Stage Light, Stage Fright!

[gunug]

We have a number of the 2017 Macbook Pro's and I haven't heard of this problem yet; although we have had a damaged one that required the display, motherboard, and Touchbar all be replaced for $299 under Applecare plus! What this article is saying is the whole touch bar hookup is a little flaky!

"The Touch Bar generation of MacBook Pro always had its quirks, but the thin-at-all-cost design may finally be proving more trouble than it was ever worth. The latest issue to crop up—dubbed “flexgate” by one of our users, Alex—reveals that the compact design for the display’s flex cables is prone to fatigue and failure, leading to a host of display problems that can’t be easily (or cheaply) fixed.

https://ifixit.org/blog/12903/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012218_PR_Flexgate&utm_content=012218_PR_Flexgate+CID_17481856462a943a1ac4343b38cd83d1&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Touch%20Bar%20generation%20of%20MacBook%20Pro"

[Xairbusdriver]

Ah yes, I see that your link has a vid link to Louis Rossman. I think that vid is the one where he describes the reason he is not able to repair these computers. This young man knows what he is doing and is very successful at repairing MacBooks/MacBook Pros, even those deemed irreparable by others. Just try to ignore the negative comments about Apple, in general and his immature use of fowl language. He actually is quite wise, for his age (~30), about business and his work ethic is great. If I ever need my wife's MBP repaired, I will certainly give them a call, at least for an estimate.

BTW, gunug, watching his instructional vids might be a way to increase your own income and or your effectiveness at the schools.

Just reading my emails and came across todays Dilbert strip. Hope it doesn't apply to the Topeka school system!

[Xairbusdriver]

Gunug, not sure which MacBooks your school system is using but here is an "amusing" and language-safe "Public Service Announcement" for the A1706, 7 & 8 MBP. Enjoy!

[gunug]

XABD - I watched out warranty service guy break into one of those newer Macbooks in a shop in North Kansas City.  We "luckily" don't have anything newer than 2017 Macbooks here and I did have a little bit of fun prying a ballooned battery out one that was not quite that new!

[jcarter]

Yes indeed, I certainly missed this.
But at day one, my grandson guessed it was the ribbon cables flexing.
His is the vertical line down the middle of the screen, but its got 'flexgate' symptoms at the bottom of the screen just as described there.
I did see the foul language on some of the sites earlier today. Not needed, but Apple should do something to fix this and not rake in hundreds of dollars fixing what is a known problem. People are angry, as I am.

These flexable cables in our old dishwasher, did the same thing, and the old rear window on our ancient station wagon also. Husband had to replace all the wiring and encase it all in rubber tubes. But you obviously cannot do that with a computer.

Apple did a real design flaw, and should have stopped building them this way and go back to the old way of handling these ribbon cables.

[Xairbusdriver]

These "cables" are not actually wires but thin, flexible 'plastic' with the copper basically printed on. It's more like a flexible circuit board. And the worst part is that, unlike most real cables that have 'connectors' on the end, these things are actually built on to the screen at that end. Therefore, instead of being able to replace some 'wires', one has to replace the actual screen. The screen is probably the most expensive single item in the kit, of course! Poor design for a reason known only to the 'engineers' at Apple. As Evel Knievel once said while hanging from his too early deployed parachute, "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should."

[jcarter]

This is so true, I am surprised at Apple going with this mistake.
Cheapening down a great product, is not something Apple needs to do.

So in other words, if I decide to have it repaired, would the replaced screen do the same thing?

He does need this for school, so can you recommend another Mac laptop which does not have this kind of cable?
Or should I get him a Dell or some sort of Windows machine.

[Paddy]

A good reason to buy an extended warranty on this generation of MacBook Pros, methinks. I don't usually - but if I should have to replace anyone's MBP before this design flaw is remedied, I may rethink that strategy.

Jane - is your grandson's Mac still under warranty? If not, I would push very hard for Apple to fix it on their dime. I would think that the repaired MBPs would still be vulnerable; they'll be using the same parts as the original.

If you do decide to replace it, I'd suggest a 2016 MBP with retina display. You'll have to find one used - there don't seem to be any in the refurb store any more.

[jcarter]

Yes, I bought it on Sept 23, but I had such confidence in previous Mac stuff, that I neglected to buy the AppleCare this time.

I wonder if they will even talk about correcting this design flaw? This is why I hesitate about either fixing it or buying another one if they will replace it.
Im sure they will use the same parts.
I am going to call Apple again and see if I push them a bit, if they would replace it, thats good advice, thank you.

I could buy him a Dell?  I had one years ago, and it was flawless, except that Im allergic to Windows stuff.

[jcarter]

We can get a new display for $600, but Im not going to do this.
Why hasn't Apple recognized this flaw? Its all over the web now.

And now we have 'folding flexible phones' coming onto the market.
Wonder if they will have similar problems.

[gunug]

I'm thinking flexible phones will be the joke of the next decade at least.  I also heard that all of the new Apple laptops and probably desktops will migrate away from Intel processors to something they build themselves! 

[jcarter]

Yes, flexible phones, I wouldn't buy one ever.
How about flexible cars, no thanks either.

[Xairbusdriver]

Is Apple trying to sneak in a correction for the "Flexgate" problem? We may know if they finally relent and offer an out-of-warranty program.
Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists, iFixit findings.

[Highmac]

Yes, flexible phones, I wouldn't buy one ever.
How about flexible cars, no thanks either.

London gave up on its flexible "bendibuses" in 2011 - the then-mayor reckoned they were too big for many London roads and they were losing about 7million GBP (about $9m) a year because their design made life too easy for fare dodgers.

[Highmac]

From one of the comments on that article...

Next computer will be a linux box with vmware/hackintosh if I need to develop on iOS.

I've already got a 27in monitor to run extended desktop from the mid-2014 MBP - when the 27in iMac died I didn't see any point getting another one when I'd got the MBP. But I am looking at the Mini as a possible addition to the desk, since the MBP's fans have to work quite hard on videos    (As an aside, it's then always raised an inch or so off the desk to help the ventilation.)


Mind you, the monitor (bought in November) is in for repair after one of the backlights failed. Contacted LG and can't fault their service so far. I sent a photo of the screen along with the symptoms and a courier was sent to collect it for repair. When it's returned, I'll report in a new thread.