dennis.ca

Several weeks ago I purchased a MacBook Pro. As a long-time PC user, the Apple prospect was relatively exciting. The machine is a 2.0Ghz Intel-CPU unit with 100Gb hard drive and 15.4" screen.

Having purchased a number of Apple systems for work, I wasn't totally ignorant of the experience. Opening the box was fun; everything was nicely packaged and presented well. Unfortunately, opening the box was the best part of the experience -- the machine has been nothing but a headache and I'm utterly flabbergasted that Apple had the nerve to release it. I'm even more flabbergasted that I paid $3,000 for it.

Whining Noise: The MacBook Pro Apple forums are filled with people complaining about the whining noises that come from the machine. It is absolutely intolerable and exceedingly annoying. Remember the hissing noise that older tube TVs made when you turned them on? Imagine that. Non-stop. Always. Get this -- I installed Windows XP on the MacBook, and guess which ear-splitting noise is nowhere to be found? Strangely, the noise stops when the trackpad mouse button is pressed down, the hard drive is active, or the machine is throttled down to a single CPU core.

Second Fan Noise: When the computer has been on for any length of time (an hour or so), a jet-engine-like whirring begins to spill out from the right side of the casing. This is supposedly the second CPU fan, but it sounds more like an electric lawnmover. This one bothers me less since I generally can't use the machine for an hour at a time.

Heat Issue: The MacBook Pro runs hot. Really hot. The area near the left speaker is uncomfortable to touch after 30 minutes. Some people have reported burning themselves, and others have reported heat severe enough to buckle the battery out of its compartment.

Stability: You get a lot of crashes for $3,000. It crashes when emerging from sleep. It crashes when a network connection is lost. Applications lock-up for no apparent reason, with no apparent common trigger, and no fixes offered from Apple.

And finally, the single most astounding problem:

Wireless Networking: Wireless on the MacBook Pro is horrendous. The machine will only connect reliably to a completely unprotected network. I can manage to connect it to my WPA network if -- and only if -- the SSID is not hidden. Furthermore, once it is connected, the uptime is roughly 5 minutes. After that time, the connection freezes. The only way to regain a connection is to shut down Airport altogether and restart it. I've tried with no less than six different wireless routers (three different brands) with no difference in results. Windows-based PCs work fine with the same networks, and again, Windows XP on the MacBook works properly.

It probably shouldn't surprise me, but many of the comments on the Apple forums come from through-and-through Mac loyalists. If there's a problem, it can't possibly be the hardware. Regardless, I have a problem taking someone seriously when they've never used a CLI that doesn't run in a window with transparency effects, so it probably doesn't matter.

Lots of people have reported that Apple is either locking or erasing critical forum threads, but I haven't witnessed this myself (and I've been posting snarky comments for several days). Applecare has provided me with exactly zero helpful solutions or comments, and I'm nearly at the end of my rope.

This will absolutely be my last purchase from Apple. I've used a lot of low-end, shady notebook computers, but this one takes the cake. When a company like Dell is outclassing you by lightyears in terms of performance, reliability, and build quality, you really need to stand back and take a look at what you're selling.

Apple should be ashamed of themselves. If anyone is considering the purchase of a MacBook Pro, I highly recommend you don't do it.