2011 Macbook Pro Logic Board Failure

andrewj44 wrote:

Will you or Bob The Fisherman acknowledge that everyone on this forum apart from yourselves are angry with Apple and have genuine grievances regarding the faulty GPU's and the way Apple have handled it. Why are you two the only ones who are constantly on the defense? Why are you two even involved in this discussion in the first place?

I can't speak for Grant but I am not on the defense. It is natural to be angry when a product does not work as expected. I offered a suggestion about how to contact Apple. Repeatedly posting here about an issue none of us users can do anything about is just a waste of time. Do as suggested and contact Apple about the issue. Posting angrily here in this user-to-user help community is not helping anyone to get any satisfaction about the issue.

I don't agree. People were very angry the first time thse failed and that ultimately forced Apple into taking action and doing something about it, albeit unsatisfactorily. Protest works. It wakes people/organisations up and makes them realise that the way they are doing things are counterproductive to the future. I reckon most of us here want to continue using Apple computers but only if they remedy things. If they don't then I sense mass exodus. The alternatives out there are way better than they used to be.

andrewj44 wrote:

I don't agree. People were very angry the first time thse failed and that ultimately forced Apple into taking action and doing something about it, albeit unsatisfactorily. Protest works. It wakes people/organisations up and makes them realise that the way they are doing things are counterproductive to the future.

So this is a protest? Protesting might be in violation of the TOU. This is a user-to-user community. If you want to protest Apple please use the link I provided at the top of this thread. Once again, we can not help you, only Apple can.

7. Apple may offer you benefits and award privileges for your participation in the Site. 19,000 post... you get anything for that yet?

Yes, I do. I get to participate in the "Lounge" -- a forum area where 'those with lots of points' can post items that are less restricted, and can laugh joke with each other in a collegial fashion, and bring up items that are off-topic.

I have also received a few Apple promotional items of nominal value, such as an Apple coffee cup. If Apple gave me things with substantial monetary value, it COULD be considered compensation, possibly making me an Apple employee, and then Apple would have to take responsibility for what I write, which they do NOT want to do. So they are very careful not to give me anything of more than nominal or promotional value.

I speak for MYSELF, not for Apple.

Apple employees who post here all have an Apple Icon or similar clear indication of their status as Apple employees. I believe postings by Apple employees who are not from Apple support are prohibited.

I have a lot of posts because I first started reading the forums in 2001. I read and answer a few posts almost every day. You only get points for that when someone considers your post helpful, but most original posters never mark anything.

So my comment was deleted again... I dont know why this time it was deleted at all. Apple is really trying to censor me.

In any case, im spending too much time posting here as it is. The way I see it this is a community forum for people to communicate and share their experiences. To keep pushing people to stop posting and instead to post to apple's feedback page is not only useless but insulting and a waste of time since most of us have done that or dont want to do it instead choosing to post our issue publicly. Even more so is telling someone to move on and get over it... its just a pointless comment. If youre happy moving on and getting over it, good for you. Its obvious the rest of us are not and we are trying to get something done about it. Again, to my understanding, that is what this forum is for, its not to discourage us from publicly posting our issues with Apple.

I own one of those 2011 model 15-in MacBook Pro dual graphics computers. It was misbehaving when the program was about to end, so I had it tested when it was in the shop for a new trackpad. It passed. So it was not eligible for the recall program.

It is now useless, and will not boot any MacOS from any source. However, it lasted a good long time, and just because there was a recall on some of those models does not make me bitter about their failing after four years (which is also after the program had expired). My family got a lot of good use out of that computer while it was working.

It was a battery-powered computer that got moved around in a backpack for a couple of years. That treatment places tremendous stresses on equipment, and expecting it (or any computer used in that fashion) to last longer than four years in those conditions is dreaming.

Apple has already extended the warranty coverage, even for those who did not buy AppleCare, to four years. They have repaired many of these computers. They were never obligated to do even that much.

When cars are recalled, it is because they have problems that can kill or maim you. Computer failure is inconvenient, but does not rise to nearly the same level.

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I am sorry you feel so badly about your computer not working. I am sorry you feel cheated because you did not get it repaired again, and again, and again, until the end of time. But I most certainly do NOT agree that you are somehow entitled to more than you have already received.

If you cannot get over it, you need to pursue your quest at some other venue. As several folks have tried to explain, Apple makes no promise to read these postings, and never responds here unless your original query goes unanswered for days. It is not realistic to think that adding more vitriol to this thread will somehow improve your standing or those of others who own this model and it died after four years or more.

The recall program ended at the end of 2016, and I have seen no indications that it will be extended or restarted. I strongly recommend you 'get over it'.

You see thats exactly the point im trying to make, I read all the posts in this now 8 page thread before I posted my first post. I read your story, and like I said before im happy you got your moneys worth out of your computer. You are the exception, it seems you are the only one.

You telling me or anyone else to "get over it" does nothing to help this page or the original issue at hand. I can pursue my quest and so can anyone else on this and/or any other venue they choose, we certainly dont need your permission or approval.

At this point Bob and Grant have succeeded to take away attention from the original reason this thread was started to begin with. So I will like I said in my first post, ignore them because it seems they have no reason to post here since one doesnt have an Early 2011 MBP and the other is satisfied with his computer dying so I dont know why they are in this thread anyway. I would hope that everyone else ignores them as well and that should be enough for them to go attach themselves to a new thread letting us get back to sharing our experience and knowledge to get this issue resolved by Apple.

we certainly dont need your permission or approval

I was not intending to provide my permission or approval. I was doing what I always do here -- provide some advice to people who are seeking it.

