AAAAAAHHHHHHH NOOOO!!!! THE PAIN!!

[MattG]

Every Powerbook owner's worst nightmare just happened to me!!

At the bottom right of my 12" Powerbook, where the flat part meets the siding (where the battery is)...I look down, and the metal is all bent out of shape! I have NO idea how or why this happened. Seriously...I treat this thing better than I would treat my kids if I had any. I'm the only one who touches it, and when it's not being used, it's stored in the Brenthaven case I bought from Apple! Is it possible it warped from the heat?

That picture sucks, but...See the light-grey colored plastic "binding"? See the slight space in between the binding and the metal that the red arrow is pointing to? That's what my PB now looks like, and that's AFTER I (gently) hammered the metal back to form the correct shape (still not perfect). It was REALLY bad before (picture does not do it justice).

I'm wondering, do I call Apple? I do have Applecare on this machine. They're probably going to think I'm crazy if I tell them I think it's from warping, but I don't know WTF else it could be from!! It's never been dropped or anything...

 

[iGary]

Every Powerbook owner's worst nightmare just happened to me!!

At the bottom right of my 12" Powerbook, where the flat part meets the siding (where the battery is)...I look down, and the metal is all bent out of shape! I have NO idea how or why this happened. Seriously...I treat this thing better than I would treat my kids if I had any. I'm the only one who touches it, and when it's not being used, it's stored in the Brenthaven case I bought from Apple! Is it possible it warped from the heat?

That picture sucks, but...See the light-grey colored plastic "binding"? See the space in between the binding and the metal that the red arrow is pointing to? That's a space. That's what my PB now looks like, and that's AFTER I (gently) hammered the metal back to form the correct shape (still not perfect).

I'm wondering, do I call Apple? I do have Applecare on this machine. They're probably going to think I'm crazy if I tell them I think it's from warping, but I don't know WTF else it could be from!! It's never been dropped or anything...

Wanna hug?

 

[mad jew]

Sell it an buy a durable Dell (assonance anyone?)

Nah, just kidding, but seriously, the PowerBook range is renowned for issues regarding warping/bending etc. As we say in the engineering field, it's a design fault which isn't really acceptable considering their price and how long Apple has been using aluminum. You'd think they would have modified their production techniques or even stopped using such a soft metal but sometimes we have to make sacrifices in the name of aesthetics.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

What revision pb do you have?

 

[MattG]

What revision pb do you have?

I got it about...6 months ago? It's a 1.33ghz.

 

[iGary]

I think the banging it back into shape part might be bad for you on the Apple Care front, but I would give it a try.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

I got it about...6 months ago? It's a 1.33ghz.

Do you really think it gets so hot it warped it? Apple was supposed to have all the heat and warping issues solved by now. Its also warped on the right side. The 12 inch pbs are supposed to get the hottest on the left palm rest above the hdd. Maybe someone dropped it when you werent around. Im almost positive thats what happened.

 

[iGary]

http://www.zaneedwards.com/macinstosh/2004/05/powerbook_warpi.html

http://www.ehmac.ca/archive/index.php/t-9991.html

http://www.macconvert.com/archives/000180.html

Complain, and complain untill you have a new machine.

 

[MattG]

Do you really think it gets so hot it warped it? Apple was supposed to have all the heat and warping issues solved by now. Its also warped on the right side. The 12 inch pbs are supposed to get the hottest on the left palm rest above the hdd. Maybe someone dropped it when you werent around. Im almost positive thats what happened.

I can understand why you'd think that, but this thing never leaves my sight.

 

[Lacero]

I take extra care of my 12" PB also but now it's a bit scratched up, the text wording on the bottom is slightly worn down, and I'm missing a rubber feet in a corner. Argh. Oh well.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

http://www.zaneedwards.com/macinstosh/2004/05/powerbook_warpi.html

http://www.ehmac.ca/archive/index.php/t-9991.html

http://www.macconvert.com/archives/000180.html

Complain, and complain untill you have a new machine.

