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June 20, 2006
Genius Bar? (0)
Kill Me
Anyone who knows me knows of my slight disdain for the Mac. I don’t really hate the Mac, I just get worked up over the unwarranted superiority of some rabid Mac users. Networking and Plug-and-Play are not easier on the Mac (I generally have no problems with these things on the PC side), particularly if you are trying to do those things with PCs in the mix. I also don't like the fact that I can get Shit-loads more computing power for the same price as a Mac.
Let it be known, I am a guy who works on both platforms everyday and I'll give Apple credit for great gadgets (iPod) and design. The cool looking, but heavy as hell case for the G5 is swank. They make good, competitive and inexpensive production software (Final Cut Pro). Also, the easy-to-use included software is perfect for some users.
I have had few problems with my G5, until last week. It stopped working entirely after what I would consider a normal amount of Mac-crashing over the last 6 months. (One of my peeves is hearing commercials and Apple Store sales folks going on about the fact that these computers never crash. If all I used was simple text, I-whatever, and Safari maybe mine would never crash either...)
We took it in to an Apple store to be repaired. Instead of a service tech, you need to have your Mac repaired by a Mac Genius in the forbidden Genius Room after you have dropped it off with said Genius at the Genius Bar. I like the concept of setting your appointment online, but do we have to overuse the term “genius?”
Our Mac was diagnosed with needing a new motherboard and possibly a new processor. Together they would have cost over $1800. Fortunately we were still under warranty, because those are some crazy overpriced parts! (The whole damn thing $2350 when we originally purchased it.)
Unfortunately our box could not be fixed by a Genius and they had to replace the whole computer, which I was told could take up to 2 weeks. I wanted to say that I could go pick one up at Fry's for them, but instead gently reminded them that I was not just some kid surfing the inter-web, but actually used this machine to make money.
They got our new box in record time, and called to have me pick it up. I went and waited at the Genius Bar. I took the above picture about 30 minutes into my wait. After I realized that no one at the Genius Bar was going to acknowledge anyone who hadn't reserved time with a Genius, I went to the front. (I mean they REALLY ignore you. Don’t try looking at them, or raising your hand, etc. It will NOT work!)
The differently thinking ones at the front helped me right away. I just wish the Genius who called me had mentioned that I didn't need to speak to a Genius to get my computer back. It would have saved me 45 minutes of my hour. It would have also been nice if the Geniuses in the forbidden Genius Room had put the expensive video capture card that was in the old machine into the new machine. I'm glad I asked about that before leaving...
Unfortunately I forgot to ask about the additional gig of RAM we had added to our G5. I had to go back a couple of days later to retrieve my memory, which was kindly placed in a baggy for me.
Posted by Rich at June 20, 2006 1:10 PM
