Plastic layer is cracking

Just got mine fixed!

The cracking isn't necessarily covered under warranty but the tech can make a judgement based on their interpretation of the damage. So refer them to this article because it will help them make a judgement call in your favor. The article isn't available to the public so I don't know exactly what it says, but it does give the Apple tech's something to work with.

*Article: 305390. Macbook: Crack or Splintering of Plastics Near Palm Rest Edge.*

Now for my incredible praise for Apple. My MacBook is 6mo out of warranty but I wanted to see what they say anyway so I went to the genius bar with that article number but it turns out I didn't even need it. I was expecting the runaround but instead got a nice tech who explained the proper way to gently close the lid and gave me a "one-time repair because this isn't really covered". I didn't even have to bring up the article. They did it all in store and 30min later when I got it back I not only had a crackfree palmrest, I got a brand new keyboard and trackpad.

We were considering a 2nd Macbook and now I'm definitely buying an AppleCare warranty for it. Obviously my experience may have to do more with the individual tech than with anything else, but that really goes to show what good customer service will do for you.

Message was edited by: Urkel

Urkel:

I agree with you, but would add this: Apple knows this is a design defect. The fact that they had the replacement part in the store, ready to install, just goes to show how often they have to fix this problem. The MacBook design needs to be toughened up -- it's ridiculous to have the two ridges at the top of the screen apply so much pressure to such a thin piece of plastic so close to the edge.

Lucky me, just when I thought I'd be left out of the party.

My MacBook just literally developed this today. Fortunately it's only 10 months into the warranty. Otherwise I'd just call it part of the life cycle of getting old.

Update:
Brought my MacBook to an Apple Authorised Centre. My Mac has 2 months warranty left but they said that it was such a common problem that it had been extended outside the warranty anyway. It arrived a few days ago with a span new Keyboard, Mouse and the area around it... My MacBook looks as good as new. I hope I don;t have this problem again though...

JimBob

*It looks like they plan on dumping the plastic.*

Apple notebook lines to see major design changes, sources say

By Kasper Jade
Published: 12:35 PM EST
Apple Inc.'s existing MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks will be the last of their breed, as both product families are destined for major design changes upon their next refresh, AppleInsider has learned.


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Next Apple notebook refresh rumored for June
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Next-gen Apple MacBook Pros to gain...
Intel to launch Penryn mobile chips ahead of...
Poor bets placed on new iMacs at Apple's...
Of the two, the 13-inch consumer MacBooks will undergo the most significant metamorphosis, shedding their plastic enclosures for ones constructed from more eco-friendly materials such as aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel, people familiar with the matter say.

The move, which makes good on a promise by company chief executive Steve Jobs to push towards a "greener Apple," will also mark an end to Macs that come clad in the now tawdry looking white enclosures that began with front face of original iMac nearly a decade ago.

Similarly, the MacBook Pro is also bound for aesthetic revisions, which like their upcoming MacBook counterparts are described by those familiar with the products as borrowing several design cues from the August 2007 aluminum iMacs and all-new MacBook Air. The end result, those same people say, will be a more uniform Mac product matrix in terms of design and material usage, and a MacBook offering that will far outclass its rivals.

Though precise details are admittedly limited given the ongoing revision process, it's presumed this will include instances of matte black on portions of the casings, oversized trackpads, and the adoption of the MacBook Air's keyboard by the MacBook.

While the footprint of the 13-, 15-, and 17-inch systems will remain largely unchanged, Apple will reportedly be free to perform some trimming around the edges, similar to -- but nowhere near the same magnitude -- as what was accomplished with the MacBook Air, and to a lesser extent, the rear of the aluminum iMacs.

Compelling the Cupertino-based firm to introduce radical revisions across its notebook lines at this juncture are two primary factors. The first is the company's industrial design cycle, which typically spans 18-24 months.

Neither the MacBook nor MacBook Pro have undergone an aesthetic or structural revision since adopting Intel chips back in the first half of 2006, meaning both will sport outdated outfits by Apple's design standards come mid-year.

The design of the MacBook Pro is particularly dated, having been introduced in January of that year with a form factor largely reminiscent of the late PowerBook G4, only 20 percent slimmer. MacBooks, arguably the fresher of the two lines, saw the most significant overhaul of all Intel-bound Macs systems just a few months later with their robust, magnetic-latching enclosures. (AppleInsider provided coverage and details of both design revisions (MacBook Pro: 1, 2; MacBook: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in the months leading up to their respective introductions.)

