Apple Fails To Stop Class Action Lawsuit Over MacBook Butterfly Keyboards (betanews.com) 36
Mark Wilson quotes BetaNews: Apple has failed in an attempt to block a class action lawsuit being brought against it by a customer who claimed the company concealed the problematic nature of the butterfly keyboard design used in MacBooks.
The proposed lawsuit not only alleges that Apple concealed the fact that MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air keyboards were prone to failure, but also that design defects left customers out of pocket because of Apple's failure to provide an effective fix.
Engadget argues that Apple "might face an uphill battle in court.
"While the company has never said the butterfly keyboard design was inherently flawed, it instituted repair programs for that keyboard design and even added the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro to the program the moment it became available. Also, the 16-inch MacBook Pro conspicuously reverted to scissor switches in what many see as a tacit acknowledgment that the earlier technology was too fragile."
The proposed lawsuit not only alleges that Apple concealed the fact that MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air keyboards were prone to failure, but also that design defects left customers out of pocket because of Apple's failure to provide an effective fix.
Engadget argues that Apple "might face an uphill battle in court.
"While the company has never said the butterfly keyboard design was inherently flawed, it instituted repair programs for that keyboard design and even added the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro to the program the moment it became available. Also, the 16-inch MacBook Pro conspicuously reverted to scissor switches in what many see as a tacit acknowledgment that the earlier technology was too fragile."
We'll see how the case unfolds (Score:4, Funny)
Please, excuse me, I couldn't resist the line with no other posts made yet.
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. . . beware that unfolding a MacBook voids its warranty.
sucky keyboard (Score:5, Interesting)
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Your typing on it wrong.
No, YOU're.
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or the entire laptop if that is physically impossible.
Apple will gladly sell you a $2400+ keyboard replacement. Its already on the market for you to enjoy.
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I don't even know where to begin with your assumption. This is so stupid that nobody in their right mind would agree with you. I mean, "the designer was bored of the old keyboard"? Really?
Everyone knows the designer wanted to make the laptop 1mm thinner, and to hell with the consequences.
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My keyboard was replaced once under Applecare but now it is starting to fail a second time despite my efforts to blow it out every time I use it. The only thing that I feel would be 'fair' in this case is to replace the entire keyboard, or the entire laptop if that is physically impossible.
I just go over it with a domestic vacuum cleaner or chunky industrial dust-buster that I have whenever a key starts to stick. It's worked for me so far.
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Re: sucky keyboard (Score:1)
Stockholm syndrome. Many Apple customers suffer from it.
Hate to blame the user, but... (Score:2)
The only obligation Apple has is to replace parts which break under warranty. The use experience not living up to your expectations does not constitute a failure the company is obligated to correct. Apple h
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And I didn't find out about the scissor design until the 'speck of dust' article on slashdot which came out much later. The vehicle I just bought has new radio tuning knobs, am I supposed to wait three years and buy one used so I can ensure the knobs won't break off? People buy Apple because they're supposed to know how to make a ba
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The best part is that some models only have USB C ports (which you also need for charging) so you can't even plug in a USB keyboard without a dongle.
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USB C ports have to be higher quality to survive due to the smaller pin pitch. Some Macs probably have additional wear due to only having one port and needing dongles for everything.
Re: sucky keyboard (Score:1)
You should sell it immediately. Apple laptops from those years will soon have nearly zero resale value.
This is a major failure on Apple's part (Score:2)
Apple screwed up seriously here: They apparently failed to put an effective binding arbitration clause in their EULA.
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an effective binding arbitration clause in their EULA.
Why those things are even legal is beyond me...
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Why those things are even legal is beyond me...
Corporations write legislation, and pay congressdroids to pass it.
Woot (Score:1)
I can't wait to get my app store credit for $1.49 when Apple loses this case!
Oh lordy! A class-action lawsuit (Score:2)
2 solutions to this problem (Score:2)
Hurry up, Apple (Score:2)
They need to get the scissor keyboards back on the 13" models so I can buy a new laptop. The 16" is just too big for my needs. Hopefully in early 2020 they get rid of that wretched butterfly keyboard. I considered compromising and getting one but after testing it out in an Apple store I just couldn't. I type too much to deal with a zero-travel keyboard.