New Penryn MBP -- Uneven trackpad.

[jshbckr]

I just picked up a Penryn MacBook Pro on Thursday from an Apple Retail Store and upon using it, I noticed that the trackpad is normal on the left side, but as you move to the right the trackpad slowly rises up and becomes flush with the palm rest area.

Is this something that I could take in and swap out for another model? It's not something that makes the computer unusable, but you can tell that the trackpad isn't really staying down on that side. You can't push it down into place either.

When I'm spending $2000 on a computer, I think it's reasonable to expect the trackpad to be level. Would Apple see this as a defect or would they just tell me it's not a big deal?

 

[72930]

If they try to fob you off with some kind of "Its normal, pay 10% for a replacement" ask to see the manager and complain politely but firmly.

If you're young, try and get someone older to do it for you, the people in the Apple Store seem to dismiss complaints from younger people readily.

 

[Enzo]

I also have the new macbook pro and I started to notice the same thing, but I thought that I was going crazy. I feel a slight bump on the lower right side.

 

[DMC-12]

It would help your case if you could find other issues with the machine such as poorly-sealed casing (especially around the bottom left corner), fan/CPU whine, difficulty waking from sleep... (all issues that my first penryn Pro had).
Oh, and all SR and Penryn Pros have audio hiss and beeping from the headphone jack during audio playback.

 

[jshbckr]

I'm fairly young, 21, but I could also bring up that I spent over $4000 last April on an 8-Core Mac Pro and $2500 two years before that on a PowerBook. On a side note, I've also "sold" Apple computers to probably at least 10 peers over the past few years. There is a certain level of quality I've come to expect from Apple devices.

I'll bring it in and ask them about it. I guess it's not the end of the world if they don't let me exchange it but I'm sure as hell not paying the restocking fee.

 

[72930]

I'm fairly young, 21, but I could also bring up that I spent over $4000 last April on an 8-Core Mac Pro and $2500 two years before that on a PowerBook. On a side note, I've also "sold" Apple computers to probably at least 10 peers over the past few years. There is a certain level of quality I've come to expect from Apple devices.

I'll bring it in and ask them about it. I guess it's not the end of the world if they don't let me exchange it but I'm sure as hell not paying the restocking fee.

21 is good. Its just that at 15 I was lied to ~10 times about my Macbook's issue. The one time I got my dad to go in they replaced it on the spot. I don't think it was coincidence as the people rudely ignored me and dismissed my issue of the MB randomly shutting down.

 

[dallas112678]

ive had 3 penryn MBP's all of them had the uneven trackpad your describing, whether thats normal or not idk, but its definetly common.

 

[asmallchild]

I'm fairly young, 21, but I could also bring up that I spent over $4000 last April on an 8-Core Mac Pro and $2500 two years before that on a PowerBook. On a side note, I've also "sold" Apple computers to probably at least 10 peers over the past few years. There is a certain level of quality I've come to expect from Apple devices.

I'll bring it in and ask them about it. I guess it's not the end of the world if they don't let me exchange it but I'm sure as hell not paying the restocking fee.

Let us know how that turns out. My initial assumption is that Apple employees probably wouldn't be thrilled at replacing a brand new $2000 laptop over small cosmetic issues but it would be a real nice thing if they did.

 

[jshbckr]

Part of me is also wondering if I should just accept it, because what if I replace it and it's got an even trackpad but the screen has 2 or 3 dead pixels? That is an issue that they've said they will NOT replace a unit for.

Should I just accept that the trackpad is a little high on one side and be thankful that I don't have dead pixels, a yellow screen, or any other problems?

 

[powermac_daddy]

pictures my friend? let's see it

 

[dallas112678]

Part of me is also wondering if I should just accept it, because what if I replace it and it's got an even trackpad but the screen has 2 or 3 dead pixels? That is an issue that they've said they will NOT replace a unit for.

Should I just accept that the trackpad is a little high on one side and be thankful that I don't have dead pixels, a yellow screen, or any other problems?

I think you should accept it, because if you dont have a yellow screen your lucky, theres alot of yellow screens out there and ive had 3 Penryn MBP's and all of them had this uneven trackpad your talking about so its really common, your next will prolly have the same thing except with a worse screen or fan.

 

[Deadaim357]

Mine actually rises above the palm rest. Sorry for the bad pic iPhone. Like Dallas said accept it. I did I'm glad I don't have a bad screen or fan and I think its pretty fun to run my finger across it once and awhile.

 

[jshbckr]

I'm tempted to go back in to the Apple store and ask about it, but at the same time, I understand that they can't just let me sit there and open every MacBook pro they have until I get a perfect unit.

Then again, one could claim that if their quality control was better, it wouldn't be necessary to do so.

Anyway, here is an image of the track pad. Sorry for the really shallow depth of field, there wasn't much light, so I had to open up all the way.

 

[DMC-12]

Ugh! I didn't even notice that my trackpad was uneven until now... and I thought I was a stickler for defects.

 

[jshbckr]

Well I just noticed it because I would run my finger along the top edge and noticed that it became flush with the body on the right side. Then I thought "That shouldn't be right." and now I just always notice it.

 

[comptr]

Well I just noticed it because I would run my finger along the top edge and noticed that it became flush with the body on the right side. Then I thought "That shouldn't be right." and now I just always notice it.

Hay mine is just like yours in the pic. I guess I never noticed it till now.

 

[skorpien]

Ugh! I didn't even notice that my trackpad was uneven until now... and I thought I was a stickler for defects.

Darnit! Me too now =|

 

[jshbckr]

Oh man, ignorance is bliss, huh?

If you guys are all serious, maybe we've got a real problem on our hands. The track pad most definitely should not be like this, you can tell it can sort of be pushed down, like the track pad is just a hair too big for the hole.

 

[alphaod]

Yeah I've noticed this the first time I got it. It evens out over some use.

 

[Fundillo]

Ugh! I didn't even notice that my trackpad was uneven until now...

haha, same here

 

[e12a]

me too..

There's really nothing that can be done other than replacing the entire top case...its one unit (except the keyboard). I think this is "within spec"

 

[Deadaim357]

Wow.. I can't believe all the uneven trackpads. Here I am thinking there's only a few. Mines on the right side which is the same side my screen isn't flush. Do you think it has something to do with the MBP's design?

 

[spaceballl]

I also have the new macbook pro and I started to notice the same thing, but I thought that I was going crazy. I feel a slight bump on the lower right side.

yeah i have that too! very slight and hardly noticeable... but there...

 

[spaceballl]

I think this is "within spec"

yup - i agree.

 

[mahger]

I didnt notice this until now either, but on the left side theres this point where it quickly curves up a little. You cannot tell by looking, its its not that hard to feel it.