Also paving the way for redesigned enclosures at this time are logic-board changes on the part of Intel that offer Apple the opportunity to reassess and slightly modify the notebooks' internals. Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro are to receive "Montevina"-based processors from the chipmaker's upcoming Centrino 2 platform, which require a new "Socket B" logic-board. The second-gen mobile Penryn chips will boast a 1066MHz front-side bus and clock between 2.26GHz and 2.8GHz.

This just happened to me this morning on the right side. I've had this for only 6 months.

My Macbook with the 'classic' cracked front-left topcase (corner above the IR - as is widely documented) was accepted by the Cambridge (Grand Arcade) store (UK) on the 26th May 2008 for repair under extended warranty..

In spite of promised call backs, it's now 6 June, the part is still listed as unavailable and all contact has been from my side..

To be fair the staff are polite.. but I don't want polite, I want a Mac covered by Applecare repaired!

The delay it would appear (although no-one is saying anything) is that its a _US keyboard_ (topcase).. so the question is (given the 2-week silence)... will this be forthcoming anytime soon... because clearly the ability to replace it with a _UK topcase_ poses an unthinkable challenge.

According to>

http://www.applemacparts.co.uk/store/advancedsearchresult.php?keywords=US%20macbook%20top%20case&sort=1a

Part number 922-7601 MacBook 13.3-inch Black Top Case with Keyboard USA (Top Case with Keyboard for Dual Core, Keyboard and Top case are not sold separately) is available with in 12 days for £80 excl VAT..
Therefore if they can get it, one wonders what the delay is with the pukka Apple!

Watch this space..

I bought my white macbook in July of 2006. A crack all of a sudden appeared one day, in March of this year, on the right hand side above the little light. I called Apple, since it was still under AppleCare and they knew exactly what I was talking about and sent me a box the next day. I was hesitant to send it in as I didn't want to be without a computer for what I thought would be up to a few weeks, so the box sat at my house for about a month. I finally sent it in on a Wednesday and my macbook was back to me, good as new, by Friday. A few weeks ago, a co-worker of mine was talking about how his black macbook was cracking. I told him my story and he called Apple that day, had a box the next day and sent it in and had it back, fixed, two days later.

Just thought I would share my experience and I would highly recommend calling Apple and getting it taken care of. They couldn't have been faster and they've obviously had a lot of complaints about this problem.

I'm out of warranty too! I've had my Macbook for a year and a half. When the first cracks started appearing, I was out of warranty so I tried to just fix it with scotch tape. Now, in spite of the tape, the cracking has become worse. Does anyone know if I can still get it fixed without charge?

I just brought my white Macbook into the apple store for a splintering crack on the right side at the bottom near where your wrist rests (extremely similar to many of the pictures I have seen). I bought my Macbook in 2007 and this is the second time I have had to bring in my Macbook for the exact same problem. Last time I was told that they replaced it with a top which was made differently so it wouldn't happen again... well it happened again sadly. I will admit I am very pleased with the folks who fixed my laptop, the guys at my apple store are great they really are. But I am just wondering if I am going to have to bring my laptop in every 6 months due to the splintering that occurs on the wrist area. I am worried about whats going to happen when my warranty runs out in 2 years. I treat my laptop very gently, I am just hoping this cracking doesn't occur again (crosses fingers).

We have the same problem with our white Macbook. It has cracked 3 times. We took it for repairs twice, both of which they did for free, although once they made us leave the book with them for a few days. We live 40 miles from the nearest Apple store, meaning we have to drive 80 miles to get there and back...and we've done this 3 times for two repairs. This latest time we've just said to **** with it.

I'll never buy a plastic laptop from Apple again. Which I'm sure makes them right as rain, since that means I only can buy the more expensive ones. :/

Still the fact remains that they continue to have this problem and pretend it's not a problem. I don't mind "minor design flaws" but come on, where's the recall repair Apple? There has to be a solution for this problem that doesn't involve replacing the top keyboard every 3-6 months. 😟

Keep checking back here to see if your message gets deleted. I was prepared to buy a Macbook when I found out about this issue. Several months ago I posted a message that included the same question, why can't Apple fix this problem. My message was promptly deleted and never seen again. I'm entering this post using my new Asus eee pc which is built like a rock. Seems Apple has gotten too big to really care.

My white MB bought in Nov'07 now has a broken corner too.
I can imagine it gradually cracking further. It can clearly be seen that the plastic at the edge is bent a little bit.

i just went to the apple store ( i live in the UK so i went to a town called basingstoke) i bought my macbook back in the early x mas and 6 months later my plastic layer had cracked and my wrists looked like i had cuts ( aka it looked like i was cutting myself but i wasn't) so i went to the store and asked them to replace the layer and they did. As long you have warranty still then your fine.

I got mine last june, (june 07) and I just noticed it tonight, so I dont thinkn its a batch thing.