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sknapp351 · Jan 3, 2007, 09:19 PM

I still feel sick.

I was leaving my studio today and as I walked out the door I felt my camera/laptop bag get lighter and heard a nauseating thud. It struck the pavement on the back right-hand side corner. The case is bent to hell, there is no way I could get a DVI cable to plug in now. Every thing seems to work, except the Superdrive makes a lot of noise and probably will need replaced. My question is, does anyone have any idea how much I might be looking at to have the Superdrive, bottom case and top plate ( the speaker grille with the power button is bent to hell also ) might cost me in the end? I am slightly OCD, and the one scratch this computer had used to bug the heck out of me, this will keep me up tonight.

I hope everyone else is having a better day.
SAm

romeosc · Jan 3, 2007, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

I still feel sick.

I was leaving my studio today and as I walked out the door I felt my camera/laptop bag get lighter and heard a nauseating thud. It struck the pavement on the back right-hand side corner. The case is bent to hell, there is no way I could get a DVI cable to plug in now. Every thing seems to work, except the Superdrive makes a lot of noise and probably will need replaced. My question is, does anyone have any idea how much I might be looking at to have the Superdrive, bottom case and top plate ( the speaker grille with the power button is bent to hell also ) might cost me in the end? I am slightly OCD, and the one scratch this computer had used to bug the heck out of me, this will keep me up tonight.

I hope everyone else is having a better day.
SAm

It would be covered by Safeware.com insurance (no deductable) or homeowners after deductable!

Otherwise about $1100

mduell · Jan 3, 2007, 10:54 PM

From Apple? $300-350 for the SuperDrive, $1000ish for the case.
Third party? $100 for the SuperDrive, $700ish for the case.

sknapp351 · Jan 4, 2007, 05:04 PM

Does anyone have any recommendations on which third party vendors I should consider or shy away from? I would just live with my screw up, but the Superdrive appears fubar'd.
SAm

And I will be looking into Safeware soon.

mduell · Jan 4, 2007, 06:45 PM

Do you have the 15" or the 17" If the 15", which revision? It may be difficult to find the ultra-low profile drive for the Core Duo 15".

CompUSA will do the optical drive swap for $30. Experiences are mixed; hope you find a CompUSA store with a good Mac tech.

sknapp351 · Jan 5, 2007, 07:47 AM

I have the 15" Rev. A ( I believe ). I looked into a company called PowerBook Medic and they quoted about $770. I can't help but think that since I am approaching the cost of a MacBook that it might just be worth getting an external drive.
I also wondered how difficult it would be to open this one up to attempt to bend the case back a bit closer to normal. I have worked as a computer tech and worked on plenty of desktops, but only adding ram to laptops. I assume that any warranty I had on this computer is gone now. I had intended on purchasing AppleCare in the next couple of weeks.

SAm

Macjunkie117 · Jan 5, 2007, 08:06 AM

damn dude that sucks. if you look around, i'm sure you can find some of that stuff for fairly decent prices, and if not, you could definitely bend the case back to some degree of usability depending on how bad it is. i myself would say that you should consider yourself VERY lucky the screen didn't crack...then you'd be FUBAR'd

i have a case top for a powerbook g4 17" 1ghz, but i don't think that would help you much..
oh welll
if you have any interest in selling the thing, lemme know.

thanks

MrNo · Jan 5, 2007, 10:30 AM

You can find the top and bottom case on ebay.
The top case is about $200 or you can try to hunt one down for cheaper.
I had to replace mine.
This guy has the top case:
eBay Store - Computer Doctors: Parts, Services

Good luck and I am sorry about your laptop

sknapp351 · Jan 5, 2007, 10:39 AM

MrNo,
Did you replace it yourself? I am willing to try this, but I want to hear from other people if it is a nightmare, or just tricky first.
SAm

JKT · Jan 5, 2007, 10:52 AM

Try www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/ and iFixit - iBook & PowerBook Parts for take-apart guides and parts. (N.B. I haven't purchased anything from them, but the guides are useful, regardless).

sknapp351 · Jan 5, 2007, 10:54 AM

Holy Crap.
Just saw instructions on changing the logic board. I wouldn't hesitate if this was just an old computer I was trying to get going, but this is my only machine. I will probably change the superdrive myself, and try to bend the top case back into a slightly more normal shape, but I don't think I want to mess with the lower case.
SAm

MrNo · Jan 5, 2007, 12:40 PM

Yes I did replace the top case and the HD myself. I've also opened the superdrive since I had a thick DVD that would not eject.
It was not hard, but it does require patience.
I got the top case brand new for $60 from the same store I pointed out earlier. He has auctions for the top cases sometimes, and they start at about 10$. Much cheaper the the buy it now option.

romeosc · Jan 6, 2007, 10:46 PM

It might be worth paying the deductable

sknapp351 · Jan 6, 2007, 11:48 PM

Sadly, there is no deductable for me to pay. The responsability, physical and financial, is all mine.
Sam

iRye · Jan 6, 2007, 11:59 PM

Wow, did MacBook Pro's get less durable? I have a 12 incdh Powerbook G4 and I dropped it on the side with all the ports, they all still work, the SuperDr=ive still works, and there isn't any scratches.

