Mike Wuerthele
Reports claiming Apple Stores can't repair the 2016 MacBook Pro because of a lack of diagnostic tools are false, as AppleInsider has been told that stores are fully equipped and trained to perform all required diagnostics and repairs necessary.
An account emerged at enthusiast site Macotakara claiming that several utilities needed to diagnose and repair the 2016 MacBook Pro weren't available at Apple Stores and other authorized service venues. According to the report, the "Apple Service Toolkit" was scheduled to be updated on Dec. 13, 2016, but has not yet been altered to accommodate the new models.
Initial queries to high-volume Apple retail store staff were met with light dismissal, with accounts reporting that staff training was complete, and gear is on-hand. AppleInsider's own retail sources indicated that most of the service inquiries for the MacBook Pro are either exchanged on the spot within 10 days of original purchase, or replaced by the Apple Store under direction of Apple corporate, with the faulty unit returned to Apple engineers for evaluation.
AppleInsider has also been told unequivocally that the report is wrong by our contacts within Apple corporate.
"Apple stores have all of the software and hardware they need to successfully accomplish repairs on the new MacBook Pro," a source said, elaborating on the denial. "We do, at our discretion, utilize depot-level facilities for repair on both iOS devices and Macs that may be beyond the scope of a local Apple store for any reason, including volume in-store."
While the assorted software tools required for service were not named specifically, Apple has confirmed that at least some repairs can be completed in-store, if not all.
Additonally, AppleInsider has learned that three parts considered as "likely break-points" are held as stock at stores for repairs, with quantities depending on store volume. One of 11 stores we queried said that they had only one part in any quantity.
As it has been for decades, if a specific repair part beyond the likely repairs is needed, it arrives overnight by FedEx, with the "core" needing to be sent back to Cupertino for analysis and refurbishment, as possible.
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I would believe that they have the appropriate diagnostic tools, but repairs? Considering that a lot of components in the new MBPs are soldered or glued down, are they really able to do local repairs? I would doubt that. Do they even have the capability of replacing a battery? Watch the iFixIt videos - it's a nightmare. IIRC, they couldn't take the machine apart without breaking something.
(I had a recent debate with a photography tech writer over this. He actually preferred machines in which the user can't change the battery, storage and memory because he said those were failure points. But I hate the fact that Apple has taken this out of our control. I think the design of my late-2008 MBP with the door that revealed an accessible hard drive and battery and removing a few screws to get to the memory chips was a far superior design and I refuse to believe that Apple could not accomplish this again if they really wanted to.) That late-2008 MBP just died on me and I bought the new MBP, but it's left a very bad taste in my mouth: Apple was always expensive, but I never felt like the company was ripping us off. Leaving out the power adapter extension cord and not putting a few USB adapters (or a coupon for a few) in the box feels like Apple has been taken over by accountants. And $1200 to upgrade from a 512MB to 2TB SSD? ($1400 from 256MB). Combine that with the non-upgradability of the machine and Apple turning into a sloth when it comes to meaningful new products and upgrades and I really don't have very good feelings about Apple anymore.
Great, but I want a removable SSD (besides RAM and, if possible, microprocessor) for many obvious reasons.
People have all kind of opinions for everything. But, for 2016 macbook pro, one thing I admire is light/portable. It is blessing for millions of college kids who everyday running around from classes to classes with their heavy backpack. I wish Apple put atleast 3 USB Type-C ports(one on each side for easy charging) on non strip version of macbook pro. Price, yes bit higher but if it lasts like most previous macbook pro out their, it is way cheaper(total cost of ownership) over Windows laptops out their. If it was possible, Apple could have provided replaceable SSD, RAM and Battery. Now a days windows laptops do away with self replaceable parts.