Another bent MBP Unibody :(

Question

Another bent MBP Unibody :(

Ok, I've had my spankingly gorgeous new 2.4Ghz Unibody MacBookPro Unibody for a couple of weeks, but a few days ago I saw light hitting the chassis at a slightly different angle to normal, highlighting a substantial dint below the keyboard and to the right. I now see this dint every time, and its a bit disheartening. Its suspiciously looks to be located in the exact same location my thumb has been placed whenever I've picked it up with only my right hand. Nothing else could have caused this, as I have treated it with utter most care, as with anything brand new.

I thought the Unibody was supposed to really strong? Can't it even survive a one handed pickup with maybe 30% of its weight on a single thumb pressure point? My old plastic MacBook was like a tank compared to this flimsy aluminum, I even accidentally dropped it on the corner once and saw very little damage.

Has this happened to anybody else? Does anybody have an clue as to whether Apple will fix this for me? It surely isn't right. The Mac was a gift so it isn't registered in my name, plus it was bought in the States, and I live in the UK.

Pictures are available from here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=6949327&postcount=5

MBP Unibody, iMac alum 24", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 16, 2009 6:57 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 20, 2009 4:36 AM in response to ez12a

Aluminum is a light metal, but the flipside is that it is relatively soft when compared to steel etc. I have noticed that my Apple keyboard has picked up chinks and dents from even so little as dropping my keys. Likewise, with the MBP, the combination of the softening effect of the considerable heat they kick out, coupled with excess pressure/impact can conceivibly damage the casing quite easily.

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Answer 2

Vivek V.

Level 3

624 points

Jan 20, 2009 11:15 AM in response to endOfin feXt

endOfin,
I don't think its about the "strength" of the person so much is it is about someone trying to carry this MBP with one hand, thumb on top. I certainly wont try it. If you have carried yours one handed than I suppose I could agree with you, but otherwise I have seen several posts of this nature and so do not want to move to discredit them so quickly.

For example:

http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1&messageID=8414024

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Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jan 16, 2009 7:11 PM in response to Dominic Kelly

From the picture, I think any reasonable person would conclude that something has struck or been dropped on the wrist rest of your MBP. Not only is the dent much smaller in diameter than anything the pad of your thumb would be likely to produce, but picking the machine up one-handed would be extremely unlikely to exert a concentrated downward pressure in that location. Picking it up one-handed is a really terrible idea, certainly, but I can't imagine it doing the particular damage that your picture shows. That really appears to be a dent from an impact of some kind, by something harder and smaller that a thumb.

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Answer 4

Jan 16, 2009 7:31 PM in response to eww

In other words, it's my word against theirs.

I know for a fact that nothing has ever been dropped on the MBP as I've treated it like any other new, exciting toy; with great care. I even dusted it gently every day!

I also know that the dent is in exactly the same place that I previously rested the middle of my thumb while picking the machine up. My thumbs can actually flex easily in both directions which forms more of a knuckle than a pad..

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jan 16, 2009 7:59 PM in response to Dominic Kelly

No, I don't think it's "your word against theirs." I think it's clear that the dent was caused by some untoward incident or action or behavior for which Apple plainly isn't responsible, no matter what it was. And therefore I wouldn't expect it to be covered by AppleCare, any more than a dent in a car's fender would be covered by a new-car warranty if it wasn't there when the car was driven off the lot for the first time. I think you'd have an awfully hard time convincing anyone that an obvious dent like that was there when the computer came out of its factory packaging and you completely failed to notice it until now. That's the only basis on which I'd expect Applecare to cover it.

In short: how the dent got there doesn't really matter. Something dented the computer after you took possession of it, and dents are generally and quite understandably regarded as proof of mistreatment. So talk to Applecare, but don't get your hopes up too high.

Message was edited by: eww

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Answer 6

Jan 16, 2009 8:12 PM in response to eww

The fact the dent is directly beneath where I used to put my thumb, is perhaps leading me to false conclusions, because had it been anywhere else I would have put it down to user error. I just can't see how it could have possibly happened any other way. In any case, can these dents be corrected easily? Or is an entire new Unibody required?

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Answer 7

ez12a

Level 1

10 points

Jan 16, 2009 10:56 PM in response to Dominic Kelly

the non-unibody top case cost over 100.

since literally everything is built into the unibody/top case in the new ones i wouldn't be surprised if it was a good chunk of change. Esp with the trackpad and such built in.

add labor to that and its definitely going to be a jaw-dropper. at least the old top case was removed with just a few screws.

