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MacBook Cracks and Apple Support
- Thread starter Flickie
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Because I've used Apple products since the early 90s and love the operating system and have often loved the hardware too. It makes me mad that Apple has continued to charge a lot for their products while consistently producing worse quality computers, not admitting problems that do exist (like the cracking and yellowing).
I am NOT on a crusade against MBP yellowing. That's a ridiculous statement as there are tons of people out there with this problem and I'm just adding my bit like anyone else. One of the reasons I choose to use a 15" MBP is that I love the screen size and up until the powerbook G4 I was completely satisfied with my displays. When Apple switched over to the intel machines there was a clear decline in the quality of the displays (even though they got brighter) and there have been issues ever since.
Anyway, why do people stay in amy kind of abusive relationships? Why do people stay with Apple when its products continuously fail? Because it's never black and white and because when one delves into the complexity of any relationship, there are frequently good reasons both to stay and to leave. I've chosen to stay because of the operating system, not because of the hardware and I'm sure many people feel the same.
The latest machines coming from Apple don't seem to have the same build quality of the computers they made 10 years ago. My MacBook hasn't cracked, but there are a few ragged edges around the display area, and on the left side the plastic has buckled a bit. Let me remind y'all, this machine is 3 days old. I'm not gonna concern AppleCare with this since it's not a big deal, but it's obvious the Intel machines are not as carefully constructed as the PowerPC era machines. My eMac has been rock solid for almost 4 years, even escaping the dreaded blown capacitors and wobbly display.
I love all of my Apple products, but the quality is not as bulletproof as it once was. Toyota Motor is in the same situation right now, and I love my Camry to death.
I love all of my Apple products, but the quality is not as bulletproof as it once was. Toyota Motor is in the same situation right now, and I love my Camry to death.
Waaaah! Mine just cracked! 
Opened it up this morning to see a small fracture line appearing where the magnet comes down to hold it closed. I shall wander to my local store and get them to do something about it since it's not even a year old yet!
Opened it up this morning to see a small fracture line appearing where the magnet comes down to hold it closed. I shall wander to my local store and get them to do something about it since it's not even a year old yet!
my boyfriend was typing and then looked over at me and said "it just came off in my hand." i looked over at him and he was holding two pieces of the edge of the wrist area on the right hand side - right where the magnetic latch hits.
6 months. battery also doesn't sit right either very "ragged"
6 months. battery also doesn't sit right either very "ragged"
I totally agree with PDE. The quality of apple products has declined since the Intel transition. I have a 7 year old ibook G3, and not even a crack on it, battery still has 75% capacity. Apple really needs to get n the ball here and admit that there products have flaws in them.
So now we have the yellowing MBP screens, dark vertical lines in the MBP screens, MBP batteries that don't even last 6 months, and now cracking MacBooks. Apple is making products with comparable quality to the POS Wintel machines of the late 90's and early 00's.
Don
So now we have the yellowing MBP screens, dark vertical lines in the MBP screens, MBP batteries that don't even last 6 months, and now cracking MacBooks. Apple is making products with comparable quality to the POS Wintel machines of the late 90's and early 00's.
Don
I go to a Specialist Music College and, as such, all the music teachers have Macs to use Logic. I know of at least two white MacBooks in the school which have started flaking plastic around the front magnetic latch area. Hasn't happened to mine yet thankfully. I suppose it's a dodgy batch...
Yup... Me Too.
I have had a similar experience. I have nothing against apple and happen to love their products, but these structural issues are inexcusable. I have several long, ugly, and obvious hairline cracks that remind me of stretchmarks. They span up to about 7-8 inches. The gray plastic is also separating in many places. I take great care of my MacBook, and it's my baby. I have no idea why this is happening. My best guess is heat because i have a LOT of "stretchmarks" under the cooling vent that always hits crazy-high temeratures.
See my blog for details: crackedmac.blogspot.com
I have had a similar experience. I have nothing against apple and happen to love their products, but these structural issues are inexcusable. I have several long, ugly, and obvious hairline cracks that remind me of stretchmarks. They span up to about 7-8 inches. The gray plastic is also separating in many places. I take great care of my MacBook, and it's my baby. I have no idea why this is happening. My best guess is heat because i have a LOT of "stretchmarks" under the cooling vent that always hits crazy-high temeratures.
See my blog for details: crackedmac.blogspot.com
Attachments
Apple's policy is to deny all design flaws. Sorry folks. They'll never admit it.
I brought my macbook pro in because of the buckeling issue above the latch that happens in like 99% of all macbook pros.. even at the stores!
They look at you like you have two heads and deny it's a design flaw and send you away.
Apple is a cult. They only recognize issues sent down from God (Steve).
I brought my macbook pro in because of the buckeling issue above the latch that happens in like 99% of all macbook pros.. even at the stores!
They look at you like you have two heads and deny it's a design flaw and send you away.
Apple is a cult. They only recognize issues sent down from God (Steve).
I have had a similar experience. I have nothing against apple and happen to love their products, but these structural issues are inexcusable. I have several long, ugly, and obvious hairline cracks that remind me of stretchmarks. They span up to about 7-8 inches. The gray plastic is also separating in many places. I take great care of my MacBook, and it's my baby. I have no idea why this is happening. My best guess is heat because i have a LOT of "stretchmarks" under the cooling vent that always hits crazy-high temeratures.