Gary, in that last link that you gave, the guy is talking about a 667 mhz tibook. Most, if not all the heat and warping issues have been solved by now. I dont think you can really relate that link to this guys problem since, 1: The tibook is a much different machine than the current line of pb's. 2: Apple has admitted to many of the problems with the past pb's and has gone on record to making changes in the line to solve these problems. Also like its been said in other threads on this site; if you have a problem with it and its an obvious poduct defect and not the fault of the user, im sure Apple care will take care of you and replace it. Or the store you got it from will replace it. Either way if it were me, you better believe SOMEBODY would be replacing it. If a company designs a product and puts it on the market. Then consumers such as you and i buy that product. And if that product is defective meaning no fault from the user, and that company wont take it back then imo thats stealing. Stealing from you and i and everyone else who invests our time and money in such a company. ( Also can you try and post some better pics? )

 

[iGary]

Gary, in that last link that you gave, the guy is talking about a 667 mhz tibook. Most, if not all the heat and warping issues have been solved by now. I dont think you can really relate that link to this guys problem since, 1: The tibook is a much different machine than the current line of pb's. 2: Apple has admitted to many of the problems with the past pb's and has gone on record to making changes in the line to solve these problems. Also like its been said in other threads on this site; if you have a problem with it and its an obvious poduct defect and not the fault of the user, im sure Apple care will take care of you and replace it. Or the store you got it from will replace it. Either way if it were me, you better believe SOMEBODY would be replacing it. If a company designs a product and puts it on the market. Then consumers such as you and i buy that product. And if that product is defective meaning no fault from the user, and that company wont take it back then imo thats stealing. Stealing from you and i and everyone else who invests our time and money in such a company. ( Also can you try and post some better pics? )

Yes and no.

Notice that ALL of the issues are with the smaller 12- and 15-inch models. There are plenty of more links, even with newer models of the PB, just Google "warped PowerBook."

I know I'll get flamed for this, but the PowerBook has always disappointed me. The lousy screen, along with quality control issues (burned out combo and superdrives, warping, corrosion, heat issues) are all inexcusable for the price Apple charges for this machine. I WANT TO BUY ONE. But....

Is it sexy? Damn right it is.

Fast? Sure.

Reliable? Jury's still out. Seems like a lot of long-dated problems with this line from the beginning. Perhaps random, but not random enough not to be able to find info out about them.

 

[eva01]

exact same thing happened to me, i brought it into apple store, they said it was dented and it voided the warranty :/

warp, dent

its all terminology

 

[edesignuk]

Well, if mine "warps", I will be in the store going mental quite vocally in front of lots of their potential customers

 

[iGary]

Well, if mine "warps", I will be in the store going mental quite vocally in front of lots of their potential customers

As you should.

 

[eva01]

I just going to call apple care on mine over the summer instead of bringing it to the store, they said it would cost 620 bucks to fix mine. This powerbook cost me 500 after my iBook died on me twice (logic board) in 6 months and i was allowed to trade in the iBook for this powerbook. No way am i paying 620 to fix a "warp" that should be covered by apple care.

So i am sending it in when i am not in school. I suggest you do the same, what is the worst that they can do. Say "no"??

 

[biohazard6969]

same thing happened to me but it was right by the latch, and then i dropped it, and that made it worse

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Yes and no.

Notice that ALL of the issues are with the smaller 12- and 15-inch models. There are plenty of more links, even with newer models of the PB, just Google "warped PowerBook."

I know I'll get flamed for this, but the PowerBook has always disappointed me. The lousy screen, along with quality control issues (burned out combo and superdrives, warping, corrosion, heat issues) are all inexcusable for the price Apple charges for this machine. I WANT TO BUY ONE. But....

Is it sexy? Damn right it is.

Fast? Sure.

Reliable? Jury's still out. Seems like a lot of long-dated problems with this line from the beginning. Perhaps random, but not random enough not to be able to find info out about them.

Actually there was a guy on here recently complaining that his 17 inch gets EXTREMELY HOT.

