Thanks for that! I'm only in Nyon which makes it a bit less of a hassle.

So, they're replacing the motherboard but based on what many people round here have reported that doesn't sound like a great solution - although apart from replacing the whole machine with a new one, what is a good solution?

You'll get it back, use it intensively, in about three/four months it packs up again, you get another motherboard and so on until they replace the machine completely? How can one devote the time to go through all of this? It's depressing.

I wonder if when you go back there for your next replacement I might be there with my machine too? It could help to drive home some sort of message over there. What do you think?

And This is Not Good

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Apple wins dismissal of lawsuit over MacBook logic boards

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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-wins-dismissal-lawsuit-over-002026636.html

I told the Genius in Geneva that I was not the only one with this problem and he seemed to know already. BtW they had two 2011 motherboards in stock ! Maybe that is a normal stock count ?

Just tell them about this thread. Every day, new people post with the same problem. Already over 11K replies that is quite a large and active thread !

Good Luck !

Adding my name to the list of p!$$ed off customers.  My 2011 Macbook pro is in the shop right now, getting fixed for this same problem.  I took it to a local authorized repair shop - not the Genuis bar - because my understanding is that Apple will only replace the faulty parts with new faulty parts.  Question though: If there is ever a recall or repair extension, will repairs from non-Apple store repair shops be reimbursed?  I feel like I'm in a catch-22 here: I need the computer repaired, but don't feel like being screwed around by Apple anymore.  I want a permanent fix, not the flat-rate faulty replacement sham that Apple is currently offering. 

Looks like someone didn't care to hire a professional lawyer. Anyways, if it it is accepted that "Plaintiffs have failed to allege that Apple's logic boards were unfit for their ordinary purposes or lacked a minimal level of quality," Alsup wrote. "Both plaintiffs were able to adequately use their computers for approximately 18 months and two years, respectively.", it once more confirms it is normal that Apple sells laptops that do not last very long.

There are two ways that we as a community need to take. Let us share the link to this discussion in as many forums as possible apart from the usual facebook and twitter. Two why not every one of us write an email to Tim Cook daily asking him to redress this problem once and for all. I know that apple has the capability and talent to filter such communication out, but we may be able to help out the 'plaintiffs' towards bringing in some legal action. Since we are all dispersed across the globe, it would only become difficult for apple to counter the claim that the Macbook Pro Early 2011 model had a known issue.

Hello,

At what company did you have it done? And do you have it back already? Love to hear how it worked out.

I'll be vacationing at the Tiki Genius Bar yet again in a few hours, this time to replace a logic board they put in little more than a month ago. I have no expectation that this next replacement will mark the final chapter in this dismal quest of ridiculous manufacturing incompetence, but the naïve Apple fanboy within me still wants to give them the benefit of the doubt. They've been super understanding so far, but my AppleCare is set to expire in a few months and I can't promise I'll be nearly as complacent if/when I'm backed into a corner and charged for a "repair".

Has anyone that has set up a replacement via a Genius Bar ever inquired about getting an actual reflow from Apple as opposed to an ineffectual board swap? I'm going to try and speak to the same employee that has helped me in the past since he's one of the few that doesn't treat me as if I'm a rank amateur. If first-party reflowing turns out to be a certain non-option, I'm going to petition them for a replacement with the next newest model year (my late-2011 for an early-2012). Definitely not holding my breath, though.

Has anyone that has set up a replacement via a Genius Bar ever inquired about getting an actual reflow from Apple as opposed to an ineffectual board swap? I'm going to try and speak to the same employee that has helped me in the past since he's one of the few that doesn't treat me as if I'm a rank amateur. If first-party reflowing turns out to be a certain non-option, I'm going to petition them for a replacement with the next newest model year (my late-2011 for an early-2012). Definitely not holding my breath, though.

Good initiative !

It would probably cost Apple less in the long run to A.) admit there is a manufacturing problem and B.) propose a reflow instead a defective board swap or even a new machine if repeated swaps didn't work.

