[fldsfslmn]

i've been after an apple portable for about a year now. at this point i'm stuck in the infinite ibook vs. 12" powerbook loop. rather than ask for advice about this (there's enough threads already), i thought i'd ask about what's REALLY scaring me about switching.

the dud rate/unacceptable flaw rate appears ridiculously high for apple portables.

i have owned laptops by dell, toshiba, and compaq. none of these machines have EVER exhibited any problems like dead pixels, warped casing, broken battery, broken latch, missing feet (or any of the other myriad complaints). of course i take care of my machines, but a quick glance at ANY mac user forum reveals an astonishingly high number of users who are shipped machines they are simply unhappy with. and then the wrangling with apple begins as to whether they consider it "faulty" or not.

i'm sure there will be many of you who chime in to say "i've owned five powerbooks and never had a problem with any of them". i'm inclined to think there are indeed people like that out there, but they are definitely in the minority. most people begin by saying "i've never had any problems whatsoever" and then eventually let on "except for that warped display, flaking paint, and broken latch". how much are you willing to deal with as mac users?

this is not a troll. i'm deadly serious about purchasing a mac portable very soon. but how long must i wait before i can be reasonably certain i won't blow $2000 on something that is not as physically sound as my four year old toshiba tecra?

this unending circus of "oh, just wait for the next revision" is doing my head in. if apple wants to sell computers they should make me want to buy one NOW instead of constantly holding on to my money and waiting for something that i can trust.

[Luca Rescigno]

I'm sure they don't fail more than any other brand. You just hear about it more. How often do you see a post in a message board saying, "Well, my iBook's doing fine today! No problems!"? None. You only post in a message board if something exciting happens, and a laptop working perfectly isn't exactly exciting.

[fldsfslmn]

i know ... that's why these forums exist isn't it? i'm just going by personal experience on this one (my experience with PC notebooks). i'm terrified of buying a 12" powerbook and finding it warps and wobbles and won't close properly.

it just seems the SAME complaints come up over and over again and apple is often reluctant to fix it.

[PeterKG]

Are you really serious? You read forums like these and come to the conclusion that there are high rates of problems with Apple Powerbooks? In the last quarter results Apple sold 711,000 computers of which 40% were notebooks. You haven't even heard from a fraction of those regarding their experiencees good or bad.

Don't sound so foolish to make the comments you did. It's been said many times here and elsewhere that most people who post on these forums do so to complain about an issue. If you want a rosy picture painted for you and want to feel better about Apple, find yourself a PC notebook forum to read the complaints they must have about their computers, and worse than that WINDOWS.

[icruise]

If you are basing this on what you read on these forums, then you are getting an artificially skewed viewpoint -- people only tend to post if they have problems. I don't really think Apple has a higher "dud rate" than any other computer manufacturer. But there are two things you have to take into account, First of all, Mac users are a picky bunch. I've seen threads go for pages and pages discussing things that the average person wouldn't notice at all.

Secondly, it is true that Apple tends to use unusual designs and materials for its computers, and it might to some small degree add to these problems. (A laptop made of titanium is more likely to have fit and finish problems than a black plastic brick laptop, just because of the very close tolerences involved). None of this should scare you off -- thousands and thousands of people have problem-free Macs. Actually, I've never really had to get service for any of my computers (well, I did send in my iBook when I first got it because the button was slightly uneven -- remember what I said about us being picky?)

[fldsfslmn]

this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

[euphras]

Yes, i can see your point. But as mentioned previously, the ppl with no complaints (the majority) do not post, only the few who have admittedly problems...

[icruise]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

I can understand why you might think that, as I said before. There are certainly a few people who have had terrible experiences, and I feel for them, but that doesn't accurately represent most people's experience.

[melman101]

even so, I am experiencing a slight latch problem myself. It's not really a big deal, i mean I hate it myself, and it gnaws at my inner being because i want it to be perfect. I think Im gonna try the tape method. But frankly, I would much rather have this little latch problem, then a big problem known as WINDOWS.

