MBP 17-inch hinge

[alphaod]

So I sometimes like to use my computer with the keyboard perpendicular in the air resting my legs when I'm lying down.

So I've kind of stop doing that now that I have the 17-inch because the hinge doesn't hold the screen up (It closes). I went back to the store to check if my was a defect, but I've been told it does this because the display is too heavy.

So anyone have a way to make the hinge tighter?

Regards.

[cashmoney]

I always wondered why I could slam the lip shut on the 17" macbook pro but not the 15" pro. It all makes sense now. Well regarding your problem, i'm not sure if you should do this, but I think there are two screws in the back of the macbook pro near the hinge that if you tighten it, it will make it more tighter. I know it works on the 15" pro but an apple employee told me not to do it too tight or the screen will fall off...:confused:

[alphaod]

I always wondered why I could slam the lip shut on the 17" macbook pro but not the 15" pro. It all makes sense now. Well regarding your problem, i'm not sure if you should do this, but I think there are two screws in the back of the macbook pro near the hinge that if you tighten it, it will make it more tighter. I know it works on the 15" pro but an apple employee told me not to do it too tight or the screen will fall off...:confused:

You mean the ones on the chassis or the ones on the hinge anchor after removing the top of the computer?

'cause the ones on the chassis are for opening up the computer

[Area51Tazz]

One of the Apple Store people told me I could bring it in and they would tighten it up for me...have you asked about that?

[alphaod]

One of the Apple Store people told me I could bring it in and they would tighten it up for me...have you asked about that?

I'm going to the store today with a boatload of issues. I will ask.

[tranceteria]

I have the SAME ISSUEEEEEE, it's annoying, my last HP was tight! I could literally spin it and the hinge would stay the same.

Let us know how things went at the apple store, reckon I should do the same.

[alphaod]

I have been told they cannot tighten it because there is no way to do it short of opening the computer up.

[Area51Tazz]

"No 5h1T sherlock"

That's what I would have said. :P

[UltraNEO*]

Well your MacBookPro Hinge kinda looks like this..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1207/866094329_e50602bbb5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraneo/866094329/)

even, if you went to the trouble of ripping the machine to bits, like I did. you still can't tighten the actual hinge... Those screws are only for the mounting of the display.

[AuroraProject]

My 17" doesn't close by itself at any angle. I'm pretty sure i read about a way to tighten the hinges, let me see if I can dig up the article.

[brandonshough]

Can't tighten the hinges guys....

[jjahshik32]

Its always been like that even since the powerbook 17" the screen is just too big. Even my powerbook g4 17" (last gen), 17" mbp, 17" mbp hi res the screen closed.

[alphaod]

"No 5h1T sherlock"

That's what I would have said. :P

Then you'd get a bunch of complaints. :rolleyes:

[drayon]

Is this issue we are talking about here perfectly represented in this youtube vid ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJXAzHaCUgc

If so i have this issue as well. Ive recently checked out about 8 PC 17" laptops at shops, none of the displays on those machines flops down like the MBP. BTW those PC 17" machines were much heavier than the MBP. The display was tight and did not move from its set position regardless of angle the machine is set to, or even upside down, they dont move.

Apple design flaw IMO and a cop out "this is normal" because they cant be bothered designing it differently so it doesnt do this.

[Smurfed]

I think they have tightened the hinges on the Updated Penryn 17" Models.

Noted in the very beginning of this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FK0xBP6OSHw

[jjahshik32]

On my 2.5ghz 17" penryn I use it the same way you do on my bed in that sit up position with the mbp on my lap and the screen doesnt close. I dont know if my 17" mbp is the exception but its screen hinge is pretty tight to close or open.

[jjahshik32]

I think they have tightened the hinges on the Updated Penryn 17" Models.

Noted in the very beginning of this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FK0xBP6OSHw

Just saw the video! Whoa you are a smurf!! :D yea I noticed my 2.5ghz 17" hi res penryn mbp's hinge is very tight as well and doesnt close easily.:D

[taylorwilsdon]

Just saw the video! Whoa you are a smurf!! :D yea I noticed my 2.5ghz 17" hi res penryn mbp's hinge is very tight as well and doesnt close easily.:D

What an idiot. Half the stuff he said was wrong and he sounds like he's 4. Who gave that twerp a $2500 laptop.

[jjahshik32]

What an idiot. Half the stuff he said was wrong and he sounds like he's 4. Who gave that twerp a $2500 laptop.

