Latest MacBook Pro Battery Recall - I am affected

Just read on Digg that there is a battery recall on some of the MacBook Pros. "The affected batteries have model number A1175 and a 12-digit serial number that ends with U7SA, U7SB or U7SC." Mine is the U7SC ....

The official Apple announcement is here.

I emailed Apple@Orchard to see if their AppleCare centre there can do a swap. However, according to Apple:
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Q: Can I go to an Apple Retail store to exchange my battery?
A: The battery exchange program is being conducted through the battery exchange website at https://support.apple.com/macbookpro15/batteryexchange/. If you do not have access to the website, please call Apple at 800-275-2273 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., central time, seven days a week, for further assistance.
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Let's see what AppleCare comes back to me with...

Also, the exchange process is interesting....
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The Exchange Process
To begin the battery exchange process, you will be asked for the serial number of your 15-inch MacBook Pro, the serial number of your battery and a ship to address.

After serial number verification, a new battery will be shipped to you, free of charge. When you receive the replacement battery, please use the same shipping packaging and included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple.

It is important that you return the affected battery to Apple so that the battery can be properly recycled.
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If I request for exchange via the website.... I might have a back up battery since the existing battery "do not meet our high standards for battery performance." My standards are not so high... for a free back-up battery. ;-)

UPDATE: Apple@Orchard has replied that it battery program is ONLY available online and AppleCare can not do replacement.

My Parallels VM WinXP Console View

For those who are interested, here is a screen shot of my Parallels' Console View of the WinXP Virtual Machine:

MacMini is Back!

I just got the MacMini back today from Apple@Funan. As I mentioned in my last post, I had problems with the 5-minute boot up time. The Funan store sent it to Apple at Toa Payoh to have them service it.

I was bugging them since last Friday about it, and I got the story yesterday. Apple could not figure out what was wrong so they decided to change the logic board. This seems to be the remedy for Apple: if you dont know what's wrong, change the logic board. So they ordered the part only to realise that it was defective when they tried to install it. Then they had to order another one. It took about 10 days overall.

I tried it at the shop, and there were not problems with the boot up time. I also got into WinXP with no delays or problems. I brought it home and plugged it in.... and waited... and waited... and waited... for it to boot up. ARGHHHH!!!!!

So I fumbled around with it for a bit. Then I figured it out. The MacMini did not like one of the USB things I had plugged in (wireless keyboard, mouse, printer, and USB Hub). Well it turned out that it was the USB Hub and/or the memory card reader attached to the hub. Once I unplugged the USB Hub, it was fine!

Another lesson learned.....

MacMini is in the shop :-(

I have been told many times that Mac do not need to be rebooted very often. Just put it to sleep and restart it again when you need it. Some people say they have not had to reboot for months, while other says "a couple of years". Anyhow, this was how I was treating my Mac Mini at home.

Last week my wife complained that the Mac Mini was not working correctly. I find out that the MS Powerpoint was acting up and even after I restart the program it was still like that. So I rebooted. She says she tried that already and has gotten fed up because it takes 5 MINUTES to boot up to the login screen. I did not believe her at first.... but that's the truth. It seemed to work ok after the boot up, but 5 minutes!!!

Anyhow, Command-Option-P-R did not solve the problem, so I took it to AppleCare@Orchard on Friday after work. They said that they are not sure what the problem is, but if they take it and find out that it is a software problem, they will charge me S$105 for "diagnosing" the problem. For hardware problems, I am covered. I told them that last time I took it to Apple@Funan, they kept it for a day and look at it without charging me anything (see that post: Boot Camp - Day 3). I am then told that Apple@Funan is not official AppleCare centre, and that they serviced it for me last time because I bought it from them. GRRR.... so I went down to Apple@Funan.

I got there at 8:15 pm and they had already closed but I can see some staff inside. I ducked my head in and tried my luck. Marcus - I think that was his name - actually took in my MacMini and did the paperwork so that they can look at it on Saturday. He says they see if it is a hardware or software issue. If it is hardware, they will send it to Apple Toa Payoh for repairs. If it is software, they will give me call before doing anything. That sounds reasonable to me.

So on Monday (yesterday), I buzzed them and was told that it is hardware problem and it was sent to Apple. I am told it will take 5 working days so I won't get it back until the following week...

MacBook Pro Leather Bag

On my last trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I came across a few sling bags in Chinatown that looked pretty cool. They looked like they would just fit my 15" MacBook Pro pretty snuggly. Best of all, the price was MYR 120 (after negotiation), which is about S$50/US$30. Since I have had it and used it, I have had many comments like "Is that custom made for the 15 -inch Mac?" or "Gorgio Armani makes Mac bag?" or just "Wow. That's a cool bag."

In my opinion, it rivals the Crumpler Mac bags at a fraction of the cost. Here are some pics:

The nice real leather Bag with nothing inside...


Empty Bag next to 15" MacBook Pro - a perfect fit?


Sliding the MacBook Pro into its leather home


Snug and safe.


In Action: Fashionable and slingable... despite the tiny Gorgio Armani logo.


Don't ask me where to buy: Petaling Street, Chinatown, KL. There are other models like one that has big "BOSS" across it.. for those of you who are egotistical or just like Hugo.
And no.. there are none with an Apple Logo on it. (Damn good idea though. Now... if I can only find the manufacturer.)

PS. There is no handle. The shoulder strap has no padding but it does not hurt if you are lugging around computer, power adapter and a few nick-nacks - which is all it will fit in any case.