Mel

[vinster]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
i know ... that's why these forums exist isn't it? i'm just going by personal experience on this one (my experience with PC notebooks). i'm terrified of buying a 12" powerbook and finding it warps and wobbles and won't close properly.

it just seems the SAME complaints come up over and over again and apple is often reluctant to fix it.

If you're concerned about defects such as wobbling, assembly, etc. you could always go into an Apple retailer and check out the machine before you buy it.

[parsec_kadets]

Everyone else here is giving you reasonable answers. That's all perfectly fine, but I doubt that will satisfy you. So, I'm going to tell you what you want to hear. Keep in mind this is not my actually opinion.

NEVER EVER BUY AN APPLE LAPTOP!!!

There, you happy? Why would any reasonable person actually say that? I have absolutely no idea. My dad owed three HP laptops over the years and had a problem with every single one on a monthly basis that would require formating the drive. Compared to that, an uneven mouse button, or a fleck of paint that is about a square millimeter that falls off seems extremely minor. But you don't care about how serious the problem is, just that there's a problem. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but unreasonable questions deserve unreasonable answers.

[cucswiz]

Originally posted by melman101:
But frankly, I would much rather have this little latch problem, then a big problem known as WINDOWS.

Mel

To be fair - I've almost never had a problem with Windows XP and that is the honest truth... I've done some hardcore dev on it and it's never had any problems...

fldsfslmn, i can see your point - I've had a IBM Thinkpad T series (Titanium case mind you) and I've never had any problems with it - rock solid...

I'm "switching" so to speak NOT because I'm dissatisfied with Wintel, but because I want to see what OSX has to offer - i.e. the Unix aspect basically turned me.

--

That said, there's truth on the other side as well... think about it this way - Apple markets to... how do we say it... not the most computer savy people out there - do you really think those people go on forums to post how great their laptops are??

Anyhow, if your worried about these new rev 12" PB's why dont you get a Tibook? ... just my $0.02

[MacNStein]

My PB 12 is working perfectly (no flaws), and has since I bought it over a month ago. In fact, I've only ever reb ooted the thing when I'm doing updates. I recently did some mods on it, and that's the first time I've shut the thing down since I bought it (not counting putting into sleep mode, of course). It's truly a kick-ass piece of gear. I'm more impressed with this little computer than any other system I've ever owned, which includes countless PCs and PC based notebooks.

Damn right I'm a switcher, and I hope I never have to go back to the PC BS I had to put up with before.

[makkystyle]

fldsfl... I completely understand the point you are making, all you ever seem to read about is apple notebook problems and then hassle to get them fixed. I was worried about exactly the same thing before I bought my GigaBook last November. Then it arrived. The thing has performed absolutely flawlessly.

I have had one slight problem with the power adapter when I switched to the european standard 220 volts after christmas when I moved back to Ireland, but one call to applecare and a new power adapter was shipped and problem solved.

As people have mentioned already, these forums represent a heavily skewed number of problems because many of the people only come here to get their problems solved. Also remember that even the FEW major problems that do occur, these people still continue to use macs because overall the products are infinitely more impressive, reliable, robust and beautiful than anything on the windows side. Stop worrying and get what you want. You only live once.

[makkystyle]

Here you go this is from PCWorld last july, go to the link and click on notebooks.

Apple gets and 'A' overall and "significantly better than average satisfaction with reliability".

Aside: Someone tell me what you have to do to get to post attachments around here.

[icruise]

Originally posted by makkystyle:

Aside: Someone tell me what you have to do to get to post attachments around here.

Attachments aren't allowed -- why do you want them?

[DaedalusDX]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

I see your point, but its flawed. Your comparing your personal buying experiences with PC laptops against a message board where mac users with problems go and ask about resolutions to their problems...

