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greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Bent my macbook :(

Ive had it for two days.

I dont know if anybody else does this, but if I need to move my laptop I'll pick it up by one hand on either the left or the right side. Anyway... I picked it up on the left side with my thumb over the ethernet port and bent the chassis slightly. You cant see it but you can sure feel it, I also have a few little depressions in the left speaker grill from my fingers. Also if you hold it one handed on the right side it bends the superdrive slot slightly.

I just wanted to let people know that this isnt as "robust" as one might think.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 2nd gen

Posted on Nov 6, 2008 9:25 AM

110 replies

Nov 10, 2008 5:16 PM in response to greene-r74

i just went to the apple store and was pressing really hard on the ethernet side that you say got bent and it stayed true to its claim of rigidity. i also picked it up about 20 times with one hand around the same spot and put it back down and looked and it didn't bend. you should go exchange it at the apple store because they're not supposed to bend.

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 10, 2008 5:55 PM in response to DoTcOmNaMe

Im on the phone with apple right now to see what there going to do. The guy mentioned returning it to best buy. Problem is I'm 200 miles from the nearest Best buy. I got it online, an I've already upgraded the hard drive and I no longer have the one that came with it. I'll keep everyone posted on what happens.

LukeD

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 10, 2008 6:07 PM in response to DoTcOmNaMe

THANK YOU, DOTCOMNAME!

TO ALL, READ DOTCOMNAME's POST!

Greener 74, good luck to you! I would be very firm with Apple and tell them that they are going to want to see the problem that you have found.

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 10, 2008 6:27 PM in response to LukeD

My thanks to dotcomname also, that post was the reason I decided to call. When I called I was really plesant and and told them the issue. Before the guy talked to a supervisor he mentioned accidental damage and possibly not being a warranty issue. But when he came back after putting me on hold he said he was thinking about that and there should not be any issues picking it up with one hand. It shouldnt bend under that condition and that would not be considered accidental damage or misuse, more of a defect. So there going to send me a box and I'm going to have it sent in for repair. Probably remove my hard drive before I send it in.

But thanks to everyone on here, I was kind of reluctant to do anything about it. Also the guy didn't seem too surprised by the issue.

Nov 11, 2008 1:38 PM in response to greene-r74

Wow, I'm really humbled by the acknowledgments. I've been looking into getting one of the new macbook pros for my architecture classes and I was disappointed after reading your complaint about it bending. So that's what drove me to go to the apple store and investigate this issue for myself. I'm glad to hear you're getting it exchanged. Reply to this thread and let us know if your new one is better. Good Luck!

Ron Ross1

Level 1

112 points

Nov 11, 2008 1:52 PM in response to greene-r74

I hate to sound like the Prince of Darkness here, but what were you thinking when you picked up a $ 2,000 laptop with one hand? Did you expect it not to flex? We're dealing with a hinged laptop here, and not toolbox.

I have read all these threads and to my suprise no one mentioned how insane this is. All I've been reading is about the quality, or lack thereof, of the MBP. I'm on my second MBP (not because of anything other than a voluntary update)and see this machine as a workhorse.

This machine was not meant to be picked up, one handed. Sorry to say this, but you really shouldn't be complaining.

I will probably get flamed for this, but that's my opinion and although I feel bad for you. I cannot support you going back to Apple with a complaint of poor quality, when it clearly isn't a build issue.

LukeD

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 11, 2008 4:49 PM in response to Ron Ross1

I agree with you on the need for care, Ron.

However, it does not matter that Greener74 had picked up the notebook with one hand. This issue still could have happened if he had picked it up with two hands.

The point is that the notebook structure should be able to withstand the stress from the pressure of one hand or two on any part of the notebook.

I am still of the view that Greener74's computer has a flaw that is not present in every new MacBook Pro, and, if this is just how it is, Apple needs to advise us of how we should be holding these notebooks.

Again, I have tried to bend the area in question, to no avail whatsoever.

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2008 6:28 AM in response to Ron Ross1

I've been a computer tech for 15 years, I've picked up $500 and $1000 laptops with one hand all day. Actually with this one I picked it up with two hands and sat it on my coffee table with one hand. So if you buy a new BMW your not supposed to drive it over 75 cause you might break it? I had my Miata up to 110 and it didn't break.