In the beginning I thought he was a girl then it turned out to be Steve Jobs son?? He thinks his laptop is a super computer... long as he can play spong bob square pants game??!?

[Smurfed]

Just saw the video! Whoa you are a smurf!! :D yea I noticed my 2.5ghz 17" hi res penryn mbp's hinge is very tight as well and doesnt close easily.:D

Lol, that's not my video btw, just found it using YouTube search.

Yeah just try not to watch anything past the first 45 secs where he just shows the hinges, everything past that is just.. T_T

[alphaod]

Well your MacBookPro Hinge kinda looks like this..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1207/866094329_e50602bbb5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraneo/866094329/)

even, if you went to the trouble of ripping the machine to bits, like I did. you still can't tighten the actual hinge... Those screws are only for the mounting of the display.

I just ripped apart my computer and the hinges do not look like that. They have this long spiral thingy. Not sure what it is. Not modding that :eek:

[Joko]

The tech guy at apple said he tightened mine, guess he was lying :mad:

[jjahshik32]

I still say that the newer mbp has a lighter screen so that is why the screen doesnt close anymore.

[gelatin]

ive got a new 17 inch mbp and i just noticed this problem too :(

[gelatin]

since my MBP is brand new im thinking of returning it to be repaired.
i bought it online, will i be able to take it to the apple store for them to fix?

[bcaslis]

since my MBP is brand new im thinking of returning it to be repaired.
i bought it online, will i be able to take it to the apple store for them to fix?

Fix what? It's designed that way. I can't believe people don't get this.

1.) 15" and smaller displays use a friction hinge. Set it and wiggle all you want, it will stay put unless you get crazy.
2.) The 17" is too heavy for a friction hinge unless it was very very stiff. That would also make it difficult for users to adjust the angle. So Apple uses a counter balanced hinge. This allows the display to be adjusted with very little effort (go try a 15" you will see the 17" adjusts easier). The downside is the counterbalance is based on a level surface. Apple obviously expects most usage of a 17" to be on a desk. So if you tilt the back end up, the counterbalance isn't correct and the display closes.

There is likely individual variation from one hinge to another. But the basic design is not adjustable and will never ever be like the 15".

And FYI I've had numerous 17" and 15" PowerBook G4 and MacBook Pros. This is isn't something new, it's been in these basic case designs since the very beginning.

[gelatin]

thing is, ive spoken to people with 17 inchers that dont have this problem tho

[bcaslis]

thing is, ive spoken to people with 17 inchers that dont have this problem tho

I've seen these claims also. Have you actually tried theirs? I've had several and they are all like this including those I've tested in stores.

It's like someone claiming their display is perfect, but you look at it and see it has a heavy yellow tint in the bottom 1/3 of the display.

I know there are those here who will disagree with me, but I say they are wrong. I want one person to tell me they can hold the 17" at a 90 degree angle with the trackpad pointing down and say the lid stays in place. It will not. A 15" or MB or MBA will do this fine. The 17" hinge design doesn't allow this. Period.

[alphaod]

I want one person to tell me they can hold the 17" at a 90 degree angle with the trackpad pointing down and say the lid stays in place. It will not. A 15" or MB or MBA will do this fine. The 17" hinge design doesn't allow this. Period.

No it doesn't =(

All my friend's are in the same room and they can all do it and I can't.

[bcaslis]

No it doesn't =(

All my friend's are in the same room and they can all do it and I can't.

They have 17" MBPs that can hold the lid at 90 degrees without closing?

[gelatin]

mines not even 90 degrees, i tilt my laptop at about 45 degrees and it fall down

can do any harm in calling up apple can it?

[bcaslis]

mines not even 90 degrees, i tilt my laptop at about 45 degrees and it fall down

can do any harm in calling up apple can it?

Certainly no harm, but I wouldn't bother with trying an exchange or repair unless there is another issue. I agree that it's somewhere between 45 degrees and 60 degrees where the lid start to close.

[JSF]

Just got back from the apple store and all of the 17" model's close when tilted.

[Sesshi]

It's the hinge design and the weight of the screen. All 17" MBP's that I've had do this (and possibly the Powerbooks too?) Tightening up the display - if it is at all possible - is probably not a good idea, as it'll put more stress on the hinge assembly when you close it, leading to earlier failure of an already comparatively delicate mechanism.

