've looked askance at Apples "awesome" design skills. Time after time I've seen news stories, etc. about apple recalling this, entire lines of iMacs having a certain issue, etc. I think a lot of it has to do with them caring more about design slickness (thinness, etc.) than with core functionality. Now, I try to buy whatever is closest to what I call a "commodity" PC. I want off the shelf parts that I can fix/replace myself. That's the main reason that I've never owned a laptop, because you can't really work on them yourself without relying on one manufacturer for replacement parts, etc.

Like I said, Apple's "design acumen" bites them on the ass constantly, but I don't really think they're that much worse than almost any of the computer manufacturers. None of them will acknowledge jack shit if they don't have to. Get a computer you can fix yourself, especially if you don't need to move it around very often. Get a nice big case with plenty of room to work in there, get yourself a mobo and some ram and a hard drive stick it all together, put whatever OS makes you happy and rest assured that you won't have to wait around for anyone to "do the right thing" by you if something goes wrong. You'll have an easier time getting Samsung to take the hard drive back if it's FUBAR than you will getting Apple to troubleshoot some unholy nexus between their awesome design and your practical application.

/rant

[ThePitz]

Frustrating indeed.

My MBP had the same battery issue but Apple manned up and did a battery recall - I haven't had problems like that since.

As far as the iWork thing goes - every highschool and college paper I ever wrote was written with the free open-source software called "Neo Office." It has never failed me.

www.neooffice.org

Also - the screen on my MPB recently died - I read that it was a reasonably common thing that required an 800 dollar trip to the store or, if you're adventurous, a 400 dollar replacement part. I opted for the $300 dollar 26" screen - which is GREAT - but my laptop is essentially a tiny desktop computer, now.

Also - the drive that came with it wound up with so many bad blocks that it rendered it pretty much useless. I ordered a new, big, quiet HD off of eBay - but replacing it was no easy feat - weird screwdrivers and precarious ribbon cable detachments. It all worked out and has been fine since - but the procedure was terrifying - and I consider myself a pretty avid DIYer.

So yeah - I feel for ya 100%. I love me some macs - but when they screw up and Apple doesn't back 'em - it always has me pricing PCs that are less than half as cheap and carry the same specs.

All that said - I've never come close to buying a PC. I've been Mac since 1989. At this point I feel it akin to coming out of the closet after you've been married to a woman for 20 years. I wouldn't even know where to start and the frustration of the whole endeavor would be more trouble than it's worth.

[Gentleman Jim]

First: I really, really don't consider myself an Apple Fanboy. But I do confess to being a Mac OS Fanboy.

I consider the premium paid for a Mac to be all about the OS. I'm writing this post on my 'family PC,' the one that my wife and kids use for internet surfing, Quickbooks, and a few CD ROM video games. It takes ~5 seconds for the computer to react to a mouse click when opening a file or folder. It takes ~3 seconds for web pages to load, and we have Verizon FIOS. We do the spyware updates, have the machine scheduled to defrag every 2 weeks or so, and use Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer. (Firefox runs even slower on this machine.) No, I've never scrubbed the registry. Frankly, I'm afraid of screwing it up.

I also have a G5 and an MBP. Neither of them lag like this thing. I've had my G5 almost 5 years now, and barring any hardware failures I could see using it for what I do for another 5 years with no complaints. Think about how many people here still use G4's, then think about how many people still use Pentium III's.

So it's half the price to buy a new PC. But you have to factor in the cost of constantly maintaining it, updating it piece by piece, and then completely replacing it eventually. For me, that was a no-brainer. For those who are PC/Windows savvy I could see how you would choose PC. And for those who are Linux enthusiasts, (possibly worse than Apple Fanboys), I suspect that maintaining your PC isn't a chore, it's a hobby. Have at it.

[lapsteel]

First: I really, really don't consider myself an Apple Fanboy. But I do confess to being a Mac OS Fanboy.

I consider the premium paid for a Mac to be all about the OS. I'm writing this post on my 'family PC,' the one that my wife and kids use for internet surfing, Quickbooks, and a few CD ROM video games. It takes ~5 seconds for the computer to react to a mouse click when opening a file or folder. It takes ~3 seconds for web pages to load, and we have Verizon FIOS. We do the spyware updates, have the machine scheduled to defrag every 2 weeks or so, and use Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer. (Firefox runs even slower on this machine.) No, I've never scrubbed the registry. Frankly, I'm afraid of screwing it up.

I also have a G5 and an MBP. Neither of them lag like this thing. I've had my G5 almost 5 years now, and barring any hardware failures I could see using it for what I do for another 5 years with no complaints. Think about how many people here still use G4's, then think about how many people still use Pentium III's.

So it's half the price to buy a new PC. But you have to factor in the cost of constantly maintaining it, updating it piece by piece, and then completely replacing it eventually. For me, that was a no-brainer. For those who are PC/Windows savvy I could see how you would choose PC. And for those who are Linux enthusiasts, (possibly worse than Apple Fanboys), I suspect that maintaining your PC isn't a chore, it's a hobby. Have at it.

What OS are you using? I know that some Vista comes with power saver mode on, cutting the cpu power in half. To fix, just go to the control panel-power options. Another thing to check would be your scheduled maintenance. Sometimes things will be scheduled during peak hours of use.

Back on topic:
I built my PC and it works well for my needs. I finally might have to buy some more ram after 6 years (from 1 to 2gb). But, first I'll see how much is left with some new virtual instruments.

[Gentleman Jim]

We use XP. And the lag time is a permanent feature, it doesn't seem to vary much. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but I'm not terribly inclined to suss it out. My wife and kids don't seem to mind... because they don't use my Macs!

