Macbook Air Mid 2013 – Early 2015 SSD Flash Drive replacements

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We have observed a slight increase in number of customers requiring Macbook Air Mid 2013 – Early 2015 SSD Flash Drive replacement due to SSD failure in their Macbook Air. The issue appears to affect a very small number of Macbook Air 13″ Mid 2013. The problem seemed to have occur after MacOS upgrades. After the failed upgrade, partitioning, formatting, disk first aid will not be possible. The disk can be mounted and detected, but data cannot be written on it.

The solution for such SSD failures would be to replace the drive. We have stock for Macbook Air Mid 2013 – Early 2015 SSD and Macbook Pro 13″ Late 2013 – Early 2015 Flash Drive replacements.

The drives are new original Apple PCIe SSDs with Samsung NAND. In previous generations, Samsung NAND performed better and appears to have better longevity than those manufactured with Sandisk NAND.

Installation takes around 15 mins.

Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina Trackpad issues

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Macbooks from Apple are vastly different from other PC laptops in terms of their design. The Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina models feature beautiful trackpads with a layer of glass on top. This implementation, besides being astatically pleasing, allows for smooth scrolling, tapping and a host of finger gestures. However, it is not without its flaws. There has been a host of Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina Trackpad issues. Dust and moisture sometimes penetrate the microscopic space between the top layer of glass and the electronic sensing mechanism underneath it. Over time, this causes the trackpad to become insensitive, which results in the loss of the clicking function.

In some Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina that we have encountered, trackpads issues appear to cause random cursor clicks and movements. In some scenarios, the trackpad could not detect tapping or clicking. Sometimes typing via the keyboard is affected as well – sometimes the keyboard does not respond to typing and the typing lags.

The loss of clicking function with trackpads is common in the Macbook Pro 13 inch unibody models.

Recently, we have seen a slight increase in the number of Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina Trackpad issues particularly in the Macbook Air 13 inch 2013 and later models as well as the Macbook Pro 13 inch and 15 inch 2012 – 2015 models.

Trackpad Issues

Original Macbook Air 13 inch 2013 – 2015 Trackpad

The implementation of Force Touch trackpads in the newer Macbook and Macbook Pro Retina 13 inch and 15 inch that removes the mechanical clicking mechanism with an electronic taptic engine below the trackpad appears to have resolve trackpad issues.

The taptic engine mimics the clicking function by providing haptic feedback to the user fingers whenever clicking is detected.

To resolve the issues mentioned, trackpad replacements are required. At Mac Plus, we provide replacements with genuine original Apple parts, though our repair rates are 30 to 80 percent lower than Apple Authorised Service Providers.

Do contact us at 87817928, hello@macplus.sg or www.macplus.sg.

Apple uses water damaged boards in Apple refurbished devices

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We discovered evidence of Apple Authorised Service Providers using water damaged boards in Apple refurbished devices sometime back. We withheld from publishing our findings sooner. We were not sure if the board that was replaced on our customer’s Mac was repaired and supplied by the Apple Authorised Service Provider in Singapore or it is a company practice adopted by Apple in general. It appears that it is a company practice that Apple adopts for devices sent in for repairs and refurbished products that may be put on sale.

We discovered this issue after a NUS student sent in her Macbook Pro Retina 2014 to us. After our diagnosis, we determined that it may be due to a video issue. We advised her to pursue the issue with Apple Singapore to see if they could escalate her issue to the Mac specialist for a free replacement. Her Mac was just out of warranty for about a few months and there were other users with Macbook Pro 15″ with similar video issues. She managed to secure a free logicboard replacement, which to her dismay, failed again after 6 months.

She brought her Macbook to us for a diagnosis again after having a bad experience with the Apple Authorised Service Provider. We were appalled to see water stains – signs of water damage on the board. Apple eventually refused to replace the board as her Mac was repaired for free and does there is no extended warranty.

