So, I bought the IMAC....and I'm not happy!

[peter halle]

Does this mean that you are using it to interact with us right now?

Peter

 

[Bob Marino]

Yep!

 

[joraft]

When in the store, they ran some other tests and nothing showed up - until the computer froze right there. At that point, they swapped out a new machine and all looks good so far.

I'm glad the problem showed up in the store, Bob, intermittent problems can be really tough to troubleshoot. I hope things go well from this point on.

Reading through this thread has me puzzled though. I've been using PCs extensively for thirty years (business and personal) and haven't had a fraction of the technical and service problems being reported here.  I'm feeling kinda left out.  [big grin]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

John,

Want to trade computers?  I have a Dell Xtra Personal Stressor craptop.  [blink]

 

[peter halle]

Reading this thread about the problems and then mentally comparing it to threads about tool issues, the one thing that comes to my mind is that:  the more complex things become, the more likely there will be an issue.  No matter how much care and testing the manufacturers perform, things will slip by and not work.  As demand increases, the numbers of issues will increase, but that does not necessarily mean that the quality has gone down - just that more are being produced and put into use. Successful, painless rectification of the issues at hand is the difference between those companies that have a vibrant repeat business and product referral scenario and those that are stagnant and fighting for growth.

Just my 2.5 cents.

Peter

 

[Bob Marino]

Reading this thread about the problems and then mentally comparing it to threads about tool issues, the one thing that comes to my mind is that:  the more complex things become, the more likely there will be an issue.  No matter how much care and testing the manufacturers perform, things will slip by and not work.  As demand increases, the numbers of issues will increase, but that does not necessarily mean that the quality has gone down - just that more are being produced and put into use. Successful, painless rectification of the issues at hand is the difference between those companies that have a vibrant repeat business and product referral scenario and those that are stagnant and fighting for growth.

Just my 2.5 cents.

Peter

Well said, Peter.

Bon

 

[joraft]

John,

Want to trade computers?  I have a Dell Xtra Personal Stressor craptop.  [blink]

If you're having problems with it, no thanks. I'd rather feel left out.  [big grin]

By the way, I've had a Dell XPS 1530 laptop for a couple years (now running Win 7) and it has performed flawlessly. However I did have another Dell laptop many years ago with a display that failed. I called Dell and within two hours it was picked up by a courier, and I got it back the next day. I was blown away by the speed with which the problem was handled. I do not recall any other time I've had to take or send any computer to anyone for repair. I did get a disabling virus once long ago, but that was due to my own carelessness. I have never let that happen again.

All in all, PCs have served me well for decades, and I have no complaints.

I do hope that Bob's new Apple serves him just as well. I know that that OSX's (or Boot Camp's) Windows emulation is not always flawless, and I have had problems with running some software on my MacBook Pros. I hope that Bob does not have that experience with any software he needs to run his business.

 

[jmbfestool]

Have you got the Magic mouse or Magic Pad? 

If you have not got the Magic Pad then get one! Throw the Magic mouse away Rubbish!  I love the Magic Pad AMAZING!  I never use the mouse any more!  I never want to use a mouse ever again!

JMB

 

[peter halle]

JMB,

Let Bob just get used to the iMac working first.  Go for the concept first and then go for the "system".  Where have I experienced that before?

Peter

 

[Bob Marino]

John,

Want to trade computers?  I have a Dell Xtra Personal Stressor craptop.  [blink]

If you're having problems with it, no thanks. I'd rather feel left out.  [big grin]

By the way, I've had a Dell XPS 1530 laptop for a couple years (now running Win 7) and it has performed flawlessly. However I did have another Dell laptop many years ago with a display that failed. I called Dell and within two hours it was picked up by a courier, and I got it back the next day. I was blown away by the speed with which the problem was handled. I do not recall any other time I've had to take or send any computer to anyone for repair. I did get a disabling virus once long ago, but that was due to my own carelessness. I have never let that happen again.

All in all, PCs have served me well for decades, and I have no complaints.

I do hope that Bob's new Apple serves him just as well. I know that that OSX's (or Boot Camp's) Windows emulation is not always flawless, and I have had problems with running some software on my MacBook Pros. I hope that Bob does not have that experience with any software he needs to run his business.

Good to hear John. Sounds like excellent service to me. Did you any type of "upgraded" service plan?
Actually, my software needs are as simple as they come - Excel for  orderding from Festool and reading a few spreadsheets, logging onto my warehouse site - (uses Citrix). I will need to call Microsoft  regrading Excel and have gotten the Citrix thing to work though not nearly as well as even on my old PC. Also, emailing (OUTLOOK) seems to have been easier on my PC - could be me though. I think I should be ok as I get to  find the workarounds.
I have one more week until I can return it if I need to, but I don't think that will be the case. I'm wiling to relearn a few things from my PC thinking to use my IMAC proficiently - like redoing the Function keys - again.
BTW, had to place another quick call to AppleCare - my CAPS light on the keyboard stopped working. Rebooted the computer and all is well; although I must say, out of the box, I never had to call for a PC issue and am hoping that I won't have to be that familiar with the techs at AppleCare or the Apple Store.

Bob

 

[GPowers]

.
BTW, had to place another quick call to AppleCare - my CAPS light on the keyboard stopped working. Rebooted the computer and all is well; although I must say, out of the box, I never had to call for a PC issue and am hoping that I won't have to be that familiar with the techs at AppleCare or the Apple Store.

