MacBook Pro 13" Hairline Cracks... Need solution!

[iPhone3GCrazed]

Hey guys...

This actually happened a couple weeks ago, but here's the story...

I was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the building where my next class was, waiting for the class to begin. Deciding to go on my computer, I take it out of my backpack and place it on my lap. I open the computer with the screen facing away from me then I turned it so the screen was facing me. With the screen facing me, I attempt to open the screen to a desirable position and was greeted with a bone-chilling crack. Turns out the metal thing on the end of the drawstring from my shorts had caught in the extremely small opening between the base of the computer and the lid. I then wiggled it out and investigated the damage. There are pictures below...

Picture 1: In this picture you can see both hairline cracks on the screen... The white-ish semi-circle from which the cracks extend is all the damage that initially occurred. The two resulting cracks were products of weeks of use.

Picture 2: In this picture, which is panned just right from the first, you can see the extent of the more severe crack.


My question is, what are my options? I know I can take it to the Apple Store, which I will most likely do tomorrow, but are they anymore options?

Thanks for reading my essay of a question! All input, comments and answers are welcome and appreciated!

 

[RubbishBBspeed]

That looks like either a fatigue crack propagating from stress concentration around the hinge point. Or something got caught in the hinge onetime when you closed it. My genuine opinion is though that it's the former.

It's a tough one to enforce but it looks like bad assembly, the hinge is too stiff requiring a higher than rated torque load to overcome the static friction when opening and closing (although friction is the wrong word to use) and thus putting to much pressure in one particular area, apple should replace it as a good will gesture but have fun trying to get them to do so. My reckoning is they will give you a PFO.

 

[andiwm2003]

Hey guys...

....................... Turns out the metal thing on the end of the drawstring from my shorts had caught in the extremely small opening between the base of the computer and the lid. I then wiggled it out and investigated the damage. ..........................!

That looks like either a fatigue crack propagating from stress concentration around the hinge point. Or something got caught in the hinge onetime when you closed it. My genuine opinion is though that it's the former.

It's a tough one to enforce but it looks like bad assembly, the hinge is too stiff requiring a higher than rated torque load to overcome the static friction when opening and closing (although friction is the wrong word to use) and thus putting to much pressure in one particular area, apple should replace it as a good will gesture but have fun trying to get them to do so. My reckoning is they will give you a PFO.

did you even read his post????

 

[skorpien]

did you even read his post????

What's the point when you can look at the pretty pictures and come up with your own conclusions?

OP - Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like you're hooped. You can try to tell Apple that it's a manufacturing defect (doubt they'll believe it), but the moment they find out it was due to something getting caught in there, they'll pin it on you. It would be considered user abuse/neglect and probably won't be covered under warranty. You may get lucky with Apple, but chances are they'll charge for the repairs.

You could go OEM with the screen replacement. There is one site that I can't seem to recall that replaces the screens on the MBPs. They'll even give you a matte screen if you ask for one.

My advice would be to try Apple anyway. If you luck out, great. If not, you'll either be stuck paying them to make the repairs or doing it through another company. Good luck, and hopefully those don't spread much more It hurts me just looking at those pictures...

 

[RubbishBBspeed]

did you even read his post????

Yes I did. Just because one may think it is caused by a particular thing, it may not always be the case.

The metal toggle on the end of the drawstring may have gotten caught and coincided with the crack, but like the preverbal straw it may have broken the camels back but may not have been the underlying cause.

 

[wankey]

Another reason for me to get matte. No glass problems!

 

[iPhone3GCrazed]

Thanks to everyone who responded!

If indeed they do charge me to fix it, does anyone know how much that kind of thing runs nowadays? I mean it hasn't affected the screen itself, just the glass that covers it.

 

[andiwm2003]

you could try to find those resins that they use to fix small cracks in car windshields or to remove scratches from glasses. that could make the crack less visible to a point where you don't care. that could save you a few hundred bucks.

also keep in mind that apple likes to use these kinds of damage to invalidate your apple care coverage for other parts of the notebook. if you let apple fix it make sure they keep your apple care valid for all other parts.

 

[RubbishBBspeed]

you could try to find those resins that they use to fix small cracks in car windshields or to remove scratches from glasses. that could make the crack less visible to a point where you don't care. that could save you a few hundred bucks.

also keep in mind that apple likes to use these kinds of damage to invalidate your apple care coverage for other parts of the notebook. if you let apple fix it make sure they keep your apple care valid for all other parts.

They're UV curing resin. Nice idea though but not so easily done though, the resins require exposure to a particular frequency of Ultra Violet radiation. and are really should be injected under a vacuum plus they are mainly designed for use with laminated glass plus they cost a fortune. Something like £60 to £70 for a 100ml tube not including cost of the lamp around 350 to 600 quid. The diy stuff is pretty rubbish and more for repairing deep scratches rather than cracks.

Good point on the apple care though, have taken note.

 

[kolax]

I think they'll probably charge you for a whole new top - maybe setting you back as far as $800-900.

Be prepared to be alarmed..

 

[iPhone3GCrazed]

I think they'll probably charge you for a whole new top - maybe setting you back as far as $800-900.

Be prepared to be alarmed..

Heh... Might as well cough up another 100 and have a brand new White MacBook. Outrageous...

 

[skorpien]

Here's the site I was talking about. They quote about $190, so considerably less expensive than Apple. But you will have to ship it off, and it will most probably void your warranty.

http://www.techrestore.com/

 

[okatidubi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4LLOhLH20E

If the glass is the only thing affected, you can buy the glass from probably iFixit (or eBay) and repair it yourself using the video above. This is just a suggestion though. If you want to try it, I bear no responsibility for whatever happens to your computer. Once again, this is just a suggestion.

 

[OldMike]

If they don't repair it for free, it might qualify for the flat rate repair program (which I hadn't known about until I read about it here on MacRumors). If I recall correctly, the cost is about what AppleCare would run you, and it gets sent out and is completely refurbished. Might be the best option if they are not willing to fix it for free.

 

[ModestPenguin]

If they don't repair it for free, it might qualify for the flat rate repair program (which I hadn't known about until I read about it here on MacRumors). If I recall correctly, the cost is about what AppleCare would run you, and it gets sent out and is completely refurbished. Might be the best option if they are not willing to fix it for free.

This is the solution that will likely be offered at the store. Replacing that whole display assembly will be expensive and I don't think the stores are equipped to just replace the glass. The quote for this repair can vary depending on the condition of the machine. Make sure you make an appointment, and I'd recommend being honest with the Tech. They will figure out if it was a failure of the product or not quite simply.