This issue has been confirmed by Dr Jessa Bethany Jones. She has relationships with people from the famous iFixit company and is a trusted repairer in the independent repair community. Her video detailing what she discovered is shown below.

We feel the need to blog about this as the general public feel that only Apple is ‘qualified’ to repair Apple products. Besides introducing proprietary pentalobe screws to prevent casual users from opening up their iPhones, Apple even tried to prevent independent home button replacements from being performed by locking down iPhones.

Their reasoning is that paying a premium for repairs done by them will ensure that the parts that are replaced will be brand new original parts. This signals to people the impression that that replacements done at Apple will be superior to those repaired at your local quality independent repair shop.

As shown in our findings and the video, this might not always be true. Independent repair shops can be more professional than Apple Authorised Service Providers. Consumers deserve the right to know what they are getting. Unfortunately the right to repair bill has failed in New York, so premiums for repairs done at Apple is here to stay.

In the meantime, do contact us for quality reliable Mac repair needs. We are able to perform component level repairs so that expensive logicboard replacements are not necessary in most cases. We will never replace your logicboard with a water damaged board that has been repaired. Replacement logicboards from us are either brand new or used but have not been repaired in any way.

Resolve iMac 27″ tilting issue

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In 2012, Apple redesigned the iMac with a slimmer form factor. The new iMacs from 2012 onwards have thinners sides which measures only at a few millimetres. While the design is stunning, users have been posting in forums about the iMac 27″ tilting issue and hinge issue. The iMac tilts forward involuntarily after a few months to 24 months of usage. The screen can no longer be adjusted to its normal position.

Given Apple’s supposed track record for durability, the cause for this issue is surprising. Guess what? This tilting issue occurs because Apple used weak plastic L-shaped spacer to secure the spring mechanism!

iMac 27" tilting issue and hinge issue

Some owners of 27″ iMacs who are affected and have dissembled their iMacs to attempt DIY solutions were appalled that Apple used plastic L-shaped spacer to secure the spring mechanism as the entire hinge, the nuts and the spring were made of strong metal. Apple even used an excessive amount of 9 screws on the bottom and 6 screws on side of the hinge to secure it to the iMac to prevent the hinge from dislodging, but used plastic to hold the spring!

The plastic that Apple used does not even appear to be strong ABS plastic. Some users the iMac 27″ tilting issue and hinge issue is a conspiracy by Apple to earn more money for repairs. This issue seems to plague only the 27″ iMac models. The possible reason is because the iMac 27″ hinge needs to bear more weight than the 21.5″ iMac, so the 21.5″ iMac appears unaffected.

Users from Mac Rumours forum have been discussing the issue for sometime. We are able to replace the hinge with a version that has stronger ABS plastic to resolve the iMac 27″ tilting issue and hinge issue. So far, customers have not had issues with the tilting after replacement. Do contact us if your iMac is facing this issue.

This is what can happen to your Mac if you spill water on it

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This is what can happen to your Mac if you spill water on it. This is an actual photo of a customer’s MacBook Air logicboard that we are trying to save. The customer who sent it in to us spilled water on his Macbook Air, but was not aware, and continued to use his Macbook Air for weeks.

This is what can happen to your Mac if you spill water on it Water damaged Macbook Air

This is what could happen to your Mac or iPhone if you spill water on it and put in rice for days. Contrary to popular notion, rice does not do much in reviving your water damaged Macbook or iPhone. It might take away some moisture but the water can start to corrode your logicboard. If your Mac can start after a spill, you might be doing some kind of electroplating on your logicboard without realising it can fail to the extent of beyond repair.

Most spills on Macs when sent to us in a timely fashion can be rectified. Don’t turn it on again or you risk short-circuiting it, making repairs harder.

We have successfully repaired almost 100 percent of water damaged Macbook that were sent to us within 1-2 days. Those that were beyond repair were typically because the users continued using them for weeks or months, without realising their Macs were already growing mould.

Do bring your Macbook Pro, Macbook Air for servicing with us as soon as possible after it has come into contact with water or beverages. The success rate depends a lot on the amount of time liquids have been left in the Mac.

