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Simon · Mar 23, 2007, 04:16 AM

It could be though. Maybe the keyboard is considered a part of the top case. When I recently picked up my black MB they had replaced the top case. But they also installed a new KB and trackpad.

techtrucker · Mar 24, 2007, 02:09 PM

Just discovered a crack in my macbook, week 29. This machine has only left the house a couple of times, and is used carefully and gently (albeit some heavy use).

The crack is in the top case at the left edge of the left wrist rest. There are no bulges or other problems. It looks to me like it's just from too much downward pressure on the left wrist area. I do do a lot of typing on it, and I am a fairly large guy with big hands.

I didn't purchase Applecare because I usually upgrade once a year. I'm not all that worried about it, but if it gets worse or a piece splits off I'll have to get it fixed.

I took a couple of shots, not the greatest but you can hopefully see what I'm talking about.

http://eagle.he.net/~sjwood/misc/crack1.jpg

http://eagle.he.net/~sjwood/misc/crack2.jpg

Nodnarb · Mar 26, 2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by techtrucker

I didn't purchase Applecare because I usually upgrade once a year. I'm not all that worried about it, but if it gets worse or a piece splits off I'll have to get it fixed.

If you just take it up to an apple store, they'll most likely replace the top cover for free even without applecare. It's worth a shot anyways, because the crack does get bigger and bigger the more pressure that's put on it.

techtrucker · Mar 26, 2007, 06:19 PM

Thanks for the advice Nodnarb, I will do that. I find myself altering my typing style for fear of making it worse, which isn't good!

jaydon34 · Apr 5, 2007, 01:45 PM

My RevA Macbook also cracked in the same spot as many have reported. I took it in to a local apple store today and they were happy to replaced it. I hate to admit it but the 1st generation Macbooks were a bunch of lemons. Mines been repaired four times. 2 logic boards and 2 top cases/keyboards. Due to the fact that two of the repairs are deemed cosmetic I wont be receiving a replacement unit. Upon return it will be given to my GF and I will be getting a Macbook Pro like I should have purchased in the first place.

jaydon34 · Apr 6, 2007, 04:47 PM

Update
I have to salute apple my laptop was returned today after I just dropped it off yesterday morning. Everything looks great and the keyboard/palm rests have been replaced.

Northeastern292 · Apr 6, 2007, 06:23 PM

My Spanish teacher has a MacBook with YCS (Yellow Case Syndrome.)

Apple should be replacing these machines through the warranties, right?

Northeastern292 · Apr 6, 2007, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by techtrucker

Just discovered a crack in my macbook, week 29. This machine has only left the house a couple of times, and is used carefully and gently (albeit some heavy use).

The crack is in the top case at the left edge of the left wrist rest. There are no bulges or other problems. It looks to me like it's just from too much downward pressure on the left wrist area. I do do a lot of typing on it, and I am a fairly large guy with big hands.

I didn't purchase Applecare because I usually upgrade once a year. I'm not all that worried about it, but if it gets worse or a piece splits off I'll have to get it fixed.

I took a couple of shots, not the greatest but you can hopefully see what I'm talking about.

http://eagle.he.net/~sjwood/misc/crack1.jpg

http://eagle.he.net/~sjwood/misc/crack2.jpg

Same thing is happening to my MacBook Pro.

jaydon34 · Apr 6, 2007, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Northeastern292

My Spanish teacher has a MacBook with YCS (Yellow Case Syndrome.)

Apple should be replacing these machines through the warranties, right?

Correct
Just have her bring it in to a local Apple store. Takes a day if they have the part or they may do it on site.

sarahxzx · Apr 9, 2007, 03:22 PM

The same thing happened to me, except it happened on the front of my screen, right below the apple. I don't know if I can get that part replaced or what but none of the Apple sites are a bit helpful.Any suggestions?

