Apple Faces Up to the MacBook Whining

Whiney Mac Fanboy writes "The Register is reporting that Apple has finally admitted to the 'high pitched whining' problems with it's MacBook line — but only to tell customers to contact AppleCare. From the article: 'MacBook Pro users have complained about numerous noises emanating from their machines since the Intel-based notebooks began shipping in February this year. Audible irritations reported by machine owners include whining sounds coming from the screen, from the body of the notebook, and from the area below the screen hinge when the laptop's running on batteries and both cores of the Core Duo CPU are enabled.'"

Comments

Hyperhidrosis?

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

From TFA:

The MacBook discolouration took a little longer to emerge, but appears to be a reaction between the laptop's plastic casing and chemicals exuding from sweaty palms. Apple's machine isn't the only notebook out there to show this symptom

Ewwwwwww!

Have a look at these photos to see the extent of the problem. (Poor old Mac users, probably stress sweat from worrying about their credit card bills).

Anyway - good to see Apple finally 'fessing up to the problems - that's what we pay the extra cash for right?

Re:Internet Echo Chamber at work

[WhiteWolf666]

I have the whine on my system. It occurs while the CPU is idling.

It's intensely annoying, but I'm also a person who gets really annoyed when people leave CRT's turned on (that whine gets me, too).

The strange thing is I've never heard it from another laptop, even other core duos. The only other system that has a similar problem is my PowerMac G5 2.7G Dual; and it "ticks" every second or so when both processors are on. The solution on the PowerMac is to put the system on the floor.

I hope to get a new logic board, as this QuietMBP program (which works for me at "70") drains the battery.

Ugh, did I mention that my battery needs to be replaced, too? I love Apple, I love OS X, but come on; I shouldn't have two separate, distinct problems on a laptop that costs $2500. First revision or not, it doesn't matter.

Important piece of information

[WhiteWolf666]

Personal ego's aside, I do not believe there is a single, current revision (excluding the new logic boards) of the MBP that doesn't exhibit this processor whine.

Rather, I do believe that it is a "hearing" issue. Much of the populace cannot hear the whine. Given the high distribution of a consumer product, though, the 1% falls through the cracks (like me).

Being able to, or not being able to hear the whine doesn't make you a better listener or something; so don't take it as an insult. I can't hear musical lyrics properly, I have problems listening to peoples voices in crowded places (bars/clubs, etc . . . I can't hold a conversation). Hell, road noise in my car drowns out my cell phone, while everyone around me never seems to have a problem.

But I can hear the MBP whine, and I can hear the the "tics" from my PowerMac G5 2.7 Dual. I do not hear similar things from my PB 12", nor from my Athlon 64+, nor from my Acer Core Duo laptop that the MBP replaced.

This is not a sporatic problem, and IMHO is not even a "technical" issue. It's a design flaw, namely, the engineering team responsible for the capacitors feeding the CPU did not notice the sound, or noticed the sound in a test an assumed it was outside the range of human hearing. The only thing that makes it sporatic is that it is, indeed, for the most part, outside the range of human hearing.