Apple Knew It Was Selling Defective MacBook Displays, Judge Concludes

A potential class-action lawsuit will go forward for Apple's fragile 2016 MacBook Pro display cables. Judge Edward Davila ruled that "Apple should have known that they would fail and yet kept selling them anyhow," reports The Verge. It follows a recently-certified class action lawsuit for the MacBook Pro's infamous butterfly keyboards. From the report: "The court finds that the allegations of pre-release testing in combination with the allegations of substantial customer complaints are sufficient to show that Apple had exclusive knowledge of the alleged defect," the judge wrote. [The issue is] sometimes called the "stage light" issue because of how the cable damage would produce those dark spots.

Part of the flexgate controversy is around how Apple addressed the issue when it first got publicity in late 2018 -- first by silently swapping a new, slightly longer cable into newer MacBooks, and only opening up one of its typical free repair programs months after 15,000 users signed a petition and it was called out in the press. The company's been a lot more responsive with issues ever since, such as with this free battery replacement program for a small number of those 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro laptops that won't charge anymore. Unlike the butterfly keyboard suit, the flexgate one doesn't appear to be a certified class-action lawsuit yet -- but there are now nine different plaintiffs lined up in this single case, and the judge is inviting them to submit a new amended complaint.

Crapple

[Anonymouse Cowtard]

They should change their name and rebrand. This is no April Fool's joke. Overpriced and overrated shit is what it be.

Re:

[dskoll]

+1. I've never understood why people think Apple hardware is high quality. I've never owned any, but I know lots of people who do and they seem to have way more trouble with their Apple gear than I do with my white-box PCs, Android phone, or Dell or Lenovo laptops.

Re:

[ArmoredDragon]

I've had all of two iphones in my life (both issued to me by my work) and both of them had problems with the battery expanding and gradually splitting the phone open over time. Meanwhile I've owned 10 android phones, and the only one that ever died prematurely (Nexus 6P) google replaced for free an entire year outside of its warranty period.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

Apple has got quite good at managing these defects. They have had problems with bad hinges since the 90s, poor thermal management back in the Core 2 era, fitting cheaper 6 bit panels and selling them as 8 bit, and of course the butterfly keybaords.

Their standard tactic is to pretend it's not happening, then eventually offer free repairs to people who complain enough. The stalling is designed to ensure that as many units as possible end up in landfill instead of Apple repair centres.

It's 5 years down the roa

Re:

[omnichad]

Their standard tactic is to pretend it's not happening, then eventually offer free repairs to people who complain enough

And even after the free repair they will continue to debt there was ever a problem.

Have someone I told their Macbook Air definitely had a defective SSD. It would sometimes not be detected on boot but would otherwise mostly work fine until a random KP here or there. At the Apple store, it took a long extended argument with the staff before they agreed to do the repair - and it was still under warranty.

Don’t spend your winnings

[ArchieBunker]

In one place. A whole shiny nickel for every defendant!

The only people who matter are

[couchslug]

the Apple customer base whose spending demonstrates they don't care. Their hardware is a (dominant) fashion choice by adults who fully understand what they're buying just like gamers who pay for bling. Apple being Apple is what made Apple rich, the reason that company exists.

Minor hardware quality speedbumps are easily mitigated after the fact vs being more expensively prevented.

pompous bastards

[jdawgnoonan]

The biggest problem with Apple in my opinion is how they brag about their stuff being the best and then allow things like this to happen. Their customers pay a premium because they expect a certain standard of quality. I personally love Mac OS, however, I could not force myself to buy their computers from that time period and so moved back to non-Apple PCs. Linux and Windows are fine by me, and better than supporting the pompous bastards who just want to lock customers into their ecosystem.

I have one of these POS

[AmazingRuss]

.... it'll get through the courts and I'll get it fixed about the time the machine is completely outdated. Has the bad keyboard too. Fuckers.

Spectacularly Stupid

[ytene]

This is Apple, which, I think I am right in saying, is still the most valuable and one of the most profitable companies in the world.

Reading through the Vice article and in particular the Court’s ruling, what you see unfold can only be described as a PR own-goal of breathtaking proportions.

First we had the technical issue. Apple designed the hinged screen/lid of their MacBook Pro’s to a ribbon cable that was too short. So short that with the opening and closing of the computer lid, a ribbon cable round rub against the hinge mechanism until the cable failed. Surely a company of Apple’s truly vast hardware experience would apply more diligence to the design and testing of a feature like this?

Then we have Apple’s history with similar issues, including expanding batteries and “antenna gate” with their iPhone range. Just two examples of a situation in which Apple suffered more in terms of bad PR from their after-the-fact decisions than they could have, if only they had been a bit more sensible.

But then you come to look at some of the arguments they make in this case. For example, the Court’s ruling notes that in Apple’s motion to dismiss, they raise an “Injury in Fact” challenge. Apple argues that four out of fifteen plaintiffs did not themselves purchased the MacBooks that exhibit the fault. Apple argues that in order to have standing in the case, the plaintiffs must have purchased the item with the alleged failure. In other words, say you win an Apple product in a prize draw, but the product goes on to develop a fault. Apple’s view would be that you have no legal standing to challenge them if they fail to address the fault correctly, because you did not purchase the device.

This from the most valuable company in the world.

Could they have performed a more spectacular public relations own goal? If Tim Cook hasn’t sacked the people that made the decisions here, he should do so, right before stepping down.

Re:

[fluffernutter]

The fact that a company can make such flawed products yet be one of the most valuable companies in the world points to exactly what is wrong with capitalism. That it is a system for making companies wealthy rather than providing things that benefit the consumer.

Re:

[dfghjk]

...and this has been known from the very beginning. Capitalism must be regulated or else the end is catastrophe. The problem here is deregulation, in combination with the worship of capitalism as an ideal.

The saddest part

[CyberRacer]

As a former repair tech (not for Apple) I can be honest in saying that this is S.O.P. for the electronics industry in general. This is particularly true of early production runs of new products. Get it out, and fix the problems in the field. I know because it's the repair dept.s that bear the brunt of the public backlash. Often product support peeps are forced into situations where they must knowingly lie to the public about a situation in order to keep their jobs. This is at least worth considering before

iMac Repair Nightmare

[ftldelay]

My company bought a $3,000+ iMac back in Nov. 2020 and a few weeks ago, it died. I contacted Apple support and found that the only option for repair was to take it to an Apple store - no on-site or mail-in service options exist for their desktops (even though I still have the box). So I had to schedule an appointment at the closest one (40 mins away in the middle of a shopping mall - loads of fun carrying this 29 lb - 27" beast around). Went and waited at least a half-hour just to see someone, then at le

the unlucky

[catmistake]

I just feel bad for the 2016/17 MacBook Pro users that never experienced an issue with their defective display cables. They may never know Apple intentionally destroys lives. Imagine a world where nine brave plaintiffs are the lucky ones.