MacBook Cracks

RobH · 31 Mar 2008 at 15:56

I was just curious if anyone else on these forums have had their MacBook suffer from cracking on the top layer? My MacBook suffered from this problem in August 2007 at about 11 months old. I took it to the Apple store and they replaced it under warranty. They replace the whole layer including keyboard and trackpad.

The reason I ask is because my girlfriends MacBook which was purchased in early May 2007 (11 months old) has just developed the same problem in exactly the same place. I’ve read about lots of people with this exact problem on the Internet, it normally occurs on the right but also sometimes the left of the surface. The picture below shows which part breaks.

RobH · 31 Mar 2008 at 16:04

Yeah they will replace it as I got mine repaired as I said. I suspect that it is more to do with the magnetic latching system because there are bumpers on the lid that can be pulled into the MacBooks chassis with some force. I think this may eventually lead to it splitting the plastic. It does hurt your writs when typing though so it's not just cosmetic damage. My girlfriend is currently on placement in Germany so she'll have to wait to get it replaced as she needs her MacBook daily, luckily it is under 3 year warranty from the HE store.

RobH · 4 Apr 2008 at 01:44

shifty_uk said:
I'd like to know, can you get repairs within the apple stores there and then? Without having to send it back via courier which takes days/weeks.

Well I had to book a slot at the "genius bar" in my local Apple Store and handed over my MacBook, they said it could be a few days. I got a call later that day saying it was ready to pickup. I'm not sure that'll be that fast but I don't think they will send it away, they must do the repairs in store. I wasn't asked any questions about how it happened or anything, they are well aware of the problem and should fix it for free.

RobH · 6 Apr 2008 at 20:50

5bjoshua said:
Does it happen if you shut it fast a lot, because it's magnetic. My mates one shuts quite fierce.

Josh

Yeah they are quite strong, I doubt many people are still using floppys but I'm pretty sure they could corrupt one if you held it near by. You can actually stick the Apple remote to the magnets on the lid because of the metal battery inside the remote. I've pinched the skin on my fingers and hands a few times whilst it jumped shut.

RobH · 23 Apr 2008 at 08:20

Just seen a MacBook on BBC Breakfast News with this fault, was in a story about online fraud and the MacBook in the video had this chunk of plastic missing.

RobH · 23 Apr 2008 at 17:13

Found the video, it's right near the end and isn't as clear as it was on TV http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7363221.stm

RobH · 27 Apr 2008 at 01:32

macfb said:
What do I do about them?

Well Apple should repair it as it's a design fault, you may have to wait until the plastic comes loose before they will repair it though. They replace the whole top surface which includes the keyboard and trackpad.