Crackbook problems

3074 Views 19 Replies 12 Participants Last post by gennybeans, Jan 10, 2008

fuzzyface

Discussion Starter · Aug 25, 2007

Ok...
so, I exchanged a CoreDuo Macbook in January at the Yorkdale Apple store because it had a crack on the palm rest.
Guess what I found on my Macbook today...a crack on the palm rest - and on a C2D macbook! It's not a first gen. problem, it's a Macbook problem.
I called the Sherway Gardens store - the woman who first answered the phone (the same one who put me on hold for the manager) identified HERSELF as the manager, and then told me that I needed to make an appointment to talk to a Mac genius before they would have a look at the crack (because, only a Mac genius can identify cracks in the same problem area as the last macbook).
I'm bringing it in to the Yorkdale store.
I'll keep you posted.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

HowEver

· #2 · Aug 25, 2007 (Edited)

.

gizmo321

· #3 · Aug 25, 2007

What does the crack look like? I wish my CoreDuo machine developed a crack so I can get a Core2Duo....

monokitty

· #4 · Aug 25, 2007

gizmo321 said:
What does the crack look like? I wish my CoreDuo machine developed a crack so I can get a Core2Duo....

Not everyone gets their unit replaced that easily.

gizmo321

· #5 · Aug 25, 2007

But, but, but....I bought AppleCare!! They gotta roll out the red carpet for me!! Hahaha

fuzzyface

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 25, 2007

Lars said:
Not everyone gets their unit replaced that easily.

I exchanged my crackbook for a new imac (paid the difference). No more crackbook. :clap: No product worth 1249 + tax should break with normal use - especially so soon (7months) after purchase. No, it did not take a genius to identify a pre-existing product flaw for them to replace the machine.
BTW...one big "thank you" for replacing the unit!

Ants

· #7 · Aug 25, 2007

I also have a black Macbook with a crack near the right top side of the palm rest. In fact, a small sliver of plastic completely detached itself from the top case. Made an appointment earlier today and dropped in to see a genius at the Carrefour Laval location.

As soon as I showed them the laptop, without hesitation, they ordered a replacement part. I also have Applecare but did not expect them to replace my Core Duo with a new model.

Very relieved to know that they will replace the top case but I asked if they would have replaced it free of charge if I did not have Applecare. They informed me that chances are I would have had to pay $200 for the part.

fuzzyface

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 25, 2007

Ants said:
I also have a black Macbook with a crack near the right top side of the palm rest. In fact, a small sliver of plastic completely detached itself from the top case. Made an appointment earlier today and dropped in to see a genius at the Carrefour Laval location.

As soon as I showed them the laptop, without hesitation, they ordered a replacement part. I also have Applecare but did not expect them to replace my Core Duo with a new model.

Very relieved to know that they will replace the top case but I asked if they would have replaced it free of charge if I did not have Applecare. They informed me that chances are I would have had to pay $200 for the part.

They didn't hesitate in my case either. I got the sense that they knew about the problem already; probably received instructions from their managers to fix or replace if a customer brings in a problem macbook. Apple had issues with their logicboards a few years ago in their portables. They got sued, and started replacing logicboards at their cost. Maybe they've learned a thing or two, and thats why they're fixing the units.
P.S. My brother bought a new blackbook earlier this year - had the logic board replaced already...is history repeating itself?

M. Warren

· #9 · Aug 26, 2007

I just discovered my first gen white macbook has this problem as well. Glad I came across this post, because I assumed I was SOL considering my Applecare expired 3 months ago.

Phat Bastard

· #10 · Aug 26, 2007

I also had a crack on the palm-rest of my Blackbook repaired at the Sherway Apple Store. Got it back in a day, good as new.

Only a couple months later, the palm-rest cracked again. I haven't even bothered to go back, but now that you mention it, I should get it replaced again. Everything else about this computer rocks, but it is really embarassing that routine use cracks the palm-rest.

gennybeans

· #11 · Jan 7, 2008

wow. ok, i had read some places that this wasn't covered by warranty, and now i'm glad that i found this thread. i'm going to take it into eaton's centre sometime this week. i have two pieces of plastic that have just chipped off the bottom half of the plastic...and a chip near the touchpad.

phuviano

· #12 · Jan 7, 2008

M. Warren said:
I just discovered my first gen white macbook has this problem as well. Glad I came across this post, because I assumed I was SOL considering my Applecare expired 3 months ago.

I believe you are SOL, since your apple care already expired. I don't think apple is going to fix it, if your not covered by apple care.

chas_m

· #13 · Jan 7, 2008

I've had two Blackbooks, neither has had this problem (they are metal, so I'm not sure HOW they could have this problem?).

My hands/wrists are big and I'm not the gentlest person in the world, but I did get a Marware sticky "protector" for the wrist area -- I wonder if that has helped me?

Love, love, LOVE the Blackbook. Far and away the best portable Apple has yet designed.*

*Oh sure there are more powerful machines, but this one is STYLIN'.

jamesB

· #14 · Jan 7, 2008

chas_m said:
I've had two Blackbooks, neither has had this problem (they are metal, so I'm not sure HOW they could have this problem?).

This is a quote from The Apple Store website, note the part about the "polycarbonate case".
-----------------------
Sleek, 1.08-inch-thin design

MacBook makes it easy to hit the road thanks to its tough polycarbonate case, built-in wireless technologies, and innovative MagSafe Power Adapter that releases automatically if someone accidentally trips on the cord.
-----------------------
A Wiki search confirms that polycarbonate is a type of plastic.

jb.

chas_m

· #15 · Jan 7, 2008

Okay, sorry, not metal -- but clearly you'd have to be putting a LOT of pressure on this case to have it crack.

HowEver

· #16 · Jan 7, 2008 (Edited)

.

jamesB

· #17 · Jan 7, 2008

HowEver said:
Um, do you *have* a black MacBook, and thought it was metal?

Actually from reading his post, chas_m has had 2 Black MacBooks that he thought were "metal"

jb.

lreynolds

· #18 · Jan 7, 2008

I had the same problem with my 1st gen MacBook. At first they weren't going to repair it, but then the Genius said that they could replace the palm rest/keyboard assembly under the discolouration issue that plagued the 1st gens. He also advised to be careful about how I picked it up, not to pressure on those areas. The thin standoffs on the top of the screen put pressure on the thin plastic (or polycarbonate) edge of the palm rest. So far it has been fine since (about 8 months?).

chas_m

· #19 · Jan 8, 2008

HowEver said:
Um, do you *have* a black MacBook, and thought it was metal?

Yes I do have a BlackBook (typing on it right now actually), and yes I thought it was poly- or urethane-coated metal. It seems more "solid" to me than the plastic-coated white MacBooks. We had one that had been scratched deeply by a nail in our store once (bottom of the machine) and it looked metallic underneath the coating, so I think that's what I was drawing from when I said that. Or it could have just been a brainfart, it was late.

gennybeans

· #20 · Jan 10, 2008

lreynolds said:
I had the same problem with my 1st gen MacBook. At first they weren't going to repair it, but then the Genius said that they could replace the palm rest/keyboard assembly under the discolouration issue that plagued the 1st gens. He also advised to be careful about how I picked it up, not to pressure on those areas. The thin standoffs on the top of the screen put pressure on the thin plastic (or polycarbonate) edge of the palm rest. So far it has been fine since (about 8 months?).

wow. i made an appointment for friday, and hopefully the guys at the genius bar don't give me the same trouble. i'm worried that they'll turn me away--which could be trouble as i am trying to sell it now that i have my MBP.

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