Filed under: Apple Corporate, Portables, Macbook Pro
Apple recalling MacBook Pro batteries
MacBook Pro owners, check your machine's serial number. If it begins with W8607 or
W8608, it's eligible. There's nothing you need to do except check your mail (provided that you
registered), as this is a "silent" recall, and Apple has begun cross-shipping replacement batteries to customers.So let's see, the MBP whines like a Banshee, is blisteringly hot and features a recalled part. I'm not giving up my Powerbook any time soon.
[Via MacNN]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ian Charles said 2:37PM on 5-03-2006
Get over yourself.
Previous models of Powerbooks have had problems too.
Reply
David Chartier said 2:51PM on 5-03-2006
Oh, like PowerBooks have never had battery recalls, over-heating issues, fuzzy-lined displays, white spots or uneven lighting.
Yep. None of that ever happened to the trusty PowerBook line.
;)
Reply
Max v W said 2:56PM on 5-03-2006
Yes, i think this nonsense has gone on long enough. I've had my MacBook Pro for almost a week (friday) now and - the macbook pro contains no nuts eh bugs -.. well mine doesn't anyway.
If you bring out a new product, there will always be a few bugs, just look at Windows XP, when was that released? 2001-2002? And it STILL contains lots of problems! I don't hear you bitchin' about th.. oh wait we all bitch about that, never mind :)
Anyway, there ARE good MacBook Pro's in the world, and mine's one of them.
Reply
DC said 2:56PM on 5-03-2006
My MacBook Pro (Serial W8612...) has none of the aforementioned problems and I'm loving it. One of my best computing purchase decisions in a long while.
The units with the recalls are the earlier models which apparently had all three of these problems. However, the currently shipping (and in stock) units seem to be fine, although of course I'm not authoritative on the subject. My friends have not had problems with theirs.
Just thought I'd throw a little balance to the headline. These are superb computers, if you need one, get one. If you don't, wait for Merom. I'm fine with 32 bits and 2.16 ghz, personally, and I'm putting mine to good use!
Reply
Brent said 3:05PM on 5-03-2006
Cords melt, batteries combust, whining noises, flickering displays: it's all part of the switching experience - enjoy!
Reply
Berylium said 3:08PM on 5-03-2006
Does anyone know how you can verify that you have registered your Mac? I have one of the listed serial numbers but in the heady days following my MacBook Pro's arrival I can't remember if I registered it or not.
Reply
Jason Bush said 3:15PM on 5-03-2006
I have a week 13 and it has the whine and heat problems. Macbook Pro's were released way too soon. If you don't have the problems you are the exception not the norm. I have checked well over 50 in various locations around the east coast and they all have 1 or all of these problems.
Reply
Ryan said 3:19PM on 5-03-2006
This has gotten just as bad as the 360 release, a couple of machines have issues and all of a sudden everyone and their mother start going on and on about how bad they are an how youre stupid to buy these machines when they first release. Well you people can sit around and bitch while i enjoy my perfectly fine first release game system (can afford the macbook yet though, still lovin the PB):)
Reply
William Bartley said 3:20PM on 5-03-2006
To Ian Charles: That's a non sequitur. You must mean we should accept the problems, or be silent about future/present Apple products' problems. That doesn't make sense.
DC: Your second paragraph makes an assertion and then in the following sentence states you actually have no evidence for it. That's just bad form.
To All: First of all, think these things out. Simply because your single unit doesn't have problems doesn't mean all MacBook Pros don't. I.e. Your MBP isn't All MacBook Pros.
And it isn't nonsense, it's a real material problem with the MacBook Pros.
The problem to which I am referring is the buzzing problem with the MacBook Pro screen. I own a MacBook Pro and the screen buzz drives me up the wall, keeping me from running it on anything less than maximum brightness. That's unacceptable.
Reply
Thorn said 3:30PM on 5-03-2006
@ William Bartley --
The problem that you're referring to (the LCD screen buzz) is the *only* MBP problem that Apple has a fix for. They'll fix it on their dime.
