Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Offering Repair Program for MacBook Bottom Case Defects
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Macbook Bottom-Case Blues
I bought my Macbook in January 2010 and the first bottom delaminated in 10 months and a new bottom was installed by apple for free under warranty. It is now 10 months and the same thing is happening again. I ordered a free replacement bottom online http://www.apple.com/support/macbook-bottomcase/. At least I don't have to run around getting it repaired or do without while it gets shipped back and forth.
As a Materials Engineer I can say this is clearly a case of a poor engineering design. It is difficult to adhere rubber to metal in the first place and in an application where the metal goes through cycles of heating while in use and then cool down you are really asking for trouble. The expansion and contraction of the metal bottom under the rubber results in cyclical stresses that are hard on any adhesive. My bottoms have started to delaminate where I tend to pick up my machine with my left hand but it goes downhill from here.
Essentially Apple has foisted-off a lemon on their loyal customers and applying a band-aid replacement bottom is not a very generous offer. The resale value of this product will be forever crippled by the fact that the rubber bottom Macbook will have the reputation of being a lemon on a worldwide basis. Apple needs to reengineer the design and provide replacement bottoms that will not self-destruct every 10 months.
I bought my Macbook in January 2010 and the first bottom delaminated in 10 months and a new bottom was installed by apple for free under warranty. It is now 10 months and the same thing is happening again. I ordered a free replacement bottom online http://www.apple.com/support/macbook-bottomcase/. At least I don't have to run around getting it repaired or do without while it gets shipped back and forth.
As a Materials Engineer I can say this is clearly a case of a poor engineering design. It is difficult to adhere rubber to metal in the first place and in an application where the metal goes through cycles of heating while in use and then cool down you are really asking for trouble. The expansion and contraction of the metal bottom under the rubber results in cyclical stresses that are hard on any adhesive. My bottoms have started to delaminate where I tend to pick up my machine with my left hand but it goes downhill from here.
Essentially Apple has foisted-off a lemon on their loyal customers and applying a band-aid replacement bottom is not a very generous offer. The resale value of this product will be forever crippled by the fact that the rubber bottom Macbook will have the reputation of being a lemon on a worldwide basis. Apple needs to reengineer the design and provide replacement bottoms that will not self-destruct every 10 months.
macbook bottom replaced second time after warranty
bought macbook in feb 2010,
bottom started warping and delaminating 6 months later,
repalcement was covered under warranty.
the second bottom started warping and delamintaing 9 months later (and now out of warranty).
google search found the apple replacement program:
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook-bottomcase/
took it into a genius bar today and they cheerfully replaced it again at no charge.
drag about the failed bottoms, but cool for apple's response.
hopefully the newly engineered bottom is the final fix.
bought macbook in feb 2010,
bottom started warping and delaminating 6 months later,
repalcement was covered under warranty.
the second bottom started warping and delamintaing 9 months later (and now out of warranty).
google search found the apple replacement program:
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook-bottomcase/
took it into a genius bar today and they cheerfully replaced it again at no charge.
drag about the failed bottoms, but cool for apple's response.
hopefully the newly engineered bottom is the final fix.