I think I'm going to have a heart attack anytime soon...

[26139]

2) people are putting the notebook in a bag with many other things such as books, where there is additional pressure on the lid of the notebook.

Stuff like this just doesn't happen at random.

I see this a TON. People tossing macbooks into regular backpacks, sometime with a scratchproof sleeve, but certainly no shock protection.

Then when they take the bag off, they lay it laptop down to "protect" it from getting anything dropped on it. In that position it's being crushed by textbooks.

Buy nicely padded laptop bags, people! Even the pricey ones are less than $200!

 

[Matek]

I see this a TON. People tossing macbooks into regular backpacks, sometime with a scratchproof sleeve, but certainly no shock protection.

Then when they take the bag off, they lay it laptop down to "protect" it from getting anything dropped on it. In that position it's being crushed by textbooks.

Buy nicely padded laptop bags, people! Even the pricey ones are less than $200!

Why should I be extra careful with my laptop and purchase extra equipment ($200 is neary 20% of the basic MacBook price) if I'm not doing anything that special? I think it's all a sign of quality. There are laptops out there that don't crack if you carry them around in regular backpacks.

Apple pulls the MB Air ouf of an envenlope in the commercial. Just like every other company they advertise their laptops as portable, usable on the road, etc. They call it a macBOOK! Why can't I throw it in the bag with the rest of my books then? Why should I carry it around in a specially designed padded bag?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you shouldn't protect your laptop. But what you're saying is like telling people to buy a laptop-protecting shell if their paint starts to peel off or buy seat covers for their car so their seats don't fall apart. All of these products are meant to provide additional protection, they shouldn't be needed for regular functionality.

 

[127377]

I cant stand all these people saying that it is "because you slam the lid". I fix computers for a living, and it is a design flaw, not just because a small few slam the lids closed. Have any of you tried to pull the magnets that hold the lid to the topcase down apart? That is what is causing it.

 

[mpw]

...This is NOT a random design flaw, either, otherwise more people would be complaining...

If it were a design flaw, they would all be accepted by Apple stores....

It IS a flaw, I'm on my 4th lower case for exactly this problem, Apple know there's a problem, they look all "Oooo never seen that before" but ask the guy doing the repair and he's done plenty.

 

[26139]

Riiight...

Why should I be extra careful with my laptop and purchase extra equipment ($200 is neary 20% of the basic MacBook price) if I'm not doing anything that special? I think it's all a sign of quality. There are laptops out there that don't crack if you carry them around in regular backpacks.

Apple pulls the MB Air ouf of an envenlope in the commercial. Just like every other company they advertise their laptops as portable, usable on the road, etc. They call it a macBOOK! Why can't I throw it in the bag with the rest of my books then? Why should I carry it around in a specially designed padded bag?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you shouldn't protect your laptop. But what you're saying is like telling people to buy a laptop-protecting shell if their paint starts to peel off or buy seat covers for their car so their seats don't fall apart. All of these products are meant to provide additional protection, they shouldn't be needed for regular functionality.

Hey, way to blow it WAY out of proportion. Do you honestly think it's a good idea to throw a $1000 laptop under 50-60lbs of books and then slam it down every time you take your backpack off?

You can throw your laptop (your assertion that it's called a macBOOK and therefore can be treated the same as a textbook is so off base I'm not going to go into it) into what regular old backpack you like. I bought a nice $120 backpack with a padded laptop compartment and plenty of room for every other textbook that I had. Carried it around in grad school and for another two years after that. I've never, ever had a problem with too much pressure or damage when it's in that bag.

But hey, do what you like. I take care of my expensive things, you seem to think that portable (not indestructible, mind you) electronics should be treated similar to hardcover books.

Sure, it's expensive. A lot of things are expensive. Work more, spend less.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I've had plenty of powerbooks made of plastic as well as iBooks without any of these case problems. The MB's have a problem here and it's well documented.

I'd try and see if it can be fixed for free but don't be surprised if they tell you that because you didn't buy Applecare, your MB will fall apart in three years and get a second mortgage.

You may just be relegated to the superglue repair. It's not the end of the world. At least it still is working and it's on the side instead of front.

 

[unixfool]

I cant stand all these people saying that it is "because you slam the lid". I fix these MacBooks for a living, and it is a design flaw, not just because a small few slam the lids closed. Have any of you tried to pull the magnets that hold the lid to the topcase down apart? That is what is causing it.

There are rocket scientists that have been wrong...just because you're a macbook tech doesn't mean you're right in this. You could be just as wrong as any of us, yet...

