[eldt]

I've had my white macbook since june. I love it. No discoloration, maybe a tiny bit on the trackpad button, maybe.

I clean the thing about once a week to keep it looking new. When I travel with it, it is always secured and packed carefully in my timbuk2 laptop bag. I have never even come close to dropping it. It's my baby.

Last week however, I noticed a small crack, about 0.7 cm on the keyboard half, front left (if that makes sense -- it's the opposite side as the IR receiver and light, about 1-2 cm from the corner). I know I've never dropped it so I find it puzzling. I also notice that this side of the laptop buldges out relative to the right side. It's noticible because the top bezel covers all but maybe 1mm on the right, and on the left about 3mm of the white case is visible from the top. When I got the laptop it was uneven like this, but no crack. While this may not seem like much, maybe it has something to do with the crack. Maybe the battery is swelling or something??

Anyone else have any insight on this or is your macbook cracking too without any abuse? Should I take it to an apple store to have them look at it?

[C.A.T.S. CEO]

THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PIX!!!! And the discoloration on the track pad is from using it a lot, happened on my iBook G4 bad...

[clockworkwar]

Originally Posted by eldt

I've had my white macbook since june. I love it. No discoloration, maybe a tiny bit on the trackpad button, maybe.

I clean the thing about once a week to keep it looking new. When I travel with it, it is always secured and packed carefully in my timbuk2 laptop bag. I have never even come close to dropping it. It's my baby.

Last week however, I noticed a small crack, about 0.7 cm on the keyboard half, front left (if that makes sense -- it's the opposite side as the IR receiver and light, about 1-2 cm from the corner). I know I've never dropped it so I find it puzzling. I also notice that this side of the laptop buldges out relative to the right side. It's noticible because the top bezel covers all but maybe 1mm on the right, and on the left about 3mm of the white case is visible from the top. When I got the laptop it was uneven like this, but no crack. While this may not seem like much, maybe it has something to do with the crack. Maybe the battery is swelling or something??

Anyone else have any insight on this or is your macbook cracking too without any abuse? Should I take it to an apple store to have them look at it?

Show pics! and then take it to be fixed!

[eldt]

Ok... here it is. I figured people would want pics. I only have an old school camera, but I think you can still notice it.



view 1


view 2


view 3: you can see the bulging on the lower case relative to the top bezel. it came bulging out like this and a little rough but I was happy to just have this laptop.


view 4: from the bottom.


Here's what I was talking about with the bezel. Notice the difference between the left and right sides. The right side is perfect, whereas the left is lacking some desired QC. Again, it came like this but didn't have a problem, but now I think it may be related to this mystery crack.


Left, you can see how it's uneven and to the touch it's rough.


This side came perfect.


Ok I hope that's enough pics. Really, I just want to know if anyone else is having the same problem with cracks in their macbooks. And I'm wondering if it would be worth it to take it to an apple store (about an hour drive).

[C.A.T.S. CEO]

Apple will probably replace it. If it doesn't cause any problem with the hard ware I'd say live with it,

[uicandrew]

my 1st macbook was like that. they did eventually change the case, but i had to send it away 3x or so before it was fixed. they kept sending it back saying that they didn't know where the bulge was. by the time my macbook came back for the 3rd time, the top lip (ie, where the apple logo is on the lcd) was all scratched up. i was sick and tired of that macbook, so i sold it and bought another.

[Jon90]

It has only just happened - but looks like it is in the same place !

i am waiting to see what Apple will say - as I am due to get the discolouration fixed as soon as the parts arrive.

See Photos below:



Has yours been sorted out ?

[eldt]

This looks pretty similar to mine.

I haven't called Apple yet although I want to. In grad school, not sure if I can part with my Macbook right now.

Let me know how yours goes.

[Jon90]

I am hoping that my local Authorised Service Provider may be able to fix it - as they are supposed to be changing the top case/bezel for discolouration as well.

I think it must be some sort of fault in the manufacturing process and we have been unlucky.

I think it is wait and see at the moment - but I will let you know the outcome .......

[uicandrew]

mine didn't have a crack, but my macbook was initially sent back to fix the trackpad. eventually, they did replace the bottom case, but the top part (the "back" of the lcd with the apple logo) had scratches, but at that point, i didn't think that they would take it back again.

since they required to replace the casing of the macbook, i had to send it away to a service depot EVERY SINGLE TIME. it got annoying. even if i brought it to the apple authorized service provider, they still would have to send it off.

[eldt]

Other than the crack, the imperfect casing on the left side, and some track pad button discoloration my macbook is in perfect physical condition.

