Please Post Here if your Aluminum Macbooks' Battery/HDD Cover is loose.

[Alucardx03]

You sir, are a genius.

I bent it back and it works PERFECTLY.

I honestly think it's small defect with the strength of the tabs.

Heres what happens (and it's prob. already been said):

When you first pop off the cover you bend the tabs slightly. So you try to put it back on their obviously loose. If you bend back down as hard as you can (you won't be able to snap aluminum or break the heat welds, if so Apple owes you money) the tabs should fit snuggly back into the small slitted space. Your cover should fit like a glove.

Thank you. I'm glad I could help.

I think you may be onto something here. The first time that people are removing the cover, they aren't sure where the tabs are, so they just pull back, bending the tabs. Makes sense.

Hopefully Apple will release replacement covers that are a little more resilient.

As far as your question, Clayne, I think a light flex in the affected area may do the trick, but just be careful to not bend the entire thing.

It may also be the way in which the two main clamps are sitting inside the MB. I that case, a flex may help a little, but it wouldn't be addressing the problem.

 

[polaris20]

I am SHOCKED, I repeat, SHOCKED, that Apple would release a defective product. I can't remember the last time this happened!

How about '05?

With what's been discovered by Alucardx03, it sounds like it could be easily fixed by Apple issuing better quality covers.

 

[Matty0500]

Thanks for the tip, worked perfectly. Now it's completely snug.

 

[Alucardx03]

How about '05?

With what's been discovered by Alucardx03, it sounds like it could be easily fixed by Apple issuing better quality covers.

All Apple would need to do is create thicker tabs that are not so easily bent. I'm pretty confident that all problems could be solved with a better quality cover.

 

[Ironic]

Tight as a nun

 

[fasacrifice]

Hi All,

I just returned my new macbook.

I waited for it about 3 months and at the and it's just a disaster. It was my first apple product and decided not to buy any more apple product.

I had the same cover problem and went to the apple store. They said it's normal and that's the way how it is. Finally I returned it without paying restocking fee. It's just ridiculous.

I'm sure most of the people buy apple because of the design like me. I'm not stupid to pay that much money for a computer with this stupid problem. I could have bought much much better windows computer (with bad design and Vista) with same amount of money.

I figured out how to fix it yesterday night like one of you guys explained. But Don't you think it's ridiculous that you pay double amount of the computer's real price because of the design and OSX but at the end you have to fix it yourself.

By the way you can fix it but it's just temporary it'll bend back again and at the end it'll get cracked.

I just called apple too but they said they don't know the problem and can't say anything without seeing it.

Good luck all you guys.

Maybe I'll switch to apple one day in the future.

 

[Lurchdubious]

Hi All,

I just returned my new macbook.

I waited for it about 3 months and at the and it's just a disaster. It was my first apple product and decided not to buy any more apple product.

I had the same cover problem and went to the apple store. They said it's normal and that's the way how it is. Finally I returned it without paying restocking fee. It's just ridiculous.

I'm sure most of the people buy apple because of the design like me. I'm not stupid to pay that much money for a computer with this stupid problem. I could have bought much much better windows computer (with bad design and Vista) with same amount of money.

I figured out how to fix it yesterday night like one of you guys explained. But Don't you think it's ridiculous that you pay double amount of the computer's real price because of the design and OSX but at the end you have to fix it yourself.

By the way you can fix it but it's just temporry it'll bend back again and at the and it'll get cracked.

I just called apple too but they said they don't know the problem and can't say anything without seeing it.

Good luck all you guys.

Maybe I'll switch to apple one day in the future.

lol. Serious? That's too bad.

I hope you have better luck in the future.

 

[McGiord]

still needs to do a lot of work in their product validation for their quality, even conduct more testing or to solve all the problems before launching the new products especially for the fit and finish and mechanical aspects of them.

 

[Alucardx03]

Hi All,

I just returned my new macbook.

I waited for it about 3 months and at the and it's just a disaster. It was my first apple product and decided not to buy any more apple product.

I had the same cover problem and went to the apple store. They said it's normal and that's the way how it is. Finally I returned it without paying restocking fee. It's just ridiculous.

