9 ms·

> My 14" M1 MacBook Pro repair cost was $809 My custom Ryzen 7/RX 570 Linux PC built from parts cost less than this, so a repair of this magnitude just boggles

by umvi 4y ago

> My 14" M1 MacBook Pro repair cost was $809 My custom Ryzen 7/RX 570 Linux PC built from parts cost less than this, so a repair of this magnitude just boggles my mind. At that point just buy yourself a new computer.

wtallis 4y ago
Is a desktop whose price doesn't include any display really the best comparison you could come up with for a discussion of laptop display repairs?
- brewdad 4y ago
  The beauty of the desktop is that you can buy a display that fits your budget and needs. A desktop monitor that's equal to a typical 1080 laptop display can be had for $150. If you need something better, you can spend more but very few people will need to spend more than $500. If it breaks, you plug in a new one at 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the laptop repair with the only downtime being how long it takes to drive to the store.
  - acdha 4y ago
    This is like saying that you don’t think formalwear is a good deal because your Costco jeans are more durable. Desktops are great, I heartily recommend using them instead of laptops for most people, but it’s not especially revelatory to point out that laptops make design trade offs to hit their size & battery trade offs.
testing7787 4y ago
- biohacker85 4y ago
numlock86 4y ago
What boggles my mind is why you didn't get a computer with a Centrino Core 2 Duo with an integrated graphics card. > Ryzen 7/RX 570 At this point just buy yourself a couple of used computers.
aaaaaaaaaaab 4y ago
May I ask how long the battery lasts on your your Ryzen 7/RX 570 Linux PC?
- Krasnol 4y ago
  A CMOS battery lasts probably something around 5 years.
  - qbasic_forever 4y ago
    Does it scale down your graphics and sound to look like Tiger handheld LCD games when you're gaming on the CMOS battery?
    - Krasnol 4y ago
      I plug it in just the same way I'd do with a gaming laptop.
- jxy 4y ago
  You can last a "full day" on AAA batteries. A manageable configuration is likely double-suitcase with copper link, each contains 10000 Alkaline AAA batteries.
TheDong 4y ago
People just don't understand how good desktops are, right? On my flight yesterday, when I pulled out my full tower Ryzen with 2x 3090 GPUs, I got told that the power outlet on the plane seat shouldn't be used for my 1200W power supply. And yet, the same flight attendant said nothing to the macbook user a few rows over who was clearly plugged in. Frankly, it's appalling how few people understand that a cheaper desktop is comparable to a laptop.
- depr 4y ago
  Next time bring a portable battery.
- kurupt213 4y ago
  You should have shown her the daisy chain of 5v lithium batteries you used to power it. That really puts the stewardess in bitch-mode
- sseagull 4y ago
  I mean, unless you are an extreme outlier, you spend more time on the ground than on an airplane. Why would you optimize for working on an airplane over your typical workday? For me personally, 99.9% of my work is done at my desk (1), so why not have a more powerful, upgradeable, repairable computer to work with? (1) I'm not hip enough to work from coffee shops
  - z9znz 4y ago
    > extreme outlier Contrary to popular myth, not all of us live and work in a basement. Myself and many people I know, my non-technical girlfriend included, use our laptops all around the country and in multiple other countries. I do agree about upgradeable and repairable, which is why the Framework laptop is getting pretty attractive. But there's still nothing that compares in performance and portability to my M1 Air.
    - runjake 4y ago
      Right, that's why they said "outlier". Most people aren't going all around the country and multiple other countries. Most people sit at home on a computer, and sit at work on another computer. Like you, I am also an outlier, using my MacbBok all over Hades.
thomas-st 4y ago
Honestly, if I had broken the screen, this seems like a fair cost for a new display like this. Apart from the the cost, I'd also like to mention the repair process (via mail at their Houston repair facility) was very speedy. I got a quote within hours of them receiving the product, and it was shipped the next day after I approved. The supervisor mentioned that if they ever set up a repair program for this issue, they will refund the fee. Now, if only they could also fix the audio crackling issue that me and many other users are experiencing... (https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/s4r1m5/macbook_pro_16_2021_audio_crackling_issue_m1_pro/ https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/s4r1m5/macbook_...)
- xdfgh1112 4y ago
  Wow you praise Apple even after they screwed you! The cult of Apple is still going strong! Edit: parent was made to pay 800 dollars for a screen breaking which wasn't his or her fault, but still goes on to say "they said they might refund it later" and "the repair was quick". The rationalisation is painful to read.
  - thomas-st 4y ago
    To be clear, it's completely unacceptable they are charging for this repair. My intent was to give some perspective on how the repair process went overall, I needed the device back for work. While apart from the cracked screen issue the hardware is amazing in my opinion, the overall software issues make using macOS painful sometimes (processes running at high CPU -- now mostly offloaded to the efficiency cores, WebKit views having issues loading, anything syncing to iCloud sometimes not working, sometimes working on the 2nd try, Messages/Apple Mail search only finding some of the messages, audio crackling issues with wired headphones/AirPods/built-in speaker, etc.)
- josephcsible 4y ago
  > if I had broken the screen But the whole point is that it's Apple's fault that these screens are breaking, not the users'.
- sva_ 4y ago
fzfaa 4y ago
jabbany 4y ago
Actually it really isn't. The more expensive something is the higher the ongoing costs to maintain it. It's the same case with cars where more expensive ones are also more costly to maintain and fix. When people buy a more luxury item, it's because there is something about the item that they value where no cheaper equivalent exists. MacBooks certainly have several such features: quality of display, ecosystem integration, form factor, battery life, speakers, aesthetics... These things might not be the same things you value, but for those who care it's just as important. This is also why some people buy luxury cars and others just get the cheapest whatever that gets them from A to B. FWIW, I run an HP Ryzen laptop that cost me just $350. But I do so because the 2h battery, non-HDR (and probably not even 100% sRGB) 1080p screen, lackluster speaker, and "borderline serviceable" trackpad don't bother me at all. I would not buy a MacBook as it offers no features I care about at a significantly higher price, but I respect people who do buy MacBooks because they fit their needs.
- deebosong 4y ago
  That's how I feel about bikes. I like that enthusiasts get the really nice fancypants stuff. But if I'm gonna be doing my own maintenance, and riding for durability along with functionality, then the lower end stuff ends up being more for me than the latest & greatest.
  - jabbany 4y ago
    Yeah, I have a friend who has a nice fancy carbon fibre bike meanwhile I just have a random no-name brand because it does everything I need it to do for commuting and I don't care that it weighs several kilograms more...
- 2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
  There’s lots of things that are more expensive and last longer with no maintenance. There was an entire thread yesterday about how stuff doesn’t last as long and sometimes if you can afford it, you should pay 7x for a Vitamix or KitchenAid. I’m not sure this compares to luxury cars, since MacBooks more than ever are more like appliances. So it’s arguable that paying more should get you a more durable product. I mean there’s loads of people who have pre-shitty keyboard MacBooks that have lasted years. I have a great 2012 MBA that still works great and I paid a premium for it then. I’d be happy to pay a premium again for a similarly long lasting computer. You’re also paying the apple premium so that if something goes wrong, they fix it with little fuss. Something I have also used over the years.
ReadTheLicense 4y ago
The cheapest comparable desktop display costs $1500 (27 inch)...

