[jimbosyn]

I have a 2.16 Macbook Pro. It is from week 08(W8608), so it is a very early model. I have been having battery problems. I know there was a sort of quite recall through attrition, but until now I have not been having problems with the battery. My other issues are as follows:

1) Screen whine. Crank the brightness all of the way up, and it goes away.
2) Heat. This thing gets pretty hot.
3) Screen spot. There is a white spot on the screen that is NOT a dead pixel. It is a screen defect that is pretty distracting.
4) Battery: Shows 33%, then jumps to 100%. Sometimes at 33%, it will go to sleep and die.

Overall I have actually been very very happy with my MBP. I almost never work in quite environments, so the whine is not a huge issue for me. I almost always work at a desk with the MBP tethered to a Dell LCD, so the heat and lcd are pretty much a non issue for me. The battery is really the problem that has pushed me over the edge. I have the applecare extended warranty, so getting these problems fixed will not be a problem.

This is my issue: I can not go a week or two without my system. For that matter, a day or two would be tough.
This is my question: Can/will apple give me either a loaner machine, or just simply cross ship me a replacement?

This system was over 3k when I bought it. For that price on a pro machine, you would think that cross shipments would not be a problem. So what has your experience been with the MBP applecare repairs/replacements. Have you been able to get a strait out replacement? How long has your repair taken?

[snoopy199]

Originally Posted by jimbosyn

This is my question: Can/will apple give me either a loaner machine, or just simply cross ship me a replacement?

I had work done on my powerbook and I didn't get a loaner. I don't believe I've others getting loaners and to be honest, I'm not sure if this happens else where in the industry.

Generally if the machine is 2 weeks old or less (from the date of purchase not manufactored) apple will replace the unit with a new one.

My experince was very positive, the apple genius provided a 2 to 3 week window of when I should get it back, but I got it back within a week. Mileage will vary and I must of hit them at the right time.

[jimbosyn]

I was hoping that I would be able to get a strait out replacement Oh well. I will have to wai until vacation before I can send it in since I cannot go a week to two without a system.

Has anyone else been able to solicit an outright replacement?

[jhonizzle]

ok, i replaced my MBP, 1 month after i purchased it. i bought my MBP from Apple.com sent them an E-mail, stated what was wrong witht the unit. the next morning i got a Fed-Ex prepaid sticker to send it back to them and they replaced my MBP with a Brand New one, i'm now thinking about sending back my second. It only took 4 days to get from my MBP from original Shipment (when i sent it out)(i live in VA). I sent it out on a thursday, and got it back Monday. so good times, you just have to go with out it for 3 days of work. which for me was do-able.

[ccwillows]

I just took my 15"MBP 2.0 in for pretty much the same reasons you are wanting to, except that my battery had completely failed. The genius said repair times were running about a week, but that it could be more. After three weeks, and numerous phone calls I finally got it back. If I hadn't called it probably would have been more than a month and a half as they were waiting on a battery that wasn't due to ship for over a month from the time they received the computer. I asked about a loaner. They said they don't usually do that, but that I could speak to a manager and occasionally they approve them on a case by case basis. At this point I had assumed it would be more like a week than 3 weeks, so I didn't.

Because it was taking so long and because the Macbook just came out with the same processors, I called at one point to see, since they were replacing the logic board anyway, if they would upgrade it to the 2.16. They said they would, if I paid for it. I said, thanks, but no thanks.

They replaced the logic board, thermal module and battery. My issues were heat, whine, and shutdown on battery power. My issues now are: heat and whine. At least I have a new battery, though.

Also, there is a half inch scratch on the left side of the trackpad that wasn't there before I took it in.

Overall...not impressed. But I do love Apple products.

[justinkim]

Return time really depends on:
1) What's wrong with your machine
2) If they have the parts in stock
3) How busy the repair techs are at the time

I've had machines come back two days after I've sent them in. Another time it took four weeks because Apple didn't have the parts in stock (Apple gave me a $200 credit at the Apple store because of the wait that time).

Most of the time, I've gotten my machine back in about three days.

[jimbosyn]

Thanks for all of the replies. Based on the wait times you guys experienced, and the fact that you have similar issues to mine, this is what I am going to do. I will call apple and explain the situation. I will ask politely for a replacement machine since a) I really cant be that long without a machine, and b) The screen, logic board, and battery will have to be replaced. This is in my opinion pretty much a brand new machine anyway.