See my blog for details: crackedmac.blogspot.com
I have the exact same hairline cracks in the exact same spots on my White Macbook.
The Geniuses at the Apple store are replacing mine under warranty, I have Apple care but still have to wait a week while it sits in a que to be repaired. Some manager said it takes 3 hours due to disassembling the whole thing, but I know it doesn't take this long. I needed it over the weekend so am re booking it in tomorrow. They also have to wait for parts etc.
I have discoloration on my palmrest on the right, so am going to ask them to replace this while my machine is in for repairs.
It sucks to wait as it's my only computer and I've recently moved overseas so really need it to keep in touch.
After weeks on the phone to 
CS after five separate (and varied) issues of cracks in 12½ months, they swapped my mid 2007 1GB RAM, 2.0 MacBook 80GB Combo for a 2008 2GB RAM, 2.4 MacBook 160GB Super! I'm happy until this one starts doing the same thing... third one now.... grr
CS after five separate (and varied) issues of cracks in 12½ months, they swapped my mid 2007 1GB RAM, 2.0 MacBook 80GB Combo for a 2008 2GB RAM, 2.4 MacBook 160GB Super! I'm happy until this one starts doing the same thing... third one now.... grr
Welcome to the club!
Congratulations on resolving your problem. I had a similar situation with my Powerbook G4 Aluminum and Apple replaced it with a new MBP last week. Yes, it is aggravating to go through but in the end we get an upgrade. Enjoy your new computer.
Congratulations on resolving your problem. I had a similar situation with my Powerbook G4 Aluminum and Apple replaced it with a new MBP last week. Yes, it is aggravating to go through but in the end we get an upgrade. Enjoy your new computer.
Resolution
Apple resolved my issue by taking a week to replace the outer casing of the bottom half of my MacBook. They also replaced the keyboard for me because the gray plastic was breaking in the corners (dented and bent out of no fault of mine). I'm glad to have my laptop back and functional.
Apple resolved my issue by taking a week to replace the outer casing of the bottom half of my MacBook. They also replaced the keyboard for me because the gray plastic was breaking in the corners (dented and bent out of no fault of mine). I'm glad to have my laptop back and functional.
You should be pissed. I know I am!
My macbook is cracked in the exact same place as yours is. I only had mine a few weeks when it started cracking. As much as we paid for this plastic crap there should be a solution to this problem.
My macbook is cracked in the exact same place as yours is. I only had mine a few weeks when it started cracking. As much as we paid for this plastic crap there should be a solution to this problem.
Uhh, every Apple Store I've been to are WELL aware there's an issue and the Genius Teams even perform the repair free outside of warranty.
Covered under Apple Care
Well, 23 months into my 3 year cover plan and I've had the case crack syndrome for a second time. This happened about a week after the first incident but I just put up with it until this week when the 'H' key refused to work. Once depressed if got stuck and was slightly raised on one side. My battery also died but I kinda expected that. Apple happily replaced the keyboard complaints without any trouble. They even told me they'd cover the battery under the Apple Care Plan (it had done 451 battery cycles - way more than the 300 Apple cover). However, when I took it in for repair they reneged on the battery offer, which I kinda expected. £92 for a new battery...
Well, 23 months into my 3 year cover plan and I've had the case crack syndrome for a second time. This happened about a week after the first incident but I just put up with it until this week when the 'H' key refused to work. Once depressed if got stuck and was slightly raised on one side. My battery also died but I kinda expected that. Apple happily replaced the keyboard complaints without any trouble. They even told me they'd cover the battery under the Apple Care Plan (it had done 451 battery cycles - way more than the 300 Apple cover). However, when I took it in for repair they reneged on the battery offer, which I kinda expected. £92 for a new battery...
You should have complained to the management. They gave you that information, you acted on it, then they take it back?
I have the crack problem with both the top lid where the magnet is and the bottom casing, but when I took it to a mac store they told me that they can only replace the housing and keyboard for free. So I can basically get half of my problem fixed...
Did everyone else only replace the keyboard and housing without the upper lid when they take their macbook in? or I'm I the only one??
Did everyone else only replace the keyboard and housing without the upper lid when they take their macbook in? or I'm I the only one??
I have the crack problem with both the top lid where the magnet is and the bottom casing, but when I took it to a mac store they told me that they can only replace the housing and keyboard for free. So I can basically get half of my problem fixed...
Did everyone else only replace the keyboard and housing without the upper lid when they take their macbook in? or I'm I the only one??
In my case (both times!) it was only ever the keyboard hosing which cracked, never the top part
Wow, didn't know there was this much trouble from just a crack. AppleCare did it's job, the Genius I guess forgot to read emerging issues or captures? Cracks on the white/black MacBooks have been a known problem for awhile and I find it hard to believe the Genius attempted to bill you. My general rule is, if a customer has a problem, just set up a repair unless you know for sure or if they admit (yes, some do admit they caused it) to the problem. Ultimately, the repair depot looks into it before actually doing the repair so if something was done by the customer, it will be caught.
Nuts....it just went again! That's less than a year since it was last repaired. Back to the Apple store we go!
Same here .. the structure is sturdy, but i have two major cracks on the bottom right side of my blackbook.