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MBP Gap when closed ? Is this normal?

Vedhead said:
arent you worried about cracking the display? how hard do you push on it?
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I just apply a little force along the edge of the lid (the curved section). I try to bend it gently from the webcam outward. You don't have to press that hard. The key is to look carefully at the lid and bend it the correct direction. It isn't as cut an dry as bending the high side down. The lid latches act as a fulcrum. So the right side may be affecting the left side.
 
I have a new MBP Penryn 2.4 15" and I have the same gap. It's fairly even across the whole notebook.

This is normal, from what I can tell, and it seems that it is so by design.

The display wants to stay open ever so slightly, but the latch is there keeping it closed. It seems to me small gap allows the screen to not touch the keyboard while closed, so you don't get keyboard grease imprints on your screen.

When a corner of it rests off the table, that corner has more play than the opposite corner. Thus, the display is somewhat isolated from the underlying bend of the laptop.
 
Completely normal. No need to worry about it. In fact, this better protects your screen from your keyboard (as others have mentioned).
 
MediaRyan said:
Would you be willing to explain how you do this?
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here is how i fixed the gap problem on my AlBook some years ago, i will add that this laptop runs jut fine to this day.
 

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deadpixels said:
here is how i fixed the gap problem on my AlBook some years ago, i will add that this laptop runs jut fine to this day.
Click to expand...
Hahahaha! That's the best thing I've seen all day.

In all seriousness, I wouldn't worry too much about it -- mine closes evenly but there is a small gap, it's basically to protect the screen from getting marked up from the keyboard (remember the PowerBook G3?). It should also allow better airflow when you're using the notebook in lid-closed mode.
 
deadpixels said:
here is how i fixed the gap problem on my AlBook some years ago, i will add that this laptop runs jut fine to this day.
Click to expand...

Does this really work? Is it a permanent fix or do you have to do it every so often? How long should you keep the weight on before removing everything? Just curious, seems worth trying.:p
 
My brand new Penryn 17" arrived on Monday with the aforementioned slight bananaring (UK engineering term for bendy girders) as the outside ends of the lid flared upwards when closed. It's been open ever since and has improved a lot. Still a bit of a smiley gap but much better.
I think the case is not rigid enough to combat the force of the latch when closed and bends out of shape. Not, strictly speaking, good design. I doubt it does the screen much good either.
My old TiBook is still straight as a die and going strong.
Keep it open seems to help.
 
tbeahrs said:
I was worried about this too on my new Penryn MBP. I went to the apple store to pick up some accessories and I was going to inquire about it until I checked the MBPs on the floor and every one of them had the same problem. Its just cuz of the stupid latch lock mechanism. My only beef with the recent update is that they didn't include the magnetic latch like the MBA. Small beef
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Um, they did include the magnetic latch. It's on their website and everything.

The lid still bananas outwards from the latch.
The case is not ridged enough. The Ali is too soft at this thickness/design.

Leave it open all the time or try the telephone directory technique as pictured elsewhere.
 
very normal..

Ive owned 2 macbook pros and 2 powerbooks and seen many more all with the same spec... I dont think Ive ever seen one that doesnt do this...
 
tip said:
Yep, it's normal.

When I first got my MBP, I slowly warped it back over a period of time and it was perfectly flush. It's warped again, since I sent it into AppleCare for something unrelated (my display was replaced, however). Hopefully this will be addressed in the next revision of the MBP (e.g., moving the points of contact more towards the edges).
Click to expand...

Mine was perfectly flush when I got it. i think I have discovered what makes it warp. I noticed that the vent of hot air is very warm to the left side of that hinge. I believe the heat is causing the ALU to warp slightly on that side. After 2 days of use my flush lid was warped in the same manner. Its so not an issue for me as mine is almost never closed anyway!
 
JWest said:
Does this really work? Is it a permanent fix or do you have to do it every so often? How long should you keep the weight on before removing everything? Just curious, seems worth trying.:p
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it did help at the time, i didn't really check lately as it's my little brother who owns it now. my 2.16 C2D MBPro sits flush so i didn't have to try my method on it :D if you wanna try, just leave it as long as needed, aluminum is a soft metal so be careful.
 
Very odd. My friend and I were in my kitchen today looking at my MBP and she said how she noticed that every MB or MBP she has ever seen has a little bend in it like that. We both had it on the same side and we both suspect it because we are right handed and we pull on that side of the screen when opening it and closing it. Just a theory...

-CH
 
deadpixels said:
Macbooks don't have this problem, only MbPro's because of the aluminum warping.
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Macbooks don't have this problem because of the laws of physics, not because they are of plastic. Through your logic this gap problem would also be widespread on the MBA.
The MacBook has magnets connecting lid with case thus outruling any gap possibility.
 
This is all very interesting and informative. I guess its good to know that this is "normal."

Too bad Apple advertises the MBP with the lid flush...just one of those things I guess.

$%*@ marketers. :D
 
Jiddick ExRex said:
Macbooks don't have this problem because of the laws of physics, not because they are of plastic. Through your logic this gap problem would also be widespread on the MBA.
The MacBook has magnets connecting lid with case thus outruling any gap possibility.
Click to expand...

well, you are right about the magnets but iBooks G4 don't have the problem either and they have no magnets, i was pointing that the metal is also the cause.
 
I could be wrong, but wouldn't it be slightly safer to only put the weight on the very edges of the screen (the 3/4" or so of the frame)? Otherwise there is no support to keep the screen from bending too far in places and possibly making contact with the keyboard, depending on how the weight is distributed on top.
 
rezonat0r said:
I could be wrong, but wouldn't it be slightly safer to only put the weight on the very edges of the screen (the 3/4" or so of the frame)? Otherwise there is no support to keep the screen from bending too far in places and possibly making contact with the keyboard, depending on how the weight is distributed on top.
Click to expand...

you're probably right and i officially deny any responsibility in case of damage due to the use of this technic to adjust the gap :D
 
The gap when it's closed is my only beef with the MBP. Other than that, it's perfect.

But yeah like how everyone else said, it's normal.
 
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