If you went to a Dell or a Compaq support (if there is such a thing) forum, you'd see LOTS of posts about broken laptops left and right... the fact that you are sitting in a Mac technical forum and seeing all of these results doesn't mean that there is a MASSIVE failure rate on the products...

how many reports of failure have you seen here? maybe a dozen? You think that only a dozen people bought a mac and are posting here?

No... 700000 macs took shipment last quarter with 40% laptops, like someone said... and you're looking at a small group of people (not even a random sampling... this is a place where people with problems go to complain) and making judgements about the group as a whole...

Fact of the matter.... people with no problems don't post "iBook ok today!" every day like people with issues...

[suprz]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

i absolutely see your point. i had the same thoughts when i wanted to buy my apple ibook.

i researched each model and read every thread in these forums and the forums at apple itself, and i made a informed decision.

to be perfectly honest i really wanted a 12 in powerbook but knowing apples track record with revision 1's (or revision A's) i decided to go with a tried and true design as the ibook. but make no mistake when the 2nd or 3rd revision of the 12 powerbook is out i will buy one. by then the first revision bugs should hopefully be ironed out.

there will always be bugs with a new revision of any computer. i just dont see the point in having to get one as soon as they come out and having to put up with the bugs, i would rather wait untill the bugs are ironed out....

you sound like you would be better off waiting yourself

[mo]

I have the 12-inch PB and love it, but I will admit that I just had to wrestle that battery to get it in a (nearly) flush position. That's a definite flaw, but I wouldn' t trade it for another notebook, just based on the keyboard alone.

You have to take the flaws with the advantages, I think.

[swsteckly]

Forums are for problems, not positive comments (except for the 17" powerbook!). All you'll see on forums is negativity, because that's what people seek help for from other users.

The Mac is every bit as reliable as PC laptops, and if you need support/service, apple is the best there is, although admittedly not perfect.

Good luck with your purchase. Hope it goes well.

BTW, I've had six powerbooks, and never had any major problems (but a few little things, like a bad battery, display connector, etc). I have heard a much higher incidence of problems from my PC-toting friends.

[katorga]

Old IBM 600 (butterfly), broken keyboard, dead backlight

IBM N50 (AIX laptop), cracked LCD

Compaq M700, bad soldered on 64MB RAM, contant parity errors.

Replacement M700, same problem

Replacement M700, dead ethernet port

Dell 610: 3 failed batteries

I had a used PMac 520C (68040/25) that ran flawlessly for years.

My Personal TiBook 800, no problems or repairs needed. The only things I've noticed is that the combo drive has problems with 80m CDRs burned at 32x or higher, and the laptop whistles when under heavy ethernet load.

[OldManMac]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

I see your point; do you see ours? Your mind seems to be made up, based on flawed anecdotal evidence! As others have already pointed out here, Apple sells hundreds of thousands of machines annually, gets very good grades on their quality and support, and has one of the highest repeat customer rates in any industry!

I switched three years ago, and was very hesitant and nervous at first, moving to another platform! I've never been happier in my life with the choice I made; can you really be happy if you go into it with a preset attitude?

[ymmit]

erm.. I'll just add to this thread by saying that my 12"PB is performing just fine. no dead pixels etc.

no regrets getting this machine.

[hempcamp]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
the dud rate/unacceptable flaw rate appears ridiculously high for apple portables.

Objective evidence for this, please?

I would submit that portables in general have a higher failure rate because they are smaller and more mobile than desktops -- that, and some people treat them more like Tonka Toys than the fragile machines that they are.

In my own experience, my old IBM ThinkPad and Apple iBook are roughly equivalent in durability and reliability. No real problems with either, and far less flaws than my brother's HP or my older Toshiba.

--Chris

[Mastrap]

Just to chime in as another satisfied Mac user. I've owned 10 Macs personally of which four were/are notebooks. The only problem I ever had with any of them was a failed drive on the iBook three days after I managed t drop it onto a concrete floor. It took me an hour to replace and it has been 100% fine ever since.