There's something that's making this happen to some (keyword there) macbooks...not all macbooks are affected. Strange thing is, two given cases that may be built within the same week where one is affected by these "magnets" and the other isn't. You're telling me that its the magnets...if that's the case, why aren't both affected? I've NEVER seen a magnet itself tear hard plastic. What you're saying is that stress is being applied when the magnets are pulled apart...that's crazy, but again, why is this affecting some units and not others? One person opens their macbook more than others?? I find that hard to believe. If what you're saying is true, we should start seeing the same thing with the magsafe. And, if what you're saying is true, then why isn't the lid cracking? Both the lid and the topcase are made of the same plastic, but why is the topcase cracking and not the lid itself?

Sorry, as much as I try to be a free-thinker, I'm not understanding your view. Be as pissed as you want about people who say that its a PEBKAC issue, but, thinking objectively, that's more plausible than it being a magnet issue.

 

[joshwest]

Oh man

This must be one of the most depressing days for me. I bought my Macbook back in 2006 I think (it's the first macbook generation) with my own scholarship money.

And now I see there is a dark line on the right side and it's cracked. The piece didn't come out yet but I don't know what to do. I don't even have Applecare and 90 days was over ages ago and I am moving to dorms in the Fall.

(Yes, I also posted on MacNN because I like to get more opinions from everywhere)

I can't live with that cracked line like that I love my macbook !!!

If i was you and you didnt have apple care on your macbook, i would buy one of these and put it over the wrist guard and call it a day.. cant cry over spilled milk

 

[127377]

There's something that's making this happen to some (keyword there) macbooks...not all macbooks are affected. Strange thing is, two given cases that may be built within the same week where one is affected by these "magnets" and the other isn't. You're telling me that its the magnets...if that's the case, why aren't both affected? I've NEVER seen a magnet itself tear hard plastic. What you're saying is that stress is being applied when the magnets are pulled apart...that's crazy, but again, why is this affecting some units and not others? One person opens their macbook more than others?? I find that hard to believe. If what you're saying is true, we should start seeing the same thing with the magsafe. And, if what you're saying is true, then why isn't the lid cracking? Both the lid and the topcase are made of the same plastic, but why is the topcase cracking and not the lid itself?

The magnets are equivalent of having a stack of books sitting on the top of your macbook every time it closes, and slamming shut every time you close it gently. Right now I have one (instead of two) in each corner, and it doesn't slam shut during that last inch of travel.

Take one of these apart and you can see for yourself. There is no way that these cracks could of formed on the side no matter how hard you slam the lid, how many magnets keep constant pressure from the bezel to the topcase; it is because of how the topcase is constructed.

Just one of the affected topcases.

A crack on the SIDE of the topcase, which is unaffected by slamming and pressure.

The inside of the topcase, same crack.

Another forming crack that is going to break if put through more use.

A piece of the edge of the topcase that I just peeled back with my fingernail; the plastic is that soft.

This IS a known issue with MacBooks, and it is covered under AppleCare. Just show a genius the crack, and they should replace it without asking any questions.

EDIT: Here is the repair receipt for the topcase I had pictured, it was replaced (and the replaced one cracked again, I have a blackbook topcase on here now.)

 

[thecartoonguy]

Note from a Mac Genius

I can honestly say getting this fix will not be a problem. I have replaced these on system jsut as old as yours. It was a problem with the plastics and is our dark little secret. It should take very long to repair.

 

[kidwithdimples]

So guys, I went to the Apple Store today and told them about the problem. The guy at the Genius Bar said it's because of that magnet latch and closing it pretty hard or pressure on top. Anyway, he took it inside and got it repaired for free. It looks like a new shiny Macbook now. I don't even have AppleCare Protection or the 90 days warranty. It expired ages ago.

I couldn't be any happier than I am now.

Genius Bar receipt (sorry about the scanner quality):

 

[127377]

I can honestly say getting this fix will not be a problem. I have replaced these on system jsut as old as yours. It was a problem with the plastics and is our dark little secret. It should take very long to repair.

Its a 5 minute repair, but until there is a new version of topcase, this will continue and can happen to ANYONE.

 

[127377]

Glad to see you got yours fixed! Its good that they are acknowledging this as a problem, and replacing them no questions asked!

