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

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

#291

Post by pier25 » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:39 PM UTC

mola wrote: post #117

pier25 wrote: post #52

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 p…

Why did you keep buying macs then?

It took a long time for me to understand all this. I bought my last Mac 3 years ago. I'm still using an iMac which I'm really happy with, but I will most likely not buy another Mac again.

My machine for gaming and other hobbies is an AMD with Windows, and once this iMac dies I will probably switch to Linux for my work machine.

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

#292

Post by riffic » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:40 PM UTC

spullara wrote: post #194

riffic wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you know, if expanding batteries were so problematic, why the heck does Apple glue them into the topcase?

To make the computer smaller and lighter.

I'd prefer a system that was a bit more durable and also put the consumables in a place where they were easily accessed.

we've reached the point where all advantages to devices being smaller and lighter are diminished returns.

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

#293

Post by IncRnd » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:41 PM UTC

Bud wrote: post #228

everyone wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems like they intentionally throttle older models as a feature of the update.. They do it on their phones at least. https://www.phonearena.com/news/how-to-make-iphone-faster_id...

No, they do not, and that's an outrageous, silly, completely unsupported accusation. Apple also does not "intentionally throttle" older iPhones as a "feature of the update" for some sort of nefarious bullshit "planned obsolescence" reason. The opposite is true: Apple reduces the clock speed very very slightly on older iPhones, so that they can be used LONGER and have a LONGER service life. The alternative would be, w…

Hopefully, Apple learned from their experience.

By the way, isn't it nice when the hardware manufacturer doesn't degrade performance on failing hardware but instead tells the user?

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

#294

Post by PolCPP » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:42 PM UTC

zzt123 wrote: post #244

amatecha wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmmm.. FWIW, I type at like 130wpm (I have won typing competitions), and have never experienced frequent text-input latency on my Macs (I've used Macs since the mid-80's). Only intermittent due to obvious things like CPU-intensive operations in progress. Did you see it happening on really "simple" applications like Terminal? What's crazy to me is how you saw it happening on a fresh OS install... had you installed any…

Fresh is "fresh but with IntelliJ and a large project open", but without all the background NGINX etc installed. Once one app starts lagging, they all lag. Terminal, TextEdit, Safari, Notes, IntelliJ, everything. I'm well north of 130wpm, but I don't think that matters for the issues that my Macs have had to deal with, as I used to be well below 130wpm and still experienced such issues.

IntelliJ: Thats your problem.

Everytime i tried to run their IDE's on mac os i gave up because the abysmal typing/scroll performance.

I think textmate broke my brain back in the day, can't stand any editor that can't run at 60fps. (unless it's vim/nano on ssh)

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

#295

Post by mrweasel » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:44 PM UTC

jppope wrote: post #146

robertlf wrote: post #127

As long as we're having a big bitch-fest here, I'll throw in my $.02. Other than expanding batteries, my laptops have generally been trouble-free. But the problem I do have is that the older my MBP, the slower it becomes when I upgrade the OS. When I upgraded my 2015 to Big Sur last year, it essentially became unusable because it ran so slowly. It now sits in my closet. Apple should stop nagging you to upgrade the OS…

Apple is the master of planned obsolescence.

They really aren’t. They laptops last a very long time and you will be provided with OS upgrade way longer than you could reasonably upgrade most other laptops, while still have reasonable performance.

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

#296

Post by pier25 » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:45 PM UTC

sombremesa wrote: post #88

pier25 wrote: post #52

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 p…

> 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. Here's the inverse argument: it's absolutely ridiculous I have to pay 20-30% extra for my Macbook even though I don't care about the mandatory 3-year warranty. They should let me opt out for a discount! Well, they do. > you're prac…

I'm not anti Apple at all. I'm using an iMac right now and I also use an iPad Pro daily.

What I'm saying is, Macs should include 3 years of warranty at current prices. If Macs had the reliability of iPads and iPhones it would make more sense to not get the extended warranty.

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

#297

Post by skunkworker » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:46 PM UTC

feifan wrote: post #86

Empirically, the 2016–2020 MacBook Pros seem to be relatively unreliable. My 2016 would frequently have wake-from-sleep problems, occasional kernel panics, and fried its logic board with a pop after about 3 years. My 2019 thermal-throttles every day, kernel panics a few times a month, and has a battery that just gives up under load. Meanwhile my 2019 Mac Pro (tower) is probably the most rock-solid reliable computer I…

I work on a 2019 16" MBP and have had no issues other than the space gray finish wearing off of the hand rest on the keyboard. The CPU definitely runs warmer than my 2015 MBP retina, though. I'm looking forward to a worth M1X/M2 16inch to run a lot cooler.

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

#298

Post by SirZimzim » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:50 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #290

sudosysgen wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Permanently glued batteries are not any smaller and they are no lighter than strapped batteries with easily removed adhesives. It's a move to prevent repair.

This conspiracy theory doesn't even make any sense. Guess who has to replace these batteries? Apple. Why would they make it harder for themselves without a good reason.

The idea is that due to the special repair it will be costly enough to the point where you will opt for buying a new laptop.

It's $200 for a 2015 MacBook Pro for Apple to replace the battery. An aftermarket battery costs around $50 but it's tricky to install.

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

#299

Post by kbelder » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:53 PM UTC

systemvoltage wrote: post #253

0xy wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're forgetting about the high sales tax of 15% in NZ. That explains the vast majority of the price difference.

No, that explains precisely $150 in price increase. We can do math: $1000 base price + 15% sales tax = $1150. How is that vast majority of price increase?

"...which is approximately US $1200"

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

#300

Post by samtheprogram » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 8:54 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #290

sudosysgen wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Permanently glued batteries are not any smaller and they are no lighter than strapped batteries with easily removed adhesives. It's a move to prevent repair.

This conspiracy theory doesn't even make any sense. Guess who has to replace these batteries? Apple. Why would they make it harder for themselves without a good reason.

Apple wants to perform the repairs so they can charge a premium. If batteries were easy to replace, consumers would do it themselves.

IIRC iOS even detects if a battery has been replaced regardless of whether it’s an authentic first-party battery and warns the user; Apple technicians use a tool to prevent these warnings for first-party repairs.