Class action against Apple for systems damaged due to lack of dust filters

[Drak3]

Just now, corrado33 said:

So are you saying that every single person who has owned an Acer Aspire has disassembled it to clean it yearly?

No. They don't need to, intake vents aren't giant slits on the side so not that much dust gets in there in the first place.

[corrado33]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

I think the biggest complaint is with iMac. Since MacBook Pro and Mac Pro can all be serviced by anyone with 15min, a $3 screw driver, and some compressed air. 

 

iMac on the other hand requires going in through the display. Dust getting under the glass or on the LCD is only a concern on non-laminated machines though. 

 

I think this lawsuite is a farce. 

The iMac is not the only computer on the market that's difficult to disassemble and/or is assembled with glue. I'd argue that there are many MORE windows PCs that have this problem then there are mac. 

[Jtalk4456]

6 hours ago, AHaskin14 said:

What's proprietary about it? If you would like to disassembles the product and clean it, you have every right to do so. Ifixit sells the tools. If you your not capable of doing it yourself, you take it to someone to do it for you. Apple is proprietary with the purchasing of its parts, but dusting something shouldn't require you to replace anything.

I think a point to be made here is that apple will tell you that because you opened it up to clean it yourself, your warranty is void, but I can take the side off my case and clean stuff without voiding the warranty. 

Also with the tire example, the problem isn't proprietary tires or the cost. The issue is that if my tire goes flat, the engine isn't destroyed, my radio still works, I can still open the door. If there's no filters preventing dust on a product that can easily be destroyed by dust, that's not a tire change. That's a tire change, an engine rebuild, a new muffler a new ac unit etc. It's not just the filter not being there, it's the lack of protection for the rest of the components. 

Having said that, I don't know the legality of the claims or if they will win. I do agree with you on the point that if you don't like it, don't buy it. But I don't think that's an excuse for Apple. The worst part of this is lack of information. They're not just fighting this to get some settlement. They're fighting because they were smart enough to realize the design issue. But many people buying a modern laptop WON'T know about it. They won't have a clue there's no filter, they won't even know why they need a filter. Then the device dies and as has happened so often, they will take it to the apple store and be charged close to the cost of a new device or will pay for a new device, all for a piece of material that likely costs apple a fraction of a cent to a few cents to include. This lawsuit is important even if it loses, because it brings awareness to the issue and apple's reaction to it. I've never used a macbook, wouldn't have the first clue how to fix it if it broke, wouldn't know anything about laptop design to check behind them. but if I went to buy one now, I would know know because of this news. Awareness matters, because without it, the people who should leave because they don't like getting crap, they won't leave because they won't know that apple did anything wrong

[corrado33]

1 minute ago, Drak3 said:

No. They don't need to, intake vents aren't giant slits on the side so not that much dust gets in there in the first place.

Ha hahaha no. Are you saying that mac computers DO have giant slits on them?

 

Where... exactly? 

 

*Looking directly at my iMac and Macbook"

 

No slots there. 

[corrado33]

1 minute ago, Jtalk4456 said:

I think a point to be made here is that apple will tell you that because you opened it up to clean it yourself, your warranty is void, but I can take the side off my case and clean stuff without voiding the warranty. 

Also with the tire example, the problem isn't proprietary tires or the cost. The issue is that if my tire goes flat, the engine isn't destroyed, my radio still works, I can still open the door. If there's no filters preventing dust on a product that can easily be destroyed by dust, that's not a tire change. That's a tire change, an engine rebuild, a new muffler a new ac unit etc. It's not just the filter not being there, it's the lack of protection for the rest of the components. 

