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Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

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Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#91

Post by dijit »

burlesona wrote: post #67
kolbe wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple really is good about taking care of problems. It's easy to complain about the price, but when my Samsung screen stopped working, I had to buy a new phone. When my iPhone screen started glitching, I got it fixed for free in less than two hours. Things like that make paying the "Apple premium" a little more palatable.

We had a similar experience with my wife’s iPhone 5s, which she has held onto for ages because she loves the small size. The screen developed a glitch where a few rows of pixels were inverted. We went to the Apple store to see if the screen could be fixed, and they found and gave her an identical new unit for no charge. “This way you’re also getting a fresh battery and everything will last longer.” They hooked up the…

I’ve had consistently good experiences with the Apple store support across 3 countries (over two continents) and it’s the main reason I still buy apple products, specifically iPhones, despite them going down a path I don’t like for the last 4 years.

Apple of 2015 was, really, at the top of the game, I wish I had bought a 2015 retina MacBook when it was new. :(

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#92

Post by dpkonofa »

panzagl wrote: post #74

My daughter wants a Macbook when she leaves for college next month- no Apple store within a 8-hour drive. Does anyone have experience getting this type of stuff fixed through whatever arrangement Apple has with a typical University? Is Applecare an absolute requirement in this type of situation?

Depending on where she goes to uni, they may have an authorized repair facility on site. I was just able to use the on-site facility at Berkley and have used the one at ASU in the past when appointments at the local Apple stores are all filled.

You can also mail in items for repair which, in my experience, has been just fine except that you need to get a suitably padded box to send it to and from. Apple will typically ship it once you do it the first time and then you can just keep that one and re-use the last one they send you if you need to send it in multiple times.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#93

Post by dpkonofa »

delfinom wrote: post #38
iamnotacrook wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like the "diagnostics" are faulty. If they ended up fixing your problems (as suggested by your "distinct repairs" comments, so they can't have just sat on the device for a phone days then said "yep, we fixed it") then it sounds like they do further tests once they've accepted it for repair, and where those tests highlight a genuine problem, in which case they should probably do those tests initially instead…

The goal of their diagnostics is to a.) upsell/make you pay up for "repairs" you may or may not need b.) avoid doing work under warranty Same shit for car dealers and other places involving consumer goods. This all driven by corporate setting quotas for employees to meet (knowing full well they can't be met unless certain non-spoken shortcuts are taken...).

No it's not. The diagnostics are just basic, front-level diagnostics that they do for all machines to check off a few boxes. It's unfortunate when you're in the small percentage of people that have an uncommon problem but their current diagnostic system lets them accommodate and repair 99% of the issues people come in for quickly with 1st tier repair staff. It's not ideal but they're not trying to screw you over. Apple has some of the best and most highly rated support in the industry.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#94

Post by windexh8er »

Jakob wrote: post #29
mtrpcic wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a similar experience. Struggled with several keys either "not pressing" or "double pressing". After a while I took it in, they gave me an estimate of 5 days for repair, and called me after 4. No charge, no fee, no questions. Once I got used to the butterfly keys I didn't mind the low travel distance, and now that my keyboard is in proper working order, I have no issues with it. Still wish there was an escape ke…

You can set caps lock as escape key in System Preferences since one of the last OS versions. For me this works even better than the original escape key position since it’s on the home row.

This is what I do for my work computer but it makes memory muscle when switching machines super annoying. Give us back real keys on the top row. And if Apple really wants to be trendy with dynamic keys then make the top row physical buttons that are each their own displays so we truly get a usable, yet capably dynamic, top row. That would be innovation and not stifle those who rely on those physical keys to work proficiently.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#95

Post by reaperducer »

fmjfkd wrote: post #49
reaperducer wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's repair service, and the Apple Store in general, have gotten much better in the last six months or so. Two weeks ago I brought my Apple Watch in for an out-of-warranty repair on a Thursday night. I was told it would take 10 business days. It was ready the following Tuesday.

You think so? I remember back in university, Apple would overnight ship my laptop to fix it. The last time I went to Apple, they wouldn’t even replace my faulty charger without me complaining to the manager.

I think you're being downvoted because you missed this part:

in the last six months or so

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#96

Post by gorbypark »

Will this make my 13" 2016 MBP better? I don't have any permanently "sticky" keys but on occasion something gets in there and the key feels weird for an hour or two before it somehow "clears" itself out. If I went through the trouble of sending in my laptop, would the keyboard be replaced with a newer keyboard with the "membrane" or would they just slap the exact same keyboard in?

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#97

Post by gorbypark »

rgovostes wrote: post #82

I have two generations of the butterfly keyboard and I can say that the version with a silicone membrane is vastly superior. The keys feel much better, they rattle less for virtually silent typing. iFixit found that the membrane also made a big difference in terms of limiting the impact of dust: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/7/19/17592138/i... I have sent two of the pre-membrane keyboards in for repair…

I have a 2016 13" MBP which I believe does not have the membrane. Any idea if they'd replace it with a membrane version of the keyboard or if they would just put in the exact same one as before?

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#98

Post by panzagl »

dpkonofa wrote: post #92
panzagl wrote: post #74

My daughter wants a Macbook when she leaves for college next month- no Apple store within a 8-hour drive. Does anyone have experience getting this type of stuff fixed through whatever arrangement Apple has with a typical University? Is Applecare an absolute requirement in this type of situation?

Depending on where she goes to uni, they may have an authorized repair facility on site. I was just able to use the on-site facility at Berkley and have used the one at ASU in the past when appointments at the local Apple stores are all filled. You can also mail in items for repair which, in my experience, has been just fine except that you need to get a suitably padded box to send it to and from. Apple will typicall…

I think that this was mentioned during the tour last year, but holy hell is it hard to find this info from Apple- they want symptoms and an AppleId...

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#99

Post by dpkonofa »

panzagl wrote: post #98
dpkonofa wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depending on where she goes to uni, they may have an authorized repair facility on site. I was just able to use the on-site facility at Berkley and have used the one at ASU in the past when appointments at the local Apple stores are all filled. You can also mail in items for repair which, in my experience, has been just fine except that you need to get a suitably padded box to send it to and from. Apple will typicall…

I think that this was mentioned during the tour last year, but holy hell is it hard to find this info from Apple- they want symptoms and an AppleId...

Just do a search on the Apple website. She'll have to have an Apple ID to make any kind of service reservation so that's expected. Google also has a pretty thorough list of most of the Apple Authorized service centers in any area.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#100

Post by prh8 »

pault wrote: post #36
Jakob wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can set caps lock as escape key in System Preferences since one of the last OS versions. For me this works even better than the original escape key position since it’s on the home row.

I don't know if it's possible with third party software (I use a hardware programmable keyboard running QMK), but I map it to tap for escape, hold for ctrl. If you use vim keybindings for your editor it's glorious.

Yes Karabiner is great for that. I do the same thing except I have it act as Hyper when pressed in conjunction with another key. That's how all my shortcuts are triggered.
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