PROTOTYPE - Apple 17" MacBook Pro - Red Motherboard

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Level 1

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PROTOTYPE - Apple 17" MacBook Pro - Red Motherboard

I bought this 1.5 years ago on craigslist from a guy in San Jose thinking it was a regular model laptop. It worked fine until i finished doing my finals and put it to sleep.
I woke up the next morning to turn it on and it starts to turn on for 3 seconds and then dies.
If i hold the power button it starts to turn on for 5 seconds and then dies.
I scheduled an appointment with the apple store and they told me that this
laptop doesn't exist and that its a prototype because it has a red mother board.
They told me to call Apple. I did and spent three hours with them trying to
get a switch because the apple store cant fix it and its a prototype.
They said they cant and only thing i could do is get it fixed by an authorized apple repair store or sell it.

Is it still posible to fix it?

Message was edited by: chileyv

< Edited by Host >

PROTOTYPE - Apple 17" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Red Motherboard

Posted on Feb 15, 2010 12:21 PM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Feb 15, 2010 1:29 PM in response to chileyv

First you need to determine what is wrong with it. I would recommend taking it into a AASP and get it diagnosed, then you will at least have an idea of what your options are. If it does turn out to be hardware I would say your chances are very slim of getting it repaired, the parts simply wouldn't exist if it proves to be a prototype. Finding a prototype in the wild is extremely unusual however it has been known to happen.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

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Answer 2

carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Feb 15, 2010 4:38 PM in response to chileyv

A prototype unit belongs to Apple - it is that simple. Prototype computers are lent to various people during the development process. Someone who has possession of a prototype Apple computer (whether an employee, ex-employee, developer, whomever) cannot pass clear title to it, and you should consider yourself fortunate that the unit was not confiscated.

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Answer 3

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Feb 15, 2010 11:22 PM in response to carl wolf

I agree with carl. My understanding of the "prototype" or "Apple official use only" products is that they're unserviceable. I was fortunate to be involved with the iPhone program before it went live and as such had an "Apple official use" iPhone. I was allowed to keep but explicitly told that I could not be sold, regifted or serviced. When I went to test the theory it didn't exist in the system and had a purchase date of 1979.

Apple's response, while regrettable, is probably the final answer. Any chance you can inquire with the seller how they came into possession of it? Although, I realize the transaction was quite a long time ago.

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