Just bought ultimate 11 inch MBA, concerns...

I think you've just been unlucky. Don't forget, people only complain on forums, they never tell you about their machine being perfect. Apple ships so many machines, it's fair to say mistakes happen - the main thing is how they take care of you after, and generally speaking they are pretty good (not always, but mainly!)

 

Not really a quality control issue. Obviously the Apple store needs to maintain a constant supply of computers; they can't just cut supply once ML is announced, then start shipping ML computers. Otherwise they'd be left with a lot of unsaleable computers. There's a transition period.

 

My 11" was perfectly flat, but my 13" was slightly up like that. I twisted it to try and flatten it out, ie push it a little extra, and low and behold it flattened out.

Sounds like the base is twisted a little. As above, I'd manually try to bend it back into shape. Gently.

I've always thought the edges have been too sharp since my 2006 white polycarbonate macbook. For that machine I took some extra fine sandpaper and sanded down the edges. I haven't done that to any aluminum Macbook. My Macbook Pro bothered me the worst. The Airs are much better because the front edge is so close to the table.

Dunno. ML install is can be fairly painless, especially if you have a fast network.

 

Maybe you accidentally brought a SMApple CloneBook Air? Did you get it from the computer expert shop across the street from the Apple store?

 

While some bending exercises may prove an effective home remedy, I definitely don't recommend it. You risk damaging internals.

 

I understand but I think you'll get over the "be very careful-phase" rather quickly.

I would implore you to purchase one of these cases especially if youre a big traveller. I got one for my 13" and it's the best/simplest case you can get. There are many imitators of Incase, but only one Incase! And at $18.99 on sale right now, you can't beat it. (Retail is $40)

http://www.amazon.com/Incase-Neoprene-Sleeve-Macbook-11-Inch/dp/B004J19IPE

 

The 11" is an amazingly durable travel computer.

Mine goes in my bag with me every day to work (I don't use a sleeve) and has been to 4 continents this year. There are no scratches, marks, dents or bends in the case. It opens and closes just like day one, and feels completely solid, and there are no issues at all.

I do look after my gear, but I don't baby it.

 

These things aren't cheap. If it was me and there was anything about it I didn't like or anything that seemed off, I'd just get it replaced. Too expensive not to be 100% pleased, IMO.

 

Unfortunately some people (not saying you) are never 100% pleased. The bottom panel screws onto the bottom of the machine, and sometimes it isn't seated perfectly, which can lead to the issue you had. When you flexed the machine to fix this, you were likely not actually bending anything - you were just getting a better seat on the bottom panel.

I assure you these things are built very well and are great for travel. I've been carrying one on many, many trips since 2010 and have never had any issues with durability.

 

Swap it for another. A wobbly laptop would drive me nuts.