daveinpoway
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join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| Gaps when MacBook Pro closed
I have noticed that my recently-purchased MBP has a gap at each side when closed- if you look head-on at the release latch, the top part of the clam-shell appears to be in a slight "U" shape, with about 1/8" gap at each side. From what I have read, I am not the only one to note this.
Have any of you contacted Apple about this; if so, did they do an exchange or tell you this is not important? If they are going to ignore my concern or if they end up swapping it out for another one that is just as bad (or perhaps has even larger gaps), it is probably not worth my time. Still, I find it annoying that my expensive new laptop is like this.
For those who have this condition and lived with it- have you noticed any long-term problems as a result of these gaps? Does the warping get worse over time (so that the gaps get larger)? |
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Epyon9283
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join:2001-12-26
Dayton, NJ | Mine has been like this since it was new. I've had it for a year now with no ill effects. It hasn't gotten better or worse. |
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RFC2662
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join:2001-05-31
Jacksonville, FL
clubs:
| reply to daveinpoway
I have a 15" PowerBook that is the same way and it's been that way since new. I know it's annoying but it hasn't caused any problems. I was hoping the MBP's were free from this but I guess not.
Did you purchase from an Apple store or online? If at the store, maybe you could return it for another and check before you leave... if it bothers you that much. |
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daveinpoway
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join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA | Having done some more reading, it seems this is common enough that I will live with it, especially since it doesn't seem to have any long-term effects.
Thanks for everyone's feedback. |
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JAAulde
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Hagerstown, MD
| My 2 month old MBP is the same way. I too found it annoying that such an expensive piece of "Pro" equipment would have such an obvious visual flaw. But, as noted by everyone else, it hasn't actually hurt anything, so I move forward...
The other thing that doesn't make sense about the expensive "Pro" laptops is the lack of port replicator.
Both of these things seem so obvious and easy to address, I just can't understand what Apple is thinking. But, they make better computers than I do, so whatever.  |
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Chinabound
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Antioch, IL
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| reply to daveinpoway
The Dv8or  will have to tell us exactly how old this MBP is, but it is something he mentioned to me about it prior to my buying it from him.
This is my fourth notebook computer. The hinges of the Compaq and two HPs I have feel quite loose compared to the tight feel they have on this MBP. That tells me this is built much better as I can only imagine how many times this one has been opened and closed. I think you are closing your notebook with one hand in the center - and I believe this is what is responsible for this common problem.
I have lessened the gap by using two hands to close it, one finger on each corner. It is gradually returning to normal. |
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JAAulde
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Hagerstown, MD
| Mine came this way from the factory--it was one of the first things I noticed. I agree that in most respects these things are high end and well put together. But the gaps are just odd and, I would imagine, very easy to fix/prevent on Apple's part with some modifications to the design. |
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RFC2662
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Jacksonville, FL
clubs:
| said by JAAulde :Mine came this way from the factory--it was one of the first things I noticed. I agree that in most respects these things are high end and well put together. But the gaps are just odd and, I would imagine, very easy to fix/prevent on Apple's part with some modifications to the design. I would have to agree since my Powerbook came that way as well. It seems the issue could be somewhere in assembly that the bend in the lid occurs since some machines have it and some don't. Maybe a small China-man is having problems getting the LCD/LED display into the lid and is bending it in the process...?? 
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JAAulde
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Hagerstown, MD | It just seems to me that the clips could be moved further to the sides, or a stiffener could be put in the top of the monitor, or something. |
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HiVolt
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Toronto, ON
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| reply to daveinpoway
My old 12" PowerBook would actually distort when used for a longer period of time, and it would literally "rock" on a flat surface, because only three of the rubber feet could touch the surface.
It didn't affect the machine, it ran flawlessly and still does in fact, my brother still uses it regularly since I sold it to him almost 3 years ago.
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA | reply to JAAulde
Yes, mine was this way right out of the box. Fortunately, however, it has no dead pixels or other problems that I have noted. |
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Chinabound
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Antioch, IL
clubs: | Then why didn't you guys return it immediately?! |
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JAAulde
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Hagerstown, MD
| said by Chinabound :Then why didn't you guys return it immediately?! Because you can see that it isn't a defect in the single item, but a design flaw in the product. |
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Chinabound
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Antioch, IL
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| I just find it hard to believe that most of them arrive like this. But being very new to the Mac world, I certainly wouldn't know either way. All I do know is if I dropped this kind of money on something brand new, I'd expect it to at least appear perfect. Remember when you could take your new car back if there was even the slightest uneven gap when you'd close the doors/trunk/hood?
I wonder if anyone will post that their notebook arrived fine?
I really mean it when I say I began closing it with one finger on each corner since the day it arrived (because Mike explained this problem to me), and it has improved.
For those that are impatient, put your four fingers on each corner and your thumbs on either side of the camera lens, and give it a push! |
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rjackson
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| reply to daveinpoway
Mine is gapped a little more on the left side than the right. I actually never noticed this until now. |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| reply to Chinabound
The main reason I decided not to return it is because the screen is perfect. If I exchanged it, I might end up with one with some bad pixels. Since the feedback is that these gaps don't cause any serious problems over time, I will put aside my perfectionist nature and accept the situation. |
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Titus Pullo
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·Embarq
| reply to daveinpoway
I don't have the link (I believe there's a link to it within the ARS leopard review), but the ARS review of the powerbook notes the same thing. The author relates his conversations with Apple regarding this issue. My powerbook has a nearly even gap all the way across --there's a slight bowing of the outer edges. The squish-click of the lid when you pick it up is more annoying for a two grand notebook, IMO. My plastic Dell doesn't act like ill-fitting dentures when I pick it up, you'd expect a powerbook/macbook pro not to either.
But you curse it in quiet so as not to awaken the fanatics sleeping.
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-Oscar Wilde |
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