The $2000 price tag, mac reputation, and the new improved unibody construction, (50% more rigid). Should be as least as rigid as what its replacing. If I dropped it or did something stupid with it this would have been a completely different topic.

Oh and by the way I never complained about any of it. I just wanted others reading this post to be careful. This thread has been alive for a week and I never even considered sending it in. And when I did make the phone call to Apple. I told them what happened and they offered to fix it. I never told them I wanted it fixed. The rep on the phone said "Wow you set it down with one hand? That shouldn't have hurt it I do that all the time."

I'm not saying the quality is poor. If I thought the quality was poor I would have bought an HP. BLECHHHHH!! The quality is fantastic, maybe thats why its a little disappointing to see it bend in the first 24 hours or ownership.

Speaking of quality. Back to the new BMW, you park it in your garage to protect it and your cat jumps on it and dents the roof. Well duh you idiot there not designed to hold up the weight of a cat!! You cant Complain about that.

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2008 6:43 AM in response to Ron Ross1

I'm going to have a little fun with Ron Ross's comment. Everyone has their opinion.

But I was thinking when I was eating my breakfast. After I get this back, I'm going to get some special typing gloves, a hair net and a particle mask. Then I'm going to cover the whole thing in plastic like my grandma used to do with her couch. And then I'm going to go to Wal Mart and buy a little doggy bed for it and put it next to my bed so it can sleep next to me at night. And if I need to pick it up I'll ask a friend to help me "team lift" it. And if I have to go anywhere in the car I'll make sure to buckle it in. (thats actually not a bad idea) ...lol

Ron Ross1

Level 1

112 points

Nov 12, 2008 1:06 PM in response to greene-r74

Funny....

OK, maybe I deserved it, and I certainly can take the abuse over the post, but still my spin on this whole thing is this; exercise a certain amount of caution when picking up any hinged device, even the heavy duty MBP. Granted, these laptops should be sturdy, but if they were meant to be picked up with one hand, Apple should have included either instructions or a handle.

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2008 11:29 AM in response to Ron Ross1

Got it back today. They fixed it but its not any better. The area around the ethernet port is not any thicker or robust. I pressed on it with my finger and already left a slight depression. I calibrated my finger on a postage scale. I pressed with about 5 lbs of force, one finger. Just looks like a weak spot and they tried to make up for it by putting the ethernet port under it to give it some structure.

LukeD

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 20, 2008 11:50 AM in response to greene-r74

Can you post another picture?

As a fellow new MacBook Pro owner, I really appreciate you keeping us posted on this matter.

It would appear that Apple would only be able to correct the issue with a redesign.

markneal

Level 1

9 points

Nov 20, 2008 11:59 AM in response to greene-r74

Interesting, I see yours is the macbook pro from the firewire port by the ethernet in your pics.

I have a topic about the 2 video chips in the pro, and about the 9600m gt being very hot in the top left corner above the keyboard when it is used.
I'm thinking that a combination of the softened heated metal in that zone, plus all the port holes etched out there making the structure flex when hot from the 9600.

Maybe all apple store units run the 9400m at a very cool temperature so that zone isn't hot and flexible for DoTcOmNaMe's store test.

Can you tell us if you run your macbook using the 9400 or 9600 (Energy Saver > 'Better Battery Life' or 'Higher Performance' respectively), and whether it was hot to the touch in that area when you handled it and it bent. thanks

Nov 20, 2008 12:11 PM in response to greene-r74

I'd chalk it up to a design "weakness" Personally I'm rather hesitant to press down on that location. I'd recommend others to avoid doing so as well.

Maybe its my lack of knowledge, but 5lbs of force does seem like a lot of pressure given the small area the force is being applied too (about a 1/2 inch).

greene-r74 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2008 12:12 PM in response to markneal

I actually bent it the first night I had it. Didn't even figure out how to switch video modes yet. And this one bent right as I took it out of the box, cold chassis, slight press with one finger. I'll take a pic tonight. I my be able to pick up the slight bend.......(LOL as Im typing this) I just put my finger in the ethernet port, lifted up, and straightened it out. Wow, so much for taking a picture. Looks good now. There is no way the old one would have been able to be straightened like that.

Bent my macbook :(