A parallel problem is if you purchase what you believe to be OEM parts from somewhere like Amazon, only to discover you have received knockoffs which may or may not perform as advertised. It’s not just the inflated price you pay for purported authentic parts, it’s your device being borked if you get a knockoff that doesn’t work right.
4 Likes
In my case, I don’t care if what they are doing conforms to current law or not. I think the law sucks, and I think their behavior sucks, and I want my discussion of both to help change both.
3 Likes
Theres an ongoing erosion between “company policy” and “law of the land”.
1 Like
Roger that. The laws do suck and they are very anti-consumer. However, discussion isn’t going to change anything, the laws and enforcement need to change. I don’t see this happening with today’s administration - maybe when we have a Congress and cabinet that cares about the proletariat rather than kowtowing to big business interests.
(Also I have yet to see any proof Apple is involved directly in these enforcement actions.)
Finally someone talking sense!! Optimum thinness was achieved a long time ago. For the youngsters here, this happened April 3, 1981 when Osborne smashed through the 25-lb barrier people thought was impossible. You can carry this thing with only one hand, it fits in an overhead bin, and it runs Wordstar. Unless you’re a better writer than George R. R. Martin, you don’t need anything else.
No, seriously, there is a little truth to what you’re saying, but its happened over and over for decades now. I remember when the ultralight286 came out and how small it was. Then my Macbook 17 was only an inch thick. I pick up my original MBA and marvel how big it has gotten compared to the latest Macbook. I’m sure the same pattern will continue for another 40 years.
1 Like
There’s nothing wrong with thin and lightweight devices. The problem is Apple’s obsession with thinness in its products is to their own detriment. For instance if the current MBP was just a couple mm thicker it could have a great keyboard rather than the POS it has today.
9 Likes
Um, no. That’s illegal.
It’s either legal to repair or hire someone to repair your property, or it isn’t. Apple is one of a number of major manufacturers who invest large sums of money into lobbying against Right to Repair legislation that would simplify everything by making it illegal to interfere with third-party repairs while also requiring repaired products to be clearly marked before resale or return to the customer.
If their primary concerns were trademark integrity or reputation, they would not lobby against those laws which would solve both problems. The simple fact is that Apple’s manifest objective is to lock out third-party repairs.
And they are by no means unique in this regard. Microsoft, Google, Samsung, John Deere, Toyota, Volkswagen and dozens of other major international corporations invest money in lobbying against Right to Repair legislation. Apple is but one of many villains intent on buying legislation that favors them at cost to the consumer and the environment. Corporate lobbying is toxic.
9 Likes
I’m inclined to agree. I’d trade thin-ness for functionality, flexibility and battery life (in a phone). But it’s not a deal-breaker for me, and my next laptop is likely to be another MBP. I just want them to get the keyboard sorted. They have about 5 years.
They need to sort this. And they know it.
They might if they cared about laptops much. These days Apple cares mostly about iOS devices and the 30% cut from apps and subscriptions Apple makes from the walled garden app store. I wouldn’t count on Apple getting this right. They often just do what they want and make the customer adapt, like when they went with the all glass keyboard on iPhones.
2 Likes
That’s all well and good regarding the lack of upgradeability. It just doesn’t matter to me much. I buy the top-spec laptop and keep it for a fairly long time. Basically until it dies. My first MBP had a replaceable battery which I replaced once and ultimately, the screen died after 6 years. My second one is now 6 years old and still going well. I also like the OS and the general feel and build quality. Hardest work I do is Photoshop, so ultimate performance isn’t key for me.
I hear you. Customers won’t adapt to frequent failures, though.
1 Like
I find iOS too limiting, but I understand that it’s the best mobile OS for a lot of people, and had an iPhone for my first two smart phones which I don’t regret as the various Andriod distributions weren’t where I wanted them to be yet and the Microsoft phones don’t even deserve mentioning.
Conversely, I find Mac OS to be the best OS (I do love Linux, but it isn’t as easy to use), but the post-2014 MBPs are a nonstarter for me due to keyboard, thermal throttling and lack of comprehensive port selection and proper function keys. I also don’t like that I can’t replace the memory or hard drive, and would miss having a touch screen, but those two and the touch bar aren’t the deal breakers. The giant trackpad and far back keyboard position are also a little uncomfortable, even though the track pad blows away PC track pads. In short, great OS, terrible hardware design IMHO. Yet I know plenty of MBP users who love their machines, and good for them.
Honest question, if your MBP doesn’t last those five years you’re hoping and they haven’t fixed the issues that bother you about the current models, what will you replace it with?
1 Like
I have a really nice Dell that work supplied me with. It is the first non-Apple laptop that I have really thought gets close in terms of screen and build quality. But I don’t really know. I’d shop around. Honestly, I find the purchasing experience at places like Best Buy to be so appalling I’d maybe just buy a Dell online.
1 Like
With you there. A year and a half ago I bought a Dell XPS 15 that I’ve been really happy with and expect to last a long time, with the first PC track-pad I’ve been satisfied with. If you’re reduced to that (and I sincerely hope you aren’t, I want people to get the machines they really want), I’ve found Dell and Lenovo online stores to be less painful than store shopping, and the ThinkPads are also really good machines. Good luck, and may your MBP live long and prosper.
1 Like
My Dell is a M3800 Precision. It’s actually a really solid machine.
1 Like
Basically he admits that he was buying batteries from a factory that was not authorized to make the parts and that he asked them to sharpie over the Apple logo - which they didn’t.
So it’s really not Apple conspiring to prevent repair of EOL hardware after all. Just shady dealings and getting caught by CPB.
Yes, the laws suck, and Apple is notoriously hostile to R2R reforms. But much of this story is a misrepresentation of facts.
Reading between the lines the seems to be an argument that you can’t get replacement batteries for EOL Macs. This isn’t true - iFixIt sells them (they are also clearly third party) and Apple isn’t rushing in to shut them down.
4 Likes
Cory misrepresenting the facts? Yeah that is about right.
3 Likes
Woah, that never happens. Especially never in the headlines.
Well, he says they might or might not have sharpied over them according to the screen shot - good find BTW.
I’d have to agree that if a factory was contracted by Apple is selling new parts parts it makes complete with intact Apple OEM labeling it isn’t authorized to use out the back door, then that is not “refurbished” and is legitimately counterfeit, even if it is OEM quality counterfeit.
5 Likes
1 Like
