Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I'm now having this problem as well on my 2011 antiglare macbook pro.  :-(

just finished the genius bar, they checked the reference from the executive, then took the machine

435£ flat rate repair. I didnt pay a penny.

THanks apple, hope it will last

I have the gfx app running to keep it in integrated mode solely, but cannot close the lid nor enter sleep mode without being forced to reboot where I then end up spending 45 minutes in boot cycles trying to get to a login screen. Sometimes tapping the keyboard will get the grey screen to yield to a readable screen and login where I can engage the gfx. It is getting worse though. The machine has become so hot during these failed boot cycles that it feels as if it is about to catch fire. Maybe a few house fires started by failing 2011 MacBooks will get Apple to finally acknowledge a problem?

I already went to the Apple store after writing tcook and told to consult applecare. The "Genius" (god I hate referring to them as that, how obnoxious) was nice, she wouldn't acknowledge any rash of these machines failing but offered the send out repair for $310. After reading how numerous "repaired" machines have failed two or even three times after Apple repaired them, I am not anxious to part with $310 for something that is not a permanent fix.

What is the point in replacing a defective board with another defective board for a consumer? This is very likely to be my last Apple product.

If you spend money to buy a Porsche, you don't expect the engine fall out of it 36months later.

I tried removing the drivers, but the machine was not useable, it ran incredibly slow afterward. I had to put the amd graphics  drivers back.

Bought it (late 2011 MBP 8.2) for 2650 USD two and a half years ago. The GPU just died. Fix would cost 730 USD... I'm very disappointed. Definitely won't recommend any Apple products to anyone.

Anyone know where the law stands with this type of thing?  It's standard to only give a years (normal - without Apple Care) guarantee but how does this work with something that clearly is a defective part (or build)?  Do we as consumers have any more rights?  I would have thought there would be a difference between something that can be proved to be a defective part (or build) and something that just goes wrong unexpectedly (what guarantees are designed to protect you agains I would think).  Any thoughts?

People should wake uP! It's a manufacturing defect and you are entitled for this!!! Dont just walk away when they tell you that you should for this!!! Talk to a manager and you'll prob get a repair for free!! use your brains and dont just take what they say on the first stage! I got a free repair, so you should! dont be a coward and stand up for yourself! It's ridiculois that people paid for a repair !!!

After my second visit to the genius bar this time they took my late 2011 macbook pro in for a logic board replacement, free of charge under EU consumer law! The genius that sorted it was very helpful and friendly about it all too. Thanks Apple.

I don't know about the US, but in the EU consumers are protected by law. Anything that fails after 2 years of purchase has to be covered by the manufacturer (even if the manufacturer states that they only give you 1 year of warranty).

In the UK consumer laws are more strict. Any electronic appliance has by law a life expectancy of 5 or 6 years (depending on where in the UK the product was bought). If a product like a TV or a laptop fails before those years it had to be repaired or replaced by the manufacturer.

I was just thinking, normally the attractive thing about Apple products is that there was always a market for used products. I can't imagine any educated consumers purchasing these machines on the secondary market. With a glaring defect like this and with the knowledge that these machines will self destruct once again if repaired, we are stuck with these horribly manufactured $1,500 -$2,500 paper weights.

There is a big difference between a $500 laptop failing after three years and a $1500+ laptop failing at three years..

lloyd708 wrote:

 

Anyone know where the law stands with this type of thing?

That will depend on where you live, the US has little in the way of consumer protection (but you can take your own action) the EU and the Nordic countries have rather more.

I live in the UK.  I'll try and check it out.

Check out the Sale of Goods Act.

Csound1 wrote:

 

lloyd708 wrote:

 

Anyone know where the law stands with this type of thing?

That will depend on where you live, the US has little in the way of consumer protection (but you can take your own action) the EU and the Nordic countries have rather more.

seems it mainly applies for UK customers and Ireland.

other countries in the EU doesn't have this kind of protection.

I was doing that probably exactly when you were typing - some selected extracts as follows (I've made selections to keep it simple but don't think I've distorted the picture - this is UK law by the way):

Buying goods - your rights

When you buy goods from a trader you enter into a contract which is controlled by many laws including the Sale of Goods Act 1979. The law gives you certain - sometimes referred to as statutory - rights under this contract.

Your rights
The Sale of Goods Act 1979 states that goods should be:

Of satisfactory quality – this means that goods should meet a standard which a reasonable person would regard as being satisfactory, taking account of any description applied to them, the price (if relevant) and all other relevant circumstances. Satisfactory quality also includes the appearance and finish of the goods, their safety and durability and whether they are free from minor faults.

What are you entitled to?

If the goods do not conform to the contract, in other words are not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose or as described, you are legally entitled to one of the following remedies:

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT

You are entitled to ask the trader to repair or replace the goods at their expense.