Recommendation of Speakers for your Mac – Audioengine A2

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Macbook speakers replacement

Audioengine A2

Recently, we have replaced a few Macbook speakers for some customers. The speakers were spoilt due to wear and tear. To avoid Macbook speakers replacement, the best option is to use external desktop speakers for your audio enjoyment. Macbook speakers have smaller domes, which are susceptible to wear and tear. Besides producing better sound, good desktop Macbook speakers also can last for possibly a decade. The Altec Lansing speakers we had lasted for 10 years before it spoilt.

A good pair of speakers that many raved about are the Audioengine A2s. A revised version with a built-in DAC, the A2+ are now being sold instead. The speakers are mid-range multimedia speakers that cross into the audiophile grade. They are encased in glossed MDF wood cabinets, unlike ordinary plastic speakers. They also come with Kevlar woofers and silk-dome tweeters. The RCA and Mini-Jack inputs are gold-plated.

They need a recommended 100 hours of burn-in to sound well, and you need to tweak the setup, such as spacing them equally apart, raising the height to your ear-level, or titling them upwards with speaker stands.

They are available in Gloss White or Black. Comes with 3 years 1-1 exchange warranty. Google for reviews. See audioengineusa.com for more information.

They are available at Horizon Acoustics at Upper Bukit Timah Road Beauty World Centre and Decibel at Sim Lim Square stock them. Google for their contact details.

Macbook Pro Retina sound distortion

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A number of customers have been experiencing Macbook Pro Retina sound distortion issues. Although the Macbook Pro Retina has distinctively louder and better sound speakers resulting in better sound quality, the slimness of the Macbook Pro Retina has resulted in speakers which have slim designs and speaker cones which wear down over time.

Some Apple users have reported that their speakers distort at maximum volume. Our opinion is that any speaker, even the best ones distort at maximum volume, so it is always a good idea not to max out your Mac’s volume. We recommend that you get external speakers for your Mac though. We at Mac Plus use Audio Engine A2+ speakers. They are popular entry level speakers that are popular with Mac users.

Some other recommendations can be found at our founder’s blog at Musings About Life – Sound Category

Macbook Pro Retina speakers typically only spoil after 2 years or more, so most users hoping to get them repaired within the warranty period are out of luck. Macbook Air and iMac speakers do not seem to be affected.

Macbook Pro Retina Sound Distortion

Macbook Pro Retina 15″ Speakers for Mid 2012 – 2014

Pictured above are the speaker replacements for Macbook Pro Retina 15″ Speakers for Mid 2012 – 2015. We have them in stock and they come in a pair. Our stock are sold to us in pairs so we replace both speakers instead of just the affected piece. The speakers go through wear and tear so it is advisable to change both the speakers anyways.

We are able to do Macbook speakers replacements for Macbook Pro Retina 13″ Late 2013 – 2015 models, as well as Macbook Pro 13″ unibody A1278. Contact us for pricing details and stock availability if you are experiencing MacBook Pro Retina sound distortion issues.

Installation takes around 10 mins.

Blog post by a pleasant lady customer detailing her experience with Mac Plus. Thank you for your appraisal!

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There are not many reviews of Mac repair services in Singapore. We are therefore pleasantly surprised by a blog post written by an nice lady praising and detailing her experience with repairing her Macbook Air trackpad with us. She is a foreigner working in Singapore and was concerned about finding a reliable Mac repair service as well as finding her way to the place. She decided to choose Mac Plus as her service provider due to the friendly response she got from us which set her mind at ease about us being a rip-off.

Well, before we started our business, we too were concerned about being conned by repair shops so we can understand customers’ concerns. We are glad she find us helpful enough to post a review on her blog. As a small startup we are thankful her support and to every customer that walks through our door. Some customers have asked why do I say us when the only technician they see is me, as if it is a one-man-show-operation. Well, that’s because our partners have not come into the picture, or shown their faces, yet.

