3 months old and...

Question

Hello all, I normally don't post on discussions but I am very displeased with my mac and the service I've received through--the retailer and apple care/tech support. so here is the deal. I have a PowerBookG4 bought it 3 months ago...
One evening I ran system updates and then shut my computer down. I didn't use it the rest of the evening, woke up the next morning started it up it ran kind of funny and slow--so I checked my e-mail then put it to sleep to get ready to go to a couple of my classes. Tried to wake it from sleep mode after my classes and it wouldn't wake up. I couldn't deal with the problem then and there I had to get to class. So upon returning from class I tried to boot up my system and before it got to the gray splash screen it gave 3 beeps. So I figured this couldn't be good. I called the retailer and they told me to call APPLE-CARE. I did and they said it would probably be the memory--and it would need to be replaced. (I'm now thinking oh great there go all my papers and everything due tomorrow. AND I thought I would avoid these problems by not purchasing another PC and getting a MAC). SO APPLE-CARE helped a little bit and then they told me to call back to the retailer to set up a day to bring it in. I did and the gal on the phone was a genius and she was the rudest and most inconsiderate person I've talked to. I brought the machine in and they told me they would have to send it in to San Antonio...now thinking oh great i won't have my computer for all my school work...so I said fine--whatever...get it taken care of. They ship it off.
I get it back about 5 days later and I immediately noticed that it was running slow, upon using a few of my programs I noticed (notably Safari, and OFFICE:MAC) that they froze up (Not Responding Error), and i get these horizontal lines on my screen and the screen will occasionally shake like there was a surge of electricity, and a few of the buttons on my keyboard will either stick or not work at all. Again, I called APPLE-CARE and the retailer and they were NO HELP AT ALL! This is all after it being returned from being "fixed" I go on Christmas break in a couple weeks and am tempted to go to the retailer and request/demand a new unit or a full cash refund--
Would I be wrong for doing this?
Are all these problems common with a MAC?
Should I go back to a PC?
HELP.
Thanks everyone.
PowerBookG4   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  
PowerBookG4   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  

Answer 1

Hi tdereke,
Sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience with AppleCare. Three beeps on start up indicates an issue with RAM. Actually you could have troubleshot this on your own by removing the 3rd party RAM and continued using your PB, albiet a little slower until suitable replacement memory could be obtained. Most likely the slow down in performance you noticed now is due to the removal of the defective RAM. As Templeton pointed out you should follow up with Apple directly at this point to work on getting the additional issues resolved to your satisfaction. Hopefully this isolated incident won't put you off enjoying your PB instead of switching back to Windows.
Jrsy