Litany of MacBook Pro woes

I am currently in University for Computer Software design and I (to the shock and dismay of others) purchased a Mac.

I purchased my MacBook Pro from the brand new Apple store that opened up in Toronto's Eaton center exactly a week ago. I live 2 and a half hours away but we were in Toronto to shop for so audio equipment and I needed a laptop to run it all. I purchased the fifteen inch MBP and took it home (2.5 hours away). I didn't get to try it out until that night at 11:30 or so. So I tried it and it appeared that my trackpad button would not click. So I decided to take on the 3 hour task of reinstalling the OS and iLife. When it started up again it still did not work so I decided to take it back the next day.

We drove up the next day, and went to the store and of course, it worked perfectly when the customer service associate tried it, but he replaced the entire machine anyway. I tried the new one in the store and it indeed was working.

So then I took it home, and decided that it was working to my liking so I loaded everything up. 5 Days later (yesterday) the cd got jammed. I called the service and did everything they informed me to and it still would not come out. I wasn't about to take it in for service because I've heard the wait is quite lengthy for these things, so I mulled it over for a day. I tried off and on to get it to eject ex. from sleep, from shut down, but it still would not come out.

About five minutes ago I tried once more (after I had decided to take it back tomorrow) and it came out. I was happy/mad because I have taken the day off work to take it back to Toronto and it works again. I put the same cd in, to see if it was indeed working, and it got stuck again upon eject. A few minutes later I was able to eject it. I tried different cd's and dvd's and they worked with only a few of them jamming. Most of you may think the first issue with the trackpad mouse was a fluke, but this one is just bad luck, or is it just a poor product?

I can't say I am going to call off the trip to Toronto to return this, but I am a little dissappointed. I've spent close to 150 dollars in gas for this whole experience, on top of the 3500 (including educational discounts) charge for the laptop itself and I just don't have that kind of time or money. If I did I would for sure pay the 50 dollars in gas, pick up a new one, and take it home. But I'm a busy man, and really shouldn't have to after spending 3500 on a piece of equipment like this. And neither should you. But after all, it is your choice.

On the plus side, the laptop does work pretty well in its own OS but I cannot comment on the XP side. I had almost purchased Windows XP (one OS for fun, one for work) but this issue came up. Being a converter, I thoroughly enjoyed this change to a new OS. It seemed like OSX did most of the extra organizational work for me, and I had more time to play.

About this heat issue though, It does heat up to almost burning temperature behind the function keys, and I would definitely not use it on my lap, but I don't use it away from being plugged in anyway, just occaisionally I use it for school.

I had told most of my friends about my new purchase and can say that 10 to 15 of them were all getting ready to go for a group buy of the new MacBook because solely of my good review. Unfortunately, after they heard the re-occuring issues I had with mine, they have decided to look else where.

I can't really tell if the speed/fluency is because of the OS or because of the new Intel Duo Core.

All in all, I really would've loved to have come away from the experience with a working laptop, but I guess I'm going to have to stick with PC's for now.

I have the same CD issue mentioned by one poster. I have a fair number of audio CDs that cause iTunes to hang and will not import. Some of these CDs are barely scratched, and they all work flawlessly in all my other CD players, and my wife's IBM Thinkpad can import the entire discs with no problem. I thought it might be one unit with a particularly sensitive drive, so I got Apple to replace my unit, but the 2nd one does exactly the same thing, in exactly the same places on the CDs. I like the MBP overall, but all these little things, and Apple's seeming nonchalance about making things right, is definitely turning me off Apple.

Purchased my MacBook Pro way back in January right after they were announced... and of course - after countless push backs - received it a couple of months later (with little help from Apple) and it has now been with an authorised Mac repair centre for over a week. They say they can hear that it is noisy but cit is not one of the "recognized" noises as stated by Apple (i.e. inverter). Am supposed to pick it up tomorrow but am now at a loss as to what to do - since it is obvious the "noise" hasn't been fixed. Help anyone? Suggestions? OH and has anyone else had any issues with "waking" a MBP from sleep?

I just got my MacBook Pro from Amazon yesterday. It replaced a Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) and a 12" PowerBook. It is dead quiet...I never heard the hard drive, any whining, buzzing, fans, nothing. I have it hooked up to a FireWire drive, and it's now the loudest thing in the room.

I have a MBP that has the heat issue and the processor whine. I spent about an hour at my local Apple store last weekend trying to get them to either fix the computer or exchange it. The refused. The manager offered to let me return it if I was willing to pay the 10% ($240!!!!) restocking fee. It is safe to say that I am more than a little pissed off.

Comment #29:

THAT is the DUMBEST thing anyone can EVER say. You should go back to the hiding hole where you came, because you have no right to give advice to anyone.

I feel sorry for your 1st child.
"Yeah son, sorry, you were the first and I fucked you up. It's OK though, because I fixed all the problems with your little brother."

IF people NEVER, EVER bought a 1st Generation ANYTHING - you most likely wouldn't have 2nd Generation anything, either! Because then all those companies working so hard to make the first one wouldn't make any money to make the second one at all!
I'd be disappointed as hell that no one bought my first ever thing. I'd pack up and go do something else too, if that happened.

The MBP gets so hot, I can press my clothes wirh it. Apple says thr MBP is not a laptop and should be used with a heat shield on one's lap

Received a 2.0GHz today from Amazon (serial W8613xxxxxx) and have no issues so far.

Never, ever buy a 1st generation of any product... especially one that uses an entirely new motherboard design. It's basically still a beta product.

Not to pick on Apple specifically, but the first iMac G5, the first eMac, and several first gen Powerbooks all had some problems.

Wait until the first refresh to get all the kinks worked out.

Thanks GB. I hope mine gets fixed just the same. I believe my MBP was sent to Louisville.