I've also worked with many, many more Macs in my professional life. I can't remember one single catastrophic failure in any of them.
That doesn't mean that Macs don't go wrong. Especially revision "A" models are prone to little nigglings that need sorting out. From what I hear Apple is more than helpful towards customers with genuine complaints. There will always be the odd person who will be treated shabbily and while this is annoying and regrettable its also far from the norm. I did a very rare thing for me, buying a first generation 12" but I just could not wait any longer. So far, touch wood, everything is as perfect as it possibly could be. I went ahead and purchased the PB because I trust in Apple's customer service to fix it, should anything go wrong with it.

[gururafiki]

and again you will hear from me saying that my pb 17" is flawless! awesome machine, and nothing can beat it right now. my stepdad owns a 12", and although its a little slow for what he does, its got no problems.

like everyone is saying: forums carry peoples problems, don't use them to base your decision from...

[PowerTower Fan]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

I completely see where your coming from, and reading stuff such as the TiBook paint flaking problem isn't something that calms your nerves. A $2000 computer investment isn't something to be taken likely, and I completely understand at that price range you don't want any problems.

That being said, I work in computer sales at a university bookstore, with Apple being our main brand. I've been able to work on all the 12", 15", and 17" hands on extensively and I've come to learn what each computer's quirks are. The 12" that your looking at getting, to me is just the most rock solid computer I've ever used, Mac or PC. Since its introduction, we've problely sold around a hundred of them, with only one having a problem (superdrive that wouldn't eject a disk). Since its an aluminum case, I haven't seen any of the paint chipping like the TiBooks. Its very durable and doesn't scratch nearly as easily. If you ever later on want to install more ram or an airport card, installation is just a dream. My only complaint, which covers every laptop Apple makes, is I'd want more than one button underneath the trackpad. But to me thats a trivial problem, and the strengths of the laptop more than makeup for one small thing. Its a great small, very light laptop that would serve you well for years to come.

[holygoat]

I think part of his point comes from the 'My new 17/12" has arrived!" posts - many of these were:

- no, it has dead pixels!
- aieee, the latch doesn't work!
- i love my 12", but the screws are falling out!
- my 17" is oozing grease!

etc.

I think (and I assume the OP does too) that someone posting about a new 'preciousssss' isn't only going to post if it's bad.

Particularly I feel it is relevant given that he's considering the 12" PB, which compared to the 17" had a lot of problems.

Of course, as with any purchase your chances of a dud are low - as someone said, 711,000 machines shipped last quarter. But it's still a worry, and still a question as to whether the QC is good enough.

[MusicalTone]

It makes me laugh that people get so over cautious about buying a MAC, the same people who have for years gone out and bought PC's for years without question! Its like all of a sudden computer quality issues are observed undre a microscope.

Just get one, get to see one in action and I think you will answer your own concerns,

Antonio

[rambo47]

I see your point. I've been using Mac laptops for about 6 years now and while they're the best notebooks on the market IMHO, quallity is not what it once was. We have seen AppIe trade function for form, at least to a small degree. Titanuim might make for a radical PowerBook design, but it didn't do much for AirPort reception. Clearly worth it to me because I have two now. But I'm afraid Apple is a victim of it's own success . As they've had to ramp up production to meet the increased demand these past years they've rushed some models to market too quickly. A second revision usually clears up the problems, but it's just a mathmatical fact that if you ship 10 times the number of computers, you'll have 10 times as many duds as before. The percentage might even creep up slightly if they've rushed the model into production before sufficient testing. You know Mac users: we want the next great thing now!

