Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Honestly, that fix would be asking for trouble. Yeah, it would allow the computer to boot, but you still have fundamental issues in its hardware. While it's a nice workaround to disable discrete graphics, any fix released should restore hardware to full working order, whether it be a replacement program or a special version of OS X like they released the special 10.6.7 build for these same models (Early 2011) after similar issues. That special build, if anything, should be enough evidence to know that there were issues with graphic stability at the launch of these models. After two years with the knowledge of these issues, replacing machines affected by it at no cost should be the only path taken. Let's not forget that the model that most of us have  (15" MacBook Pro, 2.2GHz i7 quad-core processor, AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU) was not in any way cheap. These were expensive purchases made based on the quality of the hardware, and with something this widespread and crippling for users, it'd be a mockery not to admit hardware issues and fix them before people panic and spend $500-$700 for repairs. I know that I surely won't be paying that for a repair.

Hi everyone.

I have been following along this thread since my computer failed about two months ago and I posted here.

I did not have AppleCare and Apple paid for my logic board replacement. 

I took my computer into a genius bar appointment and was told it would be the $310 to fix it. They acted like this was a steal.  It astonished me because my computer had been glitching since the week I bought it.  An Apple tech back then had told me it would be okay to ignore it (clearly a lie in hindsight but I was naïve), but made no note in my account.  I was clearly upset and the tech convinced me to talk to the manager.  She was very full of scripted lines about how this was  the "fair" option.  She kept using that word and it felt so insulting.  It made me cry that I struggled to save such a significant sum for this computer in college and now it's failed completely.  I left without getting the repair. 

I came home and found all of you guys.  I felt validated and also more helpless for how badly Apple has ignored this. 

Next, I called the manager of another Apple store to ask where I go to escalate this and make sure Apple is getting the message.  He couldn't offer me any advice other than he was sorry the other manager was mean and he'd be happy to set me up for the repair at $310.  He said they needed to get computers into diagnostics, even if they don't do the repair, to be able to recognize what this is. 

Then, I called the sales line for Apple.  I explained the problem.  I was sent to tech help, and explained again.  I was sent to a senior tech advisor.  I explained again and emailed him the picture I took when my computer was a week old (he was able to look at the origination details to confirm it had occured while in warranty).  I was then sent to a customer relations advisor. In the end, Apple paid for my logic board replacement and I've just gotten it back.  I haven't done much on it yet, but plan to give it a thorough check. 

I was saved ONLY because I still had that picture on my iphone.  Everyone I spoke to was wonderful and kind.  At every step of the process, I pressed how widespread this has become, how many others there were on the forums--several new cases on a daily basis.  I was continually told that "things you read on the support forums must be taken with a grain of salt."  They do not put much stake into what's written here.

<Edited by Host>

Apple has DELETED 2 posts now of mine.

<Edited By Host>

Wow, edited by host? For taking what is written here with a grain of salt, they are taking too much effort censoring posts! Shame on you Apple!

That was fast, too!  I can't believe they took that part out so quickly!  I didn't think they would like seeing that suggestion, but to be honest, what else are we to do?  If we see legitimate reason to contact the atty gen office, isn't that fair? 

hikarishadow wrote:

 

 

I was saved ONLY because I still had that picture on my iphone.  Everyone I spoke to was wonderful and kind.  At every step of the process, I pressed how widespread this has become, how many others there were on the forums--several new cases on a daily basis.  I was continually told that "things you read on the support forums must be taken with a grain of salt."  They do not put much stake into what's written here.

 

 

That is why they're losing support from a lot of young tech-savvy developers. They not only strong arm you into buying their products to develop natively for their platform, but they have very little respect for the user. I'm not going to say that I'm an expert at all things related, but as a professional and a lifetime hobbyist in computing, I also expect a certain amount of professionalism in return. With Apple, I get a lot of wordplay to try to make it seem like they've done something dramatic when they've basically regurgitated in Smugspeak (replacing Objective-C soon, guys) what I've just told them. When my girlfriend's 13" MBP's logic board had issues earlier this month, I backed up all of the information in single-user mode, did a ton of diagnostics, and told her it was the logic board and to schedule a repair since she was under warranty. When she went, she told them verbatim what I'd said to tell them the issue was and that it was the logic board. She called me while her computer was in the back to tell me that I was wrong, and that the "Genius" laughed her off and told her that wasn't correct. He claimed it was the battery and some "minor sensory issues" that he'd run some tests on, but that it wasn't anything major. He claimed he'd take it in the back quickly to get a second opinion, but she'd probably be fine with a battery replacement and some other things. I was a bit bothered because I was positive the logic board needed to be replaced.