RashaR2007 · Apr 10, 2007, 12:19 PM

I've had my Laptop since Early Oct 2006, since then I've had a new hard drive because it stopped working in the first month I had it then a few months later my charger stopped working now a piece of plastic seems to have snapped off! I called Apple and they said this wasn't covered by them because it could be seen as Accidental Damage but I told them It's always in its protective case when not in use and I hardly take it out and never ever dropped it so there is no way the damage was caused by me! Anyway I did what they suggested and went to see the repair centre that Apple authorises for repairs and they said that as my laptop was within it's 1 year warrenty they would fix it for free! So moral of the story careful of Apple mac products lol

Elitist Snob · Apr 10, 2007, 05:33 PM

Is this case cracking issue effecting the newer Core 2 duo model as well, or is it isolated to the earlier Core duo model? I'm hoping its the latter and not the former. Otherwise I won't be buying an Apple portable.

imsupergrover · Apr 15, 2007, 09:24 PM

here's a link of the crack in my mac. Hope it helps y'all. I'll be calling them tomorrow and i'll let you know what they say.

thx

byron

Pixie*13 · May 4, 2007, 11:12 PM

I have had the exact same cracking issue. Im on my second mac book now because i got sick of dealing with the obviously faulty old one, and now my new one has done the same thing. It only barely leaves my desk. Apple have screwed up this time, major design flaw!. The worst thing is that last time i didn't get the nice helpful service people, it took me hours of arguing and having accusations that i had dropped it leveled at me to get the thing fixed and it was only because they could do it under warranty because of the discoulouration issue. You can imagine my dread at having to go through the whole thing again.

meaniew · May 17, 2007, 08:46 AM

I had the same problem on my Macbook purchased mid Jan this year. Rang the Apple Store helpline (there are no physical Apple Stores here, just the online store which seems to be run out of Australia, as that's where my call ended up). They didn't know anything about cracks, but suggested I went to local service centre. Entertaining conversation ensued with them attempting to pronounce Maori placenames to work out which one was closest to me. The place they recommended only had one Mac guy, and he was out, but when I stopped in at the big Mac reseller in town to ask who they'd reccomend, turns out they have their own well staffed service centre out the back.

They took one look at it, said it was a problem they'd been having, they'd been told to replace them under warranty. They ordered the part, it came into store two days later, I dropped my 'puter off for two hours and came back and it was all fixed. Weirdly enough the trackpad also feels different, though it may just be that they've cleaned it. couldn't be more impressed with the service from them, just weird the offical Apple Helpline didn't know about the issue.

Simon · May 17, 2007, 09:04 AM

HardMac claims in the meantime Apple has acknowledged that MB case cracks are due to a design weakness. They will fix MBs under warranty which means you get a new top case and KB/trackpad if necessary.

joshuagsmith · May 17, 2007, 11:44 AM

I purchased a MacBook C2D in January 2007 for my son and yesterday he showed me where the front right was starting to chip away. I went online and found all types of reports such as what we see here in the MacNN forums. We took the MacBook directly to our local Apple store (Willowbend Mall location in North Dallas) and they said they will fix it within 3-5 days. The employee said he believes that due to the magnet that pulls the top lid shut...that is combining with the power of users closing their lids...(and if you notice the two bumps atop your LCD) he thinks that the combined power of closing and the magent pulling shut is causing those two bumps to continually bang into the bezel. Anyway...they are replacing the entire top of keyboard/pad (cover, keyboard and trackpad...because it is all one piece from the factory as a replacement part.) SPECIAL NOTE: we did find two other minor hairline cracks: one on the bottom of the macbook near the back and one on the back side corner. But they will not fix those he said.

minicooperman · Jun 3, 2007, 02:17 PM

Yes, I have the same problem I bought my mac book in June of 06 and I have the same crack, and the top is bulged up just as you describe, I think mine happen when they replaced my top case because the track pad was sticky, and I have asked to get it replaced and they said no, cause they think its my fault. I have never dropped it always taken good care of it, except for the accedental water spill but nothing was affected by it. I think i have a lemon cause the track pad was sticky from day one. So i definitely feel your pain and upset, i wish i could get it replaced.

liquidsilver6840 · Jun 7, 2007, 12:23 PM

I have had the same problem with my MacBook.. I got it in August '06. My MacBook has line just in the front-left corner about 1-cm long. A thicker line in the top-right palm rest, about 1-inch long. Also, the top part of the MacBook, where the keyboard is, is a little up just where the MagSafe is. AND my charger is broken!

patrix · Jun 7, 2007, 03:51 PM

Is it me, or does my macbook (with cracks at the edge where the top part's little "feet" rest on the palmrest area) run much cooler since those bits came off?

Maybe there have been recent updates that made the fans run better (not louder), or maybe the little cracks really do improve airflow. With CoreDuoTemp, I see my temp hold to around 46 degrees, while before it was always 53-58 on normal usage (not games, movies, number-crunching, etc).

Patrix.

PS: yes Apple wll replace the parts, like others have said here, so maybe soon I'll find out if it was the cracks