From: rkay@ausom.oz.au (Richard Kay)
Subject: Re: Apple Quality is sh_t !
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 18:23:29 GMT
Organization: AUSOM - The Apple Users Society of Melbourne

baltman@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Brian Altman) writes:

> I've owned macs since 1984. I have had an Apple quality problem, but
> only one: The 128k I bought in 1984 had a SIMM go bad in 1991. The
> other macs (a plus, two SEs, and a IIsi) have been fine. I replaced
> the 128k motherboard with a plus board and currently have it hooked
> up with my IIsi a la phone- net and Sys 7.0.1.

I've owned Macs since 1990. Here is a summary of my experiences with
the quality of Apple computers. It serves as an interesting contrast
to Brian's experience:

1990 -- Purchased Macintosh SE. Screen needed replacing immediately
(ie. straight out of box) due to presence of large glass bubble in
the centre of it. It was the first thing I saw when I turned the Mac
on at home. :-(

1991 -- Purchased Macintosh LC with 12 inch monitor. Screen replaced
at my request due to presence of dead pixel right (you guessed it
folks) in the centre of it. Logic board replaced after numerous
mysterious crashes. Floppy drive replaced twice as a result of
failures. Second logic board replaced, I am told, 3 days after I
traded the LC in on a PowerBook 140.

1991 -- Purchased PowerBook 140. Hard drive suffered stiction problems
straight out of box and refused to spin up. Screen started playing up
2 weeks later -- visual garbage to the point that screen could not be
read. Both hard drive and screen replaced. Dealer offers to replace
entire machine after I express lack of confidence in quality of
product.

1992 -- Received replacement PowerBook 140. Screen started playing up
2 weeks later -- visual garbage again (it was later revealed that
screen problems were due to a loose cable connection which appears to
have been a design fault). This  machine was traded in on Classic
II/Personal LaserWriter LS package -- I opted for tried and tested
technology for peace of mind.

1992 -- Received Classic II/Personal LaserWriter LS package as
replacement for PowerBook 140. NO PROBLEMS!

1992 -- Purchased PowerBook 160. I figured most of the bugs had been
ironed out of the PowerBook line. Keyboard replaced when some
keystrokes failed to register. Since then, no problems! (Fingers
crossed). :-)

Now, am I bitter and twisted after experiencing these problems? Am I
cursed? Am I superstitious? No way! (he says crossing fingers,
touching wood, throwing pinch of salt over right and left shoulders
just to be sure and saying three Hail Marys for good luck). Why? Cos
Apple always came through for me AND HONOURED THEIR WARRANTY.

Seriously though folks, I share the concerns of others at the quality of the
products I have purchased from Apple. I suspect it is a result of
Apple trying to make too many machines, too quickly, too cheaply. But
I can't have it both ways since I want cheap Macs too! Right? Then I
hear a history like Brian's and think that my problems are at the
extreme end of the spectrum. I dunno. I have friends who have similar
histories to mine and others who treat their machines like dirt who
have had no problems at all. Go figure! I do intend to ensure that
all my equipment is covered, however, by either AppleCare or a third
party service contract. With my history, wouldn't you? ;-)


I should add that I have treated all my machines with extreme care and
have not subjected them to abuse of any kind.The funny thing is that
ever since I got the Classic II, at the suggestion of my dealer,I
have treated my machines less fastidiously than before and had fewer
problems. Maybe that's been the problem, I've been killing my Macs
with kindness...
-- 
Richard Kay
Launceston, Tasmania
E-mail: rkay%ausom.oz@sol.cc.deakin.oz.au

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc