Part is in, going to get it fixed Monday....
i've been waiting 2 weeks for a top case for my powerbook + they ordered the wrong logic board 
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Cracked palmrest on Blackbook
- Thread starter yoda13
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
i've been waiting 2 weeks for a top case for my powerbook + they ordered the wrong logic board 
That stinks man, I think I would be getting upset...
as of my machine? nope.... I'll either call tomorrow or monday, Wensday at the lastest cause it would be 3 weeks.
I am kind of suprised that they just order / replace the part. When my ibook had a crack in it they just replaced the whole unit... Hope it works out for you
Yeah, its just the palm rest....the tech told me they just take one off and put the new one on it...
Yeah, its just the palm rest....the tech told me they just take one off and put the new one on it...
is your mb the current revision or the previous?
Well, I took it up to the Apple Store today and they fixed it for me while I waited...it seems like I also got a new trackpad and a new keyboard, is that also part of the palmrest? I had no idea they were all one piece....Or did they just fix parts they saw that were worn?
I just had this happen to my last revision core duo macbook which is around 6 months old, and there actually have been a lot of tech sites reporting on it. It is, as already stated, clearly a design flaw in the casing and caused by the upper screen casing causing pressure on the hand areas. Before there was even a crack you could see worn marks were the connection was. I haven't gotten it fixed yet, but I don't intend to take "it is a cosmetic issue" as an answer. The the trackpad and keyboard are built into the palm-rest unfortunately. That means the replacement tends to be a bit pricey if you want to fix it yourself.
A design flaw sounds a reasonable explanation, but I would expect it to be a more widely reported problem if that was the case. This problem is being discussed quite a bit as you say, but statistically I think it's quite a rare one -sites who are very good at reporting issues (e.g. Macintouch), havent been inundated by complaints
of course, that might change in the future.
Even appledefects.com (hardly a paragon of the understatement when it comes to these type of issues) says that the problem doesnt appear to be widespread problem and the site is talking about all types of cracks (e.g. at the back of the machine, underneath by the battery compartment), not just the ones being reported around the palmrest.
Personally, I think in the case of the palmrest cracks, it could be a combination of the design and the plastic moulding process; the latter causes a weakening in the plastic in certain areas that then cant withstand the pressure from the top case as you suggest.
Even appledefects.com (hardly a paragon of the understatement when it comes to these type of issues) says that the problem doesnt appear to be widespread problem and the site is talking about all types of cracks (e.g. at the back of the machine, underneath by the battery compartment), not just the ones being reported around the palmrest.
Personally, I think in the case of the palmrest cracks, it could be a combination of the design and the plastic moulding process; the latter causes a weakening in the plastic in certain areas that then cant withstand the pressure from the top case as you suggest.
Doesn't this problem always appear opposite the raised portions of the lid? If so, isn't it obviously caused by the impact or pressure from these raised portions on the palmrest?
It can be argued the palmrest needs reinforcement, but at the same time isn't it obvious that the user needs to take care by gently closing the lid and by not squeezing the lid by picking it up by the front edge when closed?
Rob
It can be argued the palmrest needs reinforcement, but at the same time isn't it obvious that the user needs to take care by gently closing the lid and by not squeezing the lid by picking it up by the front edge when closed?
Rob
Nope - as I say in my previous post, cracks have been reported in different places, not just the handrest area (eg on the exterior of the case). There's quite a few posted pics on the Web showing different areas etc - sure appledefects have pics too.
EDIT: Forgot to say that MB cracks do seem be most common in the handrest area, though.
The cases seem to be the exact same but the magnet is weaker on the core2duo models, so it snaps closed less violently. Better than before, but by no means perfect.
Mine is the C2D, so if that is a design problem as has been suggested, it is possible that it is still a problem....whatever the cause, I am happy now, with both my computer and the service....
I think it's a combination of design flaw and how people close their laptops. The design encourages people to use it like a book and let it shut close with its own force. I never did that with my macbooks - I held them until they were almost shut and not until then did I let go.I think it makes all the difference. I love the design, but they should have anticipated that people would take advantage of it and allow the magnets to do their job.
That could be the case - and has been pointed out in this thread, the magnets, now appear to be weaker.
I still think the plastic moulding process could be partly at fault here (it seems to be the most likely culpit for the other types of crack), as this would help explain why comparatively few people are reporting it.
Sometimes in plastic moulding processes, cracks do appear through no fault of the users - such as those affecting the G4 Cubes. Not saying that's the case here, but it would explain the photos showing hairline cracks.
This happened to mine, and when I went to the apple store they replaced the whole top case while I waited. No questions asked, and they didn't even run the serial number. It took about 10 minutes.
...oh, and it's cause by the bezel around the screen pressing down on that spot and cutting the case. It's rather common.
Like I said, 10 minutes and it's good as new.
...oh, and it's cause by the bezel around the screen pressing down on that spot and cutting the case. It's rather common.
Like I said, 10 minutes and it's good as new.
it's as good as new, until it cracks again. Apple needs to implement a fix in the form of a design change.
I think the best way to prevent this is
a) don't let the bezel slam shut
b) use a moshi palm guard - it's harder than marware and doesn't have cut-outs. I think it reduces the impact and spreads it out.
Okay then. Let me rephrase.
Doesn't this problem almost always appear opposite the raised portions of the lid? If so, isn't it obviously caused by the impact or pressure from these raised portions on the palmrest?
It can be argued the palmrest needs reinforcement, but at the same time isn't it obvious that the user needs to take care by gently closing the lid and by not squeezing the lid by picking it up by the front edge when closed?
Rob
Exactly the same problem on my 1st gen, lowest of the low white Macbook. Unfortunately I'm a couple weeks out of Applecare.