[HarriganC]

I have been using apple products for some time now. I had always used desktops up until 5 years ago. At that time I purchased the clamshell toilet seat Ibook SE. This machine was perfect when I received it, and worked perfectly up until the day I ebayed it (3 years i believe). To replace that machine I purchased a dual USB ibook g3 900. Out of the box I saw some issues with the product build, loose screws and over torqued screw made eventually made it crack from pressure, and the display sat in the bezel crooked. To replace that unit I purchased a 1GHz 12" powerbook, whe i took that out of the box, the front of the unit (where the latch is), was all lumped and had to be pushed together frequently, this unit also didn't sit flush on a desk and rocked when you typed. I just received a new 15.2" powerbook, and there are pry marks on the sides of the screens.

Am I just having bad luck, or has the build quality deteriorated over the years?

I still love apple products, and still am very loyal, and I can't emphasize that enough. But I feel that they are slacking in the quality control department, or just trying to make something look so good that it is too diffuclt to make each unit perfect. I understand that computers do have hardware issues, but I also feel that it is unacceptable that machines leave there that don't look perfect.

I would like to know if anyone feels the same way.

[nate_02]

I've owned my PB 15" Al for only a year now, and I have had a few problems. Since this is the only one I've had, I really can't say if it's been getting better or worse. I think a big part of the problem is that Apple may be a little too concerned with looks that they end up overlooking quality sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I think they have the best designs.

[Dr.Michael]

Originally posted by HarriganC:
I have been using apple products for some time now. I had always used desktops up until 5 years ago. At that time I purchased the clamshell toilet seat Ibook SE. This machine was perfect when I received it, and worked perfectly up until the day I ebayed it (3 years i believe). ....

I made the same experience.
My iBook blueberry was perfect, hard to destroy. My Pismo was also very sturdy.

But the TiBooks had many problems and so have the Aluminium Powerbooks (exept my 12 inch/Rev B, which seems to be a great choice).

I think its important to differentiate between rev. a and later revisions. As a rule of thumb I would say: Only buy a rev a if you MUST have the latest gadget. And keep in mind that it might crash more often (like software :0).

Another thing is later revision problems (like the TiBooks who still had temperature, paint and scratch problems in the latest revisions or the whole G3 iBook series).

In general I think there are good series and bad ones. The Pismo was a good one, the color iBooks were good, the white G3s were terrible (logic board - all of them).

This has been so for a longer time. Remember the exploding batteries of the Powerbook 5300?

[d.fine]

That sucks ! I've gotten my first 2 Macs in the last 6 months, a 1.25GHz AluPB and a Rev B Dual 2.0 G5 , and I have had absolutely 0 problems with either of them. No dead pixels, no screen problems or warping on the PB. No fans problems, no sound or heat issues on the G5. They both work a gazillion times better than that old piece of **** pc I used to have, and there is no way I could be happier with this investment.

I can't really comment on quality control or compare the previous Mac product releases, but my first impression is flawless, since the 2 Macs I have are flawless.

I agree with you on quality control, and not allowing damaged machines to leave the factory. I have read about many such issues here on MacNN. I can just hope your next Mac is flawless ... as it should be.

[iMacfan]

That is very similar to my situation. My rev A 12" powerbook has had problems burning DVDs, and is going to be replaced (judging by the way things are going, I can optimistically say by 2006). So, I am currently typing this on a ... FW clamshell iBook SE!

David

[icruise]

My experience personally has been that the new Powerbooks are better made than the previous models. I never had a Tibook, partially because of quality concerns, but I've had a Lombard, a Pismo, an iBook and two 12" powerbooks, and my current computer is just about perfect (the previous 12"er didn't have any functional problems, but did have a couple fit and finish issues). That's not to say that the Lombard/Pismo wasn't a sturdy computer. I still use mine almost every day. But it should be sturdy, given its weight and thickness.

[macaddict0001]

Quality hasn't really declined. if there are any more problems its because computer's have become more advanced so quickly squisshing more better stuff in a smaller case. somewhere something has to break.

[sniffer]

I am on my third Mac.

My first was an iMac y2k. Worked great despite the power-cord was not a CE product? And the HD got whiny, but I upgraded it myself later.

