So this is what owning an Apple is like...

So I got my first Mac on Tuesday. I figured that all the problems people have been reporting must not be the norm. Boy was I wrong.

MacBook Pro #1(W8617)
Got this one at about 4:00 pm Tuesday at the Las Vegas Apple Store. I got it there, because here in Fresno, we don't have an Apple Store. After I returned to the hotel I immediately noticed the heat and whine issues. I figured it didn't seem so bad, so give it some time. At about 1:00 am(after we went out for a while) as I was installing the updates a gray line formed horizontally across my screen and would not go away.
Returned Wednesday about 11:00am with no problems.

MacBook Pro #2 (W8617)
Didn't mess with this one too much before I actually got home. I did use it in the airport and this was the first time it shut itself off. Like it was a desktop and somebody pulled the plug. I thought nothing of it. That was until last night when it turned itself off at least 5 more times. The worst part? It is completely random. As far as I can tell there is no pattern to it. Happens plugged or unplugged, low load to heavy load. The heat on this one is worse than my first right until the fans come on. The fans will come on full blast and cool it very well. The problem is they don't always come on. Why don't Apple run them at a low rpm more often instead of very high rpm rarely? Another problem is 3d performance. The only game I play is World of Warcraft. Not a demanding game. I figured I could turn up some settings. In fact, I have to turn the DOWN!!! And even then my fps jump all over the place. With settings at default, I will go from 45fps, to 24, 19, up to 30, then 19, the 40. These are all in about 5-10 seconds. If I turn some settings up I get 10-15 frames.
Did I get 2 DOA's?????

The problem is, I don't want anything else. The OS is amazing and when this thing works it is more than I ever wanted. But the problems are really frustrating me. Anyone have any constructive ideas? I would rather not drive 2 and half hours to the nearest Apple Store, especially just to get a 3rd dud. Please any help would be appreciated! Also, please no Apple-bashing I told you so comments.

 

I had problems with my first MacBook as well and had to return it. The Apple Store seems pretty good about accepting returns for lemon notebooks, I wonder that you might call them and explain you drove 2.5 hours to get there and buy this but that now it doesn't work and you're tied up in life for the next few days (they accept returns within the first week no questions asked for a dead on arrival unit, which is what yours essentially is). Just make sure to contact them and get the wheels rolling before a week is up, I bet they'll accept a FedEx return and refund the amount but you'd be stuck having to order one and have it shipped to you unless you want to drive a long way again.

My MacBook works, I'll be selling it in a month or so if you want to hold out for that eBay auction

 

You must have been unlucky. Got my MacBook Pro last friday and it has been absolutely a peach. Granted, it does get warm if you press it but if you run it on Better Energy Savings (even when plugged in) the heat isn't bad. Right now CoreDuoTemp is reporting a breezy 33-34°C and it have been running the last 5 hours.



I am surfing the internet, writing in word, listening to music via iTunes and my AirPort Express with AirTunes. Also had a little fling with Adobe InDesign but that didn't make a difference.

Bluetooth is enabled because I am using my Logitech MX900 mouse and that turns off the "whine" produced by the Core Duo's lower power state features (C3 and C4E).

Core Duo 2.0Ghz
1.5GB ram
80GB SATA Seagate Momentus 5400.2
128MB Mobility X1600

EDIT: Mine is also a week 17 model.

 

I called AppleCare and they say it is probably a bad sensor and it is overheating. When I was running CoreDuoTemp I was getting 62 degrees at 1500Mhz. I called the closest Apple Store (in Sacramento) and they seemed pretty willing to help. I will take the trek up there on Sunday. Anyone wanna take a bet that it won't reproduce the problem? With my luck, it won't happen at all until Sunday night!LOL

Anyone have any ideas what is going on with WoW? Does it have to do with the 128MB video card? Or is it related to the issues I am having? Apple had no real response.

 

I think it may be related to the heat. If the processor throttles back and forth between its maximum rated speed and the lower states, due to a faulty sensor, it will give you an un-even gaming experience.

Sorry to hear you have issues with your MacBook Pro. It really is a great machine.

 

it doesn't have to reproduce the error on the spot, my MacBook didn't crash on cue but the tech there had no problem taking my word for it and simply approving an exchange after only a minute of having the mac on.

good luck on the exchange!

 

Well I added another 512 to my RAM and WoW ran very well. I was getting 50-60 fps in the Undercity and 25-35 fps out side while it was raining (weather in WoW is very hard on the computer). I was on my way to another more challenging city for the computer to push it and not long after I started out it died. I tried to restart right away and it did not make it to the OS X screen before dying again. The next try yeilded a full startup. I had turned my ceiling fan on at that point as well. I deffinitely think it is heat. I guess I will be making the lovely trek up 99 to Sacramento on Sunday. Hope I don't get another bad one.

 

On a different note, CoreDuoTemp does not read the directly off the built-in sensor in the processor. Apparently it just uses the temperature sensor placed on the heatpipe.

That would explain the strange temperature readings people are getting and the fact that I could push my MacBook Pro to 100% usage and not break 57°C seems to indicate it is using the temperature sensor.

 

Thanks for your guys' help. I have one more question. Seeing as how this will be my third MBP in less than a week and I will have to travel 2 and half hours each way to replace it, should i ask for some sort of upgrade? I usually don't expect more than I pay for, but this is a little ridiculous. Do Apple Stores usually do such things? Or should I just pray I get a good one and be happy if I do?

 

Well for those that want to know, I did go and get a third MacBook Pro yesterday. After fiddling with it for 45 minutes the genius finally said he would exchange it for a new one. Since then it has been what I have wanted all along. I made my first slideshow DVD last night and was amazed at how easy it was! Also, plugging into an external monitor is as easy as it could possibly be. 100% automated. No having to switch resolutions, make profiles, etc, etc. All I have left ot say is for those who have yet to experience OS X, I am truly sorry. You have no idea what you are missing. You may bash the hardware or have your biases concerning OS X, but trust me if you use it for 2 days you will never want to work on anything else! I hope to do a review in a week or two

 

Glad to hear it finally worked out for you

Aye, can only say the same about Mac OSX. It's really nice to work with.