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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > is your 12" warped?

is your 12" warped?
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Mac Elite
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Oct 2, 2003, 01:55 PM
 
I swear this thing is a bit "off" it is a very small wobble, but enough to bug me when typing, I have heard of this in teh rev a's but I think that was due to heat, these new ones do not have the heat issue.
     
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Oct 2, 2003, 02:03 PM
 
No wobbling here. Are you sure you are testing out on a completely flat surface - like glass table for instance? My new PB only wobbles when the surface isn't flat.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 2, 2003, 02:06 PM
 
I thought that at first but it is happening to much on things that I am "pretty sure" are flat... I guess I should break out the level first
     
Grizzled Veteran
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Oct 2, 2003, 02:08 PM
 
1ghz 12" here, no heat or warping. my 867 did have a small bit though.

cs
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Oct 2, 2003, 02:25 PM
 
Mine's wobbling. I've tested on two surfaces. It's gonna annoy the h*ll out me since I do A LOT of typing. *sigh* Maybe I can find something to stick onto the feet to even it out.

Right now I'm typing on my old notebook and it doesn't wobble at all, so I'm sure it's not my desk that's the problem.
     
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Oct 2, 2003, 02:30 PM
 
Both my Rev. A 12" PB and my new Rev. B 12" PB has a *very* tiny wobble, but it never bothers me, and here's why. I use it one of two ways: either in my lap, in which of course it doesn't matter 'cause my lap's not flat, or, with an external mouse/keyboard hooked to an external display.
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Oct 2, 2003, 03:07 PM
 
No wobbles, no warps, no problems
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Mac Elite
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Oct 2, 2003, 04:05 PM
 
yes it is the tiny wobble that you guys also seem to have

damn irritating

hmm, what to do?
     
Junior Member
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Oct 2, 2003, 07:47 PM
 
Yeah I've got some warping on my Rev A 12 inch PB, I noticed it about 2 weeks ago (the PB is about 2-3 months old). Doesn't really bother me much...as long as it doesn't end up warping severly.

Also, does anyone have the same issue as me, in that the dark silver plastic strip around the casing and screen isn't actually glude down properly in mahy areas?...again, it doesn't really bother me though. This is my first mac, and I wouldn't go back to Windoze
     
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Oct 2, 2003, 08:25 PM
 
The 12" is notorious for this little annoyance. Here's what are some likely reasons to cause the wobble.

1. Battery not seated properly. You can fiddle with the battery sometimes to adjust to your liking.


2. A rubber foot fell off. (I've lost all 4 within 6 months. Go to hardware store by a pack of 24 for 3.99 (you will need them all), or go visit the geniuses for some OEM ones for ~10.99. BTW, applecare wont cover.

3. Table may be REALLY unflat -- wishful thinking but its probably the next cause thats at fault.

4. The case is genuinely warped. Not a big deal just an inherent side effect of lightweight construction using aluminum. You want it to sit level again?... Just bend it with a slightly firm grip - twisting the machine-- butt of your thumbs on the palmrest-fingers on the bottom outstretched to the rear. Most importantly GO A LITTLE AT A TIME! The machine bends TOO easily for gorilla torquing.

The area around the battery case is very weak-- and able to "kink" at the left side of the CD slot-- Be careful please!

I've bent mine into oragami swans a couple of times by now. The frame needs to be firmed up in the next Rev. I suggest a new case of composite carbon fibre as a real improvement over titanium and aluminum....

Peace
Out
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 2, 2003, 09:39 PM
 
oky this was verified tonight in a embarassing way... I take night classes and figured I would bring my shiny (rather brushed and dull) new toy to class

set it on one of those school desks that you can't carve in anymore (perfectly flat) and started to type, and it wobbled like.....a weeble wobble... this is unacceptable

i love this machine, however this needs to be fixed
     
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Oct 2, 2003, 09:45 PM
 
Originally posted by videian28:
oky this was verified tonight in a embarassing way... I take night classes and figured I would bring my shiny (rather brushed and dull) new toy to class

set it on one of those school desks that you can't carve in anymore (perfectly flat) and started to type, and it wobbled like.....a weeble wobble... this is unacceptable

i love this machine, however this needs to be fixed
I know people manually bent their Rev A units to level out their case and get rid of their wobble, but I personally would not do that with my laptop.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 2, 2003, 09:49 PM
 
I have heard of that as well, not something I am willing to attempt
     
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Oct 12, 2003, 09:07 PM
 
The best solution I have heard is to take a razor blade to your rubber feet to level things out. Just slice off a tiny layer from the foot (or feet) that are always on the table.
     
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Oct 12, 2003, 09:33 PM
 
Originally posted by fraeone:
The best solution I have heard is to take a razor blade to your rubber feet to level things out. Just slice off a tiny layer from the foot (or feet) that are always on the table.
Or you could make your own new feet. I hand some of this new fancy tape that was in small strips about the length of my small fingure.

They didn't work correctly so I put them to good use and made my own foot for the rear left (were you plug in the power). I had to make mine pretty big... (Rev A). But oh well...

This is really the only prob. with my 12".
     
