I have been very sad since last week when I dropped my powerbook :-( Unfortunately no good story to go with it, it was just a plain simple accident. I did get very lucky though.. it still works.. however, it will no longer latch. The screen doesn't line up with the main part of the computer. The best I can describe it is that the hinges are no longer aligned properly (they don't seem broken though).
I brought it to the apple store and they said it would require a new part (the "clutches" as they call them.. as I understand it the actual hinges that attach the screen). They quoted me "around $300" and told me I would be without my computer for 3-5 days. I can not really afford the 300 and even worse than that, I can't afford to be without my computer for possibly 5 days as it is my only computer.
Granted the problem that resulted from the drop is mostly cosmetic, it doesn't affect sleep on lid close or it staying asleep, and I have a sleeve to keep it closed, I opted to live with it for now.
The advice I'm looking for is on what to do. My thought is to somehow order the hinges for the screen and do the repair myself, but I need advice on where/how to get the parts. Also, I have removed the top case myself and replaced the optical drive and hard drive and didn 't have any problem really at all. Does anyone have any experience removing/replacing any parts of the screen or screen bezel? If so how, difficult is it for a person already comfortable with removing the top case and working inside a laptop? Does anyone think it's worth it to just suck it up and deal with the repair cost/time frame from apple? Are there any alternative laptop repair services that might do it cheaper/quicker than apple?
Relevant info:
- Powerbook 15"/1.5 Ghz - the PPC model before they went HD and bumped to 1.67ghz
- I plan on keeping this as my one and only computer for at least the next year, it fits my needs and has always been reliable
- I live in the Philadelphia area (if this might have any bearing on available other service options anyone might come up with)
Thanks in advance for any advice/words of wisdom/anything!
I brought it to the apple store and they said it would require a new part (the "clutches" as they call them.. as I understand it the actual hinges that attach the screen). They quoted me "around $300" and told me I would be without my computer for 3-5 days. I can not really afford the 300 and even worse than that, I can't afford to be without my computer for possibly 5 days as it is my only computer.
Granted the problem that resulted from the drop is mostly cosmetic, it doesn't affect sleep on lid close or it staying asleep, and I have a sleeve to keep it closed, I opted to live with it for now.
The advice I'm looking for is on what to do. My thought is to somehow order the hinges for the screen and do the repair myself, but I need advice on where/how to get the parts. Also, I have removed the top case myself and replaced the optical drive and hard drive and didn 't have any problem really at all. Does anyone have any experience removing/replacing any parts of the screen or screen bezel? If so how, difficult is it for a person already comfortable with removing the top case and working inside a laptop? Does anyone think it's worth it to just suck it up and deal with the repair cost/time frame from apple? Are there any alternative laptop repair services that might do it cheaper/quicker than apple?
Relevant info:
- Powerbook 15"/1.5 Ghz - the PPC model before they went HD and bumped to 1.67ghz
- I plan on keeping this as my one and only computer for at least the next year, it fits my needs and has always been reliable
- I live in the Philadelphia area (if this might have any bearing on available other service options anyone might come up with)
Thanks in advance for any advice/words of wisdom/anything!
