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Be careful with your 2017 MacBook Pro screen.

dpmitche

dpmitche

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 16, 2017
2
4
Hi All,

I've been a loyal Apple user since 1999, and have owned most every MacBook Pro laptop ever released since then. Recently I purchased a 2017 MacBook Pro with Touchbar and had an unfortunate accident where it fell a bit less than 3 feet off a couch and onto hardwood floors and completely destroyed the screen. My family and I were a bit wrapped up in the Army Navy football game, and the fall didn't seem that bad at the time. When I went to inspect it afterwards, I was quite surprised as no other previous MBP laptops have ever had any screen damage from similar incidents. The corners of the lid were bent down and up in places, and interestingly enough the actual glass in front of the LCD was fine, yet the LCD panel behind the glass broke.

While the machine was within warranty, it wouldn't have been covered under by Apple as it was completely my fault. Fortunately I opted for computer insurance with my insurance company, which covered the £750 repair bill less deductable.

So just a warning out there for any new MBP owners to be extra careful. I'll be treating my new MBP as a bit of a delicate item from now on as it's not nearly as robust as previous models.

Cheers,
Devin
 
dpmitche said:
Hi All,

I've been a loyal Apple user since 1999, and have owned most every MacBook Pro laptop ever released since then. Recently I purchased a 2017 MacBook Pro with Touchbar and had an unfortunate accident where it fell a bit less than 3 feet off a couch and onto hardwood floors and completely destroyed the screen. My family and I were a bit wrapped up in the Army Navy football game, and the fall didn't seem that bad at the time. When I went to inspect it afterwards, I was quite surprised as no other previous MBP laptops have ever had any screen damage from similar incidents. The corners of the lid were bent down and up in places, and interestingly enough the actual glass in front of the LCD was fine, yet the LCD panel behind the glass broke.

While the machine was within warranty, it wouldn't have been covered under by Apple as it was completely my fault. Fortunately I opted for computer insurance with my insurance company, which covered the £750 repair bill less deductable.

So just a warning out there for any new MBP owners to be extra careful. I'll be treating my new MBP as a bit of a delicate item from now on as it's not nearly as robust as previous models.

Cheers,
Devin
Click to expand...

I don't the older models were any more robust. My daughter slid her 2011 13" mbp off her bed onto a carpeted floor and bend the lid and shattered the screen.
 
William Payne said:
Expect damage any time you drop a computer or any electronics. If no damage its just luck. I have dropped my iPhone (in a case) a million times, I have no idea how I haven't broken it.
Click to expand...


Same, Had iphone 3gs, 5s, then got another 5s for free upgrade and now 5se. I have kicked, thrown, drowned, washed, everything to these phones. Keep on working. One I washed, it has a few water droplets behind screen but its dry, just residue from soap. Still kicking.

I do believe a decent case=saves it. They are small, and pretty stout. Laptops are much larger, and still thin. The strength to size ratio is nowhere near our little phones made of aluminum and glass.
 
It's never wise to put your laptop in danger by using it near floor that could break it. Or at least keep it further enough on your desk.
 
Sorry but dropping a laptop from 3 feet on to a hard floor is not reasonable wear and tear. I think you need to start being more careful rather than trying to warn people.
 
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eddjedi said:
Sorry but dropping a laptop from 3 feet on to a hard floor is not reasonable wear and tear. I think you need to start being more careful rather than trying to warn people.
Click to expand...

I never said it was "reasonable wear and tear" and openly admitted it was my fault, so not sure why you're even trying to go there. I'm simply admitting to being a MacBook Pro user for almost 20 years and just experienced my first broken screen from a new generation MBP. Please quit trolling and start contributing with honesty.
 
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My previus 15 MBP (2013 model) was dropped innumerable times to the carpet of my betroom and office, and none of these "accidents" dented or broken anything, one little fall of my (by then) new macbook pro tb 15 (2016) dented right away one corner of the screen aluminium enclosure. Lighter and thinner make compromises in strengt and durability.
 
