Broken Hinge Article

[manhattanboy]

Engadget has the fanboys and Apple haters going at it over the broken hinge issue. I was curious as to how widespread the problem was here.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/macbook-air-hinge-defect-not-covered-by-apples-warranty/

EDIT:
And if your hinge is "loose" I guess just comment on it... I thought that generally a loose hinge is like pre-diabetes... a little more and you're at the uh-oh stage.

[dborja]

Uh oh! I can hear them coming...

[NC MacGuy]

There's not an option for no real problems yet but hinge has some play and not like new. My Rev. A has a looser hinge but it hasn't broken. Only time will tell.

[jessica.]

Engadget has the fanboys and Apple haters going at it over the broken hinge issue. I was curious as to how widespread the problem was here.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/macbook-air-hinge-defect-not-covered-by-apples-warranty/

I HARDLY call people who want a notebook to not have a faulty hinge haters. As with any forum type setting though you'll get the ones who want to yell "HA HA" to anyone with what many people see as an over-priced netbook.

So far my hinge is good, but like NC said ... only time will tell. I don't detect any play either but I did not use mine daily until about 5 weeks ago.

[tubbymac]

It's refreshing sometimes to read comments from non Apple sites. Haters versus clueless fanboys? I'll take Haters any day because at least they err on the side of skepticism instead of fanaticism. That comment from the one fangirl cracked me up though. She was boasting about how awesome it was that Apple took care of her the 10 or so times she had to bring her machine in for service. Apple would probably lose my business forever if I had to bring my machine in more than twice. I won't touch a Compaq notebook ever again because the hinge broke on one I had a long time ago.

Anyhow, the poll they had seems a bit suspect though. Are there seriously 3000 Macbook Air users that both read Engadget and have had their hinges broken AND Apple refused to fix it under warranty? That's hard for me to believe.

[queshy]

This was way blown out of proportion...I don't find the hinge issue is really talked about on MR that much (correct me if i'm wrong, someone!). Usually if there is a problem it's well, well, well reported on macrumors!

[SFStateStudent]

I was so concerned with the heat and fan issues that I didn't even notice a hinge problem...:o

[Revtop22]

I don't think anyone fully understands the hinge issue. It's not simply just the hinge that is the problem. It's the way Apple builds the display. It is made in such a way that if the hinge or screen breaks, you HAVE to go directly to Apple for a full replacement of the entire display housing (LCD, bezel, display housing, hinges, webcam, cables, etc) ~$800.
Not one single Apple reseller can install their own displays due to Apple's ridiculous idea of using 3M adhesive to put the super thin (and easily bent) aluminum bezel on. If they had constructed the bezel properly for easy removal (such as on the unibody's with the glass that comes right off), we wouldn't be talking about this issue.

I mean if someone broke a screen on any other laptop, they'd be able to order just the LCD and get that installed. Not on the Macbook Air (and I can't think of another laptop where the LCD is not accessible). While the LCD is available on ebay for replacement, Apple does not make the bezel, display housing, or hinges a replaceable part. So you cannot order these on an individual basis for repairs. Who in their right mind would do such a thing? It's like telling your customers to buy a $2000 paperweight (after the warranty is up). You are taking a big chance using a MBA w/o warranty because a cracked display or loose hinge (poorly designed I might add) looms in the distant future.

You have to give customers repair options if you're going to have a poorly designed display. If you don't, don't expect them to buy the product because an $800 repair will be required within the next 3-4 years guaranteed.


Side note: I've spent the last year and then some trying to coax people near the supply chain to get me hinges and bezels. This hasn't worked at all. I ended up water jet cutting my own bezels now (which I stock) and look exactly like the original. I simply engrave the lettering back on and it's perfect. The hinges are another story.

[justdhruv]

mine just broke.

[remobot]

does HP even release compaq branded computers anymore ? just wondering, i grew up by their old headquarters.

and i have not heard much of anything in relation to hinge issues, not denying it's an issue, i've just yet to experience anything like it.

[manhattanboy]

mine just broke.

what model did you have?

[turugara]

Revision A. Pre-ordered the first day it came out.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2425/img1571.th.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1571.jpg)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8501/img1570.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1570.jpg)

I haven't had time to go to an apple store yet =(

[gcmexico]

I got the Air the first day it came out...no hinge problems what so ever (watch it break now because of my post)

[xparaparafreakx]

My is broken and out of applecare.

I am having a friend look to see if there are internal documents showing this problem and get it fixed some how. If not, ill use her discount to get a new one.

[Revtop22]

My is broken and out of applecare.

I am having a friend look to see if there are internal documents showing this problem and get it fixed some how. If not, ill use her discount to get a new one.

Which hinge broke? I've got a few of them laying around. You might only need the one half of it (not the part with the bar sticking out). I've also got a full display but I'm not sure you want to resort to that all for a hinge.

[xparaparafreakx]

Which hinge broke? I've got a few of them laying around. You might only need the one half of it (not the part with the bar sticking out). I've also got a full display but I'm not sure you want to resort to that all for a hinge.

I will take some pictures in the morning to show you what is damaged.

[gcmexico]

anyway to tighten hinges before they break?

[modelsown]

Opened my 11 month old REV A. last Thursday and heard a pop/crack and sure enough, the hinge on the ports side had come loose. Made an Genius appointment at the Vancouver Apple Store for the same day and was told it would be replaced under warranty this one time. The repair would have cost $700 otherwise. Read the engadget post on the way home from the store. Yeah, weird coincidence! Got it back on Saturday and the screen is as tight as can be.

