Should I Incinerate My Macbook Pro?

To give you a little background, my computer knowledge isn’t exactly limited. Having completed MCSE training, I have a very intimate knowledge of hardware, and the windows operating system, enough to push an entire network if deemed necessary. Once you are trained in this manner it makes it extremely easy to understand market trends, new technologies in software and hardware, and how a new system works in the environment it is intended for. You don’t have to work as an IT to understand concepts and functionality. Another day we will get into severe details as to why I never decided to pursue a career in IT,  but for now, the applicable fact is that i am more artist than anything and couldn’t picture myself crawling around on the floor in a tie. Being more of an artist, and somewhat tech minded, naturally i decided to pursue graphic design. That was over a decade ago and I, James H. Pickett have been neck deep in Mac’s ever since.

Am I a Mac supporting imaging professional? YES! Have I loved every Mac i have owned, used, fixed, wired, upgraded and broken in the last 12 years? YES! Do I hate my current Macbook Pro? YES! Has Apple put profit before customer service? Sure seems that way at this point. This current pile of Macbook pro (Apple MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz Core Duo) has more problems (intermittently I might add) than any machine I have ever owned, and has been in the Mac store, and at the genius bar more times than bars in New York have been closed for allowing teenage drinking.

At every visit there is some other excuse like I am an average user that fell for an ipod and decided to buy a mac. (not that I am insulting anyone, were all consumers somewhere.) They continually take a condescending tone and basically tell me I am crazy, and of coarse my machine never has these problems when its in there, or the little mac genius that got thrown in a locker in high school and now has power over people just doesn’t do a damn thing and laughs at me when I leave.

Sidebar; we are talking about the Apple store in Albany, NY… The Apple store that factually outsells the Manhattan Apple store. The very same apple store that REPLACED an associate of mines laptop on a “3 strikes” rule. This particular Powerbook has been in this particular store more than five times, on one of the visits, they claimed to have replaced my topcase under warranty, and glued it instead. Did they think they could just talk down to me and i would go away? Did you forget i am a member of the national news media? This company, the one that has led me through almost all of my professional career, and been the core of my work, is failing me. My machine is a pile of trash, and their customer service is… pathetic. After 2 years of visits (no kidding), I am just ready to say Apple, can kiss my ass. Thanks for poor policy Mr. Jobs, thanks for being the soul of an industry, and setting up a structure that screws little ol’ me.

If you have had a similar experience at the at this Apple store, or any Apple store, E-mail the General Manager of the Crossgates Mall store, here.