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Guy destroys MacBook Air over Hinge issue

I'd like to know about the replacement as well. I suspect Apple might have pulled a "it's a $1,000 to repair this cosmetic/user damage."
 
I nearly broke my MacBook Pro over a hinge issue too, but not intentionally.

See, my previous computer was a 12" PowerBook G4. Those of you who ever had one of those will know that the lid was able to open almost completely flat. Maybe it could do a 170 degree angle when opened all the way.

So when I opened up my nice shiny MacBook Pro and found the lid stopping when it was only about 130 degrees... my first thought was "gee, they sure make these hinges stiff when they're brand new"... and I applied more pressure trying to unstick the hinge.

Only later did I realize, nope, that's as far back as they go...
 
I like how he ended it with "Have a nice day Steve". Well dumbasssss, maybe you can thank Steve for the iphone sitting on your desk in that video
 
The broken hinge scares me a bit, but I couldn't stop admiring how amazing the Macbook Air screen looked from all angles in that video. The X300 screen looked worse in comparison.

And did you see the beating that aluminum lid took without any hint of flex? :)
 
tubbymac said:
The broken hinge scares me a bit, but I couldn't stop admiring how amazing the Macbook Air screen looked from all angles in that video. The X300 screen looked worse in comparison.
Click to expand...

You know, I was admiring that as well. It's so obvious! Someone did comment on it at Gizmodo and said that the refresh rate lowers on the Thinkpad to save power. I just don't see how it could possibly look anywhere as nice though. Anyway, I'd still rather have an Air. I'd still like to know if the guy exhausted all avenues of replacement.
 
AFAIK, screen flickering is mainly due to unsynchronized "refresh rates/frame rate" of monitor and camera. If I recall, there are some people whos expertise is just to sync monitors for Hollywood shows that need multiple monitors in their shot.

I've been a thinkpad fan and had several thinkpads before and can attest to the durability. The thinkpads were really designed to avoid hinge problems. I even thought of getting a refurb X300.

Price is very attractive at less than a thousand you get an X300 with.
- better screen resolution 1440x900 --> a big big big plus for me
- optical drive
- ssd
- fingerprint reader
- love the thinkpad keyboard feel although macs aren't bad either

*integrated mobile broadband on a x301

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/LenovoOutlet/Notebook/Refurbished/ThinkPad X Series/

Still went for an MBA rev B though.
- it can play my resource hungry 5DmkII 1080p vids
- trouble free install of OSX
 
I too would be curious as to the avenues he took -- with that much anger, I seriously doubt that he called up Apple about the issue first. Had he just purchased it recently, there may have been a chance that they would have replaced it for free.

One of my friends bought the MacBook Pro when it first launched, and within a few weeks - the screen just went black. Replaced for free.

If the dude is content with dealing with a ton more virus issues on the Lenovo, spending more money on virus protection and updates and all that fun suff -- he truly is as dumb as he behaved on the video.
 
1) notice how much better he typed on the MBA
2) notice how much better the broken MBA screen is
3) this is probably an ad paid for by some PC company
 
It is about $500-$700 to fix. $1,000 to get a referb Rev A. I feel that way about my air but then again being a TiBook user, I know about hinges all too well.
 
dsnort said:
I understand being frustrated with a problem product. ( Explains me owning only computers that run OS X or Linux ).
Click to expand...

OS X and Linux computers don't have problems? (SNL "Oh Really").

I have been thinking of getting a MBA (again) on one of the specials but this makes me think twice. I doubt the guy was paid by anyone. Screen on MBA is better (not great) than X300 but lower resolution, keyboard on Thinkpad is considerably better than MBA.

I use a Thinkpad X301 running Windows 7 (which does not have flicker problems), a MBP, and a Mac Pro. I love them all. The X301 (SSD) is the best lightweight portable I have ever owned (including MBA) - it is solid, reliable and quiet.
 
jflamm said:
Screen on MBA is better (not great) than X300 but lower resolution, keyboard on Thinkpad is considerably better than MBA.

I use a Thinkpad X301 running Windows 7 (which does not have flicker problems), a MBP, and a Mac Pro. I love them all. The X301 (SSD) is the best lightweight portable I have ever owned (including MBA) - it is solid, reliable and quiet.
Click to expand...

