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Wednesday, April 08, 2009, 01:00 pm
Apple addressing cracks on white MacBook casings
Apple is privately acknowledging an issue with the enclosure on some of its white 13-inch MacBooks, which in some cases have seen the formation of hairline cracks during normal usage patterns.The Cupertino-based Mac maker is said to have issued a bulletin to its authorized service providers in March that essentially reverses its stance on replacing the bottom casing of notebooks that may be experiencing these symptoms.
It was reported in November that Apple was refusing to cover repairs for the bottom casing of the notebooks despite its willingness on occasion to address identical problems with the top portion of the casings containing the keyboard and palmrests.
The bulletin to providers reportedly identified four key areas of the case prone to hairline cracking, including the front portion of the case below the palmrests and trackpad, the areas around the I/O ports, the back rear corners, and the back rear ventilation area.
Apple added, however, that other portions of the case could be affected by the cracking issue. For all instances, providers were reportedly asked to inspect the MacBook carefully to determine whether the cracks could be the result of the notebook haven been dropped or other accidental damage caused by the owner.
In the event that providers are unable to identify signs that the user is at fault for the cracks, they're advise to escalate the notebook for coverage by Apple, regardless of whether its 1-year limited warranty has expired.
A collage of cracked white 13-inch MacBook enclosures.
The exception also applies to the black plastic 13-inch MacBook that was discontinued last year, but does not extend to any other member of the MacBook family, according to those familiar with the matter.
Last October, Apple transitioned its entire notebook line to arguably the most durable aluminum unibody enclosures on the market. It has, however, continued to sell a single version of its legacy 13-inch white MacBook for $999.
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Previous Comments View All
It looks like the same plastic used in white iPhone. Apple should really drop using plastic in general, it just so bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iVlad 
It looks like the same plastic used in white iPhone. Apple should really drop using plastic in general, it just so bad.
It looks like the same plastic used in white iPhone. Apple should really drop using plastic in general, it just so bad.
Ummm, on second thought:
Quote:
Originally Posted by iVlad
It looks like the same plastic used in white iPhone. Apple should really drop using plastic in general, it just so bad.
It looks like the same plastic used in white iPhone. Apple should really drop using plastic in general, it just so bad.
No- Apple needs to just stop using CHEAP plastic. There are much better grades- just look at many of the other laptops around.
Quote:
Originally Posted by italiankid
No surprise here! Apple is famous for cracks!
Macbooks + iPhone = lots of cracks!
Does Apple ever produce a product without a problem?
white Macbook - cracks
white iPhone 3G - cracks
iPhone 3G both colours - dust and light leaks
newest Macbooks - graphic display issues
iMacs - 20" severe gradient issues
iMacs - 24" uneven backlighting from left to right... left brighter than the right by up to 50%
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
No surprise here! Apple is famous for cracks!
Macbooks + iPhone = lots of cracks!
Does Apple ever produce a product without a problem?
white Macbook - cracks
white iPhone 3G - cracks
iPhone 3G both colours - dust and light leaks
newest Macbooks - graphic display issues
iMacs - 20" severe gradient issues
iMacs - 24" uneven backlighting from left to right... left brighter than the right by up to 50%
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
AppleTV- Cracks, heat issue , scratch inducive and standby mode issues.
All iPods with metal backs- scratch inducive.
Quote:
In the event that providers are unable to identify signs that the user is at fault for the cracks, they're advise to escalate the notebook for coverage by Apple, regardless of whether its 1-year limited warranty has expired.
I've got an unsightly crack in the plastic on my Macbook's palm rest. I'm out of warranty by now. You think I could I bring this into the Apple store to have it repaired? Who is the "provider" referred to above that would be inspecting this and escalating for coverage by Apple?
Quote:
Originally Posted by italiankid
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
Sure... products from any company? (Including some that wouldn't fix a crack under warranty, much less AFTER warranty as Apple has done before and is doing again now.)
You won't find a single product from any company that never showed cracks or flaws for any user. And you won't find a product where people aren't more likely to post about a problem than to say "all is well." This creates an impression that a rare (but still bad) problem is the norm. That's human nature.
I'd also suspect that people are more likely to a) notice and b) CARE about minor cosmetic issues on an Apple product, because Apple products have such perfect minimal design that flaws seem extra glaring. (Not to mention, people scrutinize Apple products online and send each other off to look for flaws. They'd rush off to find them on Dells too... except nobody's that excited about the design of a Dell in the first place.)
