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Macbook palmrest crack

My MacBook is a little over 8 months and it looks like all of the pictures in this thread. I'd take it to an Apple store, but the closest one is three hours away! It seems unfair that if I were to take it there they would quote me 10 days and I'd have to come back for it. The cracks are so annoying, I keep snagging them with clothes and it just rips more.

The guy at Best Buy told me to buy a keyboard cover for it on apple. com.... well, looks like they were just discontinued.
 
Casing cracked...don't delay

Just as an FYI - while it may seem that not all macbook owners are getting the same answer, do ask or call Apple. As long as it isn't seen as accidental damage, most retail stores or service providers have seen this issue long enough to know what is or is not covered in or out of warranty.

Don't go to resellers for this - places like Future Shop/Best Buy in Canada in most cases will just take it to the place Apple uses for repairs in the first place.

Downtime for parts does vary by store, and usually will give an eta of when the part is expected - they can check to see if it is on back order. Most parts are expected to be in under 10 business days which is a general guideline used and if is still on back order, may need to expedite the part for you - service providers should know this.

Also non apple retail stores that provide service should NOT be asking you to call Apple to do their work > they can contact Apple for exceptions or asking about service options for you > can even send them pictures of your hardware issue > you may end up just being told to have the service provider contact Apple for that request!!!

I was a PC, now a Mac, saving for a macbook.:apple:
 
Just noticed my first palmrest crack. In addition to my cracks near the fan vents on the bottom piece already. I am just waiting for the new macbook to come out - then have this case replaced and sell it on the Bay. Ive only had my MB since March 08 and I treat it like a babbbby.....so sad. Not to mention my iPhone 3G cracking.....
 
My palmrest cracked this weekend, and my warranty had expired five months ago. I called Apple, they gave me a reference number, I went to a local authorized repair shop yesterday, and they restored my baby to its former beauty within less then 24 hours. The new touchpad comes in handy since the damn button has gotten jammed, too.

Yippie :D
 
how do they crack anyway. i just got a whitebook,so hopefully it doesnt crack lol,but ill say that it will so i wont get so dissapointed when and if it happens lol
 
I got my macbook 2 years ago and the palmrest cracked within 2 months this was before they knew it was a recurring problem I had to pay $200 bux to fix it. I came upon this thread and I got them to refund me the money after half an hour!
 
Bought my late '06 MB in Feb. 2007. Just noticed this crack last Friday actually. I read so many of these threads and figured it wouldn't happen to me as I take real good care of my computers. But after getting my MBP I was cleaning the MB to give to my wife and noticed the crack (it was hard to see initially, I found it by putting a bit of pressure when wiping with a cloth).

I'll try to take it in to the Genius Bar and get it fixed.
 
gregdrummeraz said:
Do they replace the computer or what??
Click to expand...

The replace the top part of the bottom case, i.e. the keyboard, trackpad and plastic palmrest area.


timestoby said:
how do they crack anyway. i just got a whitebook,so hopefully it doesnt crack lol,but ill say that it will so i wont get so dissapointed when and if it happens lol
Click to expand...

If you check out the pictures provided by Dybbuk above you can see the classic sort of crack that appears. It is from where the screen rests contact the bottom case. Over time this causes it to crack. I treated mine extremely carefully over the time I have had it and it cracked.
 
WOW im about to sell my Macbook as i bought a new one and so glad i can get it fixed for free so it will sell for more :D
 
Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0

Just one question: Is it normal that Software Updates asks me to install Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0 again after the keyboard got exchanged?
 
noxtos said:
Just one question: Is it normal that Software Updates asks me to install Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0 again after the keyboard got exchanged?
Click to expand...

Mine did that as well, i guess it depends on how long the replacement top case has been in storage.......


I guess the keyboards firmware chip is on the replacement top case somewhere.......
 
MacBook or MacBook Pro ?

After waiting months for the Aluminium MacBook to be launched, I am now considering buying a second hand Plastic MacBook or a MacBook Pro as the new Aluminium MacBooks are amazing but extremely expensive in South Africa (they are starting at R19000 / $1680) I love like the plastic MacBook design but don't want to buy a laptop that will start cracking all over the place :(
So:
- Do the replacement cases use better plastics to avoid cracking?
- Would it be better to get a Black MacBook?
- Should I look for a MacBook Pro instead?

Thanks
(this will be my first Mac so I want to get it right :)
 
robert222 said:
After waiting months for the Aluminium MacBook to be launched, I am now considering buying a second hand Plastic MacBook or a MacBook Pro as the new Aluminium MacBooks are amazing but extremely expensive in South Africa (they are starting at R19000 / $1680) I love like the plastic MacBook design but don't want to buy a laptop that will start cracking all over the place :(
So:
- Do the replacement cases use better plastics to avoid cracking?
- Would it be better to get a Black MacBook?
- Should I look for a MacBook Pro instead?

Thanks
(this will be my first Mac so I want to get it right :)
Click to expand...

Trying saving up and get the Alu MB. Not being funny but i wouldn't touch the white MB with it cracking and breaking all the time.
 
robert222 said:
So:
- Do the replacement cases use better plastics to avoid cracking?
- Would it be better to get a Black MacBook?
- Should I look for a MacBook Pro instead?

Thanks
(this will be my first Mac so I want to get it right :)
Click to expand...