We are thankful that foreigners who aren’t sure of their way gets helped. It can be a harrowing experience to find a reliable Mac repair service. Her post is written in March 2015. We are posting the link here since our page has moved to her new location.

It’s written in Chinese.

Here is the link to her post:

Macbook修理记

See our Facebook: www.facebook.com/macplus.sg for genuine 5 star reviews! We do not use antics such as like our post and get a discount to generate likes or reviews 🙂

The benefits of solid state drives

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The benefits of solid state drives. Say goodbye to your hard drive!

With solid state technology, you probably won’t need it anymore. Designed to replace traditional hard drives, solid state drives (SSDs) use flash memory to deliver vastly superior performance and durability. Since there are lots of small, moving parts inside your hard drive — magnetic heads, spindles and spinning platters — it’s easy for things to go wrong. In layman terms, you could lose your important data. We have countless of customers who have lost their important school assignments and graphics design work because they did not backup and did not consider an upgrade. Unconvinced? We show you the benefits of solid state drives below.

The benefits of solid state drives

Hard disk drive with small moving parts on the left. Solid state drive on the right – Smaller, lighter, with no moving parts.

Here are four reasons why you will want to consider an SSD.

  1. They’re more durable.

    Hard drives are mechanical. They contain small moving parts which continuously move creates heat, which is a leading factor in hard drive failure. As SSDs do not have moving parts, they’re more reliable and more vibration/shock-resistant than traditional hard drives. They are also more resistant to common drops, accidents, and wear and tear since they do not have the small, susceptible parts of traditional hard drives. If you happened to drop your laptop and it had an SSD installed, your screen would probably break before the SSD. That’s SSD durability.

  2. They’re faster.

    Without moving parts to slow your computer down, SSDs are about 16 to 100x faster. SSDs offer instant-load performance, meaning faster boot times, faster application loading times, and better system responsiveness.

  3. They’re lighter.

    Since SSDs weigh less than hard drives, they’re more mobile-friendly and they help make your laptop easier to carry. With lightweight components and solid construction, SSDs are better suited for the rigours of constant travel.

  4. They’re more efficient.

    Since SSDs have no moving parts, they require less power to operate, which means you’ll get longer battery life. They’re even quieter, too.

Referenced from Crucial’s website.

Why wait? Contact us to get your SSD upgrade!

Macbook Pro Keyboard Replacement. Cheap isn’t always good.

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Actual photo of a Macbook Pro 13-inch keyboard replacement taking place. The keyboard of Macbook resides underneath all the components of your Mac. It is secured by numerous screws or rivets, depending on the model of the Mac. To replace the keyboard, the entire logicboard assembly has to be removed. Then close 100 screws have to be unscrewed and screwed back in. The back light and other components then have to be reinstalled. The work is very time consuming and tedious. Apple Authorised Service Providers do not just replace the Macbook Pro keyboard.

They replace the entire top case with consists of the aluminium faceplate with the keyboard screwed in place. The good thing is that it is easier and less time consuming to replace, but customers end up paying a lot more for a Macbook Pro keyboard replacement.

Macbook Pro keyboard replacement

If you have no love for your work, you can probably skip 10 – 20 screws and the customer won’t be able to tell the difference. The backlight might also be misaligned, resulting in uneven lightning of your Macbook keys. Cheap isn’t always good.

We have had a few customers who came to us because after minor replacements by other Mac repair shops run by foreigners, their Mac was not able to boot up. The shop in question charged them for the replacement part and offered no compensation or solutions as to why their Macs does not work after the repair. Another customer who brought her Mac to us because another repair service was not able to repair her Mac. After opening it, we realised that the microphone cable was broken.

At Mac Plus, we love our work. And we bother to put back all the screws by hand, without missing any screws. We are careful with your Macbook, and we don’t scratch or damage them. This is what differentiates us from the competition. If we ever do damage any components, we will replace or repair them for free. Do contact us for your Mac repair needs.