Apple replacing some discolored MacBooks

Some Apple MacBook owners who have seen portions of their shiney white notebooks discolor prematurely are finding success in getting those machines repaired.

According to AppleCare support representatives, Apple has been investigating the matter but has not been able to determine the source of the problem.

Nevertheless, the company's support divisions in some regions have been offering to replace affected MacBook enclosures with few questions asked. Customers are typically sent an Apple case number and the necessary materials to ship their notebooks to Apple's repair depot.

Meanwhile, one MacBook owner took complaints about his notebook's discoloration and "odd fan noises" directly to an employee at the company's Brea, Calif. retail store and was pleasantly surprised with the response.

"He didn't even look at the MacBook to see the discolorations, he just gave me a new one," the customer wrote in a post on Apple's MacBook support forums. "I was so impressed that I used the money I was planning on using to pay restocking fees and invested into the applecare 3 year warranty."

The orange-ish discoloration has been affecting the palm rest and other areas of some of the new Intel-based Apple notebooks. Users around the Web have reported that the first signs of the issue appear after 2-3 weeks of use, on both the white 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz models.

12 Comments

netdog

said about 16 years ago

I bought a White MB on the first day of release, and promptly returned it for a Black MB the next day, seeing that it was yellowing around the track pad. So no, it does not necessarily take days or weeks. This was all in less than 24 hours.

And yes, my hands were freshly cleaned every time I used it during that 18 hour period.

Both the white and my current black MB had no noise issues and ran warm, but nowhere near the processor temps of the MBPs of the time. The machines were both almost dead silent. Despite my issue with the white turning yellow (which I am sure they will sort), I recommend these laptops without hesitation. They really are great.

mitch1984

said about 16 years ago

Maybe Apple wanted them Orange at first and then changed their minds and sprayed them white???

What do you reckon.

That or maybe sweat reacts with some chemical in the paint.

cubert

said about 16 years ago

It's great to see Apple responding so promptly and not trying to cover up the issue.

I think the cause of the problem is heat causing a chemical reaction in the plastic. It would be interesting to know if the affected areas are hotter than the rest of the laptop.

netdog

said about 16 years ago

Quote:

Originally posted by Cubert
It's great to see Apple responding so promptly and not trying to cover up the issue.

I think the cause of the problem is heat causing a chemical reaction in the plastic. It would be interesting to know if the affected areas are hotter than the rest of the laptop.

Interestingly, this is not an area where the MB generates any significant heat.

jivebaby

said about 16 years ago

I doubt is has to do with heat b/c of the fact those are the cool areas of the laptop. Because only a select number of people seem to be having the problem it must have something to do with the composition of their sweat. Maybe the pH? Some people have very acidic sweat. Fortunately I have yet to see any stains on my 4 week old white macbook.

Mike B