Reply
kevin said 3:37PM on 5-03-2006
you've all convinced me, especially ian
i got over myself and im going to get a powermacbook!!
if there's any problems i will come after you ha ha ha
Reply
BobMac said 3:41PM on 5-03-2006
I bought a MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago and have had zero issues with it. If someone is looking to buy one, just make sure it's the latest revision. Apple has solved all the problems that the first ones have.
Reply
William Bartley said 3:42PM on 5-03-2006
Thorn, I sent it in, with an Apple Store Genius specifically detailing the screen buzzing problem in the repair order. I got it back and Apple had replaced the logic board, not the screen inverter.
Reply
Derek said 3:55PM on 5-03-2006
Hi,
I have a W8608 MacBook (very early...preordered a week after macworld), and have NONE of the problems that everybody is complaining about. I'm a switcher, so I consider myself as having been MORE meticulously attentitive to my new computer than your average mac-lover.
My previous computer was a Vaio, and it was much hotter, MUCH noisier (I've only heard the fan on my MBP once, and if the slight hum that i hear is the "whine" that everybody posts about, they have no idea how lucky they are that their lappy isn't making the much higher amount of noise common to other brands), and has had zero battery problems. Admittedly, I have no way of fairly testing its Airport reception, but I've never lost the signal in my apartment, nor on my campus or free wifi spots (in fact, I'm in a Panera right now, way in the corner of the restuarant, with full signal strength)
I'm not saying that they're perfect, and as somebody who's been screwed by products in the past, I understand how vocal the critics are and should be, but you're only hearing from them, because everybody who doesn't have a screwed up MBP is busy enjoying it rather than refuting the detractors.
Reply
Grommit said 5:22PM on 5-03-2006
To #12, does that mean that the if we do have a 'whine' issue then it will be resolved with a logic board replacement if we send it in now? Thanks.
Reply
Joel said 5:52PM on 5-03-2006
Just to chime in, both my brother and I have week 10 MacBooks and we haven't had any major issues with them. In fact I think it's the best Mac I've owned to date, and I've owned several Powerbooks, iMacs, and Powermacs in the past.
Reply
andrew said 5:53PM on 5-03-2006
there are plenty of macbookpros that are performing flawlessly (mine included, purchased a few weeks ago). as with anything, the loudest voices are those that are unhappy. the message boards are full of people complaining because they are the only people incited enough to start posting about it. the many happy owners everywhere have much less reason to flood the internet with their thoughts on the product.
Reply
Jim John said 6:51PM on 5-03-2006
The screen whine is a definite flaw, and is not that common. Most have the processor whine.
The display whine will be fixed by Apple no questions asked on request.
The processor whine is not very lound, and considering the fans hardly ever come on, the general noise of the unit is VERY low. (I have yet to see my fans come on).
The heat is hardly any different from PowerBooks, and most other modern laptop computers (think Wintel). I guess all the people complaining about heat have only upgraded from iBooks, or older laptops, cause they must be nuts if they think that a hot laptop is a new phenomenon. Similarly most wintel laptops have a plastic bottom to their 3" thick case, which doesnt transfer the heat to burn your little leggies so easy.
"I want a 1" think computer with a 15" display, TWO 2.0Ghz processors, a (relatively) high performance graphics card, and modern SATA hard drive, and I want it to be dead silent, and cool to the touch, and I want it for $2000"
Computers have never been silent, and the only truly silent laptop I've encountered was the eMate.
Reply
Ryan Biesemeyer said 7:58PM on 5-03-2006
mine's just fine, as are about 95% + of the ones that leave the independent reseller for which I work. And those that aren't? we take 'em back and give them a new one, provided they bring it to our attention within a couple weeks of the sale and don't trash the packaging.
No, the only problems I've been having with my macbook are with the Adobe apps, but alas they'll update soon enough *cough*cough*.
Reply
Dgas said 8:08PM on 5-03-2006
I have a 1.83 Macbook with a W8608 serial. I have already suffered the battery problem. About a week after i bought the macbook, i carried out the battery calibration and the battery completly died. It would not charge or be recognised, resetting the PMU did nothing, but at least it ran with the magsafe.
I called Apple support and they sent me a new battery after a couple of days, and i haven't had any further problems. So it looks like the first set of batteries have the potential, at least, to have "issues".
Check out: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=407755&tstart=120
Reply