Late 2008 Macbook Pro Hinges

Flopping on your hands. Sounds like a terrible user experience. I will definitely hold off till there's a fix. I have a black MB from 2 years ago and its fine. I saw the MBP at the Apple store and loved the trackpad, larger screen and much better speakers. The MB speakers suck which is actually an understatement. Is there a consensus that they would fix a problem like this?

I noticed the hinge was a bit looser than other laptops and I wish it was a bit more solid. That being said I have not had any issues with it yet changing position when I didn't want it to. I hope it stays that way.

I worked the whole summer so I could buy this computer, and now I read this. I have allready placed an order on it too, I hope my MPB will be okey, but now i doubt it. I really hope that Apple is taking responsibility for this.

Wow this stinks pretty bad. I really need the MBP because i do alot of video editing, which they made pretty hard to do with the new macbooks with the exclusion of a firewire port, but I cant really just take my MBP down to my local Apple Store if its defective, because the nearest location for me is 347 miles away. I really hope this is resolved soon

For me the Firewire was necessary too. So I had to buy the MPB, but I don't think I will be dissipointed, it seems to be a nice computer, except this thing with the screen 😟

I don't even know where the nearest Apple store is located, I don't even think there is an Apple Store in Sweden. However, I bought my MPB at a Apple Reseller Store so i guees they can help me if I get any trouble.

I sent a email to Steve Jobs and today got a call from the executive offices at Apple. The lady was very polite but stated that the hinge issue has been looked into and was designed this way. In is designed to move easily and stop before it slams into the base. Apple is satisfied with the hinge and it's performance and has no plans to do anything. She also stated that they do not look at the user forums. I also talked to Applecare and asked the rep to look at the issue in the user forums. I was very surprised when she tried and found out Applecare reps are blocked from having access to the forums. I guess we will just have to live with the hinge problem unless they start falling apart and Apple is forced to fix them-like the battery and Iphone charger recall.

Wow, that's really bad news. It would be great to have a quotable official statement and take it to the press. If this is not a production flaw, then it definately is a design flaw.

I just returned mine, and I'm getting a replacement (from Apple Store), but it seems that might be pointless. My original MBP is great and the difference is not that big (since I'm no gamer). Better stick with that.

Funny thing is, I had a Vaio way back, 17" very heavy screen, no problem with the hinges...

This makes me so sad... 😟

Oh my...
The phrase "It's not a bug, it's a feature" comes to my mind...

A screen shouldn't behave like this. I have never seen that kind of behavior on a laptop before. Well, okay I have.. But it was on a more than five years old Dell laptop.

Time to spread the news about this issue as much a possible.

I will not pay $2500 for a faulty laptop. Nor would I buy a brand new car where the trunk slams shut as soon as you have it open when the car is standing on a sloped surface...

At first I was concerned about this issue, but the more I experiment with my new MBP, the more I understand why it was designed this way. While I might prefer a little more stiffness to the hinge, I do not find it to be the problem others seem to find. It in fact does not slam shut like a car trunk, but stops about 4 to 5 inches above the trackpad. And in comparison to my 2007 MBP, it stays shut. (The latch on the previous MBP is not very good.) The stiff hinge on the old MBP causes it to rise slightly so that when you push the button, it pops open. Many times I have had it pop open and come on while in the bag. While the hinge on the new MBP is not as stiff, it doesn't pop open when you don't want it to. I did some more testing on my new MBP and 3 in the Apple store. With the screen at 90 degrees when the computer is level, the screen does not drop until you get the computer close to 45 degrees. And it never shuts or goes down so far that the machine will go to sleep. (If yours does, or begins dropping at 30 degrees as some claim, then you should take it back.) So I have changed my mind. For 99% of users, this should not be a problem, or at least not severe enough that would keep them from buying this machine. I am happier with the way this screen functions than the previous MBP.

I have a few days before 14 days is up. Seriously considering returning this piece of equipment. It may sound stupid but laying down and lounging while on the computer is a *key use case* for me. So much so that I don't even use my new laptop in those cases. Between this hinge and the awful trackpad issues. i'm really ******.

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Dan, no need to defend Apple or the design. I can agree that the new MBP unibody is the nicest laptop I've seen with. But the loose hinge is a defect.

Have you ever been to the WWDC at Moscone? Now remember the sacco bags you can use in between sessions? I challenge you to use your shiny new MBP sitting in one of those, on one hand not having the screen to much open (because of glare from the ceiling) and on the other hand trying to keep the lid from falling down.

The delivery services are coming tomorrow to pick my machine up. I'm trying one more, if this isn't sorted I'll go back to my old MBP until this is sorted.

Like someone said, this is an important use case for a laptop.

Just stopping in to say that my new MBP has this issue as well. I actually love the new laptop, including the screen (even though I was, and still am, generally a fan of matte displays). But the hinge design is disappointing. I don't primarily use the laptop while laying in bed, but I do sometimes... or rather, I did.

Paul Panotzki wrote:
Have you ever been to the WWDC at Moscone? Now remember the sacco bags you can use in between sessions? I challenge you to use your shiny new MBP sitting in one of those, on one hand not having the screen to much open (because of glare from the ceiling) and on the other hand trying to keep the lid from falling down.

Nope, never been to any computer event of any kind. I'm just an average user who relies very heavily on his laptop and take it with me just about 24/7. My 2 heaviest uses are on the desk in my office where the hinge is a non-issue and even the glare from the lights is no problem, and at home in my recliner. Again, the hinge is not a problem in my recliner either. I can see where it could be a problem for a few folk in certain circumstances, such as you indicate, my point is just that I think that is the small minority of users and for most folk, the other advances made with this machine outweigh what might be a problem for those folk.

Also, I too prefer a matte screen but so far have been pleased with this glossy screen. And as I said before, I am especially pleased with the latchless design which for me is a bigger plus than the hinge is a negative. I realize that the reverse may be true for others and hopefully Apple will figure out a way to satisfy both of us in the near future. Progress is almost always 2 steps forward and 1 step backwards. This is such a case.

BTW, in my little test of the 3 machines at the Apple store, I noticed a difference of maybe 10 degrees at most of when the screens began to fall. Not at lot, but it could make a difference for some. And it was a very unscientific test. The employees seemed a little surprised by my testing and had not heard of this as an issue.

Just got the new MBP. I lay down a lot. So, I took it out of the box, laid down on the bed, and opened it up, as it was resting on my lap. Right away the screen fell and then slowed about 5" from the base. The hinge is too loose to support the screen in that position. Whether this is a defect or something Apple designed it to do... if they designed it this way, then it is a design defect.

A laptop SHOULD NOT DO THIS. The screen should only move when you apply some pressure to it voluntarily: it should not move on its own. EVER.

This is very frustrating.

Fair enough. I realize that it might not be the biggest issue for most people. I agree that there is no problem on the desk. For my own self interest I would like this to be an issue for most, because that would make Apple actually do something. They have great engineers and this shouldn't be a hard to fix.

I'm have a lump in my throat. I was one of the first ones in Sweden to get the new MBP, now I'm returning it with tears in my eyes. The engineers at the authorized service center haven't even seen it and I had to show them how to open it. Now I have to wait for the next one tol arrive end of November. I'm just hoping that isn't in vain. I wish this wouldn't be an issue for me, but it is.

BTW. I love glossy screens.