Bob

Maybe this is a sign of Apple growing so FAST and so BIG (larger the Microsoft) that they are having some production, quality, and support  problems. Just like all the other big guys?

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Reading through this thread has me puzzled though. I've been using PCs extensively for thirty years (business and personal) and haven't had a fraction of the technical and service problems being reported here.  I'm feeling kinda left out.  [big grin]

John,

You and I have danced this dance before.  You must be extraordinarily lucky because while DOS-based PCs were quite stable, since its advent Windows has long been a cruel joke, so much that it spawned a host of Windows-related jokes - long before Mac OS X became fashionable - and the widely understood acronym BSOD.  Two hands are not enough for me to count the number of Windows-based POS terminals I've seen at gas stations  that have crashed, for instance.  Windows 7 may be more stable but it is a useability nightmare, IMO.

You've never experienced as many technical problems under Windows as Mac problems have been listed here ? How many times have you had to debug IRQ conflicts, re-assign DMA addresses, hang out on technical support forums to debug driver incompatibility issues, or edit the registry ? How many times have you had  a few hours on the phone with outsourced, overseas tech support ? If not that many, your definition of extensive PC use differs from mine.  And I don't even work in tech support, where a common solution to pervasive problems or performance issues is simply to reinstall Windows.  Have you ever won the lottery ?

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I am holding out for the humancentipad.

 

[joraft]

... You and I have danced this dance before.  You must be extraordinarily lucky because while DOS-based PCs were quite stable, since its advent Windows has long been a cruel joke, so much that it spawned a host of Windows-related jokes - long before Mac OS X became fashionable

Nuggy, I think "fashionable" is a very appropriate word, as it applies to the Apple "genre".

And luck has little to do with it as it applies to the PC world. I think of it more as knowledge and skill in what you're doing.  [smile]

 

[tiralie]

Reading through this thread has me puzzled though. I've been using PCs extensively for thirty years (business and personal) and haven't had a fraction of the technical and service problems being reported here.  I'm feeling kinda left out.  [big grin]

While I have not used PC's for as long a John, (I am not that old [big grin]) I have used them extensively for at least the last 29 years I have not had these problems either. That is not to say others I have worked with haven't had problems with them because they do. The shear number of users with PC's vs Macs (7%) increases the probability of increased problems occurring. Previous to that I only used Apple machines.
In our home we have 4 working PC's networked wireless to the internet and to a printer and after each Microsoft update they need to be reconnected to the printer. I fairly certain that this wouldn't be a problem if I had an apple. We may soon add an apple to the stable. My son who is going of to university next year is contemplating getting an apple so if will be interesting if he does indeed get a Mac how the integration into the existing network goes...that is if he ever comes home again [big grin]
Because we use computers so much, whether you use a Mac or PC a porter cable or a Festool it's really infuriating to have these problems.
Tim

 

[GhostFist]

In relation to firmware upgrades and compatibility to your network, there is bound to be problems with third party peripherals regardless of the OS. If said peripheral is designed to be used with both mac and pc you can bet your bottom dollar that that devices firmware will be upgraded for pc first for the sole reason that there is more pc users out there. of course if the product is designed specifically for apple, you would expect the company to be in tune with any changes apple makes. I will point out that apple doesn't really make that many system wide upgrades....well apart for the new $30 firmware upgrade they're about to release (Lion)

 

[joraft]

(I am not that old [big grin])

Few people are.  [wink]

In our home we have 4 working PC's networked wireless to the internet and to a printer and after each Microsoft update they need to be reconnected to the printer. I fairly certain that this wouldn't be a problem if I had an apple. We may soon add an apple to the stable. My son who is going of to university next year is contemplating getting an apple so it will be interesting if he does indeed get a Mac how the integration into the existing network goes...

Tim, we have two PC desktops and a network printer hard-wired in our system, plus a centrally located wifi hub for our Dell laptop and two MacBooks. And when our daughter and son-in-law visit, they always bring their MacBooks. We have had no problems with any of these devices working together on the network. In fact, the machines sometimes get along better than their owners.  [big grin]

 

[joraft]

Good to hear John. Sounds like excellent service to me. Did you have any type of "upgraded" service plan?

It's been a while, Bob, but as I recall the machine was still under warranty. And I've never had an upgraded service plan.

However, I do have a pretty good service plan now, if anything goes wrong with my PCs I fix it myself, and if anything goes wrong with my Macs I just give it to my son-in-law.  [smile]

 

[vidkid26]

When in the store, they ran some other tests and nothing showed up - until the computer froze right there. At that point, they swapped out a new machine and all looks good so far.

I'm glad the problem showed up in the store, Bob, intermittent problems can be really tough to troubleshoot. I hope things go well from this point on.

Reading through this thread has me puzzled though. I've been using PCs extensively for thirty years (business and personal) and haven't had a fraction of the technical and service problems being reported here.  I'm feeling kinda left out.  [big grin]

I have been using Apple products since before the Mac. After, let me count, 23 machines from an Apple II to a Mac Pro and a number of phones and ipads, I have had ONE machine that died or needed tech assistance. In my book, that's a pretty good track record.  But then again It's just my experience.

 

[Holzhacker]

I started with an Apple II or IIe, can't remember for sure. Before that it was a Tandy? Radioshack job with a tape drive. I vaguely remember I may have taken one of mine in for service, not sure. That's far less than the years of complaints from DOS and windows users I hear.