Now that Apple's stock is worth something (over $13 per share, $12.30 per share in cash reserves) the shareholders are demanding results. In the rush to satisfy Wall Street's thirst for profits they're pushing products out the door faster than they would like and they are setting more and more optimistic schedules for updates. Steve announces new hardware at MacWorld Expos but often the product will not ship for months. We get releases of "public betas" like OS X and Safari to accomplish two purposes. Feedback and improvement by the end users is one, plus the preview of a new piece of software quiets the masses and buys Apple time to get a final version out the door. How many folks were ranting about no tabbed browsing in the first Safare beta? Releasing a second beta with this feature keeps users onboard while engineers finish the browser.

All this having been said, get a Mac. I prefer the PowerBooks to the iBooks (I've had both) because the pro line is more capable than the consumer line. I always advocate spending a little more for better performance. No one ever said, "This computer is too fast," or "I wish I bought the one with the cheaper graphics card." The G4 PowerBooks are just as portable as the iBooks and will run apps like Photoshop far better.

The folks that remind you that all the problems posted here give you a jaded view of Macintosh reliability and quallity are correct. They are a miniscule proportion of users posting in a forum whose expressed purpose it to discuss problems and fixes.

[danbrew]

Originally posted by parsec_kadets:
My dad owed three HP laptops over the years and had a problem with every single one on a monthly basis that would require formating the drive.

Come on - sounds like the problem wasn't with your Dad's laptop.

[ryju]

Well I'm running my machine good today, no problems at all. Yup nothing out of the ordinary!

[bbales]

Hi -- I actually see you rpoint. And this is a big expenditure, so you want to make sure you're spending yor money wisely.

Unfortunately, no one can guarantee that there won't be something wrong. I've had my 12-in PB since Feb. 14 or so and baby it incredibly. I've had only one "issue," and that was a kernal (kernel) panic one day; preceding it the machine got incredibly hot (WAY hotter than before or since.) That's it. No warping, no dead pixels; even my airport extreme problems basically went away after I upgraded the firmware and had Apple walk me through some steps. I absolutely LOVE my powerbook. And as far as that goes, I love my desktop G4, too.

Now, we also have a Windows machine, too. And we had to replacde it this past January because the motherboard just up and died. Before that, over the past several years, I think we replaced at least 2, if not 3 hard drives, that also just up and died. I have NEVEr (knock on wood) had a Mac hard drive fail, in 13 years of owning macs. Ever. Never. (Knock on wood again.) I have a friend with three Gateways (biz and home). They ALL failed within 1 week of each other.

I just think Windows machines are harder that's all. And they're flat out not as exciting. The bottom line is there are problems with all kinds of machines. Computers have all kinds of ways to go wrong. I am not at all sure that Apple's failr or have problems anymore than anyone else's.

And Apples are just more fun than windows machines...

But that's just my opinion. That said, if you're in the ibook-PB12-inch loop, go for the 12-inch. I think in the long run, the G4 processor will be worth more than the larger screen.

Good luck.

[mosch]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

I see your point, but I'd like to note a few things.

Firstly, people who have problems with their Dell laptops don't post about their bad experiences at dellnn.com. I've had major problems with each of the last 3 latitudes I've owned, and this is the first time I've publicly mentioned it. There's no community of people who are interested in specific PC brands.

Secondly, people who have problems with their Apple laptops are both vocal and hypercritical. I mean seriously, look at descriptions of some of the problems. People regularly complain about physical defects that are so minor that they can't even find a way to photograph them. That kind of thing just doesn't happen with a Dell or a VAIO.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[scottiB]

Originally posted by fldsfslmn:
this may be a stupid thing to ask on a mac forum, but can ANYONE see my point?

Your point's valid. For another perspective, check out user reviews from Amazon.com:

I purchased this amazing piece of a computer approximately a week ago, after selling my Windows notebook (Gateway) ... . I could not be more pleased, this is my First MAC and it doesn't look like I myself will be going back to Windows again. As I said I've had this for a Week now, and it has not crashed or even froze once on me. and that's how a computer should be. I purchased the model with the Superdrive ... it's worth it the slot-loading drive is really high-tech, then again everything in this small but powerful computer is and it easily blows away my P4 2.0ghz laptop, even though is only 867mhz it may seem slow but it's not. The software that came bundled with this comp. is more than i've seen on any computer out there and it works great. Become a MAC Switcher like I did, trust me You Will not Regret it!.