I'm sure most of the people buy apple because of the design like me. I'm not stupid to pay that much money for a computer with this stupid problem. I could have bought much much better windows computer (with bad design and Vista) with same amount of money.

I figured out how to fix it yesterday night like one of you guys explained. But Don't you think it's ridiculous that you pay double amount of the computer's real price because of the design and OSX but at the end you have to fix it yourself.

By the way you can fix it but it's just temporary it'll bend back again and at the end it'll get cracked.

I just called apple too but they said they don't know the problem and can't say anything without seeing it.

Good luck all you guys.

Maybe I'll switch to apple one day in the future.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your money, but doesn't that seem a little drastic?

I mean, you'd be willing to abandon an entire design, operating system, and company because the battery cover on your notebook is a little loose? Really?

I've had problems like this with every laptop I've ever owned. My first one, an e-machine, kept cracking in the hinges. My second computer, a Toshiba, was affected by the motherboard problem a few years ago. And don't even get me started on all the problems I've had with my Dell.

By comparison, I've had very, very few problems with any of my Macs.

Maybe you should have tried to take the computer to another Apple store before you ditched the entire computer? If your problem was bad enough, they would have given you a new computer. There have been many people who have had their computer exchanged for the very same reason.

Just my two cents. As long as you're happy with the decision, more power to you.

And by the way, if you successfully bent the tab, there is no reason for it to go back to normal unless you did something wrong.

 

[fasacrifice]

I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your money, but doesn't that seem a little drastic?

I mean, you'd be willing to abandon an entire design, operating system, and company because the battery cover on your notebook is a little loose? Really?

I've had problems like this with every laptop I've ever owned. My first one, an e-machine, kept cracking in the hinges. My second computer, a Toshiba, was affected by the motherboard problem a few years ago. And don't even get me started on all the problems I've had with my Dell.

By comparison, I've had very, very few problems with any of my Macs.

Maybe you should have tried to take the computer to another Apple store, or called 1-800-My-Apple before you ditched the entire computer?

Just my two cents. As long as you're happy with the decision, more power to you.

And by the way, if you successfully bent the tab, there is no reason for it to go back to normal unless you did something wrong.

I think I said that I really loved the computer and OSX but If I pay that much money because of the design, I believe it's my right to complain about the cover.

If I bought a similar computer from another company, I wouldn't complain about the cover. Because I know how they are. But I believe it'a a big issue for apple.

 

[Alucardx03]

I think I said that I really loved the computer and OSX but If I pay that much money because of the design, I believe it's my right to complain about the cover.

If I bought a similar computer from another company, I wouldn't complain about the cover. Becouse I know how they are. But I believe it'a a big issue for apple.

I totally agree. You have the right to complain about this cover fiasco, and you have the right to switch from Macs back to PCs, but your logic is flawed. If you hold that PCs from other companies at a lower standard, why would you ditch your slightly flawed machine for one that you acknowledge is subpar?

It doesn't make any sense.

So on one hand, you have a slightly flawed notebook. On the other, you have a lower quality, more potentially flawed notebook without the generous return policy that Apple has. To me, the obvious choice would be the slightly flawed machine with the return policy rather than the heavily flawed machine and lower build quality.

 

[fasacrifice]

I totally agree. You have the right to complain about this cover fiasco, and you have the right to switch from Macs back to PCs, but your logic is flawed. If you hold that PCs from other companies at a lower standard, why would you ditch your slightly flawed machine for one that you acknowledge is subpar?

It doesn't make any sense.

So on one hand, you have a slightly flawed notebook. On the other, you have a lower quality, more potentially flawed notebook without the generous return policy that Apple has. To me, the obvious choice would be the slightly flawed machine with the return policy rather than the heavily flawed machine and lower build quality.

I'm sorry I don't get your question, can you rephrase it?

What you said right but you forgot to say something about the huge price differences.

 

[Alucardx03]

I'm sorry I don't get your question, can you rephrase it?

What you said right but you forgot to say something about the huge price differences.

In your response you acknowledged that if this flaw existed on a PC, you would have little problem with it. By that statement, you are stating that you hold PCs to a lower standard...

