Apple's Covid-19 cleaning recommendations again ruin “screen-gate” MacBooks

6 points

6 years ago

In 2017, Apple extended the warranty on many MacBook displays to 4 years[0][1], because they recognized that their anti-glare coating was too easily removed with 70% IPA wipes. This week, they are telling customers that it is fine to use 70% IPA wipes on any "hard, nonporous surfaces" of any apple products (including those MacBooks models that were already acknowledged to be incompatible with IPA) [2]. Unfortunately, Apple's advice is now causing customers to ruin their laptop screens again, at least one of whom had not previously ruined their screen with any cleaning products over the past several years [3]. Apple's guidance:

> "Is it OK to use a disinfectant on my Apple product? Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces."

Apple support's response is predictable in that it disavows any fault. Disappointingly they also don't walk back the recommendation to use 70% IPA on MacBook displays, but instead devolve into an argument over the definition of "display"[3]. >Apple Support Agent: "The 'display' and 'screen' are used in different wording."

Do consumers who followed the advice written by Apple for disinfecting their MacBook displays have any recourse?

0: https://www.macrumors.com/2017/11/17/apple-extends-free-staingate-repairs/

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/bf9hgz/damaged_my_screen_really_bad_used_rubbing_alcohol/

2: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172 Web Archive alternative: https://web.archive.org/web/20200408111634/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172

3: https://imgur.com/a/jtTztAd