My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs • Hacker News Board

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#51

Post by weaksauce » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:05 PM UTC

avgDev wrote: post #8

This honestly seems like a terrible machine. I own an XPS and had in-home service. I called dell and we agreed my keyboard needs to be replaced. A few days later a guy shows up at my door and replaces the keyboard. I never had to go anywhere. Obviously, the mileage might vary if you travel outside of the us. But......again....that many repairs are downright scary. There is also one anecdotal fact I want to add about…

I mean any manufacturer will have some unlucky streaks. i've had a few macbooks and all of them are going strong still. some are 15 years old. slower than they were but hopefully they last a while longer.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#52

Post by pier25 » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:06 PM UTC

It's absolutely ridiculous that Macs don't come with a 3 year warranty by default.

I've bought maybe a dozen macs in the last 15 years (for myself and the family) and while some have lasted many years without issues, some have died on me on the second or third year.

Because the initial investment is so high you're practically forced to add extra Apple Care to protect it because there's a 20-30% chance you will have problems during those first years.

And don't get me started on design issues and recalls which take years. When my 2011 MBP died because of Radeongate it took Apple 2 years to start a recall and replace the GPU. The honest thing to do would have been to take the machine and offer 60% of its value in credit towards a new Mac. Instead, Apple replaced the GPU on a machine that was already a couple of gens behind and I couldn't sell without practically giving it away because (rightfully) nobody wanted the 15'' 2011 models. That MBP was probably the worst investment of my life.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#53

Post by dep_b » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:07 PM UTC

zzt123 wrote: post #42

I have a gripe with every Macbook Pro I've owned, and I've owned 4 of them over the last 10 years. They all lag when I type. I hit a key, and it takes a while before it shows up on screen. The effect is at its worst in Safari, but it shows up most everywhere else as well. Sometimes, I'll type a few letters or even words before they start showing up. Doesn't matter if I wipe the machine and reinstall, and Apple has ne…

Doesn’t always happen to me but under load yes. Also: letters appearing out of the order I typed them.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#54

Post by riffic » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:07 PM UTC

Apple is basically the BMW of computers at this point.

it's a shame, it would be nice to go back to a point where there was more quality/durability inherent in the product.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#55

Post by jasongill » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:07 PM UTC

> After speaking to a friend, they told me I had probably received a “lemon” unit (i.e. faulty from the beginning). To be honest, I’m not quite sure where the term comes from.

The term comes from the automobile industry, where a "lemon" is a new car that has some kind of issue so severe that it cannot be reasonably repaired under warranty and the buyer can try to seek a refund or replacement vehicle.

Wikipedia says that the term originally comes from early 20th century slang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_(automobile)

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#56

Post by dougifresh94 » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:08 PM UTC

regarding “lemon” unit (i.e. faulty from the beginning). To be honest, I’m not quite sure where the term comes from. - It's origins are pretty interesting: https://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2016/12/02/origin-of-lemo...

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#57

Post by theonlybutlet » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:08 PM UTC

Don't know what they're like these days but my 2011 Lenovo Thinkpad works great! Solid laptop, replaced the keyboard once aside from that still going strong.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#58

Post by sylens » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:08 PM UTC

This is why I've always been so reluctant to drop big money on a Macbook. I feel like I'm chained to that AppleCare, whereas on a PC I can probably try to service it myself

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#59

Post by dep_b » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:08 PM UTC

wil421 wrote: post #47

zzt123 wrote: post #42

I have a gripe with every Macbook Pro I've owned, and I've owned 4 of them over the last 10 years. They all lag when I type. I hit a key, and it takes a while before it shows up on screen. The effect is at its worst in Safari, but it shows up most everywhere else as well. Sometimes, I'll type a few letters or even words before they start showing up. Doesn't matter if I wipe the machine and reinstall, and Apple has ne…

The only thing that lags from time to time on my M1 is opening a Safari tab. Recently did a clean install to get rid of some 10 year Time Machine backup cruft I accrued and it's gone. I've owned 3 in the past 10 years and none of them lag when pressing a key not even my wife's white MacBook with a HD.

Safari became unusable to me I might be a tab hoarder but I can’t be the only one. Sometimes it takes a minute to come to foreground again.

Re: My MacBook Pro had over 10k USD in repairs

#60

Post by pqvst » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 6:09 PM UTC

avgDev wrote: post #48

vmception wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny you write that because OP had a bad experience with their Dell XPS and is thankful for Apple’s service

I know, which is why I felt compelled to comment. Most business class dell machines and XPS can be purchased with next day in-home service. This beats going to a apple store for me.

Like I said in the post, Dell refused to offer any sort of service while I wasn't in the country I had purchased my laptop. I don't know if that's changed, but that was a complete deal breaker for me back then.