Warranty Schmarranty

Here’s an interesting read about Apple’s wonderful customer service. Note my sarcasm? 

Anyway, here’s a short clip of the article.

The Apple Retail Store Hates You  -

I recently visited the Apple store to exchange a defective power adapter which was still under warranty.  I still have the defective adapter, as it has now cost more time and effort than it was originally worth.

What I have lost is time, money, and trust in the ethics of the retail store.  What I have gained is disdain for their tactics and a sick feeling every time I hear “Apple Store.”

Why don’t I just dump my MacBook Pro and go with a PC?  Because my employer uses Mac-based programs and hardware and I don’t see my building replacing 300+ machines any time soon.  Whether “fanboy” or “hater,” my use of Apple products for work will change very little.  However, my personal purchase plans have already changed and I hope others might be spared some of the inconvienience and inepttude I experienced in my last visit:

Short version:

Rather than complete a simple warranty exchange, they want me to make an appointment to drive back to the store to exchange a defective power adapter that is well within the one-year warranty.  Seriously.  They actually wanted to put me on “Standby” and expected me to hang around for 2-3 hours in case a “genius”

Head on over to TardySlip.net to read the entire article.

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Got an iPhone? Better turn it off!

I just followed a tweet over to Mashable and read another article about the latest Apple security flaw. This time affecting the iPhone.

Cybersecurity researchers, Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner, have identified a vulnerability in the iPhone OS that will allow an attacker to take control of the Phone via a SMS message.  They have, supposedly, notified Apple more than a month ago about this vulnerability, but  the company still hasn’t released a patch.

The two plan to publicize the security flaw today at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas.  If you are a victim of this attack, currently the only fix is to turn off your phone.

Hopefully Apple will get a move on and update the OS before this become a wide spread problem. Can’t blame this one on AT&T, that’s for sure. If you are an iPhone user, you might consider pulling out that Blackberry again!

You can read more about this security flaw from these websites:

http://mashable.com/2009/07/30/iphone-virus/
http://mashable.com/2009/07/30/iphoneocalypse/
http://mashable.com/2009/07/29/iphone-sms/
http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/28/hackers-iphone-apple-technology-security-hackers.html

***7/31/2009 – UPDATE:   Apple has issued an update to fix the SMS Vulnerability… iPhone OS update 3.0.1 has been released to iTunes.  You’d better synch that phone now!!!  Update is about  280 -ish megs so you’d better get started.

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Here’s to MAC Security

This was another “Eaten” Post. I’m adding it back because I find it is still relevant information in the whole MAC vs PC debate going on these days. The information below is slightly dated but, it really hasn’t changed much in the past year. Problems still exist on BOTH sides. (Although the MAC guys would lead you to believe otherwise.)

Well, we always hear of the Apple Macintosh’s superior OS security… How they never get viruses; never lock-up, No “Holes” in their OS etc.. And, now that they have changed to the Intel Processor we are seeing Television ADs with two guys portraying and PC and a MAC… One time the PC guys has a “Cold”.. the next time he “locks-up”. All the while the MAC guy talking about how “HE” nevers has any of that trouble…

Well, you will be interested to see the bit of news posted May 11th…
Read more

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