A few weeks ago I wrote an article in which I told you about a prototype of a MacBook equipped with a 3G modem which Apple would have produced a few years ago. The MacBook was then listed on Craig List in an auction, but it was in perfect working order, although the 3G modem did not have compatible software. The current owner of the MacBook, named Carl Frega, purchased the product, initially broken, from Craig List, repaired and sold it, but the new owner took it to an Apple Store where the MacBook was opened and Apple employees found that it contained components installed by the user and refused to give him a guarantee. The new owner called Frega to court and the court forced him to take his MacBook back and a few months later the product reappears in an auction on Craig List.
Opened the machine to observe that almost every internal part was 3rd party; main logic board, optical drive, display, hard drive, top case, and others. Machine number (W8707003Y53) is also not recognized as a valid number.
Proposed Resolution: Denied services; machine has been modified by unauthorized providers beyond repair.
The interesting part of the story now begins because Apple wants to be returned the MacBook prototype that went through an Apple Store where the employees did not recognize it as being produced by the company. The auction on Craig List had reached $70.000, although it is not clear if anyone would have paid that money for the 3G MacBook, but it will be interesting to see if Apple will offer compensation to Carl Frega. The company from Cupertino has already asked him to set a date when someone will be sent to take the prototype, but Frega has not confirmed to those from Apple the intention to return it.
In the end, Apple had the product in the store, they could keep it there, but the employees didn't realize what they were holding and now the company is waiting for the owner to return the prototype 4 years after its "loss".