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Oct 12, 2003, 10:27 PM
 
no wobble here....

this thing is perfect
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 12, 2003, 11:25 PM
 
my case is warped indeed...

To those owners who have experienced warping, did Apple repair your computers?

I have the 'textbookexample' of case warping (albeit slight) on the slim metal piece above the latch button...what I am describing here is that the metal above the latch release button is protruding outward...so if I directly look at the PB from above I can see a visible hump right above the latch release button....

Also I have the classic separation of the plastic corner trim from the side metal on the 'latch side' of the PB right below the right hand palm rest...it is wide enough that I can slip my finger nail under...

Anyone have these problems and anyone have them fixed by Apple...? My PB was purchased at the Apple Store in July so it is still under warranty...

Does anyone have any pics of their warped PBs...?

TIA..

lates...
     
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Oct 13, 2003, 01:39 AM
 
I was very worried that I would end up with a wobble on a 12 or white spots on a 15, so instead of using my adc discount, I just went with an educational discount at an actual apple store. I checked it before I left. No defects whatsoever and it sits very flush with my desk and tables.
     
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Oct 13, 2003, 08:26 AM
 
Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
my case is warped indeed...

To those owners who have experienced warping, did Apple repair your computers?

I have the 'textbookexample' of case warping (albeit slight) on the slim metal piece above the latch button...what I am describing here is that the metal above the latch release button is protruding outward...so if I directly look at the PB from above I can see a visible hump right above the latch release button....

Also I have the classic separation of the plastic corner trim from the side metal on the 'latch side' of the PB right below the right hand palm rest...it is wide enough that I can slip my finger nail under...

Anyone have these problems and anyone have them fixed by Apple...? My PB was purchased at the Apple Store in July so it is still under warranty...

Does anyone have any pics of their warped PBs...?

TIA..

lates...
The warping you are describing is not the one that most people refer to. The warping such as this topic refers to the actual case where it's not completely flat and causes the laptop to wobble on flat surfaces.

What you are talking about is common and it's due to the design of the 12" PB. If you notice, take out the battery and you will see theres little supporting the main frame on the front. You can easily bend the right hand area of the front if you wanted to (I inadvertently caused mine to press in a little just by holding the laptop in that area). The aluminum doesn't seem to be flush against whatever metal frame they are using on the inside so it's possible for slight concave or convex bulges.

I've never seen a PB with a completely flush plastic trim on the front, mine has slight gaps both to the left and right above the latch but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse and it was like that right out of the box. Also, the metal bulging out above the latch can usually be avoided by the way you press the latch button. Try to just use your fingernail on the latch button only and don't apply pressure to the actual case. If you do, it's more likely to cause a bulge as you may be pressing the area right above the latch while pressing the latch button, which causes the top part to bulge out as a result. I would say the front area seems to be the least reinforced of the case, especially the right hand side when looking straight at it. But it's due to how they designed the battery to fit right at the corner.
     
eza
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Oct 13, 2003, 08:56 AM
 
I just noticed a little wobble last night. but this morning the wobble seems to have disappeared after use. My first guess without any sort of testing is that heat from use allows the case to "relax", maybe just a little bit, enough to flatten it out. Maybe later after i shut it off, let it rest, i'll take it out, put it on a flat surface, and see if it wobbles any more.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 13, 2003, 03:22 PM
 
in addition to my warped case, I also have a wobble...I can push down the 'esc' side of teh keyboard and it will indeed rock on a level surface...

sux to be us...

lates...
     
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Oct 13, 2003, 07:14 PM
 
my 12" used to wobble a little bit, but since then i've lost both front feet and now it's fine. hrmm, maybe the feet are the problem! they have a little notch that a nub on the foot is supposed to fit into, and maybe they weren't aligned right and the little nub caused the wobble.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 18, 2003, 02:00 AM
 
Odd, when I first got my 12", it wasn't woblbling a bit, but after 3 weeks of use, toting it around, etc. it has definitely picked up a slight wobble with the front right edge (battery slot) rising a millimeter or so high than the rest of the case.

Guess I'll see what the battery case tolerances are and see if it's possible to fit a space inside between the battery and the slot it fits inside.
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Dedicated MacNNer
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Oct 18, 2003, 05:02 AM
 
Originally posted by legacyb4:
Odd, when I first got my 12", it wasn't woblbling a bit, but after 3 weeks of use, toting it around, etc. it has definitely picked up a slight wobble with the front right edge (battery slot) rising a millimeter or so high than the rest of the case.

Guess I'll see what the battery case tolerances are and see if it's possible to fit a space inside between the battery and the slot it fits inside.
the exact thing has just happened with me. I have had it for about a week with NO problems, then all the sudden i get the warp and the small gap thing. This sux. it is about the same height you mentioned. I wonder if there is a way to get rid of it?
     
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Oct 18, 2003, 01:38 PM
 
Hey Assasyn,

I've ordered for my 12" Al.PB with 768 MB RAM.....would be getting by wednesday....but the dealer was kind enough to give me a iBook 12" for the time being....happy with it till Wednesday...no heating in it, screen is awesome...still navigating the book....


will keep you guys posted...thanks for all the earlier inputs and questions answered guys, MACNN rocks...and so does MAC..what say??? *smile*
     
   
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