For the iBook

After much research (and just having bought a Dell Desktop 1 year prior) I bought my very first Mac, an iBook on 11/02. I have to admit that the first 2-3 weeks I had my doubts, just trying to get used to a new OS. However, 5 months later, I am very happy with this small, but powerful machine. I agree with some of the other posters that for basic computing, etc. this laptop is the answer. I love the beauty of the iBook, the design and the ease of use. A book that I would highly recommend if you're new to Mac OS X is David Pough's "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual". This book has been a huge help to me in learning the OS and just how to navigate around. I also have the Airport Card (not Extreme) and it works great for wireless surfing. I could go on, but you get the point: I love my iBook and am glad I made the Switch!

There are positive experiences out there; you just have to look for them.

[Tiny-E]

I don't post often, unless I have a question about something that I dont' know about as I switched to macs about a year and a half ago. I've had pb 550 model and have only had a few problems, such as RAM problems (extra ram pops out and causes my computer to crash) and paint issues that started about a month ago (over the right hand area at the base of the computer). But besides that, my laptop has been pretty damn good. No stuck pixels, etc. ipod works perfectly with it as well.

hope this helps..

[Powaqqatsi]

My TiBook is PERFECT.

[bbales]

Originally posted by Tiny-E:
I don't post often, unless I have a question about something that I dont' know about as I switched to macs about a year and a half ago. I've had pb 550 model and have only had a few problems, such as RAM problems (extra ram pops out and causes my computer to crash) and paint issues that started about a month ago (over the right hand area at the base of the computer). But besides that, my laptop has been pretty damn good. No stuck pixels, etc. ipod works perfectly with it as well.

hope this helps..

Tiny is absolutely correct -- the David Pogue book is so invaluable I have it in both the first (from when I first switched to OSX) and the second edition (covering Jaguar). If you have doubts check it out from the library first. it really is a very, very good resource.

[Spheric Harlot]

One thing to keep in mind is that Mac users are spoiled.

My first 12" powerbook was slightly warped - I could notice it, but it really wasn't a big deal. It annoyed me still. I showed it to a Vaio-owning friend of mine, who looked at me like I was nuts.

The tolerance is a lot higher with other users, so that's some of what you're seeing here.

(The machine ended up going back for a different problem, where the frame was pressing on the monitor in a corner, resulting in an annoying "ripple" effect every time the book was disturbed - such as by typing. Apple Online Store customer service offered to send me a replacement before I even knew what was going on. This one is perfect.)

-s*

[katorga]

Apple or IBM are the only companies that I can think of that still build fairly solid laptops, and I'd give IBM the nod over Apple in terms of build quality and sturdiness.

I have not been impressed with Dell laptops at all.

You have to remember that almost all vendors buy their laptops from the same few manufacturers (Apple and Dell use the same one). Quality depends on how much the vendor is willing to pay for. Dell goes for the absolue cheapest components. Apple and IBM do not.

[Jim Paradise]

My 15.2 incher arrived with not *one* flaw.

[Cipher13]

Simple fact - people come to places like MacNN when they need help, not when they recieve a perfect machine.

How many people do you think these communities represent? Not very bloody many.

I'm not even gonna bother. You don't wanna get one, fine. Your call. Enjoy whatever you do get.

