It’s been a couple more weeks since my initial honeymoon post about the MacBook. Since then I’ve had two issues with the computer, both of which were resolved quickly and with no expense on my part.

Obviously, I’d prefer to have the machine never malfunction in the first place; seeing Apple take responsibility for its product gives me greater confidence in them and in the future of my purchase. While at first I was unsure about getting extended AppleCare, I will now almost certainly buy it before the complementary warranty year of coverage expires.

Top Case Replacement

As mentioned previously, the plastic on my computer’s palmrests had been beginning to turn an unpleasant yellow colour. I wash my hands; the problem is an acknowledged defect. Initial inquiries had suggested that repairing this would require a week apart from my baby, so I’d meant to put it off as long as possible.

However, an additional problem cropped up that made the whole thing rather more urgent: the top case started cracking in the area where it gets tapped by the magnetic latch. This isn’t my picture, but that’s the exact symptom. The MacBook snaps shut like a flip-open phone whereas traditional laptop hinge springs oppose closing. Having a harsh snap like that probably results in a much greater impulse stressing those spots.

At any rate, I discovered that the CHIP—an authorized Apple repair site—could actually order the replacement part in advance, and install it in a matter of a few hours. I was pleasantly surprised that the part in question included not only the fractured (and stained) plastic casing, but also a brand new keyboard and trackpad.

Dead Battery

Sometime during the day on Saturday, the MacBook’s battery died. Its meter in the menu simply showed an x and “no batteries available.” The computer still functioned fine when plugged in, but an accidental disconnecting of the power cable instantly shut the machine down. (Suddenly the breakaway MagSafe Power Adapter didn’t seem like such a fantastic feature…)

I called AppleCare while I was waiting for the bus to church at 9am on Sunday morning. The representative talked me through a quick diagnostic procedure, and then said it was either the battery itself broken or some kind of component in the computer. He asked me to test the computer with another battery; this could have been done at the CHIP, but I have several classmates with MacBooks, so I was able to check with Rahim’s on Monday—yesterday—morning.

During lunchtime, I called AppleCare back to let them know that it was the battery, and could they please ship me a new one. Although it was supposed to have taken up to a week, it showed up this afternoon, barely 24 hours later.

Like I said, it would have been nice to have nothing go wrong at all. But it’s even nicer to know that even when stuff breaks, I’m covered. Gambling that stuff will break may be against your religion, but on a portable, it’s almost a certainty.

Mike

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