I still hate the fact i dropped my baby.

JKT · Jan 7, 2007, 07:24 AM

Did it land just on the corner? If not, its a totally different scenario. If it lands on a corner, the pressure of the impact is focussed on a tiny surface area and the potential for failure is going to be significantly higher. Also, corners and edges are weak points in any casing, no matter what it is made of, so if you drop something like a laptop, you better hope it lands flat on its base or top over landing on its edge over landing on a corner.

sknapp351 · Jan 7, 2007, 10:31 AM

I'm about 6'1" and the laptop fell from a computer backpack that was slung over my shoulder. So it fell about 4.5 feet and landed directly on the rear right hand corner, on the back side where the monitor hinge is near the power button. It took a major hit, then bounced a couple of times. I am quite amazed that it survived as much as it did.
SAm

Cadaver · Jan 7, 2007, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

Sadly, there is no deductable for me to pay. The responsability, physical and financial, is all mine.
Sam

I'm sorry...!? You must not be American. Did I just see that you wrote that is was your own responsibility?! Not suing the bag manufacturer? Not suing the company that laid the asphalt or whatever it was that was hit by your computer? Not suing Apple for that whole gravity/apple/Isaac Newton thing??

Sorry, just being facetious, but admissions of responsibility are unusual in this day and age.

And I don't mean to mock your pain. Many years ago I dropped my wife's 8 month old 600MHz G3 iBook onto the tile kitchen floor. Fell from counter height and landed flat on the DVD drive side edge. The bottom case cracked and the DVD drive latch broke so the drive wouldn't stay closed (though surprisingly it would still work if held closed). Since my wife wasn't happy with the piece of electrical tape holding the drive shut, I had it sent out for repair. Had the drive upgraded from a DVD-ROM to a combo CDRW while I was at it. $600 for the repair and the upgrade - 50% of what I originally paid for the machine. Argh.

Sued the bastards who built the kitchen counter so damn high off the ground. Just kidding.

Madrag · Jan 7, 2007, 12:31 PM

sad story!
Once I tripped on the power cable and threw my powerbook titanium about 2 meters away...
I almost cried...

romeosc · Jan 7, 2007, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

Sadly, there is no deductable for me to pay. The responsability, physical and financial, is all mine.
Sam

Your homeowners policy covers accidents after deductable,

Safeware covers it with no deductable!

centerchannel68 · Jan 8, 2007, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

I had intended on purchasing AppleCare in the next couple of weeks.

SAm

Applecare gives you a new laptop or replaces your whole case if you drop the thing on pavement and break it???

sknapp351 · Jan 8, 2007, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by romeosc

Your homeowners policy covers accidents after deductable,

Safeware covers it with no deductable!

I am a college student renting a small apartment. I do not have homeowners insurance or renters insurance. And I am a butthead for not having Safeware.

Applecare gives you a new laptop or replaces your whole case if you drop the thing on pavement and break it???

No, I'm sure they don't cover drops. I was just lamenting my loss of warranty and kinda glad that I didn't purchase the $200+ warranty to just lose that.

SAm

romeosc · Jan 8, 2007, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

I am a college student renting a small apartment. I do not have homeowners insurance or renters insurance. And I am a butthead for not having Safeware.

No, I'm sure they don't cover drops. I was just lamenting my loss of warranty and kinda glad that I didn't purchase the $200+ warranty to just lose that.

SAm

Try your parent's homeowner insurance.... you probably are still covered!

Applecare is transferable to new computer if you replace it through Genuis Bar!

But Safeware is definately a better bet!

kick52 · Jan 8, 2007, 05:43 PM

could we have some pics please?

this isnt helping, i just wanna see your smashed-up MBP. haha

good luck.

quattrokid73 · Jan 8, 2007, 06:17 PM

i dont get these horrid repair costs....

sknapp351 · Jan 10, 2007, 06:01 PM

Here are a couple of pics. I managed to bend it back quite a bit without opening it up.
SAm

hatim · Jan 10, 2007, 07:16 PM

sell it on ebay and buy a new one if you are so paranoid. Or just use a screwdriver to bend the bit blocking the DVI into place.

sknapp351 · Jan 10, 2007, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by hatim

buy a new one if you are so paranoid.