Having said that, I don't know the legality of the claims or if they will win. I do agree with you on the point that if you don't like it, don't buy it. But I don't think that's an excuse for Apple. The worst part of this is lack of information. They're not just fighting this to get some settlement. They're fighting because they were smart enough to realize the design issue. But many people buying a modern laptop WON'T know about it. They won't have a clue there's no filter, they won't even know why they need a filter. Then the device dies and as has happened so often, they will take it to the apple store and be charged close to the cost of a new device or will pay for a new device, all for a piece of material that likely costs apple a fraction of a cent to a few cents to include. This lawsuit is important even if it loses, because it brings awareness to the issue and apple's reaction to it. I've never used a macbook, wouldn't have the first clue how to fix it if it broke, wouldn't know anything about laptop design to check behind them. but if I went to buy one now, I would know know because of this news. Awareness matters, because without it, the people who should leave because they don't like getting crap, they won't leave because they won't know that apple did anything wrong

Not really. Many OEM computers have warranty stickers over the side panels or on one of the screws indicating that you have opened them. 

[Drak3]

1 minute ago, corrado33 said:

Where... exactly? 

Left and right sides on my '17 MacBook Pro.

[corrado33]

3 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

Left and right sides on my '17 MacBook Pro.

So are you arguing that windows computer DON't have large slots on them?

 

(Goes and finds even larger slots on both of my windows laptops.)

[Dabombinable]

32 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

I mean, isn’t this a drawback of ALL All-in-one PCs? How many laptops on the market have dust filters? How many OEM Desktop towers at bestbuy have dust filters? Even the machines that do are eventually going to get VERY dusty!

 

Dust builds up, that’s just a fact. You need to clean your computer every once and a while, that is also just a fact. Computers are not an appliance, computers are complicated machines that need servicing. You doing nothing and as a result your computer getting filled with dust isn’t on any PC OEM.  

 

Should Apple offer cleaning? Sure, maybe even for free! Especially since opening machines made by Apple (specifically the iMac) is not inherently easy......But should Apple be getting sued over this? I don’t see how. 

You do realise how anal Apple is about some one not from their stores opening up a macbook/imac? Not only that, but people are being told to pay for highly expensive and unnecessary part replacements...when all that was needed was the back of the glass cleaned, or the dust cleaned out of the computer.

[DrMacintosh]

3 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

You do realise how anal Apple is about some one not from their stores opening up a macbook/imac?

Yeah, I have first hand experience with it. Once it’s out of warranty you can do literally whatever you want with it as long as all the parts are still genuine and Apple will still service your device. 

 

In the case if dust, you’re looking at 2 years minimum before it becomes noticeable that there is dust buildup. After that point you can open it and clean it yourself in 15min with some compressed air and a cheap tool/pizza cutter

[Drak3]

21 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

So are you arguing that windows computer DON't have large slots on them?

I've yet to see a Windows laptop with the INLET vents be both large and unfiltered in some form, except the Surface laptop and Surface Book.

 

Whereas my MBP has two giant unfiltered slits for inlets.

[corrado33]

5 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

I've yet to see a Windows laptop with the INLET vents be both large and unfiltered in some form, except the Surface laptop and Surface Book.

 

Whereas my MBP has two giant unfiltered slits for inlets.

You mean like these?

 

 

That's on the razer blade for the record. And there's no way that coarse mesh is going to filter any dust. 

[Drak3]

1 minute ago, corrado33 said:

And there's no way that coarse mesh is going to filter any dust.

It can, and does.

[corrado33]

9 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

It can, and does.

Are you talking about THESE slots on the MBP that clearly have a filter behind them? Not only a simple filter, but also a much FINER filter than that on the razer?

 

[Blademaster91]

38 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

You mean like these?

 

 

That's on the razer blade for the record. And there's no way that coarse mesh is going to filter any dust. 

There is mesh right over the fans, at least a person can get most of the dust out without taking anything apart.

1 hour ago, Drak3 said:

No. They don't need to, intake vents aren't giant slits on the side so not that much dust gets in there in the first place.

Yep,having more vents keeps the machine from being a vacuum for dust, similar to a PC case with positive pressure. If it has sufficient airflow in the first place doesn't doesn't collect on the components.

