07-08-2010, 07:39 AM

hey everyone, i'm new to macs and even newer to mac-forums. here's my dilemma. i purchased the 2010 macbook pro 15inch basic model. i had to return the **** thing twice. the first time my problems was confirmed by genius bar as a faulty airport as i could not get wireless anywhere, even in the apple store. the second time i returned my macbook pro was due to my computer spitting out cd's with huge deep scratches in them. now, i'm stuck with what i believe is a third bogus macbook pro, and i doubt apple will want to give me a new one. the problem with this one is that everything is really slow. although i am new to macs, i am somewhat tech savvy and i am sure i have not installed too many programs on my computer or too many processes are running. by slow, i don't mean ridiculously slow. but i mean slow enough to not be characteristic of month old computer. for example, i opened iphoto, which i have only around 300 photos on, while no other applications were running except for activity monitor. when iphoto opened activity spiked accordingly, but lingered at around 35% user usage for several minutes. am i crazy or is that a bit high? safari is miserable. literally loading as if i had dial up. my internet speed is at around 30mbps and the internet is glitchy, and i get timed out often. i checked all the settings and contacted my isp, and it is unlikely that my isp is the problem as far as my connection goes. it just seems that any time i try to run a program the icon bumps around too long and the program opens slowly and glitchy. i rarely run more than 3 programs simultaneously and everything just feels way too slow. if anyone has this problem as well, please let me know what i should do.

p.s. my current and 3rd macbook had to have the display replaced due to it not closing properly.

07-08-2010, 08:03 AM

Wow...it does sound like you have gotten a bunch of "glitchy" laptops. Maybe you should "skip" this basic 15" MBP...and get a different model.

If for no other reason than to get away from the "jinx or curse" that seems to be present!

- Nick

p.s. On a more factual note. Maybe the Apple Store (I'm assuming it was an Apple Store) you got this 15" MBP from, got a whole shipment of "glitchy" MacBook Pros...and this would explain how you got so many. Since this could be indicative of a bunch of bad MBP's coming off the production line in China one after the other, and then packaged & shipped to the same store location. Otherwise (statistically)...is would seem very unlikely for one person to get THREE brand new bad laptops.

07-08-2010, 08:31 AM

I think there may be something in that.
I hit a 3rd time lucky with the same model.
The first 2 had serial no's so close there would have been a very good chance of a batch issue, where as the 3rd one (the one I'm on now), the serial no is worlds apart, and the manufacture date is around a month later.
As annoying as it was to:
Machine 1: Unpack it, run all the updates, install all my data and apps, back up with time machine, clone with Carbon Copy Cloner, pack it back up, return it.
Machine 2: Unpack it, run all the updates, install all my data and apps, back up with time machine, clone with Carbon Copy Cloner, pack it back up, return it.
Machine 3: Unpack it, run all the updates, install all my data and apps, back up with time machine, clone with Carbon Copy Cloner again.
Not to mention that look from the staff at the Apple store of "not you again! What now?" each time I went back with it ....If it ain't quite right, take it back!
You paid good money to have a good machine!

07-08-2010, 08:55 AM

I appreciate you guys contributing to a perfectly good, lower priced stock of refurbs at Apple. Keep it come'n =)

07-08-2010, 09:45 AM

quin, i figure you work for apple or are somehow associated with the company? what is my best bet?

07-08-2010, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by AnimatedMeat

quin, i figure you work for apple or are somehow associated with the company? what is my best bet?

Nah, just a guy that bought his at refurb =) If I'm with Apple you wouldn't be able to return all those notebooks.


OK, I keed. Good luck man

07-08-2010, 10:36 AM

well, i suppose you think i'm a chronic returner, however; i reserve that right given that my 2000 dollar computers all were noticeably defective, and confirmed so by apple employees.