Late 2008 Macbook Pro Hinges

count on me too..........my first macbook and i am very dissapointed of the poor hinge.........i wouldnt recommend to anyone else.....had great hopes and expectations only to be dissapointed..........:-(

*WAKE UP APPLE FIX THE HINGE......!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

I do miss the hinge from my iBook G4 and Santa Rosa MBP 17. It's not something I thought to worry about when I "upgraded"... even now as I type the display is slowly falling away from me.

It's not a HUGE bother, but it's getting to me more and more every day...

i have always loved mac until i dropped 2500 for a computer that has a screen that wont even stay open. i went to the genius bar and the guy even said the hinges in mine were horrible but there was nothing that he could ship for repairs under. its four weeks old and the ones in the store arent flimsy. my sister has an older model pro and its hinges are still stiff. steve jobs may say its normal aparently he only puts his screen in two positions. FIX THIS PROBLEM APPLE IT HASNT GONE UNOTICED!!!

You just lost a sale, Apple.

I am in the market for a new laptop, to replace my 2 year old 17" MBP. I was excited to buy the June 2009 17" unibody until I read these complaints. The hinge on my current MBP is fine but I have often thought that if it was any looser it would be a problem. And now I hear that the latest one is worse.

Sigh. Just when I thought you had a really great design, it gets ruined by an oversight. I'm sorry, I respect that engineering is a complex thing, but some of these mistakes seem so foolish and the fact that they're not fixed generation after generation is embarrassing. How many revisions of the Powerbook had that stupid problem with the keys leaving marks on the screen?

Please fix this. And then I'll buy another laptop.

*Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe iFixit.com's step-by-step instructions for replacing the MBP's display include a photo of the screws that may tighten the hinges: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-Duo-Display/492/6*

*Again, I may be mistaken, but it may also be worth pursuing, especially for those whose warranty has expired.*

Rick

Message was edited by: rickburns

Message was edited by: rickburns

I have the same problem here. If you pick up the laptop and slightly move it orward the screen will close to about 2 inches from the base. Very annoying, especially since we judt paid 2000$ for it?

Just Bought a Mac book Pro 15 Inch Mid 2009 for the Price of 2200 EUROS here in Greece. I just opened it and the hold the base on my lap at 45 degrees and the lid started to close...I AM SOOO DISAPOINTED!!! I called the service and they said I have to send them the computer and they will judge if there is a problem or not...I just spent all my savings on this MBP and it is basically defected!!! Please Apple respond to that!!!!

Hi, Paleoka. Apple will not respond here; these are user-to-user forums. You've done the right thing by asking to have your MBP examined by an Apple authorized repair service. Wait for the answer from them. No one here can tell you anything about it.

Hello everybody.
I got my first Mac almost a week ago. I am very happy with my MacBook Pro 15'' unibody and I think I will never go back to Windows machines.
Well, to the point now: I ont think that the hinge has any problem or malfunction. They made it like that so you can open the lid using just one hand. I had to use both hands to open it in the previous laptops I owned and that was sometimes very unconvenient. So, I prefer to have an easy o open lid than a stiff one.
Using the computer in the bed is not really a problem. What is the matter with you, dont you use a pillow under your head? If you do, then having the sccreen parallel to your head dont close the lid.
Just my opinion, thank you.

Ehm, I can't open the lid of my 17" MacBook Pro with one hand, but the screen shakes when I type quickly (and softly) or press the backspace button repeatedly and not even hard. I think this is quite pathetic for a product from a producer that claims to sell premium products. I think I'll bring it back as soon as I can.

My late 2008 MBP hinge just developed hairline crack and the lid is out of alignment when close, just like this guys MBP. http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/apple-notebooks/141840-new-unibody-macbook-pro- cracking-hinge.html

Seriously, I did not drop it or abuse it, the hinge just crack and and the lid came loose. It still work normally apart from not able to close properly.

Although misery loves company.....I truly take no pleasure hearing of your experience - but at least I know my hinge problem is not just a freak accident. My only two cents would be to warn others this goes beyond a minor inconvenience -- it can also cause physical harm. I just received my MacBook Pro (also as a birthday gift from my husband) - and was thrilled. The second day of use,... I was reclined on a couch, balancing the Mac on my lap -- and as I leaned forward (holding the Mac with two hands) to lift myself to my feet.....the lid unexpectedly snapped shut -- on my head (specifically at the corner of my left eye!!). I'm now sporting a nice 1 inch raised bruise. Having been a previous PC laptop owner....one who constantly used the PC in a seated position (such as a couch) -- I was completely caught off guard that the Apple lid had a life of it's own - not to mention has the speed and weight (as my face now proves) to really cause a wallop!

Has anybody had success taking their MBP to an apple store to get this problem fixed? I just bout a 15" MBP on Sunday and the display hinge is ridiculously loose. As long as it is on a flat surface it will stay but if I move it or try and use it at an angle the lid snaps shut.

Well my old MBP fried and they replaced it with the unibody... unfortunately... I'm having the weak hinge problem too. I'll be going into the apple store tomorrow. i'll be playing around with the store displays to see if they also have the same problem.

As for getting apple to realize this. Should be simple.

I'm going into my school's mechanical engineering basement and going into the metal shop to create screen holder clips. Then going to walmart to buy the little felt pad stickers. Problem solved.