by umvi 4y ago

wtallis 4y ago

Is a desktop whose price doesn't include any display really the best comparison you could come up with for a discussion of laptop display repairs?

brewdad 4y ago
The beauty of the desktop is that you can buy a display that fits your budget and needs. A desktop monitor that's equal to a typical 1080 laptop display can be had for $150. If you need something better, you can spend more but very few people will need to spend more than $500. If it breaks, you plug in a new one at 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the laptop repair with the only downtime being how long it takes to drive to the store.
- acdha 4y ago
  This is like saying that you don’t think formalwear is a good deal because your Costco jeans are more durable. Desktops are great, I heartily recommend using them instead of laptops for most people, but it’s not especially revelatory to point out that laptops make design trade offs to hit their size & battery trade offs.

testing7787 4y ago

biohacker85 4y ago

numlock86 4y ago

What boggles my mind is why you didn't get a computer with a Centrino Core 2 Duo with an integrated graphics card. > Ryzen 7/RX 570 At this point just buy yourself a couple of used computers.

aaaaaaaaaaab 4y ago

May I ask how long the battery lasts on your your Ryzen 7/RX 570 Linux PC?

Krasnol 4y ago
A CMOS battery lasts probably something around 5 years.
- qbasic_forever 4y ago
  Does it scale down your graphics and sound to look like Tiger handheld LCD games when you're gaming on the CMOS battery?
  - Krasnol 4y ago
    I plug it in just the same way I'd do with a gaming laptop.
jxy 4y ago
You can last a "full day" on AAA batteries. A manageable configuration is likely double-suitcase with copper link, each contains 10000 Alkaline AAA batteries.