This is not to excuse Apple--products SHOULD be perfect, it should be immediately clear to everyone what is and is not abuse, and repair policies should be fully established in the consumer's favor from the very start--not corrected late as has happened in this case. When Apple fails to meet these standards, they should be called on it. However, it's not some "Apple specific" problem.
(All is well
I am the owner of badly-abused, dropped, sat-upon, tossed-around, caseless iPhone 3G that nevertheless has flawless plastic with zero cracks or scratches. The chrome, however received minor scratching from a gruesome gravel incident. The plastic, amazingly, showed nothing from the incident. The glass too is still perfect. I'm lucky--as I hope MOST 3G owners are--but I feel for those who have not been so lucky. I don't deny that your cracks are real. Whether you unlucky ones are 40% of buyers or 4%, it still sucks when you notice a crack.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by italiankid
Does Apple ever produce a product without a problem?
white Macbook - cracks
white iPhone 3G - cracks
iPhone 3G both colours - dust and light leaks
newest Macbooks - graphic display issues
iMacs - 20" severe gradient issues
iMacs - 24" uneven backlighting from left to right... left brighter than the right by up to 50%
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
Does Apple ever produce a product without a problem?
white Macbook - cracks
white iPhone 3G - cracks
iPhone 3G both colours - dust and light leaks
newest Macbooks - graphic display issues
iMacs - 20" severe gradient issues
iMacs - 24" uneven backlighting from left to right... left brighter than the right by up to 50%
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
Has a mother ever produce a product without a problem?
Including you. IMO
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
AppleTV- Cracks, heat issue , scratch inducive and standby mode issues.
All iPods with metal backs- scratch inducive.
AppleTV- Cracks, heat issue , scratch inducive and standby mode issues.
All iPods with metal backs- scratch inducive.
inducive? You're saying the plastic itself directly "causes or influences" the cracks? I think you mean normal circumstances are "conducive" enough to cause cracks in the plastics. The plastic itself doesn't cause the cracks.
Hi all,
Check out this Flickr group which has a huge collection of some far worse "cracked macbook case" photos:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/crackedmacbook/pool/
the ones shown in the Apple Insider article have only subtle cracking compared to some of the MacBooks in this Flickr group which have missing pieces and huge cracks (my MacBook is in this pool of photos).
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Apple is privately acknowledging an issue with the enclosure on some of its white 13-inch MacBooks, which in some cases have seen the formation of hairline cracks during normal usage patterns.
The Cupertino-based Mac maker is said to have issued a bulletin to its authorized service providers in March that essentially reverses its stance on replacing the bottom casing of notebooks that may be experiencing these symptoms.
It was reported in November that Apple was refusing to cover repairs for the bottom casing of the notebooks despite its willingness on occasion to address identical problems with the top portion of the casings containing the keyboard and palmrests.
The bulletin to providers reportedly identified four key areas of the case prone to hairline cracking, including the front portion of the case below the palmrests and trackpad, the areas around the I/O ports, the back rear corners, and the back rear ventilation area.
Apple added, however, that other portions of the case could be affected by the cracking issue. For all instances, providers were reportedly asked to inspect the MacBook carefully to determine whether the cracks could be the result of the notebook haven been dropped or other accidental damage caused by the owner.
In the event that providers are unable to identify signs that the user is at fault for the cracks, they're advise to escalate the notebook for coverage by Apple, regardless of whether its 1-year limited warranty has expired.
A collage of cracked white 13-inch MacBook enclosures.
The exception also applies to the black plastic 13-inch MacBook that was discontinued last year, but does not extend to any other member of the MacBook family, according to those familiar with the matter.
Last October, Apple transitioned its entire notebook line to arguably the most durable aluminum unibody enclosures on the market. It has, however, continued to sell a single version of its legacy 13-inch white MacBook for $999.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
No surprise here! Apple is famous for cracks!
Macbooks + iPhone = lots of cracks!
Does Apple ever produce a product without a problem?
white Macbook - cracks
white iPhone 3G - cracks
iPhone 3G both colours - dust and light leaks
newest Macbooks - graphic display issues
iMacs - 20" severe gradient issues
iMacs - 24" uneven backlighting from left to right... left brighter than the right by up to 50%
Anyone else wanna add to the list?