Powerbook G4 Right Hinge BROKE!!! Absolutly FURIOUS

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kimipele1981 Author

Level 1

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Powerbook G4 Right Hinge BROKE!!! Absolutly FURIOUS

SOMEONE HELP!! Just last Monday, the hinge on my Powerbook G4 of 2 years just simply broke. I didn't drop it; I didn’t do anything but simply open the screen. I am ALWAYS so careful with it seeing how I paid good money for this laptop.

With extensive research, I came across a website that had about 40 people who had the same EXACT problem, the same hinge on the same side. I do believe after I bought this laptop they had redesigned the hinge so that it goes across the whole base and not just two points. I am totally furious. I called apple care and they told me that it would either be $500 to fix it, OR since my laptop was still under warrantee that if I take it to the apple store they can determine (that’s right determine) weather the fix would fall under warrantee.(I have not had the chance to get down there since I do work full time and go to night school so getting there is dependant on having the time.)

Anyhow, reading the other bloggers problems with the hinge infuriated me even more. They are ALL the right hinges that are breaking and they are made out of aluminum. The hinge gets stuck and then breaks. Almost all of the people who have had this problem had it happen in the first 2 years of owning the laptop.

MY question is, is there some kind of Recall on these? Is there such thing as a lemon law for these? Is there anything anyone can do to help me? I have absolutely had it with this, and I am more upset that the redesign of the laptop came out after I bought mine. If these problems were occurring with specifically the right hinges and apple had enough of them come in for repair why didn't apple pull them off the shelf or recall them by now. What do I do?!?!

Anyone, PLEASE HELP!

Powerbook G4

Posted on Dec 2, 2005 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 2, 2005 12:31 PM in response to kimipele1981

I'd call Applecare back - tell them the hinge has failed and they need to arrange a repair.

If they argue wear and tear or that you're a liar and dropped it, either call back and speak to someone else or ask for a supervisor.

They should repair this. It's not reasonable to argue that that much wear and tear is caused by using the machine for a year or two, and the design change is good evidence that the design of the machine is inherently weak.

As an alternative, depending on the damage, you might be able to diy and get a hinge from pbfixit.com I they have install guides also. I think radtech.com have hinge fixing kit also.

Best of luck.

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Answer 2

Dec 2, 2005 12:33 PM in response to kimipele1981

Kim,

I understand that you are under applecare coverage. I also understand that you just moved the screen to lift or close the screen, and that made the hinge break ?

I would not be so worried about the Apple Center decision in your case :
I had exactely the same problem at 2 and half year off applecare coverage with my Titanium (don't remember if it was the right or the left side though). This has been covered 100 % by the applecare : in case of the Titanium, they simply changed the screen...

Good Luck

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Answer 3

kimipele1981 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 2, 2005 1:22 PM in response to Luc Thiberville

Odd thing was I had just used it right before it broke. I simply Opened the screen in the upward direction and heard something almost like a crack. Didn't think much of the noise and when I opened it to its upright position it had broke. That simple. No force whatsoever. Thats the most upsetting part. It's simply rediculous. If this has happened and Apple has received repairs specifically this type, the lightbulb should go on and say, "Hey we have a bunch of people with the SAME EXACT PROBLEM going on here. What can we do to rectify the problem and fix this." It's a simple recall just like what they did with the batteries. Enough people complain and something gets taken care of. Anyway, thanks for the luck. I am taking it to the Apple store this weekend to have them look at it. I will post my experiance as soon as I can. Hope this helps people who have had the SAME problem as me.

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Answer 4

Dec 2, 2005 1:27 PM in response to kimipele1981

KIm ,

Is your powerbook an Alu book or a Titanium ?

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Answer 5

Dec 2, 2005 1:27 PM in response to kimipele1981

"is there some kind of Recall on these?"

Nope.

"Is there such thing as a lemon law for these?"

Nope.

"If these problems were occurring with specifically the right hinges and apple had enough of them come in for repair why didn't apple pull them off the shelf or recall them by now."

Probably because there wasn't enough repairs for that issue.

"What do I do?!?!"

Well first, take it to the AppleStore and see if they'll cover it. If so, then there's nothing more to freak out about. If they won't cover it, as already mentioned you could probably fix it yourself using parts from PBfixit.com, or see if a an Apple Authorized Service Provider could fixt it for less then what Apple quoted.

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