Before the repair, the screen/lid did exhibit quite a bit of play which I do believe may be an indicator the hinge may come loose. In my case, it was the part of the hinge that attaches to the unibody that popped off.

For those with "sloppy" screens, it may be a good idea to open up the bottom to make sure the screws are tight. Unfortunately you cannot check the ones that attach to the screen as they are hidden behind the bezel. The ones on the unibody are star-shaped as seen in the attachment.

I hope this helps :)

[Revtop22]

anyway to tighten hinges before they break?

Nope. They are made with some very tiny tiny c-clamps that hold onto the bar really tight. No possible way to tighten it and they're made to loosen over time.

Definitely not a quality product like the Macbook Pro hinges. I had my CNC guy take a look at it but we haven't come up with a new design yet. I did get the bezel laser cut though so now I have 10 or so bezels with adhesive backing .....yay!

[cedar]

mine just broke.

So did mine on my air. The Apple store refused to honor the warranty. Wants $650 to fix it.

[turugara]

I just got mine replaced under my homeowners insurance. They decided to give me the old LCD so now I have an LCD with a broken hinge.

~How much should I be able to fetch for one of those? I have no use for a macbook air LCD with a broken hinge. The LCD is in perfect working condition with no scratches and an invisible-shield on since purchase.

[jeremybuff]

My MBA's hinges BOTH broke. I'll tell you one thing, this is absolutely a manufacturing/design flaw. Right after I bought it, I started working as a freelancer and did not need to carry it anywhere, so it just sat there. All I ever did, and I mean EVER did, was open and close it... which is what I assume is "normal operation of a notebook".

First the right hinge broke- completely out of the socket. The today, just as I was bringing into my local service repair center, the second hinge bulged and the metal clasps are popping out of the plastic.

I can't tell you how furious I am that Apple denies there is a problem with the Rev A MacBook Air. They vehemently deny a problem exists, insist that I "forced it open too far", and blame me for the issue. The service provider (Charlotte Street Computers, Asheville NC) is great and I highly recommend them, but Apple is trying to pull a fast one and I won't have any of it.

I'm going to continue to fight as long and hard as I can.. partly because I do not have $800 to pay for an entirely new hinge/screen. This is asinine, and the first time that I can really remember- or have heard of- Apple doing their customers so wrong. Even if they fix the Air for me without a charge, I will still be upset at they way I was treated. We all pay a high price for Macs, even if they are worth it, they problem should not exist on a $1,800 laptop. It's like a ticking timebomb is built into the notebook.

I wrote a small blog post if you're interested: http://blog.jeremybuff.com/macbook-air-hinge-problems/

[cedar]

My MBA's hinges BOTH broke. I'll tell you one thing, this is absolutely a manufacturing/design flaw. Right after I bought it, I started working as a freelancer and did not need to carry it anywhere, so it just sat there. All I ever did, and I mean EVER did, was open and close it... which is what I assume is "normal operation of a notebook".

First the right hinge broke- completely out of the socket. The today, just as I was bringing into my local service repair center, the second hinge bulged and the metal clasps are popping out of the plastic.

I can't tell you how furious I am that Apple denies there is a problem with the Rev A MacBook Air. They vehemently deny a problem exists, insist that I "forced it open too far", and blame me for the issue. The service provider (Charlotte Street Computers, Asheville NC) is great and I highly recommend them, but Apple is trying to pull a fast one and I won't have any of it.

I'm going to continue to fight as long and hard as I can.. partly because I do not have $800 to pay for an entirely new hinge/screen. This is asinine, and the first time that I can really remember- or have heard of- Apple doing their customers so wrong. Even if they fix the Air for me without a charge, I will still be upset at they way I was treated. We all pay a high price for Macs, even if they are worth it, they problem should not exist on a $1,800 laptop. It's like a ticking timebomb is built into the notebook.

I wrote a small blog post if you're interested: http://blog.jeremybuff.com/macbook-air-hinge-problems/

Call Applecare directly and ask for customer service. Do not talk to the person who answers, but insist on talking to a customer service rep. It worked for me. The Applestore where I bought the unit was completely worthless, and bordering on arrogant. A local authorized reseller helped me with my problem by guiding me through the process, even though I didn't buy the unit from them. You can bet my next purchase will be from them, not the "could care less" mega-store.

[darrellishere]

I just placed my two week old Rev b on the bed with the screen open and SNAP!!!

The screen was lying flat as a pancake on the bed! I almost had a heart attack!

Luckily the screen still has a good stiffness to it, so it went back to its original angel.

Now it goes all the way down too the new angle too. LOL

[zedsdead]

My hinge was fine until Apple had to fix a screen issue. They replaced the entire bezel, and the hinge came back loose. I needed the computer (and still do until the early summer), so they said they would make a note and I could drop it off to be fixed when I wanted. I am worried the hinge may completely break given these problems.

[manhattanboy]

the first broken hinge with rev B was posted...
I wonder if its only a matter of time before we see more; let's hope not!!

[shrtmkr]

My 13 month old air just had the same issue with the broken hinge. Let's hope they will adress this issue quick and we don't have to fight about it when they accuse the customer it is user made.
This is %100 design flaw and it pops out of its place because of overheating.
It will haunt most of the mba owners after a year.