My question is this: why would you abandon a slightly flawed product (the new MB) for a product that even you hold to a lower standard of overall quality (PC)? For this higher (but not perfect) standard of quality (Mac), you pay more. That is still better than paying less for a highly flawed product (a PC), is it not?

There are going to be problems with anything you buy. There will be, however, less problems on a Mac than a PC, which is reflective of your previous statement.

That, combined with the superior OS and the liberal return policy, makes the Mac seem like the obvious choice by your logic.

I'm not trying to criticize you. I just want to understand the reasoning behind what I consider a drastic action.

 

[jammastershep]

its the little things like this that really let down an otherwise great machine. this the first problem I've had and hopefully the last!

 

[fasacrifice]

In your response you acknowledged that if this flaw existed on a PC, you would have little problem with it. By that statement, you are stating that you hold PCs to a lower standard...

My question is this: why would you abandon a slightly flawed product (the new MB) for a product that even you hold to a lower standard of overall quality (PC)? For this higher (but not perfect) standard of quality (Mac), you pay more. That is still better than paying less for a highly flawed product (a PC), is it not?

There are going to be problems with anything you buy. There will be, however, less problems on a Mac than a PC, which is reflective of your previous statement.

That, combined with the superior OS and the liberal return policy, makes the Mac seem like the obvious choice by your logic.

I'm not trying to criticize you. I just want to understand the reasoning behind what I consider a drastic action.

Thanks I got it.

The Macbook was my first Laptop and Apple product.

I don't really need a laptop. I have 2 desktop PCs at home and the school I just bought the Macbook for surfing, mailing and some word processing stuff when I'm around. I must use PCs because of the softwares that I'm using.

I believe Vista just doesn't work for laptops. I'm really happy with it on PCs. So I decided to buy a Macbook mostly because of the design and paid that much money without any hesitation.

When I ended up with this problem, it was just a disaster. And also I waited for them to be released for 3 months.

I'm not gonna buy any Laptop PC. I'll wait them to fix it or maybe until next update

 

[santa.claus]

battery cover problem

hey guys!

my MB is on its way from china - any idea if this would have the same battery cover problem too? I mean, have we been able to pin point if this problem is of a geographical nature - in other words, any specific part of the world where we are facing this problem?

Also, if apple identifies this as a problem, will they help us to fix it by providing replacements? I mean after spending a relatively high amount of money, can we expect extraordinary customer support? this is my first apple product so I really dont know. Thanks a lot!

 

[Primejimbo]

I took my cover off and put it back on and it was loose, so I took it off and played with it. It went back on and it's fine. It seems like it has to be perfectly straight before you lock it on.

 

[santa.claus]

I took my cover off and put it back on and it was loose, so I took it off and played with it. It went back on and it's fine. It seems like it has to be perfectly straight before you lock it on.

Hi Primejimbo!

Did you order your MB online? Or did you pick it up from the store? Also, are you planning to take your MB to apple store to get it replaced?

 

[Alucardx03]

hey guys!

my MB is on its way from china - any idea if this would have the same battery cover problem too? I mean, have we been able to pin point if this problem is of a geographical nature - in other words, any specific part of the world where we are facing this problem?

Also, if apple identifies this as a problem, will they help us to fix it by providing replacements? I mean after spending a relatively high amount of money, can we expect extraordinary customer support? this is my first apple product so I really dont know. Thanks a lot!

Unfortunately, this problem seems to affect everyone, either MB or MBP. While a lot of people on this thread are having the problem with a MB, I am having the problem with my new MBP, so it seems to stretch over geography and model.

It's good that Apple has such a liberal return policy. If there is something wrong, you should be able to get it exchanged at the store with little problem.

If this is a really widespread issue, it appears as though the problem can be remedied with a replacement cover. So I wouldn't worry about your soon-to-be-arriving MB. Just enjoy it. If there's a problem, take a drive to the nearest Apple store.

Just to put your mind at ease, even if there is a clicking problem, it can most likely be fixed by altering the tabs slightly as discussed earlier in the thread. If you have a sliding cover, a simple exchange will do the trick.