Perhaps if you need to use it like this on a regular basis you can use a small plunger with a long handle stuck onto your forehead to keep the display from closing or something :p

[drayon]

I was at a PC laptop store the other day, none of the seven 17" laptop displays flopped closed like the MBP. The machines were all much heavier than the MBP.

So Apple is the only manufacturer who can't seem engineer a system with a firm display and still brag how light and thin it is and blame the weight of the display as the reason for this flawed design? Right i get it.

[Sesshi]

Well - part of the reason for the weight is that they can engineer a more substantial chassis than the MBP's. However I've had HP business machines that weren't much heavier and were also better built despite having a plastic body (and better cooled to boot, so you could actually use the GPU on the move without flambe-ing your thighs).

[bcaslis]

I was at a PC laptop store the other day, none of the seven 17" laptop displays flopped closed like the MBP. The machines were all much heavier than the MBP.

So Apple is the only manufacturer who can't seem engineer a system with a firm display and still brag how light and thin it is and blame the weight of the display as the reason for this flawed design? Right i get it.

Part of this is how easily the lid is to adjust. It's much lighter to adjust than the 15". That's the counterbalanced hinge. You can argue whether it's the right decision or not, but it's obvious it's a design decision.

[gelatin]

the 17 inch screen is ridiculosly easy to open but closing it takes a lot more effort

[bcaslis]

the 17 inch screen is ridiculosly easy to open but closing it takes a lot more effort

friction hinge = same effort to open or close

counterbalanced hinge = what you want in the design, usually easier in direction than another

[Macnoviz]

The tech guy at apple said he tightened mine, guess he was lying :mad:

probably like the old wine-with-a-cork-taste-returning-trick

[comptr]

Humm Have you guys looked at this product: http://snipurl.com/23axz

[gelatin]

friction hinge = same effort to open or close

counterbalanced hinge = what you want in the design, usually easier in direction than another

well then theyve put the counterbalance the wrong way round imo

[bcaslis]

well then theyve put the counterbalance the wrong way round imo

Well I guess that depends. I bet if you had one to try that didn't have the counterbalance you would find it difficult to open due to the weight. And if it was easier to close then it would be slamming closed on you even easier than it does now.

[alphaod]

Humm Have you guys looked at this product: http://snipurl.com/23axz

Yeah except how to adjust the hinge from those case screws? :rolleyes:

[alphaod]

They have 17" MBPs that can hold the lid at 90 degrees without closing?

No they all have 15" models.

[gelatin]

Well I guess that depends. I bet if you had one to try that didn't have the counterbalance you would find it difficult to open due to the weight. And if it was easier to close then it would be slamming closed on you even easier than it does now.

i wouldnt be bothered that its difficult to open.
i never said i wanted it to close easier, i want it harder to close

[bcaslis]

i wouldnt be bothered that its difficult to open.
i never said i wanted it to close easier, i want it harder to close

I understand that you want it harder to close. I was commenting that if you made it harder to open, then closing it would be easier due to counterbalancing.

What most in this thread want is a friction hinge. Unfortunately that's not what Apple has built in the 17".

[gelatin]

bastards:mad:

[comptr]

Yeah except how to adjust the hinge from those case screws? :rolleyes:

oops :o

[alphaod]

oops :o

I think the product is for loosening the hinge, contrary to what we need here.

[madmartigan]

I have had 2 17inch penryns so far and neither one has a loose hinge.

They are very stiff and will not fall down on their own.

[bcaslis]

I have had 2 17inch penryns so far and neither one has a loose hinge.

They are very stiff and will not fall down on their own.

Tilt the rear up 90 degrees so the front is pointing down. If it doesn't close by itself I'll buy you a beer. :D

[Pukey]

Hmmm...
My hinge I think is too tight as it creaks whenever I open or close it. A kid at the Apple store said he thought it was the screws on the bottom back part of the computer that would loosen it up a bit. I think he's cook-a-nutty.
I guess I'll check with AppleCare next time they're open.

[BigHungry04]

My MBP does that when you hold it at 90 degrees. It is totally cool. Wish my Dell did that.

[alphaod]

Hmmm...
My hinge I think is too tight as it creaks whenever I open or close it. A kid at the Apple store said he thought it was the screws on the bottom back part of the computer that would loosen it up a bit. I think he's cook-a-nutty.
I guess I'll check with AppleCare next time they're open.

If it creaks and you are within the 2 week exchange you can get a replacement for your computer.