I didn't think I was being paranoid in any way. I was happy with as much as I was able to bend it back.
SAm

schwie · 01:43 AM

Sam,

My son pulled my wife's brand new MacBook Pro off of the desk a month after she got it. Why didn't MagSafe work?! Argh.

Anyway, her top case and bottom case were bent about a full INCH out of place. To fix the case and make it similar to the way it was when she first got it, I placed a thin dish cloth over the areas I wanted to fix. Then, with a metal spoon (I used regular silverware), I lightly tapped out all the creases and dents. It took about 45 minutes, but it looks very nice again.

A new bottom case and top case will cost far more than you ought to put into this machine (in my opinion). Try the spoon! What have you got to lose?

Brad

Madrag · Jan 11, 2007, 06:55 AM

holy cop!
Those pics are like a snuffed dog on the street! horror!

I agree with trying to bend it yourself. If you're carefull, you may bet it sorted, you have nothing to lose.

CobraNT · Jan 11, 2007, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I'm sorry...!? You must not be American. Did I just see that you wrote that is was your own responsibility?! Not suing the bag manufacturer? Not suing the company that laid the asphalt or whatever it was that was hit by your computer? Not suing Apple for that whole gravity/apple/Isaac Newton thing??

Sorry, just being facetious, but admissions of responsibility are unusual in this day and age.

LOL! So true.

Powerbook · Jan 11, 2007, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by schwie

Sam,

Anyway, her top case and bottom case were bent about a full INCH out of place. To fix the case and make it similar to the way it was when she first got it, I placed a thin dish cloth over the areas I wanted to fix. Then, with a metal spoon (I used regular silverware), I lightly tapped out all the creases and dents. It took about 45 minutes, but it looks very nice again.

A new bottom case and top case will cost far more than you ought to put into this machine (in my opinion). Try the spoon! What have you got to lose?

Brad

"There is no spoon!" SCNR...

Seriously though, that's a good hint. You pressed the dents out, right? I have a tiny dent/bubble in one corner, to open all the case for it would be overkill. But I will try to press it in form again. Have any pics?

Regards
PB.

schwie · 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

"There is no spoon!" SCNR...

Seriously though, that's a good hint. You pressed the dents out, right? I have a tiny dent/bubble in one corner, to open all the case for it would be overkill. But I will try to press it in form again. Have any pics?

Regards
PB.

Whoa!!! No, don't PRESS. Slap the back of the spoon against the portions that are bulging out. Several hundred little taps will eventually get it back to where you want it.

By all means though, DO NOT PRESS. It will just crease the aluminum.

olePigeon · Jan 11, 2007, 05:06 PM

I had that happen to my first PowerBook. I took the bottom case off (wasn't too dificult) and I placed a little piece of leather on the part that was bent. I then used a small ball peen hammer and tapped it lightly into place. After I was done, you couldn't even tell it had been bent.

You can then get some Conceal aluminum scratch paint and finish it off.

You'll still have to replace the superdrive, but that's pretty easy, too. My brother replaced his in about 10 minutes.

Powerbook · Jan 12, 2007, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by schwie

By all means though, DO NOT PRESS. It will just crease the aluminum.

Whoops! Okay, no pressing. Now that you say it, IIRC the aluminum density changes when pressing, so one never gets the material structure back...

Regards
PB.

Sliv · Jan 14, 2007, 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I had that happen to my first PowerBook. I took the bottom case off (wasn't too dificult) and I placed a little piece of leather on the part that was bent. I then used a small ball peen hammer and tapped it lightly into place. After I was done, you couldn't even tell it had been bent.

You can then get some Conceal aluminum scratch paint and finish it off.

You'll still have to replace the superdrive, but that's pretty easy, too. My brother replaced his in about 10 minutes.

Regarding the conceal paint, is it available in stores?

Black_Rain · Jan 14, 2007, 10:26 AM

sorry to hear about the mbp... its always a shame... too bad magsafe does not protect againts that lol

anyway... get yourself a wireless router!!

sknapp351 · Jan 14, 2007, 11:25 AM

That photo was taken at my studio. The University does not allow for individual wireless routers. I guess they consider it a security risk. At home I have been wireless for years, wouldn't have it otherwise.
SAm

mduell · Jan 14, 2007, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

Now that you say it, IIRC the aluminum density changes when pressing, so one never gets the material structure back...

No, the density doesn't change.

iRye · Jan 14, 2007, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by JKT

Did it land just on the corner? If not, its a totally different scenario. If it lands on a corner, the pressure of the impact is focussed on a tiny surface area and the potential for failure is going to be significantly higher. Also, corners and edges are weak points in any casing, no matter what it is made of, so if you drop something like a laptop, you better hope it lands flat on its base or top over landing on its edge over landing on a corner.

It was right on the corner.