 

[santa.claus]

Unfortunately, this problem seems to affect everyone, either MB or MBP. While a lot of people on this thread are having the problem with a MB, I am having the problem with my new MBP, so it seems to stretch over geography and model.

It's good that Apple has such a liberal return policy. If there is something wrong, you should be able to get it exchanged at the store with little problem.

If this is a really widespread issue, it appears as though the problem can be remedied with a replacement cover. So I wouldn't worry about your soon-to-be-arriving MB. Just enjoy it. If there's a problem, take a drive to the nearest Apple store.

Just to put your mind at ease, even if there is a clicking problem, it can most likely be fixed by altering the tabs slightly as discussed earlier in the thread. If you have a sliding cover, a simple exchange will do the trick.

Thanks a lot buddy! I'm really looking forward to my macbook. Appreciate your help!

 

[Munitalp]

My MB is 3 days old now and still doesn't have this issue -- but for those with it, I think it can be easily fixed by a new cover.

 

[PresentACat]

Thanks I got it.

The Macbook was my first Laptop and Apple product.

I don't really need a laptop. I have 2 desktop PCs at home and the school I just bought the Macbook for surfing, mailing and some word processing stuff when I'm around. I must use PCs because of the softwares that I'm using.

I believe Vista just doesn't work for laptops. I'm really happy with it on PCs. So I decided to buy a Macbook mostly because of the design and paid that much money without any hesitation.

When I ended up with this problem, it was just a disaster. And also I waited for them to be released for 3 months.

I'm not gonna buy any Laptop PC. I'll wait them to fix it or maybe until next update

You beleive Vista just doesn't work on laptops?
I can't even begin to say what is wrong with this comment. Is Vista more demanding than XP? Yes. Is it about 1000 times better? Yes.
Did XP require more power to run nicely than 2000? Oh yes.

The answer? Get a laptop with specs which launched in the Vista era, not a base spec jobby that is more suited to XP.

 

[Ice Man]

The Joy of Best Buy

So I am a first time Mac owner. Just picked mine new Aluminum MB the friday after they came out. Got the 2.0GHz and the full up warranty at Best Buy. Something worthy of note.....you know how the education discount for the 2.0GHz Aluminum MB is only $50 on apples website, well I asked the folks at my Best Buy how much of a student discount they were going to give me and they said that they would just give me whatever it was before (obviously not educated enough on Apple)....which means I got a $100 education discount on the new 2.0GHz Alu MB.

OK. Down to business. I really enjoyed what Alucardx03 had to say about being your own Mr. Fix It. I think that that should work. But for anyone who doesn't want to have to do that on their own and or bought their new MB at a Best Buy Store I have news for you...

I took my MB in because it had a loose battery cover and after looking on this thread decided to take it in (I also had the case of some wickedly slanted Function keys). After looking at both problems the Geek Squad guy look right at me and said: "We get you a new one right now"

Now I've had some bad customer service experiences with Best Buy in the past, but that was amazing. We grabbed one from off the shelf, went through the exchange process, came home and booted with a Time Machine drive (I was prepared) and it was like I had never even exchanged it.

A word of advice though. I am currently typing on my 2nd MB and after tomorrow it will be #3. The Function keys on this (2nd) one are even more slanted than the 1st one. I wondered if it could have been a bad batch or something so when I went in I looked at the display model and saw that -yes- it is possible for all of the Function keys to be flat and not slanted. So if you are going to go in and do an exchange, consider taking a peak at it before you leave the store so as to make sure that you are 100% happy with it and don't have to just come back in because those Function keys are worse off still.

I hope this helps some of you out there.

Also, sorry about the long post, I'm horrible at telling stories, way way way too many details. Good Luck. Cheers.

 

[John585]

Has anyone been able to get a replacement battery/hd cover? I went to the apple store on Monday and they said to wait a week before they can order that part.

 

[khunsanook]

hey guys!

my MB is on its way from china - any idea if this would have the same battery cover problem too? I mean, have we been able to pin point if this problem is of a geographical nature - in other words, any specific part of the world where we are facing this problem?

As far as I know, ALL MacBooks are designed in California but made in China.