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lil' brudder

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 14, 2007
261
0
Minneapolis, MN
My macbook is suffering pretty severely from the oh-so-famous cracking issue, and I was wondering what you all are doing to prevent further cracking or how you are preventing cracking altogether. Thanks!
 
The only 100% guaranteed method is to Never Close the Lid.

Ever.

Everything else--cases, shells, care--none of that will change it. It's like driving a car with a Firestone tire; the only winning move is to keep that sucker in the garage.

I wrote in another thread that the cases might crack after an average of perhaps 200-500 openings and closings. If you get yours "fixed", start counting your closings from the day you get it back.
 
Well, there's two types of cracking, bottom case and top case.

Bottom case cracking is inevitable, caused by heat and solely cosmetic unless you push it really, really hard (I played a graphics-intensive game in Windows and left it on for days on end. Trust me, bad idea. Bottom case cracked, turned yellow and bulged.) The best prevention is either Never Watch YouTube or AppleCare.

While Never Close the Lid Ever works pretty well, I also suggest Don't Close The Lid So Damn Hard. That's a 90% effective solution, I'd say. That or duct tape.
 
I never slam my lid; I always keep the foam insert between the screen and the keyboard; and most importantly, I always close the lid slowly and allow the lid to rest on one of my fingers, then pull the finger out slowly "every time" I close the lid. :cool:
 
My Macbook is one month old and I think I'm also going to face the same problem. i was observing a small crack near to palmrest. I always take care of my Macbook and never close the lid hard. I'm suffering a lot with my macbook regarding two things---
1. Scratches
2. Its prone to dirt.

We can not use our macbooks like the other laptop users use their machines roughly. Even while inserting in a sleeve, we have to take care otherwise it will get scratches.:confused::eek:
 
I went to my local hobby store and picked up some clear stick dimples that are like the size of the old dot candy; I placed one on each side of the screen and on in the middle. The lid still closes all the way but keeps the plastic tabs on the lid from hitting the top of the palm rest.
 
Does anybody know...

1) Has Apple adjusted the parts in that latest 2008 MacBooks so that they won't crack?

2) If you get the top case replaced (the crack from the lid and magnets)....is the top case the exact same....or is it modified so it won't happen again?

To me....I'm shocked Apple didn't adjust the top case design at this point to reinforce it.

-Kevin
 
Does anybody know...

1) Has Apple adjusted the parts in that latest 2008 MacBooks so that they won't crack?

2) If you get the top case replaced (the crack from the lid and magnets)....is the top case the exact same....or is it modified so it won't happen again?

To me....I'm shocked Apple didn't adjust the top case design at this point to reinforce it.

-Kevin
I had heard the cases were designed slightly different but from all the pictures being posted, the older ones look identical to the new models.
 
I had heard the cases were designed slightly different but from all the pictures being posted, the older ones look identical to the new models.

Yeah....look the same to me too. Although I guess we won't know for a bit for the Penryn models as they probably haven't started to crack yet.

Unless anyone is willing to void their warranty to find out ;)

-Kevin
 
I went to my local hobby store and picked up some clear stick dimples that are like the size of the old dot candy; I placed one on each side of the screen and on in the middle. The lid still closes all the way but keeps the plastic tabs on the lid from hitting the top of the palm rest.

That's such a simple and Great Idea! Thanks for sharing that.

I'll be doing the same. What I like is that solves me also not having to worry about the keybd scratching my screen. Currently I use the foam insert that came with the macbook. Thanks again! ;)
 
Wow, you guys must be rough with your $1000+ laptops. I've had my 1st gen MacBook for almost 2 years and it looks like the day I got it. (And yes, I use it everyday.) You guys throw your stuff around or what? Am I more gentle than the average user? Has it not seen enough wear and tear? I am always so surprised to hear about all these MacBooks constantly cracking.
 
Wow, you guys must be rough with your $1000+ laptops. I've had my 1st gen MacBook for almost 2 years and it looks like the day I got it. (And yes, I use it everyday.) You guys throw your stuff around or what? Am I more gentle than the average user? Has it not seen enough wear and tear? I am always so surprised to hear about all these MacBooks constantly cracking.


wrong

If you haven't had a crack in macbook, then you are either very lucky or don't even close it. I am hardly rough on my macbook neither are any of the people that I know who have experienced the problem. Trying to suggest that this problem is do to user abuse is nothing short of stupidity.
 
I went to my local hobby store and picked up some clear stick dimples that are like the size of the old dot candy; I placed one on each side of the screen and on in the middle. The lid still closes all the way but keeps the plastic tabs on the lid from hitting the top of the palm rest.

Could you post some pics? I'd love to see how it works.

-Kevin
 
What is Macbook cracking?

I have a Macbook( approx. 11/07), but no cracks.

Have not taken it mobile yet because I have not found a laptop bag I feel will protect it adequately. I will need to take it mobile, though; probably soon.

I close the lid very slowly and I keep my finger(s) in between as long as I can to prevent it from banging shut. This just seemed logical to me because I am not comfortable allowing ANY laptop's lid to close as hard as a Macbook's will if you just let the magnet pull it closed once it gets close enough.

Does anyone have a 11/07 date Macbook, or later, that has cracked?

Could someone please post some pictures of this cracking?