I honestly think you are wasting your time posting here, and I have said so more than once in simple declarative sentences.

This is because I feel bad that you are spending your time and energy here in this fashion... and nothing more.

Grant. Can I ask if you .... do you not think that the recall/replacement program should have entailed replacing the logic board, not with the same board with the same faulty GPU, but with a re-engineered board/GPU assembly that would go the distance. That is what they should have done. Car recalls are not always because of safety issues, there are a whole host of reasons and they do it, to rectify it so the problem doesn't persist. They don't recall them just so they can replace whatever needs to be replaced with the same faulty part.

I don't know what your family was using your laptop for but there are users who buy Mac's either because they consider them a fashion statement, for office use and web browsing, because they prefer the operating system, or because they use it purely for their INCOME and require a laptop with processing power for movie and photo editing etc. It's an investment. These owners have lost valuable time /money because of this problem. It might be easier to "get over it and move on" if money isn't an issue, but if money is an issue it doesn't leave a nice taste in the mouth.

the warranty states something like Apple will repair or replace, at its discretion, any parts found to be defective in materials or workmanship.

The parts are not required to be new, they simply must be functional, and that is what they were when they were installed.

You assertion that the parts were inherently dysfunctional is something you invented.

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Car recalls are not always because of safety issues

Car recalls are ALWAYS done for safety issues, and nothing else. Technical Service Bulletins are used when problems that are not safety related are uncovered. These modifications or replacements are only performed when a customer presents their vehicle with the stated problem, and not otherwise. No notifications are sent. They are NOT recalls. But these Technical Service Bulletin repairs are still covered by the manufacturers.

It's an investment.

It is certainly expensive. But neither a car nor a computer is an investment. Each is a TOOL with a limited lifetime and a rapidly-declining market value.

These owners have lost valuable time /money because of this problem.

No question about it. When your tools break down, it is expensive.

But my point is that it is not unexpected. If you had a delivery business with exactly one truck and that truck broke down, and you had no other way to make your deliveries, almost everyone would call you foolish -- you need backups. You need backups of your files, and you need a backup for your computer. You need to have an old computer you can press into service, or you need to be prepared to replace that computer.

Many businesses replace their computers the day the extended warranty expires.

"You assertion that the parts were inherently dysfunctional is something you invented." I cannot believe you said that. I take it you're joking right? Anyway I hope you get that job at Apple you are so desperately seeking.

There are many good things about Apple, but there are things they need to address.

Google "have Apple lost their way"

There is no express or implied warranty that because Apple fixed a few more that had problems, therefore you get free repairs for life. Apple extended the warranty period for an additional year and included those who had not paid for the extended Applecare warranty. Those computers made it well beyond that extended warranty period, and that is all you can expect.

We like to buy products that are warrantable: that is, someone could collect and get them repaired, so it costs the company money if the product is not of high quality. Another way of saying products that are reliable.

We sometimes also buy products with an express warranty: that provides a way to get mine fixed if it breaks.

But there is no guarantee that ANY product you buy will do anything in particular. That is why organizations like Consumer Reports are constantly testing products -- to report which products do what they reasonably should do, and which do it better or worse than others.

My last say on this matter. Like others on this thread my big issue is with the handling of the GPU issue with the 2011 MBP And it's warranted

As for their phone support, I have always had a positive experience with them and they have always been sympathetic, understanding and helpful with whatever problem has existed and have always found whatever solution is within their powers. And I have always left positive feedback. There are issues I have with in store service but that's not relevant to this discussion.

Last thing I want is to have to make the switch to Windows after 20 years and I hope i don't have to.

Complaining to Apple is not really useful; I lost 2 mbp 2011 (one had 2 motherboards, the other one 5-6 if I remember) and 1 mbp 2010 to gpu problems.

I've talked to them numerous times and people have really looked into solutions and tried to help; they explored a lot of solutions but ultimately their hands are tied because they all have very limited options at their hands.

I wrote the HQ about the problem and got contacted by someone that tried to convince me, against factual data, that this was an isolated problem and these computers were old anyways.

There have been several lawsuits which triggered the 'quality program', and they replaced motherboards (the ones I inspected were identical and re-flowed) but it ended in December 2016 if I remember correctly.

The advice I got several times from Apple's support is that if a machine boots and can perform light tasks, I should resell it to someone that has basic needs before it breaks down.

While I live in the EU now, since the computers were bought in the US some potential solutions did not apply. The EU protects consumers significantly more from this kind of situations, especially the UK. In the EU these products have a mandatory 2 years warranty, regardless of the manufacturer's policy; in some cases the UK extends to 6 years. So if I have to buy anything new, I'll make a purchase from the UK.

I have been responsible for the purchase of a rather large number of macs (roughly around 80 if I remember correctly) for work projects. Even though I still use apple computers due to the software we're using, any future large purchase won't be apple products.

Since they hide behind rules and policies to avoid doing the right thing, the only thing I can use against is whatever tool I have at my disposition, which is the ability to reach a large art & tech audience. Not fixing a $2k computer has certainly cost them a lot more so far and how insignificant it may be at their size, this is really my only recourse at this point.