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Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

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Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#301

Post by the_clarence »

muse900 wrote: post #169
andr wrote: post #93

The impact of this will be much bigger outside of the US, as most countries outside of North America do not have a single Apple Store. In those countries, usually there is a licensed repair provider, but the customer experience can be drastically different. In Bulgaria, I've had to wait of over 3 weeks for a simple in-warranty repair of a MacBook, like a keyboard replacement. Using unlicensed repair stores has been t…

Totally agree, and the more I think about it, the more I feel that apple products have started becoming inaccessible to me too. From what I understand they want to protect their brand by building quality and repairing with quality as well. Issue is that they are lacking on employees for what they want to do. A week ago I was in the apple store in London, a guy next to me bought one of their new flagships through o2 a…

Why would you buy a phone through O2? Just go to an Apple Store and buy it directly.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#302

Post by FabHK »

saagarjha wrote: post #247
jillesvangurp wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given how hard these things are getting to repair and how long it takes, I think you could argue that Apple should just offer to replace faulty devices with new ones. Having a pro device out of action for more than a week is just not acceptable. If it breaks, I want to have the replacement up and running ASAP. If Apple can then repair and refurbish the original at their own leisurely pace, fine. That will also put th…

Doesn’t Apple provide loaner devices during repairs?

AFAIK, only if you sign up for their "Joint Venture" business program. In HK, it's HKD 3838 a year (about USD 500).

EDIT to add: my 2016 MBP is so bad that I'm seriously considering joining that program.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#303

Post by sneak »

raesene9 wrote: post #298
petepete wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I'm not prepared to have Candy Crush adverts in my Start Menu, which counts Windows out. Additionally, I know I can deactivate them by jumping through a couple of hoops, but that's not the point.

Out of curiousity, why do you feel that's not the point? Customizing an operating system after installation is a common part of the process for any system Having to remove unwanted software seems like an odd reason to rule out an entire environment.

Having to fight against a vendor who feels entitled to advertise to you via your general purpose tools is the point, or rather, not going down that path.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#304

Post by tobyhinloopen »

wjnc wrote: post #297
andr wrote: post #93

The impact of this will be much bigger outside of the US, as most countries outside of North America do not have a single Apple Store. In those countries, usually there is a licensed repair provider, but the customer experience can be drastically different. In Bulgaria, I've had to wait of over 3 weeks for a simple in-warranty repair of a MacBook, like a keyboard replacement. Using unlicensed repair stores has been t…

It might be totally unfeasible for a consumer to get your rights over a small repair, but you do have EU-law protection for your rights as a consumer. Article 3 of the directive [1] states your rights quite clearly: "Any repair or replacement shall be completed within a reasonable time and without any significant inconvenience to the consumer, taking account of the nature of the goods and the purpose for which the co…

I hope we get a "right to repair" law in EU, where the seller is required by law to provide repairability services next to their regular warranties. That means that, as a seller, you must provide a service to repair (and replacement parts) for "reasonable" prices for anything you sell.

For example, if you're selling notebooks, you must be able to provide notebook parts and repair as well for the products you sell.

Context: Imagine dropping your macbook and the screen breaks; You must be able to get it replaced for a "reasonable" price and you must be able to buy a replacement screen to repair it yourself. The seller must provide these services (either by delegating it to a repair or repairing it themselves)

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#306

Post by tobyhinloopen »

doubt_me wrote: post #242
RileyJames wrote: post #168

When I upgraded my MacBook Air, I decided to try switching away from Apple. Primarily because the new MBP’s & Air’s were expensive, and all the new feature which made them expensive were things I didn’t want or need. I also wanted to give Linux another shot. I went for a Dell XPS, and while there are things I don’t like (primarily keyboard & trackpad) I’ve got used to them. (Keyboard still shits me). But, when the mo…

Look into Asus laptops. Doesn't have to be ROG but very much worth the money

Asus? I damaged my Asus panel myself and they refuse to repair it (no warrenty claim, just "here, take my money, fix it plz") or sell me replacement parts.

Never again.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#307

Post by tobyhinloopen »

alpineidyll3 wrote: post #3

Lol was already resigned to this being my last mbp (customer for at least 15 years)... This is pure icing .. .

I just hope my current rMBP 2015 doesn't die on me... I don't want the OLED bar, crappy keyboard or donglelife.

I don't want to run Windows either... Linux is also questionable.

Maybe I'll just get a hackintosh or something.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#308

Post by ramijames »

As someone who have four macbooks here at home, and has been on the mac ecosystem for decades, I'm just done with them. The last macbook pro I bought is literal garbage. The keyboard has three broken buttons and the thing is less than a year old. Now they are telling me that I can't fix my machines on my own? Thanks but no thanks.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#309

Post by simion314 »

jen729w wrote: post #279
bigbugbag wrote: post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, people do care about repairability more than you think, just look at the growing popularity of repair cafes. To me the issue is that devices are made to appear obsolete, a marketing scheme to boost profit, in a limited time frame and replaced instead of repaired not because they are reliable (for example the lawsuit for prone to breaking keys on recent macbooka[1]). People who care about upgradeability are…

FWIW, I upgraded a 5+ year old MacBook Air to the new MacBook Pro basically because I wanted to. I think the screen was the main driver, but really there was nothing wrong with that Air; as evidenced by the fact that a good friend is now using it as her primary computer. Planned obsolence is another meme that needs to die. Regarding the cost of screens for a phone, what, you wish they were lower? Me too! But they are…

>I’m not suggesting that non-Apple repair is different, but you have to admit that a knock-off 3rd party screen is probably not going to be as reliable. And who wears the pain and anger when that screen doesn’t work? Apple.

>You can’t fault them for wanting to control this stuff. If it was my company, I would.

Your example with the screen would be similar to changing say a car part you are forced to go to the manufacturer to get the original part, the fun part is that the windscreen is half the price of a new car so you now start considering buying a new car or gluing your windscreen.

So Apple does not sell parts, forces you to use their repair shops and tax you tons for simple repairs, PLUS they make you pay for their own faults until some class action forces them to admit the hardware faults.

I never seen companies suffer PR impact because someone repaired their old phone/laptop/computer/electronic at a third party.

My points stand for products that are out of warranty, if products are in warranty then the laws apply.

Re: Apple's Proprietary Software Locks Kill Independent Repair on New MacBook Pros

#310

Post by FabHK »

bigbugbag wrote: post #246
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most customers don't care, they don't care about repairability because modern devices are so reliable, they don't care about upgradeability because they bought the appropriate spec in the first place. Even if it does fail they don't really care about the cost of repair because they bought a premium product and their expectations are set accordingly.

Actually, people do care about repairability more than you think, just look at the growing popularity of repair cafes. To me the issue is that devices are made to appear obsolete, a marketing scheme to boost profit, in a limited time frame and replaced instead of repaired not because they are reliable (for example the lawsuit for prone to breaking keys on recent macbooka[1]). People who care about upgradeability are…

I didn't use to care about repairability because Apple laptops used to be pretty solid - by the time they give up, you want to buy the latest generation (with vastly more power & speed) anyway.

But recently, I'm having so many problems (that damn 2016 MBP) that repairability looms large.

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