Message was edited by: ez12a

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Answer 8

iStu91

Level 1

10 points

Jan 20, 2009 6:06 AM in response to Dominic Kelly

i think the whole tough uni body thing is being taken the wrong way. Sure it has alot of purpose, but it is still a laptop. Just because i have a unibody and its been advertised as super durable doesnt mean im gonna treat my computer any different. I think picking up with one hand is crazy for a laptop of this size, thats an awful lot of pressure.

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Answer 9

Jan 20, 2009 7:21 AM in response to Dominic Kelly

Its interesting that we hear from apple that this unibody design offers an increased structural strength and yet we see a log of threads dealing with bent cases. I wonder if the previous poster touched upon the truth that many people unknowingly pickup the laptop with one hand and put undo pressure on one point causing it to deform slightly.

Regardless of who's "fault" it is, we all should take note of these threads and handle the laptop with care.

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Answer 10

Vivek V.

Level 3

624 points

Jan 20, 2009 8:23 AM in response to eww

Eww, you might be right, but don't you think their might be some truth to what dominic is saying? For one, if something dropped on the outer casing forcefully enough to case such a dent, wouldn't you think it might put a scuff or scratch on there. Simply put, I think the forceful pressure, yet gentle touch of a hand's thumb best explains the lack of any scuff or scar on the body. That said, I'm still not sure whether it is covered under the warranty, but it doesn't hurt to call apple and let em know what happened. I'm real sorry about the bump on your computer, I can imagine I'd be just as if not more frustrated than you if the same happened to me. Good luck.

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Answer 11

Jan 20, 2009 9:35 AM in response to Vivek V.

Vivek V. wrote:
Simply put, I think the forceful pressure, yet gentle touch of a hand's thumb best explains the lack of any scuff or scar on the body.

I honestly don't mean to be rude here, but you only need to look at the images to see that there is no way that someone could have made that indentation with their thumb, regardless of how strong they are.

Best
John

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Answer 12

Jan 20, 2009 11:36 AM in response to Vivek V.

I Hear what your saying. And you're correct, it's not just down to the strength of the person, there's the leverage aspect when carrying a largish (maybe any) laptop with one hand.

I also agree that just because something is made of a stronger aluminium body means that we should respect it any less. There are a multitude of expensive sports cars out there that employ all aluminium shells, but that does not mean they will take any more of a beating than a standard alloy car.

What I am getting at more is the actual indentation that appears on the machine in-question.
Even holding with one hand, and taking into account the leverage factor, a thumb would not have left this sort of mark. If anything, I would expect to see a much wider, shallower dent.

I have always carried all of my laptops with two hands (it seems the natural way.) However, I have sat my new MBP on my bed and lifted with one hand. The aluminium would need to be paper thin to make any sort of mark in it. Indeed, the weaker part would appear to be the HDD/battery cover, and even this appears to be strong enough to withstand the pressure.

Best
John

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Answer 13

Jan 20, 2009 11:57 AM in response to Vivek V.

I have studied that photo more in depth and I concur that the dent is definately thumb sized, and more probable than not due to the one handed carrying. This sort of thing may have occurred during the packing and shipping process, and that would be grounds for a return, however, proving such a thing would be nigh on impossible.

We must assume this is a user-end issue and as you said Vivek, we should tak care of out machines.

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Answer 14

Geekdad

Level 1

20 points

Jan 20, 2009 1:30 PM in response to Chris Dobson

Well after looking at the dent and reading all the comments....one thing springs to my mind. Is this reproducible? If it is picked up again in the same manner will it dent again? If so take to a Apple Store and reproduce it and demand a replacement.

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Answer 15

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jan 20, 2009 1:50 PM in response to Geekdad

Hi, Geekdad. Are you suggesting trying to dent a new, undented MBP to prove the point that it can be done? With all due respect, that sounds a lot like shooting oneself in the foot.

I also wouldn't suggest to anyone at any time that they pick up any MBP, regardless of model, with one hand. It's simply unwise (to put it mildly) to do that. Anyone with a modicum of good sense will avoid applying strong, unevenly distributed mechanical stresses to any device that is as thin, flat, and jam-packed with expensive and delicate components as an MBP.

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