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dpmitche said:
I never said it was "reasonable wear and tear" and openly admitted it was my fault, so not sure why you're even trying to go there. I'm simply admitting to being a MacBook Pro user for almost 20 years and just experienced my first broken screen from a new generation MBP. Please quit trolling and start contributing with honesty.
Click to expand...

Much comes down to luck and the way the notebook lands, equally my own perception is the new MBP is not as durable as previous iterations and exasperated by Apple's design process which now literally breaks the notebooks down to just a few modules that have an extremely high cost of repair.

This all very much works for Apple, however I do find it to be extremely hostile to the consumer. Seemingly Apple's sole focus is "thinner" at all costs, with now the MBP passing the threshold of diminishing returns...

Q-6
 
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I had a similar experience with my 2016 MacBook Pro w/Touchbar, as I stumbled, computer slipped from my hands with screen open, it crashed into my exercise machine and landed on the floor. Experiences differ from that point, as my screen did not shatter. Instead, it suffered minor, almost unnoticeable scratches on the outer display and a slight dent on the external screen casing.

I figured not a big deal, as I have Apple Care Plus, so I’ll just pay the deductible and get the screen replaced for accidential damage. To my dismay, Apple Care Plus did not exist for MacBooks in 2016. I only had Apple Care. I discovered the difference only after making my Genius Bar appointment. Manager at the Apple Store was willing to waive the labor costs off the $700+ screen replacement, but c’mon!!! Manager suggested that I contact Apple to see if they were willing to upgrade my Apple Care coverage.

I contacted Apple, they were all but ready to upgrade my coverage until they learned that I had already had a Genius Bar appointment for damage to my screen. So, they were no longer willing to allow me to pay $40 more to obtain the Plus coverage.

Thankfully, I was able to get Apple to replace the screen at no charge. But I still only have regular Apple Care. Like the OP, I will be babying my computer as if it were my flesh and blood.

Tip my hat off to Apple for fixing wrongs that are not due to any fault of their own. This is why my list of apple products are endless. They truly go the extra mile.
 
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I had a 2007 15 inch Macbook Pro which was inside a laptop bag. I would say the quality of the bag definitely wasn't cheap and it felt like it was protecting the laptop well enough. 1 day while walking somehow the metal piece that connects the shoulder strap and the bag itself somehow broke and my bag just landed onto the ground. I didn't thought it would damage anything but when I inspected it the actual corner of the case was dented.

Have been using mac since Powerbook G4, a Macbook Pro 2007 and also a macbook air 2011, and now the 2016 Macbook pro 13. I don't feel the 2016 models is compromising strength and durability. In fact I have to say out of all the Mac's laptop the 2016 Macbook Pro feels the most solid to me.
 
dpmitche said:
I never said it was "reasonable wear and tear" and openly admitted it was my fault, so not sure why you're even trying to go there. I'm simply admitting to being a MacBook Pro user for almost 20 years and just experienced my first broken screen from a new generation MBP. Please quit trolling and start contributing with honesty.
Click to expand...

How am I trolling? Your own words "I was quite surprised as no other previous MBP laptops have ever had any screen damage from similar incidents" implies you are disappointed and/or surprised that a laptop screen broke when dropped from three feet.
 
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So this is a “don’t drop your expensive laptop it might break thread”; no drop is the same as another no matter how “similar” they are.

Many times you can get away with it sometimes you don’t it’s that simple, I doubt the model makes much difference. I’m sure there could be just as many posts saying I dropped my 2016/2017 mbp but unlike my 2010 or 2013 it didn’t break, if people ever bothered to post that sort of thing of course, but they don’t.

In short if you drop your MacBook you are either lucky or you aren’t.
 
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Rule of thumb: Take care of your gadgets, regardless of how "robust" you think they are.
 
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