Yea i went to the Genius bar at arndale center manchester.
As the issue seems random, id taken a few screen shots to illustrate the problem. I also mentioned that some keys on the keyboard were working intermittently specifically the P, 0, - and F10, and F11 keys and that i have no warranty, but i want to find out what the problem is. The 'genius' seemed fairly uninterested in the graphics issue saying that the keyboard replacement was fairly cheap. Yea yea, i say but what about the graphics card issue, cant you do a check on it? He asks me if the machine is up to date.....I say yea man.
So he pulls out some external drive thing.....i dunno something to check the graphics card i think, black box thing into USB.
He rebooted the machine trying to clear the PRAM
I point out to the guy that he cant clear the PRAM without an external keyboard, cos the P, 0, ..etc , but in this instance specifically the P key isnt working on my keyboard so you cant reset PRAM, trust me i know i use my MBP alot.
Oh yea he says, rather sleepily. man who is this 'Genius' im thinking, has he just got up out of bed??, Its 10:40. my appointment was at 11:00, but as i turned up early the concierge had managed to fit me in early, nice chap. I was starting to think i should have refused and stuck to my 11:00 appointment. .
Ok so the dude gets a keyboard, reboots PRAM, and then reboots hitting the D key, nothing is happening, He reboots PRAM again, i turn around to watch the pensioners sat in a row at another desk behind me with their inferior MacBooks, white ones. The Genius is rebooting randomly now, hitting the D key, saying that my D key doesnt work.
Im like what? No the D key is fine, the D key always works, its the P key that dont work.......trust me i know how to make a snag list. I dont think he knows what i mean by snag list, i think the guy is from Italy or Poland maybe somewhere like that, judging by his bad command of the english language.
Hmmmpppphhhhh....ok well so erm he turns to his "genius' mate, who actually sounds like he knows what he's talking about and his mate says you cant test that graphics card cos its combined with the logic board........so what the **** has the 'genius' whos dealing with me doing???
Who is the genius here?
OK so i would have to replace my whole logic board, said it was expensive, i say you dont say expensive, how expensive?? He say bout 500, its like about the most expensive part of the computer he say, rolling his eyes up and over as if to imitate he was looking at the massive pile of cash it would cost me.
I say Ok well as its the most expensive part of the computer why has it not been tested better, and pointed to the thread showing the number of people with radeon x1600 MBP's reporting display issues which he seemed to have no opinion on, or he was just half asleep still. I also asked about the NVideo replacement thing. He say....ahhh whole screen knackered no see nothing.
I asked at this point if apple consider that the graphics issue i and other radeon x1600 users were experiencing on a professional level machine was more or less acceptable than the Nvidia issue to a professional level machine and a professional user?
He shrugged his shoulders.
So i say how much to fix the keyboard? not much is the answer, ok ill just use my powers of telepathy and see the actual price by pure thought. Hmm that doesnt work.
ok....
Can you get it fixed for me?
Can it be ready by Friday?
Can you deliever it back to me?
Yes.
Cant be guaranteed within 5 days, alot of people off sick.
No.
