[...] Put simply, the number of people with genuine mechanical problems are the only thing to consider when issuing a recall.
Apple's failure figures may not be accurate, either. The keyboard in my 2016 15" MBP TB has become unusable three times, but each time I've fixed it myself because the wait for a Genius Bar appointment is over a week around here. That means Apple doesn't know that I'm having problems. I don't know if there are many others like me, but if so, it could make the issue look less widespread than it actually is.
The type of fault that would prompt a recall is unlikely to be something you can fix easily without voiding the warranty. I don't know what the nature of your problem is, but if it's a major mechanical problem, you should probably get a Genius Bar appointment even if you've managed to get it working in the meantime. Especially if it's recurrent. Take it in and explain what the problem was, and what you did to fix it. (The fan in my Mac Mini was intermittently getting loud, and I cancelled a couple of appointments when it didn't seem to threatening, but when I finally got it to them it turned out that the HDD in my Fusion Drive was failing and needed replacement.)
If out of warranty and replacement isn't an option, it seems that some will end up carrying around Bluetooth keyboards vs $700 to fix. So much for portability if that happens. ...
Best wishes though that a solution is worked por for those facing a problem. In the past, Apple has extended warranties for issues like this.
I always get AppleCare+ on all my expensive Apple purchases. I broke my iPad screen, no problem. Got it replaced with a new iPad from Apple for $50.
Trying to get Apple to repair something very expensive out of warranty for free is always difficult. Again, the answer imo is to get AppleCare+.
I have one of these macbooks - I had a key jam but (thankfully) it fixed itself after tapping on it for a while. These devices are kinda pricey, so I hope to get some response from Apple.
I honestly love the new keyboard (when it works). It has a fantastic feel. And I'm not even sore about the repair. I sloshed a bit of coffee on it, my bad, c'est la vie.
But when you're designing a product, normal use cases, and normal accidents, should factor into the design. Nobody would design a car or truck imagining that it would never leave a garage or be subjected to a "fender bender". I've heard stories about high-end cars whose airbags are so expensive to replace that an accidental deployment makes the car considered "totalled" — the repair cost is nearly as high as buying a new model.
That isn't right. This isn't a good design. Apple fucked up and needs to own this.
They have a support document that shows you've been holding your laptop the wrong way. Your suppose to hold it so the screen and keys face the ground. This makes sure no dust gets into the keys since, instead of falling down, dust would have to fall "up" fighting gravity to get to the keys. Silly users.....
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205662
I have taken my MacBook Pro in 3 times for keyboard issues and looks like the 4th time is not far away. Tim Cook is such a joke. He doesn't care about the end user. Only his $$$$$$$$
As a guy who had 3-4 MacBook Pro replaced over the years. My suggestion is keep calling Apple to complain. Be nice, always ask for senior tech for help. Also, you must buy AppleCare.
AppleCare is optional and should remain optional. The absence of an AppleCare contract does not give Apple a free ride to lower the quality of the keyboards. In the EU the standard warranty period without AppleCare is 2 years, more than enough for the majority of customers
As a guy who had 3-4 MacBook Pro replaced over the years. My suggestion is keep calling Apple to complain. Be nice, always ask for senior tech for help. Also, you must buy AppleCare.
AppleCare is optional and should remain optional. The absence of an AppleCare contract does not give Apple a free ride to lower the quality of the keyboards.
It's not even about the quality of the keyboards, though. If it was a $75 repair or whatever, this would still be sort of a shitty thing, a "lemon," an inconvenience like "staingate"... but instead it's turning into a common repair that is ungodly expensive.
When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks, because that's what you needed on the farm. But as vehicles started to be used in the urban centers, cars got more popular … personal computers are going to be like trucks. They're still going to be around, they're still going to have a lot of value, but they're going to be used by one out of X people. — Steve Jobs
I'm totally on board with this. But Apple isn't making Macs like trucks.
When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks, because that's what you needed on the farm. But as vehicles started to be used in the urban centers, cars got more popular … personal computers are going to be like trucks. They're still going to be around, they're still going to have a lot of value, but they're going to be used by one out of X people. — Steve Jobs
I'm totally on board with this. But Apple isn't making Macs like trucks.
Pretty sure Cook doesn’t drive a truck.
Edit: hmm, the auto correct changed a couple of the words there. Best leave it now.
Losers? These machines cost a lot of money and many people have had these issues. This is how it works: if enough people are vocal about an issue, in the end something is done about it.
Apparently, Roxy, you don't you know how it works here on AI. You should know by now that you're not allowed to question the overall quality of any Apple product or service without expecting to be accused of trolling, being an Android lover or falling into any one of several other categories of rebel-rouser who only show up at this site to demean Apple.
Just use your Apple product as is, don't post inflammatory comments here on AppleInsider and we'll all get along just fine.
I have a 2016 MacBook Pro 15, all maxed out specs. Since early 2017 I have had the top case replaced 3 (!) times. Twice for the reason of faulty speaker, and in one case the keyboard got faulty on the already replaced top case. I still have my 2010 MacBook Pro (ssd, ram upgraded), which works just fine and served well as a temporary replacement while the 2016 MacBook was being repaired. This whole experience told me a lot about modern Apple’s quality and their design. Seriously considering hackintosh alternatives. The Apple ecosystem is still strong and sticky, but I remember back in the days I was happy to be locked in - now I hate it. I feel they just suck money from me without giving any value back.