[TAZ]

I think people have made the point about not seeing a true representation of the Apple population on this board or any other for that matter. The same applies to any PC board. When people get waht they pay for they dont complain. I have had 3 Macs over the years and a few PC's along the way. I had one of the first Powerbooks out there and it lasted me almost 8 years before upgrading. My desktop unit ran for over 4 years without being turned off or rebooted. My current G4 400 TiBk has gone over 2 years without a single shut down, broken latch, flaked paint or anything. I read this board before buying my TiBk and became very hesitant reading all the trouble reports. So I waited and waited till someone had them ins tock locally. I had the guy take the machineout of its box and boot it up to make sure everthing was OK. I inspected the machine top to bottom before plunking down my hard earned cash. If youre hesitant, dont mail order and go to Fry's or CompUSA and inspect one top to bottom before getting it. If you still feel its a piece of junk then dont buy it and purchase something that makes you feel good about your purchase.

[lau_lau_lau]

i don't have a mac portable, but i agree with what cipher13 says. it makes sense: people who have a perfect mac are not going to come to a forum unless they're that type of person who loves mac to bits (sure there are lots but not as a percentage of all mac customers). people who have problems with their laptops come to boards like this because they exist: there is a visible, easy to reach, easy to get help from, mac community which just does not exist in the pc world. a pc is not a brand s apple is and so there are no obvious message board groups for those who are not experienced users. think about it.

[mrmister]

i wonder if this fellow is coming back?

[fldsfslmn]

there's been great responses to this thread. i feel much more at ease now.

i'm still a little concerned about apple's physical quality -- when people tell me that "mac owners without problems don't post here" and i read a thread about someone suffering with a warped pb12" -- looking at their username and seeing "number of posts: 1682, joined november 1999" (just an example) either means they have LOTS of problems or they type a lot of posts just to say how they have NO problems.

either way, i'm feeling quite confident about purchasing an apple portable now, and that unexpected tax return doesn't hurt either *sigh* and now back to the eternal ibook vs. pb 12" conflict!

cheers everyone!

[entrox]

My 12" PowerBook arrived a month ago and it also performed flawlessly. You should also keep in mind, that there are people who like to exaggerate a lot. Take the "wobbling" problem for example: if you listen to to them, you'll get the impression that it's a MAJOR defect and you absolutely can't live with it. I *think* my PB also wobbles, but that is fixed by applying pressure to two adjacent corners and thus bending the whole case a little bit and thereby fixing that problem. Or take the heat - by reading some posts you'd think the PB would *melt* through the table or incinerate your lap. My fingers get cold easily, so I sometimes switch from my PowerMac to the PB to warm them up a little - It's a feature dammit!

[euchomai]

My two year old iBook got stolen in Phoenix from my rental car. I was crushed, I had backed up all the info except the two weeks prior. My 5 year wedding anniversary pics were gone! I am going to miss those. Well, anyway, it was a business trip so the company's insurance covered it, thank God. I upgraded to the 12" powerbook and am almost glad the iBook got stolen. I paid $1749 for my iBook two years ago and I paid basically the same for my powerbook. It was full replacement insurance so I got the amount I first paid. 12" Powerbook, no one says, man I wish I would have bought less of a computer after playing with it. Again, the keyboard is also a factor for me as it is my primary computer. Speed is also a factor! Have fun with this decision, its a win-win.

[PoisonTooth]

Originally posted by vinster:
If you're concerned about defects such as wobbling, assembly, etc. you could always go into an Apple retailer and check out the machine before you buy it.

The Apple Store won't let you take a new machine out of the box to look at it before you buy it, which is really sort of silly. If you take it home and discover it has a problem and want to return it the next day, Apple nails you for a 10% restock charge. THAT really annoys me, because vendors like Dell and IBM give you 30 days to return your machine, no questions asked.

[graphics84]

THE SCORE SO FAR

4 Apple laptops
(Wallstreet 300, ibook dual 500, Ti550, Ti 1gig)

never had a dead pixel
all had power adaptor problems which have been taken care of promtly by apple each time...

I think you always hear from the people that have had problems... when I have problems I'm a lot more vocal than when I don't

go fo it