Apple loses bid to stop class action lawsuit over MacBook keyboards

[OneMoreThing...]

Apple will have to face a class action lawsuit over faulty MacBook keyboards. Federal Judge Edward Davila has tossed out Apple's attempt to dismiss a suit accusing the company of not only hiding the fragility of MacBook butterfly keyboards, but of f...

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[chscag]

I honestly don't what else Apple can do here. They have a free offer to replace keyboards that are defective. The keyboard replacement includes a new battery and top case. What else do the class action participants want?

 

[jeroldharter]

Just looking into this now. I have a maxed out MacBook that I bought for travel. That means I use it intermittently and use my MacBook Pro at home. The keyboard would insert semi-random keystrokes frequently. I took it to the Apple Store and they replaced the keyboard. The problem recurred shortly thereafter. So I took it back and they installed another keyboard. Then the problem recurred and I took it back. They told me that it could not be 3 keyboards in a row and must be the OS so the told me to re-install the OS. That is always enjoyable but I did it and the problem went away...until it returned. Now I have an out of warranty MacBook that is a lemon. I would like a new laptop of similar specs that works.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I honestly don't what else Apple can do here. They have a free offer to replace keyboards that are defective. The keyboard replacement includes a new battery and top case. What else do the class action participants want?

The original keyboards weren't just problematic, they were throughly defective. I've heard a lot of stories of Apple replacing a MBP's keyboard, and then the problems came back not long after. So Apple replaced the keyboard again...repeat until the MBP is out of warranty and Apple won't touch it anymore...and the keyboard is STILL problematic.

I expect a well designed expensive laptop, like a MBP, to run mostly trouble-free for between 5 to 10 years. If I only got a few, mostly troubled, years out of my expensive MBP, I'd be hopping mad. I'd want Apple to either PERMANENTLY fix the problem, or to replace my laptop with a better designed one, or to give me a hefty rebate.

In the end I expect this case to settle (as they all do), and for owners to only get a pitiful credit on a new laptop. Honestly...I just don't understand how class action lawsuits can have such horrible settlements.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

The original keyboards weren't just problematic, they were throughly defective. I've heard a lot of stories of Apple replacing a MBP's keyboard, and then the problems came back not long after. So Apple replaced the keyboard again...repeat until the MBP is out of warranty and Apple won't touch it anymore...and the keyboard is STILL problematic.

I expect a well designed expensive laptop, like a MBP, to run mostly trouble-free for between 5 to 10 years. If I only got a few, mostly troubled, years out of my expensive MBP, I'd be hopping mad. I'd want Apple to either PERMANENTLY fix the problem, or to replace my laptop with a better designed one, or to give me a hefty rebate.

Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, Apple is replacing defective keyboards even under the extended program with the same defective design that sooner than later will require replacement again. They should have re-designed the replacements and be using those as they come in. Now, I'm no engineer so maybe it's not quite "that" simple, but regardless, that shouldn't be "our" problem to contend with. I had my 2019 MBA for barely a year before the keyboard needed replacement. And I'm by no means a heavy user.

 

[chscag]

There's no doubt that this was one of the worst sagas of an Apple product being defective. However, it's not like Apple hasn't responded to alleviate the problems that this has caused.

But as Randy stated above, the class action settlement was not the best. Big corporations have the resources to fight off lawsuits and can keep a settlement in limbo for years. Anyone here remember the "Big Tobacco" lawsuits?

 

[techiesteve]

I honestly don't what else Apple can do here. They have a free offer to replace keyboards that are defective. The keyboard replacement includes a new battery and top case. What else do the class action participants want?

I can understand users frustration re this issue reoccurring again and again. A sore point is the the replacement program is only for 4 years, and most users expect more than 4 years from an expensive MBP.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I just read that the next MBP from Apple will have a scissor keyboard, get rid of the adaptive function bar, and it will have a MacSafe connector for charging! Finally, Apple seems to be listening.