Minutes later, I got another phone call from her stating that he'd come back and told her that they'd found a major issue and a logic board replacement was necessary. Now, I'm not one to be petty so I was just glad it got fixed, but when we went back to pick it up, I wanted to talk about the repair and how it was covered moving forward. After taking forever to get someone to discuss it, I spent the next few minutes astonished as I heard some very interesting takes on what the logic board was responsible for and its importance. I left there very sour about the level of professionalism that was shown towards us when concerned about a major component of relatively expensive electronics being replaced. It was as if it was blasphemous to even ask what caused the issue and what was done to prevent it happening again. If I were to write code that had a major security flaw in it, I'd be forced to answer to both the people affected and discuss the flaw and methods to fix and prevent further damage.

Accountability is something Apple needs to stress in situations like these because their entire business model with the Mac line is that they're high quality products that always work. With a failed GPU in my MacBook Pro used for personal iOS development and the experience with my girlfriend's logic board, I'm becoming even more disillusioned by Apple than I was before I got the MBP and gained a little respect for its simplicity for things like browsing the web. I'd be more than appeased if I'd just get a little bit of acknowledgement that the issue is indeed being looked into and a solution is en route. Instead, everyone who asks is just being told to ignore that they've seen hundreds others with the same exact problem all around the same time and pay them $500-$700 more to give you back your anomalous Mac.

As said before, get in touch with people and let them know about this situation. Along with the 2011 iMac issue, there is a serious problem with the quality of the hardware that was shipped from Apple in Early/Mid 2011, and it needs to be addressed further than "They have a chance to fail so we'll replace them." I'm not upset because hardware failed because that's the nature of consumer electronics. I'm upset because there is clearly an issue affecting a very specific group of users, and there is neither an acknowledgement of the issue nor is there any method of testing the problem outside of going through Apple to be told the issue. I find it troubling that one of the only tools I was given to try to find a problem said there were not when clearly there is an issue. I'm becoming more and more annoyed by these repeated cases of users going to Apple only to be told that it was their problem, and it'd cost them half a grand or more to get back to normal operations. As someone in the industry, I'm appalled by the accountability and responsibility, both things that software and hardware engineers swear to uphold in the code of ethics as an engineer in this industry, that they've shown for issues or other similar issues, even when they eventually are forced to make the right call. As a customer, I'm upset that I'm without an expensive product until I fork over almost enough money to buy another computer to repair the one I paid a king's ransom for.

What needs to be done is simple. Apple needs to be forced to start being more transparent when dealing with situations that are detrimental to the experience they claim to be dedicated to providing. Whether it be lock buttons on iPhones going limp or GPUs dying, there needs to be an acknowledgement they they're doing their best to solve the problems of the customers and that they will come to a reasonable conclusion based on the situation. For some cases, a flat $310 fee for repair isn't a bad option. In other cases, replacement of hardware may be the only option. Either way, ignoring the problem publicly and telling users that they're out of luck shouldn't be acceptable at all. I'm going to stay as close to this issue and discussion as possible until there is some sort of resolution. I'll also be attempting to reproduce the conditions that cause the issue once my Mac OS X drive has been cloned to another drive to be saved. The more I look into it, the more preventable this issue really was, and someone needs to answers for this.

I'm going to the Apple Store next week just to report the issue! I took an appointment with a "genius"!

Alessandro R. wrote:

 

I'm going to the Apple Store next week just to report the issue! I took an appointment with a "genius"!

me too ..

MacBook Pro early 2011 15" (i7 2GHz HD 6490M)

All the same symptoms happend 2 days ago. Now it hangs even then I try to install OS X 10.6 from DVD.

All my work stopped slose to deadline. It forced me to buy mac mini to complete work.

And 2000$ aluminium brick standing at my desk.

Ah well, it was good while it lasted. After a week of behaving itself, my 2011 MBP is now acting up again, doing the "blackscreen/crazyscreen" dance. Just using Safari. The only difference I can think of is that it is slightly warmer today than yesterday, but smcFanControl is reporting nothing unusual with regard to temps.

Basically, once your machine goes wacky it may settle down for a week, but it appears that it will keep coming back again and again somewhat randomly.

Sigh. Need to backup my drive and take it once again to the Apple Store for a new logic board. Hopefully the 2nd one will work.

M

Mine did the same thing. Broken for a week, reinstalled everything, then worked for a week then back to crashing.

Still working perfectly with a new logic board 2 days ago.

I have just been told that a bunch of java developers sitting at Nokia (Berlin) have all had their Mac Book Pro's  early 2011 break almost simultaneously. Apple is doing something very wrong and we are being its victims...

Same shoe as everyone here except that I am aboard and have no access to an apple store. But even if I am back in the US I probably wouldn't have apple fix it for me seeing how unreiable their "fix" is. kind of makes me wonder if they really replace it with a "new" logic board.

As I said on my previous post, they dont replace it with a new one. I think they just expect the customers to grow tired of the situation, give up and buy a new computer...

What do you guys believe our chances are that Apple will replace our machines with a new Mac? I mean that would be at least $2000 a person and I feel like Apple realizes that there is no fix to this problem so they are trying to pretend its not an issue.