Losers? These machines cost a lot of money and many people have had these issues. This is how it works: if enough people are vocal about an issue, in the end something is done about it.
Apparently, Roxy, you don't you know how it works here on AI. You should know by now that you're not allowed to question the overall quality of any Apple product or service without expecting to be accused of trolling, being an Android lover or falling into any one of several other categories of rebel-rouser who only show up at this site to demean Apple.
Just use your Apple product as is, don't post inflammatory comments here on AppleInsider and we'll all get along just fine.
Anyone can complain on AI about Apple but be prepared to have facts presented such as about AppleCare+. * My son’s MacBook had a complete hardware failure. We took it into the Apple Store and because we had AppleCare+ an $800 motherboard replacement was done for free. * All computers can have hardware failures. It happens with every company and with every product. - When a person buys an expensive Apple product and they don’t purchase AppleCare+, they are gambling that they won’t experience a major out of warranty hardware failure in the 2nd & 3rd year. Sometimes that gamble does not pay off.
Of course for anyone with a problem like that it’s a big problem - but It would be good to know in the article the extent of the problem.
Also so to understand is this a time thing with wear and tear? - it talks about out of warranty repairs.
I have a MacBook 12 2017, as opposed to the Pro, which has the 2nd gen butterfly keys and I really like the keyboard. I’ve had no issues - no idea if it’s just the pro affected, but note that the MacBook has the same keys.
I can't comment on how reliable the keyboards are.
But I can say that the noise they make is akin to a troupe of clinically obese dancing pixies, with clogs on, tap dancing across a table.
At least that's the way they sound in our shared office.
Funny.
I just brought my 2016 MBP in to an Apple Store because the keyboard is almost always very quiet. When the CPU gets under load and heats up the keyboard, the keys from E-to-I will make a loud "snapping" when actuated. Very annoying in a meeting when the keys start making that sound. I got a call last night that they weren't sure if this was "normal" or not but would replace the top case anyway.
Comments
The type of fault that would prompt a recall is unlikely to be something you can fix easily without voiding the warranty. I don't know what the nature of your problem is, but if it's a major mechanical problem, you should probably get a Genius Bar appointment even if you've managed to get it working in the meantime. Especially if it's recurrent. Take it in and explain what the problem was, and what you did to fix it. (The fan in my Mac Mini was intermittently getting loud, and I cancelled a couple of appointments when it didn't seem to threatening, but when I finally got it to them it turned out that the HDD in my Fusion Drive was failing and needed replacement.)
I broke my iPad screen, no problem. Got it replaced with a new iPad from Apple for $50.
Trying to get Apple to repair something very expensive out of warranty for free is always difficult.
Again, the answer imo is to get AppleCare+.
I honestly love the new keyboard (when it works). It has a fantastic feel. And I'm not even sore about the repair. I sloshed a bit of coffee on it, my bad, c'est la vie.
But when you're designing a product, normal use cases, and normal accidents, should factor into the design. Nobody would design a car or truck imagining that it would never leave a garage or be subjected to a "fender bender". I've heard stories about high-end cars whose airbags are so expensive to replace that an accidental deployment makes the car considered "totalled" — the repair cost is nearly as high as buying a new model.
That isn't right. This isn't a good design. Apple fucked up and needs to own this.
I'm totally on board with this. But Apple isn't making Macs like trucks.
Edit: hmm, the auto correct changed a couple of the words there. Best leave it now.
Just use your Apple product as is, don't post inflammatory comments here on AppleInsider and we'll all get along just fine.
The Apple ecosystem is still strong and sticky, but I remember back in the days I was happy to be locked in - now I hate it. I feel they just suck money from me without giving any value back.
But I can say that the noise they make is akin to a troupe of clinically obese dancing pixies, with clogs on, tap dancing across a table.
At least that's the way they sound in our shared office.
* My son’s MacBook had a complete hardware failure. We took it into the Apple Store and because we had AppleCare+ an $800 motherboard replacement was done for free.
* All computers can have hardware failures. It happens with every company and with every product.
- When a person buys an expensive Apple product and they don’t purchase AppleCare+, they are gambling that they won’t experience a major out of warranty hardware failure in the 2nd & 3rd year. Sometimes that gamble does not pay off.
Also so to understand is this a time thing with wear and tear? - it talks about out of warranty repairs.
I have a MacBook 12 2017, as opposed to the Pro, which has the 2nd gen butterfly keys and I really like the keyboard. I’ve had no issues - no idea if it’s just the pro affected, but note that the MacBook has the same keys.
I do however smell a teenager with immature language and knee-jerk responses.
Let's see if buying a MacBook Pro and then having your keyboard stop responding because of some grain or dust would change your tune.
I just brought my 2016 MBP in to an Apple Store because the keyboard is almost always very quiet.
When the CPU gets under load and heats up the keyboard, the keys from E-to-I will make a loud "snapping" when actuated.
Very annoying in a meeting when the keys start making that sound.
I got a call last night that they weren't sure if this was "normal" or not