Yet another Macbook Pro question
March 9, 2010 12:21 PM Subscribe
Help my friend figure out what to do about his laptop (Macbook Pro) situation.
So my friend's Macbook Pro is in rather bad shape. He got it almost three years ago and since then has used it constantly. It's gotten pretty beat up, due to a combination of being carried around in an unpadded bag and small repairs not being done in a timely manner. So as of now, the laptop won't really open up because the screen developed a crack in it a while ago, which got wider and wider until now the screen and the base are pretty much disconnected. The laptop works fine internally, in the sense that it works just fine when connected to a monitor.
He's still under Apple's extended care warranty, and just sent it in, but they sent it back to him unrepaired citing catastrophic damage. They were even unwilling to repair it if he paid for it out of pocket. I have to admit, it does look pretty bad, but surely something can be done to salvage this computer? It essentially needs a new aluminium casing and I imagine there's been some damage to the electrical connections between the screen and the cpu?
My questions are as follows:
1) Does anyone have any experience with non-Apple repair centers such as powerbookmedic.com? Have you ever gotten something repaired by them that Apple would not touch?
2) I know Macbook Pros are scheduled to come out very soon. Price is a concern, and he could probably manage to use the laptop connected to a monitor in the near future (he has a desktop at work). Should he wait or try to get a refurbished Macbook or Macbook Pro now? He works on computer-related stuff pretty much the whole day, so this is extremely important to him.
3) I remember hearing that there was a one-time way to get a really substantial discount from Apple if you were a student by signing up for some program? The cost of the sign up fee was negligible compared to the discount offered. Do any of you have any idea what I'm talking about? My googling is not getting very far.
Thanks!
So my friend's Macbook Pro is in rather bad shape. He got it almost three years ago and since then has used it constantly. It's gotten pretty beat up, due to a combination of being carried around in an unpadded bag and small repairs not being done in a timely manner. So as of now, the laptop won't really open up because the screen developed a crack in it a while ago, which got wider and wider until now the screen and the base are pretty much disconnected. The laptop works fine internally, in the sense that it works just fine when connected to a monitor.
He's still under Apple's extended care warranty, and just sent it in, but they sent it back to him unrepaired citing catastrophic damage. They were even unwilling to repair it if he paid for it out of pocket. I have to admit, it does look pretty bad, but surely something can be done to salvage this computer? It essentially needs a new aluminium casing and I imagine there's been some damage to the electrical connections between the screen and the cpu?
My questions are as follows:
1) Does anyone have any experience with non-Apple repair centers such as powerbookmedic.com? Have you ever gotten something repaired by them that Apple would not touch?
2) I know Macbook Pros are scheduled to come out very soon. Price is a concern, and he could probably manage to use the laptop connected to a monitor in the near future (he has a desktop at work). Should he wait or try to get a refurbished Macbook or Macbook Pro now? He works on computer-related stuff pretty much the whole day, so this is extremely important to him.
3) I remember hearing that there was a one-time way to get a really substantial discount from Apple if you were a student by signing up for some program? The cost of the sign up fee was negligible compared to the discount offered. Do any of you have any idea what I'm talking about? My googling is not getting very far.
Thanks!
A new case will be seriously expensive — to the point where he may as well get a new laptop for the expense a new case will incur.
I remember hearing that there was a one-time way to get a really substantial discount from Apple if you were a student by signing up for some program?
The discount was up to 20%, but the ADC Student program no longer exists, unfortunately.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:35 PM on March 9, 2010
I remember hearing that there was a one-time way to get a really substantial discount from Apple if you were a student by signing up for some program?
The discount was up to 20%, but the ADC Student program no longer exists, unfortunately.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:35 PM on March 9, 2010
You can sign up as a developer and get a one-time developer hardware discount. You have to do the math here, because it costs money and you get x type discount. Somewhat hard to eek out. But I came across that possibility when my laptop was stolen mid 2009. I decided on getting a refurbished (then) current model MacBook Pro. I think they were about the same price and it was much easier to discover how much it was going to cost me.
Refurbished price is going to be less than the student price.
And you should probably get a MacBook Pro.
posted by Napierzaza at 12:52 PM on March 9, 2010
Refurbished price is going to be less than the student price.
And you should probably get a MacBook Pro.
posted by Napierzaza at 12:52 PM on March 9, 2010
The bottom end pro (13") will be better at this point than his current machine, if it were new; combine that with a refurbished discount immediately after the introduction of the new line, and he'll be looking at a pretty cheap replacement. It's probably worth letting this one go.
I can't imagine a third party repair option being cheaper than Apple doing it.
posted by fatbird at 12:59 PM on March 9, 2010
I can't imagine a third party repair option being cheaper than Apple doing it.
posted by fatbird at 12:59 PM on March 9, 2010
You can sign up as a developer and get a one-time developer hardware discount. You have to do the math here, because it costs money and you get x type discount.
Not anymore. Apple changed the ADC plans just last week, and are no longer offering the hardware discount for developers.
posted by joshrholloway at 1:17 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not anymore. Apple changed the ADC plans just last week, and are no longer offering the hardware discount for developers.
posted by joshrholloway at 1:17 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Given the extent of damage it seems likely that a repair would essentially mean moving a small portion of the guts into a new casing. So that in mind, why not look for an identical model on eBay or Craigslist and simply transfer the hard drive and memory (as necessary)?
Given how beat up the unit is it seems likely that a "proper" repair would consume more time and labor than this approach.
posted by phearlez at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2010
Given how beat up the unit is it seems likely that a "proper" repair would consume more time and labor than this approach.
posted by phearlez at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
3) Apple has student discounts on their website, but only around 10% or so off.
Some additional info:
Sounds like this laptop is a candidate for duty as a headless file server or firewall or something if you're friend is savvy enough to hook that up.
Have had a great experience with clear hard plastic cases made especially for powerbooks, might be a good investment for next time.
posted by oblio_one at 12:26 PM on March 9, 2010