Disgruntled Apple users get vocal as Macworld looms

CNET News.com ^ | December 31, 2003 | Reuters

[Bush2000]

Disgruntled Apple users get vocal as Macworld looms
December 31, 2003, 3:25 PM PST
By Reuters

Can a few bad apples--like product-quality complaints and potential lawsuits--spoil the bunch for loyal fans of Apple Computer ahead of their biggest party of the year?

As enthusiasts devoted to Apple prepare to descend on San Francisco next week for the annual Macworld conference, at least two online petitions have collected hundreds of signatures from potential plaintiffs seeking to file lawsuits over claims of defects in the iBook laptop.

Another growing source of complaints surrounds Apple's wildly popular iPod line of digital music players, which many enthusiasts believe will get an upgrade at Macworld with the introduction of smaller, less-expensive models and a range of case colors.

In California, a lawsuit seeking class-action status is expected to be filed in January against the company over the claim that Apple's warranty does not run long enough to cover problems with the player's battery.

Apple has won raves over the years for its sleekly designed computers. The company, with a market share of around 2 percent, is able to command higher prices, due in part to Apple machines being perceived as more secure and reliable than PCs running Microsoft's Windows operating system.

Taken together, both consumer campaigns against a company that prides itself on high standards for design and engineering threaten to cast a shadow over Macworld, historically a forum for Apple and its charismatic leader, Steve Jobs, to showcase new products and innovations.

An Apple representative declined to comment on questions concerning pending litigation and claims of defective computers.

Users of Apple's iBook have been reporting problems with their iBooks in increasing numbers in the last few weeks, according to Ric Ford, president of MacIntouch, which runs the MacIntouch.com Web site, an independent site for Mac users.

But Ford attributed the increased chatter more to the fact that some users have narrowed in on the cause of the long-standing problems rather than the impending start of the Macworld show.

"I don't think it's really related to Macworld," Ford said. "I think the problems have been there, but people are starting to understand the source of the problems."

The difficulties stem from the iBook's logic board, or motherboard, users say in discussion forums and on message boards--including boards on Apple's own Web site. Many users report that replacement units have the same problems with display and video output.

Most of the complaints pertain to a particular iBook model with dual USB ports, and many users say the problems started to show up just after the computer came out of warranty.

[Bush2000]

All I want to know is ... do they catch on fire? ;-p

[Clara Lou]

Apparently, from the lack of responses, we are all in shock that all Apple products aren't perfect. Can the end of the world be far behind?

[HAL9000]

All I want to know is ... do they catch on fire? ;-p

I've owned dozens of Macs and it's very rare to have a problem with them. In general, their computers are well-designed and well-built. I have a room full of old Macs in working condition. I have an Apple computer that is 25.5 years old, and it still works perfectly despite years of abuse and travel around the world.

Occasionally there is a dud. We bought my mom an eMac for Christmas. It worked for a couple of days, but when we tried to burn a CD, it died in a puff of smoke. (No fire.) A replacement will arrive tomorrow. It's not surprising that the quality control on $799 computers is not as rigorous as it used to be, but that is a reasonable tradeoff. The other iMacs, eMacs and G5s I've worked with recently have performed flawlessly.

I had a problem with an Airport base station a couple of years ago. Apple sent a replacement even though the warranty had expired. Apple occasionally offers generous upgrade plans, like the $700 credit for old G4 Powerbook owners who purchase new models.

I expect that Apple will make a satisfactory settlement with the disgruntled iBook owners.

[IncPen]

I've been trying to figure out for some time why you have such a rage against Apple and go to such great lengths to disparage them... and I think I have it, finally.

It's what I referred to as the "$8 movie" defense, which is what prompted Clintonists to so vociferously defend him. It's where you go to a movie that really sucks and don't want anyone to know you got taken. In the case of Clinton, his supporters couldn't bear to admit a wasted vote, that they'd been wrong.

So my theory is that you've spent an inordinate amount of your time and money (what's a MS certificate run these days?) fixing and supporting what amounts to an inferior product, and the dissonance involved in admitting to yourself that it is, after all, a big waste is just too much for you.

I can't find any other explanation for your obsession with what is, in the end, a choice that someone makes about a bunch of components, software and cords.

[Petronski]

[observer5]

Ohh, I see this is a big news story. I guess M$ and the PC platform has no complainers. Noooo.

Its only entire countries that are sick and tired of this s*hit.

[July 4th]

http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com/

[Bush2000]

Relax, I was only kidding... :-p

[TechJunkYard]

How interesting.... an advocate of a certain manufacturer of proprietary software crap is bashing a certain manufacturer of proprietary hardware crap.

/yawn