If they are not able to accomidate this, I will just ask for a replacement battery and live with the other issues until my next vacation (august). Hopefully by then repair times will be less than 3 weeks, and since I will be away from work, i can afford to be without my machine.

Wish me luck!

[herald]

Originally Posted by jimbosyn

Thanks for all of the replies. Based on the wait times you guys experienced, and the fact that you have similar issues to mine, this is what I am going to do. I will call apple and explain the situation. I will ask politely for a replacement machine since a) I really cant be that long without a machine, and b) The screen, logic board, and battery will have to be replaced. This is in my opinion pretty much a brand new machine anyway.

If they are not able to accomidate this, I will just ask for a replacement battery and live with the other issues until my next vacation (august). Hopefully by then repair times will be less than 3 weeks, and since I will be away from work, i can afford to be without my machine.

Wish me luck!

Don't settle for anything less than a replacement. If Tech support can not help you, ask for customer relations. They have the power to replace the machine, be curtious but assertive, that is exactly what I did, it took 3 MBP for me to get it right. That's right! I replaced mine 3 times. The point I kept making is the amount of money I spent and what I expected for it.

[jimbosyn]

UPDATE. So I called Apple today.

They determined that my battery was defective and are shipping an advance replacement. On the other items, the tech support guy said that it would take about a week to fix and I would have to send it to a service center. He said there was a known issue with the inverter for the LCD. I asked for a replacement machine, and he said that it was not possible. I explained to him that it was impossible for me to be without my machine, and he said he was sorry, but that he could not help. He said that if I had called when I first received the machine, that they would have been able to replace it then. But since it was 3 months old, he would not send a replacement. I told him that that was irrelevant since it has been defective since day 1 and just because I waited to call I should not be penalized. I politely asked to speak to a supervisor, and he said that he was it. There was no supervisor.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. If this was not a manufacturing defect, I would be ok with waiting without a replacement. It is not necessarily Apples fault if a hard disk dies, or a screen blows. But the issues I have are "from the factory". I think that this warrants a replacement machine.

Originally Posted by themacman

Don't settle for anything less than a replacement. If Tech support can not help you, ask for customer relations. They have the power to replace the machine, be curtious but assertive, that is exactly what I did, it took 3 MBP for me to get it right. That's right! I replaced mine 3 times. The point I kept making is the amount of money I spent and what I expected for it.

Do you think I would have better luck if I called customer support instead of tech support?

[RevEvs]

Yep - call Customer Support/Relations - explain nicely the situation, and what the tech support person said.

Customer Relations usually have more power than a tech support guy.

[drift1492]

Originally Posted by jimbosyn

UPDATE. So I called Apple today.

They determined that my battery was defective and are shipping an advance replacement. On the other items, the tech support guy said that it would take about a week to fix and I would have to send it to a service center. He said there was a known issue with the inverter for the LCD. I asked for a replacement machine, and he said that it was not possible. I explained to him that it was impossible for me to be without my machine, and he said he was sorry, but that he could not help. He said that if I had called when I first received the machine, that they would have been able to replace it then. But since it was 3 months old, he would not send a replacement. I told him that that was irrelevant since it has been defective since day 1 and just because I waited to call I should not be penalized. I politely asked to speak to a supervisor, and he said that he was it. There was no supervisor.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. If this was not a manufacturing defect, I would be ok with waiting without a replacement. It is not necessarily Apples fault if a hard disk dies, or a screen blows. But the issues I have are "from the factory". I think that this warrants a replacement machine.

The probelm they have with sending you a new machine without first seeing the one you have now is this:

By not notifying them of the "from the factory" problems, you may have inadvertantly caused more problems. Apple is willing to replace a DOA laptop; however, because you accepted the laptop (with the problems it had on day 1) and used it for 3 months, you may have missed out on your chance for a replacement. Because you delayed in reporting possible problems with the computer, they need to determine if your failure to report those problems lead to other problems.

It's not fair, but it sounds like they are willing to repair your computer AND THEY SHOULD.

However, you should not expect them to send you a replacement without checking out your computer.

Good luck.

[jimbosyn]

I totally agree with your point, the problem is that if you check out the apple discussions and search whine, you will see why I was hesitant to send my brand new computer to Apple for an unacknowledged issue. I'll send it in to be fixed, but it will have to wait for my vacation