I'm having the same issue as everyone in this thread. 70% of the time I boot up to a white screen unless I reset and the NVRAM or SMC and then when it does work it works for half an hour or until I do something graphic intensive. Booting into safe mode brings up a blue screen with lines or distorted log-in screen which is very worrying. Bought in mid 2012 but it's the late 2011 model with AMD graphics that everyone seems to have issues with.

Went into the genius bar today, they were polite and ran tests and couldn't find anything wrong with it (BS) so the genius took it to the back, removed the HDD and did a triage boot and still couldn't find anything wrong so they said it was a Logic board issue that will take £400 to fix. I politely declined and walked out. The guy didn't know anything about the 2011 model issues or EU consumer law so I couldn't get it covered under either of those pretenses.

Seriously considering just buying a newer mac that isn't from this ****** batch of laptops. Unfortunately I need Mac for my course and this couldn't have come at a worse time for me (in my last year of study with many deadlines approaching) so I don't have a choice. Has anyone had luck with a replacement logic board? I've read that most people just go in and out getting them replaced until Apple replaces them but I don't really have the time to do that.

Ignorance of consumer law is not protection from it. You absolutely have the right to a free logic board replacement under the UK Sales Of Goods Act. You have 6 years from the date of purchase to return goods which were sold with a fault and get either a repair, a replacement or a refund. I'd say Apple are covering themselves if they offer you a free repair as it means they're operating within the law and don't necessarily have to offer one of the other two options if you refuse the free 'repair'.

First off you need to set the boundaries of the discussion. You need to let them know that you've brought in this laptop because of the KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE GRAPHICS CARDS IN THIS MODEL OF MACBOOK PRO THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED ON THE APPLE FORUMS. Get that established straight away so that they're aware you've done your homework on both the issue and your rights under the law. If you explain to them every step you have taken to deduce what the issue is - be firm and matter-of-fact with them without being aggressive and they should help you out. They do all the usual checks with their diagnostics, try to boot/safeboot/netboot etc etc and then they SHOULD check the serial number against the list of MBPs that they KNOW (and this is going off what a genius bar guy actually told me) are faulty When he checked the serial number on mine he looked straight at me and said 'this isn't one of the affected models' to which I pointed at the laptop with its white/grey screen and said 'but obviously it is'. I managed to get mine fixed for free this way. I left it with them and didn't actually need to bring up the UK Sales of Goods Act - they tried a reinstall (which we know doesn't work, because it's a hardware problem not software) and then phoned to say they'd replace the logic board under the Act as I'd made it obvious I knew the law and scale of the problem.

 

Apple wins dismissal of lawsuit over MacBook logic boards

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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-wins-dismissal-lawsuit-over-002026636.html

Hmmmppphhhh....

So now what? Starting to lose hope.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-wins-dismissal-lawsuit-over-002026636.html

This is absolutely ridiculous.

So now we either:

a) Hope the appeal finds a judge that doesn't cave in to corporate pressure.

b) Pay out of pocket for a refurbished logic board 'repair' and hope for the best.

c) Wait for Apple to stand by their product and customers.

d) Find a reputable independent repair service and pay for a reflow/reball repair.

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Well, I'm now in the same boat as the rest of you.

My 2011 Macbook pro is dead. The guy at the genius bar said it's the logic board and actually suggested I just buy a new Macbook pro.

I'm now running my 10 year old pc, which has been sitting in a cupboard collecting dust for 3 years but still works perfectly. Why would I pay a premium to buy another Mac product that's designed to fail in two years is beyond me.

The guy also made mention of the replacement plan Apple have in place for 2010 Macbook pros and suggested I hold onto the Apple paperweight I now own. I'm not familiar with that plan but hopefully Apple can sacrifice some their billions to do the same for their shoddy 2011 models.

Re: the lawsuit being thrown out. That's disgusting. Logic boards are meant to last for years, decades even.