Terrible Nasty iBook

Anyway...my iBook 500 dual-USB w/combo drive, a $1,799 computer when it was purchased, has many many many problems. The latch broke (Apple did repair this, but it is having issues again), the hinge got so stiff it pulled the plastic off the LCD, the keyboard won't stay down in the middle, the trackpad has problems, the trackpad button has problems, and Apple replaced all the plastic surrounding the keyboard for no apparent reason, and did a very poor job at it. The middle of the plastic near the LCD around the keyboard is bulging up in the middle, and the screw that usually goes in there to hold it down doesn't even fit. And they still haven't fixed the magnet that came off underneath the keyboard. And yes, I do know how to put the keyboard on properly after installing RAM/Airport card. And the problems with the keyboard surfaced BEFORE anything was ever installed in this computer. Also, the hard drive is starting to make the terrible whining noise that, as I know for a fact, is a problem with the 10GB IBM hard drives that Apple uses in iBooks.

I am also disappointed at Apple's technical support. After waiting on hold for almost 30 minutes last week, I was greeted by a very morbid sounding rep. What a nice way to treat your customer when they've waited so patiently listening to terrible music for half an hour. And they still haven't offered to replace the computer. I asked about that, and they said they would not replace it. However, at this rate it would be cheaper for them to replace my iBook instead of continuing to have me ship it to them to get it repaired. Also, each time it is repaired it comes back worse, so there is no point in getting it repaired.

Being a Mac user since the early '90s, my experience with Apple's iBooks have turned me away from Apple and towards PCs.

What do you suggest I do, since I do not find sending it to Apple particularly appealing since last time it came back in worse condition.

[quote]Originally posted by ijerry:
<strong>Sorry to hear all of that, my experience has been fantastic..I too have an ibook....total cost after upgrades $2200. My experience with technical support has been great and there are absolutely no problems with my ibook. if you are close to an apple store i would take it in there and go straight to the genius bar.(Face to face customer service). if this is not available to you then I guess...quit. But I have NEVER had a good call with customer service until I migrated over to apple.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Unfortunately, the nearest Apple store is about 1,000+ miles away <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

I don't even know how to take the ****ing thing apart!!! And I don't do mac hacks - and all the hacks I have ever done are creating K'NEX cases for PCs. And I've treated my iBook very nicely. Other people abuse theirs and their iBooks work fine. I don't get it - isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

And don't go assuming someone did something unless you know for a fact.

[quote]Originally posted by alcimedes:
<strong>ok khack, please explain to me how the megnet came out then.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The mAgnet (hehe) came out on its own. The keyboard just popped up underneath the num-lock light. At first, pushing it back down worked for about 5 minutes, then it would pop back up. Now it doesn't even stay down at all. The reason for that, though, is because Apple for no reason replaced all the plastic around the keyboard when I sent it in, and they put a screw in there that doesn't fit. And now the little magnet on top of THAT is off. And Apple scratched the battery badly when they were "repairing" the computer. I know I didn't do it because there were no visible artifacts on the machine when I observed it before sending it to Apple. And they didn't do a good job fixing the bulging plastic around the LCD, and they didn't fix the trackpad or HD either. And now the latch that they actually fixed (!) is having a few problems from time to time again, and will most likely break sometime soon.

For $1,800, you would expect better than this.

[quote]Originally posted by Stefan:
<strong>He complained about his iBook constantly on AppleFritter too... he will never be happy with it </strong><hr></blockquote>

The day Apple offers to replace my iBook will be the day that I think about buying another Mac.

[quote]Originally posted by alcimedes:
<strong>lol, ok kHack, i'm supposed to believe that the certified tech at Apple is more likely to have screwed up your machine than you were?

i had to have my iBook sent in for tight hinges, it came back in one piece, go figure.

and as for spending $1,800 on your iBook, you can pick them up for under a grand, so stop your bitchin'.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Well I wanted mine brand new, and I wanted it from a place I could trust (a local Mac store in Portland, Oregon). Unfortunately, both of mine are LEMONS that have multiple problems (esp. the dual-USB one). And I am disappointed that my iBook came back damaged by the "certified" techs.

[quote]Originally posted by DanMacMan:
<strong>In reading similar posts in the past, a few have had luck emailing Steve Jobs himself with their nightmarish stories. They spill their guts to him and he has a replacement shipped out. At this point, if I were you, I'd do it. You've got nothing to lose.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What's his E-Mail Address? At this point, I have nothing to lose!

Can anyone provide me with Steve Jobs' E-Mail address?

Does anyone know for sure?

[quote]Originally posted by Taq:
<strong>I got a dual USB mac (the fancy one) in August. It rocks, and is "rock" solid. I've dropped it twice....by accident of course, and it runs beautifully. When I've had problems with it I've called tech support and they've been awesome. They Spent about an hour to figure out that my problem was with third party software and showed me how to fix it. Me thinks the problem is with you grasshopper. good luck, and insist beyond reason, until you're happy. That Usually works for me. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Heh heh - I have never even banged my iBook, let alone dropped it (gasp), and mine has all these problems. However, people who drop their iBooks don't have problems. Isn't this ironic?

[quote]Originally posted by SDW2001:
<strong>Well, I have become sort of an expert at dealing with companies that are a pain. Gieven what you have already done:

1) Call Customer service when it opens to reduce wait time
2) Get a tech on the phone. Explain the situation calmly. Tell them all the remedies Apple has tried.
3) Tell them that they have tried all these things and it is worse than before. Tell them that given the circumstances the only option you will now accept is a replacement machine. They will say no, but you must persist. Tell them you are seriously thinking about switching to PC. Ask to talk to the person's boss.

4) Keep your request consistent. When they offer you other fixes, simply state that those are "unacceptable" and repeat your demand for a new machine....calmly.

You may need to invest a bit of time. Whatever you do, DO NOT hang up until you get what you want. If someone tells you he/she will get you a new machine, tell hime/her you want his/her full name and department.

If you get to the point where you have spoken to, say, five people and no one will help, threaten the last person with:

1. e-mailing Steve Jobs. (say you will mention the person's name you are talking too.....of course, you must get his/her name first).

2. Say you contact the Better Business Bureau and will report Apple to every consumer agency you can find.

3. Tell them you are frequent poster on Mac web sites and tell them you RUN a Mac web site (you are Khack, right?). Tell them you will inform everyone you know of your experience.

4. Your last option is to follow through on the threats. E-mail Jobs, write letters (hell, I might even threaten legal action).

Be calm but very firm and you will probably win. I finally won with SprintPCS after months and months of problems. You just have to get to the right person. If you get irate, they will dismiss you as a freak and not really do anything.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have already tried some of this, but if Steve doesn't reply in a few days I will try the rest Thanx

[quote]Originally posted by BungHole:
<strong>This guy sounds like he is just yankin peoples chains. Balh, blah blah</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey - there is no reason to animadvert this thread. So back off!

OMG - you wouldn't believe what just happened!!! I got this phone call this morning from someone from the Apple executive place, and they are sending me a box Monday to have it repaired. She said they would make sure it is repaired correctly, and in a timely manner, and they will fix everything that is wrong with my iBook!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!

LONG LIVE APPLE!

good. will you stop whining about it now

[quote]Originally posted by PookJP:
<strong>If you want to go waste $1,800 on a PC, go right ahead. But that decision will be based in precisely zero analytical thought.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

No way am I going to do this after Apple called me, and I was actually able to speak to a person that was very professional and knew what she was talking about. And I appreciate what they are doing for me. So I say, screw PCs!!! If everything goes as planned, I will basically be left with a new computer. :cool: