Tag Archives: MacBook Pro

Whining MacBook Pro Repaired

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Over 150 days ago I bought my MacBook Pro. I know this because I looked up my serial number with Apple. I had gotten one of those MacBook Pros with the whining noise. I had gotten used to it, so I accepted the fact that I paid a high price for a computer with an annoying defect. Then I read on digg that Apple had acknowledged this noise and instructed owners to contact AppleCare.

I called up AppleCare and told them of the problem. They asked me if the whining was present at start up. I said I didn’t know because I rarely start up my laptop. I usually only restart my MacBook Pro after Software Update requires a restart. (That’s one of the reasons I switched from PCs to Macs). Then they asked me if it was making the noise now. I told them I didn’t know. The guy at AppleCare tried to understand the situation “You don’t know if you hear the noise your complaining about?” I told him the room was noisy and the noise is much more noticable when the notebook is plugged in. After a couple of minutes, I was given a couple of numbers and was told that a box was on its way. I asked if I needed to backup my hard drive. The AppleCare guy told me to do so since there were no guarantees.

I received my box from Apple the next day and packaged up my notebook (it’s not a laptop) after backing up my hard drive twice. After about two or three business day, I received my repaired MacBook Pro. It had two stickers on it that I assume were for identification while it was at the repair place.

They replaced the Main Logic Board (MLB) at no cost to me. I haven’t heard the noise again (but then again, I haven’t used my MBP that much in the past two days). So, if your MacBook Pro buzzes or emits a high pitched noise, contact Apple and get that logic board replaced. It actually worked out pretty well. My MBP’s speakers sound louder – that might be my own perception – as well.

Overall, a good experience with AppleCare.

Cut and Paste Files: a “feature” of OS X 10.5?

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Recently, on macosxhints.com a Mac OS X user found a way to enable the “Cut” command in the Edit menu in Finder. Full tip can be found here. When enabled, the item you cut gets placed into the trash. It appears to be half-done.

I find it sad that there is no cut and paste ability by the Finder. I am not sure I understand what kind of demented logic refuses to give Mac users a simple cut and paste feature that has been available on Windows as long as I can remember (I’ve used Windows since 3.1). I am not looking forward to the touting of this new “feature” in OS X 10.5. It should not be a feature. It’s a necessity.

And while I’m ranting, give me two buttons with my trackpad. Using two fingers on the trackpad as a right-click or control click is a decent stop-gap solution. However, why not give the users two buttons on a laptop? I’ll even accept the idea that two buttons may confuse users. My solution – put two buttons on the “Pro” models and a rocker switch on the non-Pro. Just give me my right click and cut and paste features. Copy Windows, Apple. If Apple believes that a second mouse button will confuse the people who are shelling out $2000 for a laptop, they’ve got issues.

Test: Skype + Bluetooth Headset + MacBook Pro

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I am currently without a landline phone. I have relocated for the summer and I chose not to get a standard phone. I have high-speed Internet access, so I decided to use Skype on a MacBook Pro and I just added a Bluetooth headset so I could talk and walk away from my computer if necessary.

The Bluetooth headset I purchased is a Sony Ericsson Akono Headset HBH-608. I am unfamiliar with Bluetooth headsets in general and after my wife went through a bunch of reviews, this is the one I chose. It can be used with cell phones and VOIP, plus it was about $50 – a decent price.

Skype is offering free Skype Out calls for at least the end of the year. I’ve tried out the headset the past two days. The included documentation claims that the headset has a 5 meter range. I don’t that’s quite accurate. While the headset does function within 5 meters of my MacBook Pro, the sound quality becomes static-y. Now, I’m not sure if that is a function of the headset, Skype, or the fact I live in an area with many wireless networks.

The headset is comfortable for about an hour and half. After about that time, the headset became uncomfortable. The speaker hits a very odd spot on my ear – it hits above my ear canal and falls into a ridge (perhaps a diagram would be helpful). Otherwise, the audio quality is quite good.

It works quite well with both iChat and Skype audio chats. OS X found the headset quickly and pairing was relatively painless. The combination doesn’t completely replace a real phone, I still use my cell phone on occasion. I’d like to put together a USB device that works with Skype with a standard phone because standard phones are more comfortable for some situations. Currently, the only USB devices that work with Skype and a standard phone are compatible with Windows only. I have Parallels Desktop; I think I could have the USB device work on it or I could use my old Windows laptop.

The test has been successful for now. I use the phone for maybe an hour a day so the headset, Skype, and MacBook Pro is a reasonable solution.