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.

Comments

Willful Ignorance

[Dr Tom Danger]

I decided about a year and a half ago to give apple a chance on their ibook. However, because of consistent problems outside of warrenty, battery failings, and logic board issues, I figured Apple would live up to the name they built for themselves. All I can remember is that Apple stood for reliability and dependence, that I should "Switch." Unfortunately, because I've shared all the problems mentioned within the article, and because the customer service departments have been of no help, the first mac I ever bought will now be my last. 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... -tw- "All my favorite singers stole all my favorite lines." =AK3=

Re:Willful Ignorance

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:Willful Ignorance

[dema]

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.

Not too bright, I see...

[o-hayo]

The creator of BlackCider.com describes his iBook as a $1600 paperweight because it isn't being fixed, so he writes up a website asking Apple to fix it, and on that website he has pictures of his iBook disassembled which probably disqualifies him for any future recalls or free repairs. You'd think the smart thing to do is at least *hope* for the best and stick it in a drawer or something. To me it puts a certain, "I'm just bitching" attitude towards the whole thing - what stance does he have now that he took his laptop apart?? Hell, I drive a Ford Focus and thats exactly what I did with a fuel pump problem. I lugged that thing around for 3 months in anticipation of a fix, good thing too as it was getting worse and I was about to try and trade it in to some dealer.

And, if your reading this Mr BlackCider, they did recall a few things already (making your bad-recall-press rant in your Open Letter a bit moot), like the powersupply for the G3 and the replacement plan for noisy G4's. Hopefully they address this and all you iBook users out there with this problem get a solution, soon.

3 months warranty extension after repair

[motown]

Here in the Netherlands (not sure about the rest of the EU) it is mandatory by law for a company to extend the warranty with 3 months after a product has been repaired and returned to the customer. This extension is not cumulative, if the standard warranty doesn't yet expire for at least three months after the repair, there is no further extension, as far as I know (unless the repair time takes too long, in which case the customer should also be compensated).

If a similar law were to apply in the US as well, then I'm sure Apple would think twice about shoving this problem under the carpet, since not taking action would possibly cost them more money in fines and legal expenses than if they just fixed the ibooks even though they're just out of warranty. Not to mention the reputation and goodwill that would be at stake.

Is there a similar law in the US? Knowing how little the US government protects consumers from malevolent companies, there probably isn't.

Call us communists, but the simple fact remains that corporate interests are often not the same as consumer's interests. The customer's rights should be defended, and there is definately a role for the government to play here.