There are suggestions that the replacements do use better plastics however I can not say from personal experience.

All the reports I have seen about cracking are on the White MBs therefore getting a black one would be better in terms of the cracking issue.

Are you a student because you can get a discount that might make them financially viable for you.

thetinman said:
Trying saving up and get the Alu MB. Not being funny but i wouldn't touch the white MB with it cracking and breaking all the time.
Click to expand...

Rev A apple products are notorious for problems and the Alu MB hasn't really been around for long enough for problems to be known like the White MBs. Not saying that the Alu MB is going to break or anything but it hasn't stood the test of time.

Another benefit of the older MBs is that their price just decreased with them not being current so you may be able to pick up a real bargain, same applies to the previous gen MBPs.

However in the long term I think the new Alu MB would be a better investment, they have much better screens and a more powerful iGPU.

If you can get one that is less than a year old you should be able to get apple care on it which is well worth it in my opinion.
 
thetinman said:
Trying saving up and get the Alu MB. Not being funny but i wouldn't touch the white MB with it cracking and breaking all the time.
Click to expand...

Need to get your facts straight. They don't break all the time(they are great laptops that have been very stable for most people--ratings for it has been great by independent sites). Yes some have cracked which is evident if you look at the threads off this site, but Apple fixes them (I have had 3 and no cracks--wife 2 and no cracks, 3 friends with them and no cracks). The previous gen of Macbook do have a different type of plastic which is tougher than previous ones.

I could easily say by all the threads about the new alu Macbook they have a lot of problems, but I won't b/c most people who post have a problem and most of the time that isn't an indication it is a widespread problem (could be, but not always).

Performance wise, the 2.1 and 2.4 last gen are the same in performance (besides graphics) as the new gen alu Macbooks in benchmark tests http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/10/macbook-and-macbook-pro-performance-october-2008/).
 
For the life of me I can't figure out why Apple never used standard rubber rests like every other laptop maker. Instead they opt to use the hard plastic that basically acts like knives cutting into the keyboard cover every time it's closed.

A very simple fix would be for Apple to sell some rubber tabs that can be placed next to the "knives." I tried making some from rubber cabinet door stops, but they are too thick and all attempts to cut them to size resulted in ugly uneven garbage.
 
Just got back fro the apple store and they were happy to fix mine for me :D im gonna drop it in when my glassbook arives
 
Walked up to the Genius Bar without an appointment. They had some extra service techs hanging out, so one of them was happy to run in back and swap out the keyboard/palmrest casing. Took about 15-20 minutes. They only asked for my name and signature. No address or phone number needed to be provided. Pretty good service!
 
hogfaninga said:
Need to get your facts straight. They don't break all the time(they are great laptops that have been very stable for most people--ratings for it has been great by independent sites). Yes some have cracked which is evident if you look at the threads off this site, but Apple fixes them (I have had 3 and no cracks--wife 2 and no cracks, 3 friends with them and no cracks). The previous gen of Macbook do have a different type of plastic which is tougher than previous ones.

I could easily say by all the threads about the new alu Macbook they have a lot of problems, but I won't b/c most people who post have a problem and most of the time that isn't an indication it is a widespread problem (could be, but not always).

Performance wise, the 2.1 and 2.4 last gen are the same in performance (besides graphics) as the new gen alu Macbooks in benchmark tests http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/10/macbook-and-macbook-pro-performance-october-2008/).
Click to expand...

Of course there are going to be things wrong with the new aluminum macbook. Its the first of its kind. Your basically comparing a 3 year old refined design to a 2 month old design.
 
jc1350 said:
For the life of me I can't figure out why Apple never used standard rubber rests like every other laptop maker. Instead they opt to use the hard plastic that basically acts like knives cutting into the keyboard cover every time it's closed.

A very simple fix would be for Apple to sell some rubber tabs that can be placed next to the "knives." I tried making some from rubber cabinet door stops, but they are too thick and all attempts to cut them to size resulted in ugly uneven garbage.
Click to expand...

Part of the problem is that it is a magnetized closure...I'm thinking that any sort of rubber rest would negate that ability.

I tried several 'fixes' before I finally sold my white MB and regardless of how ginger I was, it still cracked...At one point (For nearly a year after the first crack), I used a thing felt like material that was included in the original packaging of the MB (An apple genius bar suggestion) to pad the closure and hopefully prevent cracking...We also were very careful each and every time to never close the macbook hard (Instead, ever so gently)...It still cracked in the same exact spot and in almost the identical amount of time.

I think clearly it's the opening and closing action that eventually wears the plastic down and as another poster mentioned, there has been speculation that the replacement plastic may be stronger (More durable) but cracks still occur so who knows.

And while Apple may replace the palmrests, especially out of warranty, it is not nearly as simple as asking for it...I believe Apple's standard protocol is to feign doing it for free until you complain and THEN doing it for free...In other words, persistence pays off as they KNOW it is a design flaw...So if you are turned away at first, go to someone else or be persistent (Not the same as be a lunatic :D)

Shame, because it's otherwise a beast of a machine

Cheers
 
My palm rest cracked in the regular place (iSight protector right side).

Booked myself a Genius Appointment for this coming Friday (Westfield, London). Do I need any paperwork/warranty? Cos the box/paperwork is at my folks' house, a couple of hours away.

Or can I just show up with the laptop?
 
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