[Drak3]

12 minutes ago, Blademaster91 said:

Yep,having more vents keeps the machine from being a vacuum for dust, similar to a PC case with positive pressure. If it has sufficient airflow in the first place doesn't doesn't collect on the components.

I more meant that the vast majority of laptops either use multiple small slits or they filter intakes, such that larger dust particles, the ones more likely to cause issue, don't infiltrate the system.

[Blademaster91]

44 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

I more meant that the vast majority of laptops either use multiple small slits or they filter intakes, such that larger dust particles, the ones more likely to cause issue, don't infiltrate the system.

I see your point there, sorry. Some coarse mesh is still much better than large open slits on the bottom.

[fmarcoux96]

10 hours ago, Spotty said:

I wonder how Apple will respond to this and if they will make any design changes on future devices. Knowing Apple they will remove all the fans and fully seal their devices. #thinkdifferent /s

It's Apple. Their answer is gonna be:

 

We have identified an unexpected situation where dust COULD find its way into your Macbook, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini. This would result in hardware overheating and damage.

 

Please note that if your Mac was opened once, we will NOT cover the repairs.

 

Who bet with me?

[corrado33]

54 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

I more meant that the vast majority of laptops either use multiple small slits or they filter intakes, such that larger dust particles, the ones more likely to cause issue, don't infiltrate the system.

The MBP DOES have filters, or are you ignoring my post now?

[BuckGup]

On the PC side it's dumb but what ultrabook has filters? They might have a mesh but it doesn't do much

[Tristerin]

"I call to the stand my first witness, Rossmann Group"

[Blademaster91]

2 hours ago, corrado33 said:

Are you talking about THESE slots on the MBP that clearly have a filter behind them? Not only a simple filter, but also a much FINER filter than that on the razer?

 

 

Spoiler

 

It has a filter but please explain how that is at all effective when the fans still intake air from slits on the bottom that aren't filtered.

These macbooks can run to nearly the point of throttling even when brand new, a filter wouldn't help because there isn't any way for a person to access the areas where dust will accumulate other than special tools needed to remove the whole back panel.

[corrado33]

55 minutes ago, Blademaster91 said:

It has a filter but please explain how that is at all effective when the fans still intake air from slits on the bottom that aren't filtered.

These macbooks can run to nearly the point of throttling even when brand new, a filter wouldn't help because there isn't any way for a person to access the areas where dust will accumulate other than special tools needed to remove the whole back panel.

What slits on the bottom? There are none. And do you REALLY think apple would filter one set of intake slits without filtering the other set?

[Canada EH]

11 hours ago, Spotty said:

I wonder how Apple will respond to this

Their lawyers are hired on a per annum basis, so they will be pleased to go to court and dance, because Apple puts into their income stream just these sort of cases. Just like automotive companies put a price on people who died in their vehicles.

[Guest]

How to clean dust out of a MacBook for Dummies. 

 

1) Use compressed air over the vent to clean the logic board. 

2) Ignore the screen because there is no possible way for dust to get in. 

 

How to keep dust out of your MacBook:

 

1) Clean ya laptop once in a while, if dust actually builds up enough that it breaks the screen, it would do so for any laptop. Laptops aren't made for dusty environments without a suitable case, or left around for a decade. Just like any electronic device. 

 

Seriously most problems, not just for Apple but like for battery life, bendgate, glass backs / screen breaking, rigidity of devices, these are expensive devices, get a case and a screen protector and clean them regularly, like every week. How much does a little bit of meths and a glass cleaning cloth cost compared to a new lappy? Even a compressor cost way less, but you can use the $5 cans of compressed air just fine. 

[Blademaster91]

1 hour ago, Tristerin said:

"I call to the stand my first witness, Rossmann Group"

Apparently dust kills a Macbook pretty easily, since Apple wants to seal these off to any regular maintenance with proprietary screws or glue, the motherboard should really have a dust resistant coating.