My second was an late 2001 iBook G3. It was unstable and I had to send it in for Apple care. No problem with that. But later the hard drive went whiny and the trackpad got some issues. Upgraded the disk myself and magically the trackpad fixed it self somehow. The iBook still works great, but the FW port is dead for some unknown reason.

PB12" rev C.: Works great and the built quality is top notch, despite there is some flunky sounds once in a while from the hard drive. AppleCare says its normal (I've called them), so I don't bother with it. Apple is obligated with at least two years guaranties (depended on the product) here in my country.

If I look past the HD issues, which isn't Apples fault anyway, only the dual USB iBook G3 appears like a B class Apple product in my book. Not much for a statistic perhaps, but than again I guess we can agree the dual USB iBook G3 haven't had the best quality reputation either. On the positive side, the prices on Apple products have declined dramatically here just over the last couple of years. And judging from the built quality of mine and my friends PB 12" I can't really say I have noted a decline.

[TailsToo]

1984 -Apple //c - No problems
1990 - Mac SE - Other than the Extra Loud HD, No Problems
1991 - Mac IIsi - Floppy drive went bad after 18 months. I took it out of the computer for a year, when i put it back in, it worked.
1993- PowerBook 180 - No problems
1994- Quadra 605 - Died in 1998
1995 - PowerBook Duo 270 - Several Bad Pixels, but no problems
1999 - iBook - No Problems
2001 - iBook Dual USB - DVD-ROM Drive died after 2 years, Feet fell off.
2003 - PowerBook 1Ghz TI - No Problems

[Lancer409]

Originally posted by HarriganC:
I have been using apple products for some time now. I had always used desktops up until 5 years ago. At that time I purchased the clamshell toilet seat Ibook SE. This machine was perfect when I received it, and worked perfectly up until the day I ebayed it (3 years i believe). To replace that machine I purchased a dual USB ibook g3 900. Out of the box I saw some issues with the product build, loose screws and over torqued screw made eventually made it crack from pressure, and the display sat in the bezel crooked. To replace that unit I purchased a 1GHz 12" powerbook, whe i took that out of the box, the front of the unit (where the latch is), was all lumped and had to be pushed together frequently, this unit also didn't sit flush on a desk and rocked when you typed. I just received a new 15.2" powerbook, and there are pry marks on the sides of the screens.

Am I just having bad luck, or has the build quality deteriorated over the years?

I still love apple products, and still am very loyal, and I can't emphasize that enough. But I feel that they are slacking in the quality control department, or just trying to make something look so good that it is too diffuclt to make each unit perfect. I understand that computers do have hardware issues, but I also feel that it is unacceptable that machines leave there that don't look perfect.

I would like to know if anyone feels the same way.

[SpaceRockness]

I'd say Apple's quality has declined with the most commonly used/stressed parts. Even though the Bondi iMac saved Apple, it caused so much penny pinching in the wrong places most tray loaders suffered analog board issues until the 333mhz revision. Common accessories such as Apple mice dying/breaking down in short periods of time raises concerns because these devices receive the most wear/tear and deserve the best quality... I remember when I was in HS they still had original ADB keyboard+mice which came with PM 7200s, Performas, etc. Apple may still include a great keyboard but jeez the mice deserve an equal quality control.

My history of owning Apple products:
1997- PowerMac 7300/180: Solid machine
1999- iMac 266: First week of ownership the powersupply blew so it left the room smokey smelling for weeks. PSU replaced, then later sufferred heaps of trips(6 total) to service centres with its flakey analog board for 6 months. Apple later had to replace it.
1999- iMac 333: The replacement Apple shipped to me, no serious problems but I did go through 3 puck mice...
Sep 2003- 15" PowerBook 1.25Ghz: nothing serious yet but the latch took several months to loosen up to properly latch closed! Since its a rev a and the serial number falls under the white spot issue I'm scared... even though my display so far is spotless
2004- 3G iPod 15GB: at the moment the screen is soo washed out even with contract cranked up I can't see anything unless I restore the iPod via iPod Updater!
2004- 12" PowerBook 1.33Ghz: Nothing so far since its now a week old, I'm getting worried since my mum took the 4G iPod(Cram & Jam offer) and I probably wouldn't hear the end of it if it has the same fate as my 3G iPod This PB can't die as I depend upon it for uni ebook readings and writing short research reports.