Apple negotiating return of 3G MacBook Pro prototype
Apple is in talks to arrange for the return of a MacBook Pro prototype with built-in wireless 3G functionality from a North Carolina resident who attempted to sell it on eBay.
Earlier this month, owner Carl Frega had a friend post the prototype on eBay, where it quickly garnered bids as high as $70,000. Within a day, Apple was successful in having the listing pulled, citing infringement on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights.
The device resembles a 2007 15-inch Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, but with the curious addition of an extendable cellular antenna along the top right side of the display and a SIM card slot. Red circuit boards and the lack of an EMC Number serve as evidence that the machine is a pre-production prototype.
CNet reports that Frega was contacted by Apple Tuesday afternoon to arrange for a representative to pick up the device.
Frega has been purchasing used machines for spare parts, moving up from a hobby to a full-time repair job. He purchased the machine from an alleged former Apple engineer off of Craigslist. Earlier this year, he posted photos of the prototype to the forums of a tech site, but failed to attract interest.
"Few people were really interested, and the thread turned into a discussion about tethering rates and wireless carriers," Frega said. "(It's) part of why I figured the machine wasn't anything particularly special (except to a tech geek like me) and not worth the trouble of selling as a collector's piece."
He replaced the hard drive and sold the machine on Craigslist. But, the new buyer took the laptop to the Genius Bar at a local Apple Store and was denied service.
"Opened machine to observe that nearly every internal part was third party; main logic board, optical drive, display, hard drive, top case, and others. Machine serial number (W8707003Y53) is also not recognized as a valid number," the Genius Bar repair sheet read.
Genius Bar repair sheet for MacBook Pro prototype | Source: CNet
The new owner took Frega to small claims court, accusing him of selling a fake MacBook Pro. The case even drew the attention of a syndicate court TV show, but he declined the offer. The small claims judge eventually ruled that Frega must pay the buyer $740, receiving the notebook back in return.
For its part, Apple has not indicated whether it will compensate Frega for the amount he originally paid for the device.
Rumors that Apple was working on a 3G laptop solution swirled several years ago. The antenna solution in the MacBook Pro prototype has been viewed as not matching Apple's design principles, possibly explaining why the prototype was never released as a full-fledged product.
Earlier this month, owner Carl Frega had a friend post the prototype on eBay, where it quickly garnered bids as high as $70,000. Within a day, Apple was successful in having the listing pulled, citing infringement on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights.
The device resembles a 2007 15-inch Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, but with the curious addition of an extendable cellular antenna along the top right side of the display and a SIM card slot. Red circuit boards and the lack of an EMC Number serve as evidence that the machine is a pre-production prototype.
CNet reports that Frega was contacted by Apple Tuesday afternoon to arrange for a representative to pick up the device.
Frega has been purchasing used machines for spare parts, moving up from a hobby to a full-time repair job. He purchased the machine from an alleged former Apple engineer off of Craigslist. Earlier this year, he posted photos of the prototype to the forums of a tech site, but failed to attract interest.
"Few people were really interested, and the thread turned into a discussion about tethering rates and wireless carriers," Frega said. "(It's) part of why I figured the machine wasn't anything particularly special (except to a tech geek like me) and not worth the trouble of selling as a collector's piece."
He replaced the hard drive and sold the machine on Craigslist. But, the new buyer took the laptop to the Genius Bar at a local Apple Store and was denied service.
"Opened machine to observe that nearly every internal part was third party; main logic board, optical drive, display, hard drive, top case, and others. Machine serial number (W8707003Y53) is also not recognized as a valid number," the Genius Bar repair sheet read.
Genius Bar repair sheet for MacBook Pro prototype | Source: CNet
The new owner took Frega to small claims court, accusing him of selling a fake MacBook Pro. The case even drew the attention of a syndicate court TV show, but he declined the offer. The small claims judge eventually ruled that Frega must pay the buyer $740, receiving the notebook back in return.
For its part, Apple has not indicated whether it will compensate Frega for the amount he originally paid for the device.
Rumors that Apple was working on a 3G laptop solution swirled several years ago. The antenna solution in the MacBook Pro prototype has been viewed as not matching Apple's design principles, possibly explaining why the prototype was never released as a full-fledged product.
Comments
Here is hoping that the current owner gets more than the last bid price on eBay.
Apple would have sold millions of these. I hope there is a plan to resuscitate this, otherwise Apple will not be seeking for its return. Jus look at that antennae. Why did Apple shelf this?
Here is hoping that the current owner gets more than the last bid price on eBay.
There are fundamental business reasons that go into every product they make.
It seems to me that Apple blew it when the machine was brought in and the serial number checked. They could made a note in the database that the serial number was assigned to an engineering prototype, and was the property of apple. At that point they should have explained the problem to the customer and given the customer a new replacement machine.
Yes, that and the "new buyer" was a complete fricking imbecile who ignored all common sense and reason.
I bought a Time Capsule three years back. When it broke Apple online and genius systems did not recognized the serial number! It got replaced anyway under my MBP AppleCare plan since I bought it in the same year. Oh, I didn't have the receipt for the Time Capsule as well
Apple should sue the former engineer who swiped this model. Unbelievable.
If they know who it is. Or if the person even exists. The fact that it supposedly has all 3rd party bits suggests that someone played a con game on this guy and it wasn't really a prototype at all
It seems to me that Apple blew it when the machine was brought in and the serial number checked. They could made a note in the database that the serial number was assigned to an engineering prototype, and was the property of apple. At that point they should have explained the problem to the customer and given the customer a new replacement machine.
There is nothing to tell them that it is a prototype. It was an unrecognized serial number. Which could mean a prototype, stolen off the back of a truck or just a fake number. But they can't prove anything either way. So they put in a note so that it will be denied service everywhere and handed it back to the guy.
So when is Macbook Air with Antenna coming out?
They already have them.
"Wi-Fi's great. We love Wi-Fi!"
Maybe this computer isn't a prototype?
And maybe they're giving up the unibody?
This could have made so much money for the telecoms and left Apple with more SKUs, more unsold units, and more waste!
Fixed.
This is great news for consumers.
What is great? A 4 year old prototype computer?
Probably makes more sense to revisit this concept now. But I wonder if it will also have download caps considering the (20mb) download limits that we see on iOS.
If they know who it is. Or if the person even exists. The fact that it supposedly has all 3rd party bits suggests that someone played a con game on this guy and it wasn't really a prototype at all.
That's a heck of a con-game, constructing a nearly functional macbook, including case mods, out of a bunch of "3rd party bits".
That's a heck of a con-game, constructing a nearly functional macbook, including case mods, out of a bunch of "3rd party bits".
Not really, it would have been very impressive if they got it working.