 

[Eevee]

Get it replaced since you have Applecare.

And a warp is not the same as a dent since the source is different for both.

My two cents...

 

[leekohler]

Not to add salt to the wound, but this is one of the reasons I would never buy a PowerBook (even if I could afford it). When touching one I feel like I could bend it very easily-especially the screen. Aesthetically-a beautiful machine. But I think it's time Apple used something other than aluminum, don't you?

 

[the future]

Not to add salt to the wound, but this is one of the reasons I would never buy a PowerBook (even if I could afford it). When touching one I feel like I could bend it very easily-especially the screen. Aesthetically-a beautiful machine. But I think it's time Apple used something other than aluminum, don't you?

No, I don't. Millions of very happy PowerBook users never had any problem.

 

[leekohler]

No, I don't. Millions of very happy PowerBook users never had any problem.

Well of course! It just wouldn't suit me that's all. Out of curiosity, if you had your way, what would you like to see them made of?

 

[Balin64]

My Opinion on the OP's Pic

It looks to me from your photo that the PowerBook was damaged by other means other than heat. I own the original 12" PB as well as the penultimate revision of the same model. While the original has always run hot compare to the newer one, it has never warped. I have put that machine through its paces, though: Always running the Adobe CS Suite, Mail, Safari and at least two other apps on only 640MB RAM. Needless to say, the machine was always hot and the fans blazing. In two years of heavy every day use it did not warp. It DID warp, however, when two careless theatre techs knocked it off a tech table at a Theatre I was working at. The frame was bent in two places: near the slot to the optical drive and the latch. Even then, the machine worked, although the damage was noticeable following a five foot drop. No problem: a good reason to update. What I am saying is that the PowerBooks are twofold: on one side they are tough as nails inside: they will keep working after a major impact, but the frames are not as giving: Aluminum is very flexible compared to other metals. Think of the frame around your PB as a car's crumple zone; I know it does not make things better. The smallest impact can bent/ding/warp your PB. I don't think your damage was caused by heat... do you have any pets? Time to give 'ol Fluffy a lie-detector test.

 

[munkle]

Well of course! It just wouldn't suit me that's all. Out of curiosity, if you had your way, what would you like to see them made of?

Some sort of carbon fibre composite, like some of the newer Sony laptops.

And for the record I love the Aluminium look. I've had my PB for over a year, use it intensively, it's on pretty much all day (even when I'm on my iMac), it gets hot but I've never had any problems. It does seem odd that heat from the PB would cause it to warp like that, especially since it seems to be on the 'wrong' side (heat tends to build up on the left). I'd go the Apple store and see what they can do for you. Good luck!

 

[MattG]

It looks to me from your photo that the PowerBook was damaged by other means other than heat. I own the original 12" PB as well as the penultimate revision of the same model. While the original has always run hot compare to the newer one, it has never warped. I have put that machine through its paces, though: Always running the Adobe CS Suite, Mail, Safari and at least two other apps on only 640MB RAM. Needless to say, the machine was always hot and the fans blazing. In two years of heavy every day use it did not warp. It DID warp, however, when two careless theatre techs knocked it off a tech table at a Theatre I was working at. The frame was bent in two places: near the slot to the optical drive and the latch. Even then, the machine worked, although the damage was noticeable following a five foot drop. No problem: a good reason to update. What I am saying is that the PowerBooks are twofold: on one side they are tough as nails inside: they will keep working after a major impact, but the frames are not as giving: Aluminum is very flexible compared to other metals. Think of the frame around your PB as a car's crumple zone; I know it does not make things better. The smallest impact can bent/ding/warp your PB. I don't think your damage was caused by heat... do you have any pets? Time to give 'ol Fluffy a lie-detector test.

Nope, no pets, it's just me!

I hate to think that I might have done this...I'm trying to think really hard if I slammed my bag into anything, or did something that could cause a dent like that, but I just can't! Oh well...

Can't hurt, I guess I'll call Apple. If they say "we'll fix it," fine. If not, I understand.