A recent support thread over at Apple's discussion boards indicates that quite a few of the newly released 17 inch unibody MacBook Pro's are experiencing significant graphics issues.
A recent support thread over at Apple’s discussion boards indicates that quite a few of the newly released 17 inch unibody MacBook Pro’s are experiencing significant graphics issues. Specifically, the complaints point to highly noticeable screen artifacts and other screen imperfections when the more powerful Geforce 9600M graphics card is in use. When the less potent 9400M card is in action, users have noted that no problems arise.
Nevertheless, if the number of complaints about this problem continues to grow, Apple might have a big problem on their hands. Apple’s new unibody MacBook Pro is the most expensive notebook Apple sells, and problems right out of the gate aren’t indicative of an auspicious beginning. Moreover, purchasers of the 17 inch MacBook Pro are typically the type of users who push the machine to the limit, and that’s exactly when the problems arise. What I find so perplexing in all of this is that this version of the MacBook Pro has already been delayed numerous times, and you would think that Apple would have spent some of that extra wait time testing out the model more extensively before it was released.
Apple has yet to officially address the issue, but hopefully they’ll be able to fix the problem with a simple firmware update. For the time being, I suppose users should stick to the GeForce 9400M.
A larger issue for Apple is that customer complaints about newly released hardware products are becoming the rule, and not the exception. Apple prides itself on delivering premium products that “just work”, but a number of its latest products have seemingly become quick targets for customer complaints. Granted, the aforementioned problem might fall more squarely in the lap of NIVDIA, the company that manufactures the graphics card in question, but you would think that Apple’s testing would have noticed something before shipments started.
Like this post? Check out these others from iOnApple
The worst Apple products of all-time Apple website circa 1983 10 things you don’t know about Apple Sprint CEO calls the iPhone the Michael Jordan of smartphones A visual history of every iPod ever made Palm files complaint with USB board over iTunes connectivity, and risks alienating Pre users in the process Thieves rob Apple Store, grab over $30,000 worth of products in just 31 seconds Rumored Apple tablet to sport a 9.6 inch screen, will cost between $800 and $1000, and might run on AT&T’s network
