Random Shutdown: My MacBook Story *update
::: Update on my first post :::
August 28th
This morning I talked to the technician who tested my computer, he said they had it running up for 5 or 6 days and it always worked fine, so they couldn’t do anything and they sent it back to the store. The guy from the lab also said they heard from Apple that installing the last firmware update would definitely solve the random shutdown problem. I called the store and was told that it wasn’t there, I called the lab and they said the same. I was told that someone from the lab might have forgotten it in his car, so apparently my computer is stuck in someone’s car. I waited to hear back from the store about when to get the “unrepaired” machine back, nobody called. So, I called the store and asked if they could find my computer. They couldn’t find it and said they were contacting their “private courier”, “someone’s car” became “our private courier”. Good!
August 29th
Today my MacBook came in, just back from the repair centre. I went in and I asked to test it out just to be sure it worked properly, but a few seconds after they turned it on… it shut down! The guy was embarrassed and tried replacing RAM, it kept shutting off. He told me he was sorry but he couldn’t do other than sending it back to the lab to get fixed again. I said no, because it had just come back from the lab (and clearly wasn’t fixed). I asked for a new unit and he said he couldn’t give me one, so I asked for a refund and he couldn’t do that either. We argued for two hours before he finally said I could have it replaced with a new model, and I got an iBook until it comes in. It took two hours to convince them of all of this.
A funny note, while I was there a guy at the store in line behind me said that his MacBook was shutting off by itself too, and that he had other problems like the ones reported at the Apple discussion forums (vertical lines at boot up, discoloration of the plastic around the keyboard, etc).
p.s.: the iBook just crashed in the middle of an Apple software update.
August 30th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
wow. ouch. sorry about that situation! install the latest firmware update to solve the random shutdown problem?!? Do apple technicians ever think to read forums.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
This is interesting. After sending his new MacBook back to Apple because of the discoloration problem, one day my son turns the computer on only to find horizontal lines across the screen, and only those lines.
No shutdown, but obviouosly baaaad problem.
He took it to the local Apple Store, showed the Genius Bar and walked out with a brand new MacBook within 20 minutes. No hassle, no problem.
And that has been our experience with Apple - quick hassle free service or replacement.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:34 am
Although I don’t have a Mac ProBook or Mac Book I do have a G5 2Ghz desktop which often shuts down.
I manage to live with this but I expect more from Steve Jobs and Apple for such an expensive item..
I have deep suspicions about quality control in the Chinese factories where many Macs are assembled.
More attention must be given to QUALITY CONTROL APPLE!
August 31st, 2006 at 9:56 pm
I’m a Mac technician at a authorized Apple dealer. Our shop has had 10 MacBooks in for the random shutdown problem in the ast two weeks alone. Previous to that I replaced logic boards’ (at Apple instructions) to address random shutdown issue. In both cases, it worked OK for a few days then customer’s called me back saying the problem returned. Take my word for it. Apple doesn’t have a clue what the problem is therefore they aren’t acknowledging it nor do they have a fix. My manager managed to speak to one of the Apple guys who handles service issues for authorized Apple dealers in Canada and he admitted there is a problem but there is no immediate fix for it.
August 31st, 2006 at 9:58 pm
My suggestion is to call Apple up and express your displeasure to them. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be an repair extension program for these MacBooks’ anyhow.