Would the guy that used the hobby shop dots please post a picture? Are they self adhesive or did you glue them on?

note: I am liking the Macbook a lot more than many years of PC use, but in my opinion Apple intentionally builds the Macbook lacking structural quality found in even the cheapest PCs. To me that was unfortunately evident the moment I took it out of the box. Besides, how else does one explain cracking, heat warping, and other issues encountered under routine use?

It is starting to look, to me, like we Macbook users may not be hampered by the software issues associated with the most common PC operating system, but we still may end up wasting a good deal of time trying to be careful not to squeeze too tightly when holding our Macbooks for fear they may crush in our very hands. D***
 
Some Macbooks end up cracking in the base. No one is exactly 100% sure of the causes, though, people postulate it's a combination of palm pressure, heat, and closing/slamming the lid hard.

Just be careful with your Macbook and hope for the best.
 
...palm pressure...

Judging from my opinion of the Macbook's structural quality that would seem a significant contributing factor; especially, combined with heating of the plastic due, in part, to inadequate cooling/ventilation. The plastic case sure does seem like it will tend to become "brittle" over a relatively short period of time exposed to heating/cool down cycles.

First accessories I went after on Ebay, and got, for my Macbook were wireless keyboard and mouse. ...ended up with Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard model A1016 and Logitech bluetooth mouse. Again, once I saw the structural quality one of the first things I thought was "Never put my(your) hands on my Macbook"; use wireless input devices.
 
Judging from my opinion of the Macbook's structural quality that would seem a significant contributing factor; especially, combined with heating of the plastic due, in part, to inadequate cooling/ventilation. The plastic case sure does seem like it will tend to become "brittle" over a relatively short period of time exposed to heating/cool down cycles.

First accessories I went after on Ebay, and got, for my Macbook were wireless keyboard and mouse. ...ended up with Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard model A1016 and Logitech bluetooth mouse. Again, once I saw the structural quality one of the first things I thought was "Never put my(your) hands on my Macbook"; use wireless input devices.

that kind of defeats the point of having a portable
 
No cracks here

I have a August 07 BlackBook (3rd Gen) and I have not seen any cracks. My friend's 1st Gen WhiteBook go it but Apple replaced it for free.
 
that kind of defeats the point of having a portable

That REALLY depends on what YOUR point of having a portable is. We are all living, breathing, THINKING human beings and we can more or less use a portable as we like, as we are comfortable with, or as we see fit.

In my opinion what you are saying is EXACTLY the same as statements like:

a. That defeats the point of having a four door automobile if you never use the back seats.

b. That defeats the point of having a 4x4 if you never go off road.

c. That defeats the point of having a garage if you do not like to park your car in it.

d. That defeats the point of having a wife if you do not want any kids or if you are a "loner".

e. That defeats the point of owning a five bedroom home if you live alone.

f. That defeats the point of having a kitchen, or kitchen appliances, if you never eat at home.

g. That defeats the point of having a television if you never watch television.

h. That defeats the point of owning a typewriter if you always use a computer word processor.

i. That defeats the point of owning a PENCIL if you always use ink pens.

Who gets to say what the point of such things in MY life are or how I choose to fit them into or use them in my life. Hopefully, I still do or that defeats the point of MY LIFE in my opinion.

What you are saying sounds, to me, like something out of the dark ages. "Women don't where pants." "A lady never does this, a lady never does that..."

Besides, you and I both know that one of the great pleasures many average people find in owning a notebook is the ability to use it as a desktop and to easily take it mobile. Two computers in one. This type of use has become so prevalent that you will not find many PC manufacturers who are not marketing a good part of their line as "desktop replacements".

Me. I do not at all like the feel of using ANY laptop's built in keyboard and trackpad; I like the flexibility and comfort of some form of wireless keyboard. And apparently I am not the only one because wireless keyboards, mice, and other such accessories are some of the hottest selling items around.

They are excellent examples of thinking outside of the box and I am glad for it because I do not like being confined to a box either; to which you could respond that defeats the point of owning a box.

Nonetheless, personally, IF it is pretty clear to me that my computer can not tolerate a certain manner of usage AND I am not willing to give the computer up AND the manufacturer is not helping THEN I am not just going to INSIST on using the computer that way if it is within my power to comfortably avoid using the computer that way in the absence of another suitable fix.

One of the first keyboard related issues I found out about AFTER I got my 4gb - 250gb - superdrive white Macbook was yellowing, dirtying, and general discoloration of the keyboard and trackpad area that was/is probably directly related to use of those components. Especially in view of numerous accounts of users who were desperately trying to reverse the aforementioned "damage" it was obvious to me that Apple was not helping and that there was/is no reliable fix other than AVOID using the built in keyboard and trackpad. As I have said, I do not like the feel of using the built ins anyway, but those issues really put the "ever" in "don't ever use my built in keyboard and trackpad" for me.

Besides, to me it DEFEATS THE POINT of buying a white Macbook if I am going to stand by and let it turn yellow and dirty colored.

And let us not forget the BIGGIE. According to your line of reasoning you could, it seems to me, also say "It defeats the point of owning a computer if it is not compatible with the software run on 92% of the world's computers."

I have a August 07 BlackBook (3rd Gen) and I have not seen any cracks.

That is very encouraging, but I wonder. I get the feeling that WhiteBooks are almost exclusively affected. Am I right??

...in my opinion Apple intentionally builds the...[WHITE]...Macbook lacking structural quality found in even the cheapest PCs.
 
I have a palmrest crack around the edge. Is this covered by Applecare? I've heard of people getting it replaced. If it is covered, how long does the repair take?
 
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