[lapsteel]

We use XP. And the lag time is a permanent feature, it doesn't seem to vary much. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but I'm not terribly inclined to suss it out. My wife and kids don't seem to mind... because they don't use my Macs!

Not enough ram? But since it isn't your computer why worry.

[Jay Reynolds]

I know that some Vista comes with power saver mode on, cutting the cpu power in half. To fix, just go to the control panel-power options.

That stopped being an option after Tiger

[b3groover]

Yep. All those people that say Macs are so much better than PCs because they "just work" can kiss my ass.

I've had more problems with my wife's Macbook than any other computer I've ever owned. Right now it's sitting in the closet because it won't boot. This is after multiple other problems.

And yet my 10 year old PC that I built myself in January of 2000 is still cranking right along like a champ.

[Snarl 12/8]

It takes ~5 seconds for the computer to react to a mouse click when opening a file or folder. It takes ~3 seconds for web pages to load, and we have Verizon FIOS. We do the spyware updates, have the machine scheduled to defrag every 2 weeks or so, and use Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer. (Firefox runs even slower on this machine.) No, I've never scrubbed the registry. Frankly, I'm afraid of screwing it up.

It really sounds to me like you've got too many anti-spyware, anti-virus thingies going at once. (or the wrong one[s]) Some of that stuff needs to look ahead and make sure that what you're going to isn't bad, before it'll let you go, hence the lag. Put the condom on your clicking habits, not your OS and you'll speed things up immensely. Don't drink the "PC's are inherently unsafe" cool-aid. Do a quick google for something like "resource hog anti-virus" or something and make sure you aren't running one of the big offenders, things like Norton, to a lesser extent, McAfee are just known CPU suckers. I'm running AVG-Free and loving it and I've heard there are even better free options out there, I'm just too lazy to figure out what's better. I make sure to do the "custom" install of things like anti-virus and I disable all the active, in the background shit that I can. No "safe surf" or even a daily/weekly hard drive scan. The only thing it's checking is incoming emails, and that's probably unnecessary too. Firewall is more important. Whatevs.

[Nick Sevilla]

Yep. All those people that say Macs are so much better than PCs because they "just work" can kiss my ass.
I've had more problems with my wife's Macbook than any other computer I've ever owned. Right now it's sitting in the closet because it won't boot. This is after multiple other problems.
And yet my 10 year old PC that I built myself in January of 2000 is still cranking right along like a champ.

My wife and my kids Macs always are crashing...

So I observed their use of the devices.

Day 1 : Wife spills an ENTIRE 18 OZ cup of water onto the computer. Fries the battery.

Day 2 : Son writes with a sharpie on his laptop. I got there in time, and with some alcohol, removed the marker ink.

I own three Macs,two laptops and one G5 Intel tower, and I do not allow ANYONE to even look at them. they work all the time. My silver Mac Book Pro travels all over the place with me, and gets X-Rayed at airports about once every three months. No issues.

I have to say I do get the screen of death, but only on times I install drivers for hardware, and usually, there is a newer version online. Like yesterday, my Mac Book Pro (version 2,2, the older model) bought in 2007, I got a Motu 828mk3, and installed the software and drivers from the CD. Right after it was done, Grey screen of Death.
Downloaded the updated software and drivers, and now it is running properly.

I do still also have a 8 year old custom made (made by me) rackmounted PC, running Windows 2000 Pro, and Nuendo 1.1 and emagic Logic 5.5.1 for PC, just for when I get this type of formats to convert into ProTools files. It still boots, albeit slowly.

Cheers

[Gentleman Jim]

Snarl 12/8 wrote:

It really sounds to me like you've got too many anti-spyware, anti-virus thingies going at once. (or the wrong one[s]) Some of that stuff needs to look ahead and make sure that what you're going to isn't bad, before it'll let you go, hence the lag. Put the condom on your clicking habits, not your OS and you'll speed things up immensely. Don't drink the "PC's are inherently unsafe" cool-aid.

I'll look into the anti-spyware thing. We don't run Norton or McAfee, but my wife did install AVG and at least one other. I hate the way AVG becomes its own search results page if you enter a site in the address bar and don't put a .com, .org, etc. after it.

As far as the clicking habits, I suspect the number one offender is my 9 year old son and his love for downloading free pointless games. Not addictinggames.com, but some stuff that seems to slow down the machine. I wait until he loses interest, then I remove them. Yeah, I could be The Computer Nazi, but if he's just playing some stupid game I don't want to be a weenie. We'll have the talk about dicey Eastern Block porn sites in a few years, I'm sure.

I don't believe that PC's are inherently unsafe. I suspect that most people who have stuff happen to their PC's are the ones who trade in twenty-seven-times-forwarded emails promising good wishes from the Lucky Leprechaun, or the Jolly Jack O' Lantern, or whatever goofy crap my sisters seem to send on a monthly basis. Bad things happen to good people once in a while, but dumb things happen to dumb people every day.

[b3groover]

I own three Macs,two laptops and one G5 Intel tower, and I do not allow ANYONE to even look at them. they work all the time.

I see what you're saying, but doesn't that blow a hole in Apple's whole marketing scheme / the public's impression that Macs are easier to use and designed for the average person?

I'm not pro PC or anti Mac or vice versa (used Macs a lot when I was doing video post-production... nothing better) but I do get tired of the old argument "if you want it to work, get a Mac" crap. All computers break. All computers have hardware and software issues.

Just lost a partition on one of my audio drives tonight. Boo.