TheDong 4y ago

People just don't understand how good desktops are, right? On my flight yesterday, when I pulled out my full tower Ryzen with 2x 3090 GPUs, I got told that the power outlet on the plane seat shouldn't be used for my 1200W power supply. And yet, the same flight attendant said nothing to the macbook user a few rows over who was clearly plugged in. Frankly, it's appalling how few people understand that a cheaper desktop is comparable to a laptop.

depr 4y ago
Next time bring a portable battery.
kurupt213 4y ago
You should have shown her the daisy chain of 5v lithium batteries you used to power it. That really puts the stewardess in bitch-mode
sseagull 4y ago
I mean, unless you are an extreme outlier, you spend more time on the ground than on an airplane. Why would you optimize for working on an airplane over your typical workday? For me personally, 99.9% of my work is done at my desk (1), so why not have a more powerful, upgradeable, repairable computer to work with? (1) I'm not hip enough to work from coffee shops
- z9znz 4y ago
  > extreme outlier Contrary to popular myth, not all of us live and work in a basement. Myself and many people I know, my non-technical girlfriend included, use our laptops all around the country and in multiple other countries. I do agree about upgradeable and repairable, which is why the Framework laptop is getting pretty attractive. But there's still nothing that compares in performance and portability to my M1 Air.
  - runjake 4y ago
    Right, that's why they said "outlier". Most people aren't going all around the country and multiple other countries. Most people sit at home on a computer, and sit at work on another computer. Like you, I am also an outlier, using my MacbBok all over Hades.

thomas-st 4y ago

Honestly, if I had broken the screen, this seems like a fair cost for a new display like this. Apart from the the cost, I'd also like to mention the repair process (via mail at their Houston repair facility) was very speedy. I got a quote within hours of them receiving the product, and it was shipped the next day after I approved. The supervisor mentioned that if they ever set up a repair program for this issue, they will refund the fee. Now, if only they could also fix the audio crackling issue that me and many other users are experiencing... (https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/s4r1m5/macbook_pro_16_2021_audio_crackling_issue_m1_pro/ https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookpro/comments/s4r1m5/macbook_...)

xdfgh1112 4y ago
Wow you praise Apple even after they screwed you! The cult of Apple is still going strong! Edit: parent was made to pay 800 dollars for a screen breaking which wasn't his or her fault, but still goes on to say "they said they might refund it later" and "the repair was quick". The rationalisation is painful to read.
- thomas-st 4y ago
  To be clear, it's completely unacceptable they are charging for this repair. My intent was to give some perspective on how the repair process went overall, I needed the device back for work. While apart from the cracked screen issue the hardware is amazing in my opinion, the overall software issues make using macOS painful sometimes (processes running at high CPU -- now mostly offloaded to the efficiency cores, WebKit views having issues loading, anything syncing to iCloud sometimes not working, sometimes working on the 2nd try, Messages/Apple Mail search only finding some of the messages, audio crackling issues with wired headphones/AirPods/built-in speaker, etc.)
josephcsible 4y ago
> if I had broken the screen But the whole point is that it's Apple's fault that these screens are breaking, not the users'.
sva_ 4y ago

fzfaa 4y ago

jabbany 4y ago

Actually it really isn't. The more expensive something is the higher the ongoing costs to maintain it. It's the same case with cars where more expensive ones are also more costly to maintain and fix. When people buy a more luxury item, it's because there is something about the item that they value where no cheaper equivalent exists. MacBooks certainly have several such features: quality of display, ecosystem integration, form factor, battery life, speakers, aesthetics... These things might not be the same things you value, but for those who care it's just as important. This is also why some people buy luxury cars and others just get the cheapest whatever that gets them from A to B. FWIW, I run an HP Ryzen laptop that cost me just $350. But I do so because the 2h battery, non-HDR (and probably not even 100% sRGB) 1080p screen, lackluster speaker, and "borderline serviceable" trackpad don't bother me at all. I would not buy a MacBook as it offers no features I care about at a significantly higher price, but I respect people who do buy MacBooks because they fit their needs.

deebosong 4y ago
That's how I feel about bikes. I like that enthusiasts get the really nice fancypants stuff. But if I'm gonna be doing my own maintenance, and riding for durability along with functionality, then the lower end stuff ends up being more for me than the latest & greatest.
- jabbany 4y ago
  Yeah, I have a friend who has a nice fancy carbon fibre bike meanwhile I just have a random no-name brand because it does everything I need it to do for commuting and I don't care that it weighs several kilograms more...
2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
There’s lots of things that are more expensive and last longer with no maintenance. There was an entire thread yesterday about how stuff doesn’t last as long and sometimes if you can afford it, you should pay 7x for a Vitamix or KitchenAid. I’m not sure this compares to luxury cars, since MacBooks more than ever are more like appliances. So it’s arguable that paying more should get you a more durable product. I mean there’s loads of people who have pre-shitty keyboard MacBooks that have lasted years. I have a great 2012 MBA that still works great and I paid a premium for it then. I’d be happy to pay a premium again for a similarly long lasting computer. You’re also paying the apple premium so that if something goes wrong, they fix it with little fuss. Something I have also used over the years.

ReadTheLicense 4y ago

The cheapest comparable desktop display costs $1500 (27 inch)...