I would hate to send it in and have it come back with scratches elsewhere or other problems. It has had some random shutdowns too, so basically if I send it in I would think they should replace the whole unit.

Are you saying that your macbook came back with scratches that it didn't have on it to begin with?

[uicandrew]

Originally Posted by eldt 

Other than the crack, the imperfect casing on the left side, and some track pad button discoloration my macbook is in perfect physical condition.

I would hate to send it in and have it come back with scratches elsewhere or other problems. It has had some random shutdowns too, so basically if I send it in I would think they should replace the whole unit.

Are you saying that your macbook came back with scratches that it didn't have on it to begin with?

The random shutdowns have been attributed to a faulty heatsink. so they would replace the heatsink.

they would replace the discolored part of the macbook. it is only plastic/polycarbonite shell that they would replace.

i have 2 theories:
1. they have to place the macbook upside down on its lid in order to get to take off the bottom part. maybe their work surface was dirty and not completely flat
2. they don't like me since i sent my macbook back roughly 4-5 times. 2x for trackpad problems, 3x for the bumpy/uneven bottom case. so they didn't treat my macbook with any caution that they normally would treat others.

in a way, i sort of deserved it (karma). the bumpy/uneven case didn't really bother me THAT much. but i had scuffed up the bottom when i absentmindedly threw it on my couch, along with other stuff. and i wanted my bottom case to get replaced, and since user/cosmetic damage isn't covered, i used the bumpy case as an excuse to get the bottom replaced.

if i had not bothered with it, i would've had a macbook with a perfect top cover, and a scuffed bottom case, but no one ever looks at the bottom.

instead, i ended up with a perfect bottom case, and a scuffed up top case, and i was without my macbook for over 1 month.

so, yes, my top case was scuffed up after i got my macbook back.

[rhashem]

Originally Posted by Jon90 

I am hoping that my local Authorised Service Provider may be able to fix it - as they are supposed to be changing the top case/bezel for discolouration as well.

I think it must be some sort of fault in the manufacturing process and we have been unlucky.

It appears to be. The Macbook I got before my current one had a bulge in it too, except it was up by the long vent at the top of the keyboard.

[joel_v]

yes. i have that same crack too. and its getting bigger
and the left side does buldge out..

do ya's think its worth taking it in?

wat week are ur macbooks? mines a 23.

[Jon90]

Mine is a week 23 as well

I am concerned it will get bigger. Its only small at the moment - but we really shouldn't have to put up with it for all the money it cost.

I am waiting for a response from my local Apple Approved service place.

Jon

[eldt]

My macbook is a week 23 as well. Hmm..

I was in my university store this last week and took a look at the black macbook they have on display. It's got quite a big bulge on the left side, even bigger than mine, but no crack.

I wonder if this is because of the battery swelling...

[ice_cold_irony]

Hey
I've taken a while to reply to this, but I'm having similar issues. No cracks yet...hopefully never. But both my girlfriend and I have white macbooks. On mine there is a slight bulge all along the left side of the bottom case. On my girlfriends the is a pretty big bulge on the bottom case on the left side as well. The more worrying part is a noticible bulge in the upper part of the bottom case directly above the battery. It is visible and very easily noticable by rubbing your fingers along the case. The right side is flat and the left side rise at least a millimeter. On my girlfriends the left side of the screen also clicks in and out. Has there been any word from apple about this issue? Should I take them both to a reseller? We can't really be without them as we are both in university and these are the only computers we have access to.
Scary if it is the battery bulging....what happens next....a random fire?

[joel_v]

Originally Posted by ice_cold_irony 

The more worrying part is a noticible bulge in the upper part of the bottom case directly above the battery. It is visible and very easily noticable by rubbing your fingers along the case.

mine has that aswell. its only slight, but u can see and feel the buldge. there must be an awful lot of movement in there, for the case to crack, and the bezel to start buldging out.

Here are some pics:


Crack, with bezel bludging.


Crack again..


Another angle...


Case not straight..


Dont know if this is normal, but battery doesnt sit in flush.



Still havent called my apple store, as i need my macbook alot right now. Anyone had any luck trying to get theres fixed?

[eldt]

Wow... that crack looks exactly like the one on mine. Something definitely going on here with the macbooks...

I haven't called apple yet because I too am in college (grad school)... so parting with this will be tough. I definitely will eventually, but may wait til the end of the semester. Curious to know if anyone has contacted apple about this yet and what the response was.

[eldt]

Similar thread on apple support forums: Apple - Support - Discussions - Macbook Case Has cracked ...

I've decided that I'm calling apple tomorrow. Will post with details.