 

[63dot]

the more you use the laptop, the more you will realize it's what the thing does in the inside, software/reliable OS, that makes all the difference

that's everything, really

i have seen plenty a student with ratty stickers on their laptops, macs too, but in the end they use it to get through classes, enjoy themselves, communicate, and create

 

[kidwithdimples]

Glad to see you got yours fixed! Its good that they are acknowledging this as a problem, and replacing them no questions asked!

Thanks bud

 

[unixfool]

The guy at the Genius Bar said it's because of that magnet latch and closing it pretty hard or pressure on top.

Ahem.

Thanks kidwithdimples! And congrats on your fix!

So, someone who works on Macs but isn't a Genius says its purely the magnets, and a Genius says its a combination fo the magnet latches, closing the lid hard, or pressure on top.

To infinitethrill:

No one said that the macbooks don't crack. The debate started with the area around the magnets...that's all the OP mentioned. He didn't mention side cracks or anything else.

Now, I don't have to see the internals to see that the two protrusions on the left and right of the edge of the lid appears to be what's damaging the lid. They are arranged horizontally to the screen, and the cracks are horizontal and appear to be directly underneath the protusions when the macbook lid is closed. In the case of the OP, it appears to be on the right-side (although, I've seen pics of both sides being affected).

What would happen if someone sanded those down or softened the edges of the protusions? What about the people who aren't experiencing issues? I'm not experiencing this issue, yet have the same magnets as the OP, most likely. Why am I not having the same issue? And why is the Genius mentioning that its a combination of three issues instead of it being a fault of the magnets alone?

The pictures are cool but aren't really needed to make an educated diagnosis of the issue.

One day, these issues may affect either my macbook, my wife's (more than likely, as I've seen her slamming her lid several times), or maybe both, over time. As for now, I may not even see the issue until after my Applecare runs out (that's quite awhile without any cracks and with normal use).

 

[Daveoc64]

My friend uses a cloth (YES, a cloth!) to handle his Blackbook and it's kept in a case when not at home and his has started to crack.

He doesn't slam it and he's very careful.

It's just such a well known defect.

 

[Scathach]

My friend uses a cloth (YES, a cloth!) to handle his Blackbook and it's kept in a case when not at home and his has started to crack.

He doesn't slam it and he's very careful.

It's just such a well known defect.

yep, I use a cloth to cushion the edges when I close my macbook, and I still got a second crack in the same location. I think it has more to do with the magnets and where people rest their hands on their computer when they are using the trackpad. A friend of mine had the same crack but it was on the left side of his her macbook... and she is left handed, I wonder if that might have something to do with it. The constant pressure over time probably weakens this area, at least that is what the Apple Genius told me. I can't wait for a new case design, as much as I like the magnet closure I would rather have a physical latch and a crack-free Macbook

 

[johnsy]

Man, laptop is not new, it is used well enough, time to buy a new one!
If that makes you worry, then put some palmguard, and it will hide the crack.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

if you didnt slam your top down so hard..it wouldnt have cracked

What a crock of ****. It's a wellknown fact that that most 1st gen macbooks have this problem. Don't start blaming the user for using his laptop.

It's not about the slamming. It's about putting pressure on the protrusions/top of the display when closed and carried in a bag or so.
The 1st gen. macbooks' topcase was made of inferior plastic, which should have been fixed by now (a lot of members mention that the new case has a much sturdier feel to it after being changed).
It's a 100% design fault from Apple's side and should therefore be acknowledged beyond warranty IMO.

 

[Tomatoking]

What a crock of ****. It's a wellknown fact that that most 1st gen macbooks have this problem. Don't start blaming the user for using his laptop.

It's not about the slamming. It's about putting pressure on the protrusions/top of the display when closed and carried in a bag or so.
The 1st gen. macbooks' topcase was made of inferior plastic, which should have been fixed by now (a lot of members mention that the new case has a much sturdier feel to it after being changed).
It's a 100% design fault from Apple's side and should therefore be acknowledged beyond warranty IMO.

so the current ones don't crack?

 

[Scathach]

so the current ones don't crack?

They still crack, I was told after buy the Apple Genius the first time they fixed my crack that the plastic new keyboard/trackpad top was different and doesn't crack. I have to admit it did feel sturdier but it could have been me imagining it as well. But the replacement part cracked again... and I stopped traveling with my Macbook and took darn good care of being gentle with it... and yet I still received a crack in the exact same location. Perhaps I may have received one of the older tops, its possible. Only time will tell honestly, but at least Apple has be totally awesome about fixing the problem when this particular crack occurs.

 

[jingwen]

I think you can go to the shop where you buy this notebook,and ask for them to change the crust.