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Apple Users Threaten to Sue Over iBook, iPod
An anonymous reader writes "Reuters is running a story about failing Apple hardware. 'Can a few bad apples -- like product quality complaints and potential lawsuits -- spoil the bunch for loyal fans of Apple Computer Inc. 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.'" Yay, online petitions, the most effective way to effect change in the world.
From a business standpoint, Apple cannot afford to alienate all of us first time users. At 20 years old, I have quite a few more computers to pick up in the coming years, and unless things change - they'll be anything BUT macs...
From a business standpoint, you're one user. Even with (say) 2000 people sharing this problem (a fraction of total users), only a fraction of them will decide never to get another Mac, and those are the ones least likely to get another in the first place.
I, another 20 year old first-time user, have had no problems with my year-old PowerBook G4[*], and am absolutely certain that my next computer will be a G5. "Alienate all of us", my ass.
[*] Indeed, the 12" model with supposed "heat problems" : a lot people bitching because some parts of the case (that you will never touch in normal use) get too hot to touch for extended periods of time. Just like every other laptop on the market. But people feel like Apple should be able to violate the laws of thermodynamics on the threat of "I'll never buy another Mac again!" I'm not saying that these iBook problems are the same kind of thing, but...well, yeah, actually, I am saying that it's the same thing.
YMMV, RTFM, Caveat Emptor.
It pissed me off it happened not long after warranty went out.
If your warranty is up, so is free service. End of story.
And read some of the signatures on that petitiononline.com site, here's a few examples:
1013.
Bastich
FIX MY SH1T YOU A55HOLES!!!! I'M COMIN TO YOUR KEYNOTE WITH A BAG OF ROTTEN APPLES!!!!!
1019.
LOL
Hey.....iBook owning JACKASS... YOU should have bought a DELL!!!!!
Inspiron 8100
NOTHING EVER..may out live me....
Not to mention a number of them say "Apple replaced my logic board!" I fail to see exactly what is wrong with Apple giving these people customer service. Then there's the one's who say "I'm out of warranty and they won't fix it for free!" Again, what's the problem here?
And there are also additional signatures from people with all kinds of problems completely unrelated to iBooks. These petitions do not reflect some serious overwhelming problem. I'd like to see a list of people who are perfectly content with their iBook (like myself).
These people just need to understand that if they are out of warranty, things won't be fixed for free.