That's because the X301 is far, far better than the original X300. They improved the screen and a lot of other small details. It's almost, but not quite, like the difference between rev A and rev B Airs.
 
tubbymac said:
That's because the X301 is far, far better than the original X300. They improved the screen and a lot of other small details. It's almost, but not quite, like the difference between rev A and rev B Airs.
Click to expand...

Actually the X300 and X301 screens are identical (I have had them both) and there are only minor changes between the two models. The processor got an update and there is DisplayPort output along with the newer Intel video chipset. The X300 was pretty much fine on the first go.

The screen on the MBA is a bit washed-out like the MB. The MBP screens on the other hand are quite nice. X300/301 screens are quite crisp and sharp - the viewing angle is not as nice as MBA and colors are not as good. It's wonderful to have 1440x900 on a 13.3" screen and there is real utility in the 5 hours of (real) battery life I get with full brightness, wifi on, and heavy use of the machine. The ergonomics of the X300 are simply excellent.

Again (I feel I need to say this), I am a major Apple fan. I use a Mac pro as my main machine attached both to a Cinema display (and Dell monitor). I have an iPhone, Time Capsule, and several Airports. I drink plenty of koolaid and even own the stock.

It just seems that many Apple fans are more about the cult than the facts. There's room for a balance. I just got rid of my white Apple keyboard after realizing that although it looks great - it simply isn't as ergonomic as the Microsoft curved keyboard I replaced it with. The Apple mouse sucks too while I'm at it.

The anti-Microsoft, anti-Apple, anti-XXXX stuff is boring - there's some good stuff on all sides and competition is a good thing. Windows 7 is quite nice - especially the new dock - and I enjoy Google Chrome more than Safari - I think it is more Mac-like ;)
 
jflamm said:
Actually the X300 and X301 screens are identical (I have had them both) and there are only minor changes between the two models. The processor got an update and there is DisplayPort output along with the newer Intel video chipset. The X300 was pretty much fine on the first go.
Click to expand...

Woops my mistake, I stand corrected.

It just seems that many Apple fans are more about the cult than the facts. There's room for a balance. I just got rid of my white Apple keyboard after realizing that although it looks great - it simply isn't as ergonomic as the Microsoft curved keyboard I replaced it with. The Apple mouse sucks too while I'm at it.
Click to expand...

The Apple mouse is horrible, I agree. I just did the opposite of you though. I recently ditched an ergonomic "Microsoft Natural Pro" keyboard for the Apple wireless keyboard. I loved that keyboard but after a while I managed to rub a few of the letters off the keyboard. I also wanted to clean up the wires on my desk and wanted to make some more room. The keyboard was absolutely huge and took up about 3x as much space as the Apple keyboard. The Apple one is less ergonomic but just cleaner on the desk, so it's a trade off I'm willing to make.

The anti-Microsoft, anti-Apple, anti-XXXX stuff is boring - there's some good stuff on all sides and competition is a good thing. Windows 7 is quite nice - especially the new dock - and I enjoy Google Chrome more than Safari - I think it is more Mac-like ;)
Click to expand...

I am a HUGE Google Chrome fan. It's my favorite browser. Unfortunately it doesn't work in the latest Windows 7 RC x64 so I'm back to Firefox for now. It worked in the Windows 7 Beta x64 with a command line tweak, so that has me puzzled.

Once they bring Chrome to OSX I'm ditching Safari and Firefox for good.
 
I bet either his warranty was up, or Apple denied warranty covered claiming accidental damage. So instead, he purchased a replacement screen assembly online. He figured he might as well stab the defective one a few times before removing it so he can get some internet attention!
 
LOL... The amusing thing is that the extra damage he did doesn't add a cent to the repair bill. You don't think he already knew this? It's a harmless stunt.

Keep in mind that replacing the hinge on the Air requires the entire top half of the clam shell and screen to be replaced. Might as well have lit it the screen on fire afterwards... would make no difference to the repair bill. In fact, he can just take the bottom part in for repair, the rest is trash anyway. :rolleyes:
 
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