Fixing the flex on the left side of the macbook

[PDE]

In another move that clearly demonstrates that Apple's design engineers are either high or just not with it, Apple decided to make the two small screws on the left side purely cosmetic. That's right, they don't attach to anything! This means that on many macbooks, there is much more flex there than there should be, especially given that the machine as a whole is very well put together.

Since I was getting annoyed with the squeaking sound every time I grabbed the macbook, I decided to fix it myself. I opened up the top case following instructions from ifixit and simply put 2-4 layers of electric tape with the glue side toward the outside wall - it bridges the gap between the shell and the inside frame and completely eliminates the flex. Easy to do even if you're not tech savvy (which I'm not really, though I've become more adventurous over the past year as I try to re-assemble what they didn't do right at the factory).

Come to think of it, I've used electrical tape on all my apple laptops starting with the wallstreet powerbook G3 series (too much flex in the keyboard so I put electrical tape underneath, worked perfectly), Pismo (same keyboard issue), Titanium (battery a little loose, used tape), powerbook G4 1ghz, 1.5ghz and 1.67ghz (battery loose, tape), macbook pro 15" and 17" (battery loose, tape fix) and now this one!

When I was exchanging the LCd on the 17" MBP, the genius even made a comment: "Oh, good that you put the tape there. Some people put it over there and it interferes with the proper functioning of the trackpad". He treated as though it's perfectly normal and even common to have to use electrical tape to get a good fit - Appppppppple?!


Anyway, just thought I'd share since I know a lot of macbooks have this issue.

 

[DaLurker]

In another move that clearly demonstrates that Apple's design engineers are either high or just not with it, Apple decided to make the two small screws on the left side purely cosmetic. That's right, they don't attach to anything! This means that on many macbooks, there is much more flex there than there should be, especially given that the machine as a whole is very well put together.

Since I was getting annoyed with the squeaking sound every time I grabbed the macbook, I decided to fix it myself. I opened up the top case following instructions from ifixit and simply put 2-4 layers of electric tape with the glue side toward the outside wall - it bridges the gap between the shell and the inside frame and completely eliminates the flex. Easy to do even if you're not tech savvy (which I'm not really, though I've become more adventurous over the past year as I try to re-assemble what they didn't do right at the factory).

Come to think of it, I've used electrical tape on all my apple laptops starting with the wallstreet powerbook G3 series (too much flex in the keyboard so I put electrical tape underneath, worked perfectly), Pismo (same keyboard issue), Titanium (battery a little loose, used tape), powerbook G4 1ghz, 1.5ghz and 1.67ghz (battery loose, tape), macbook pro 15" and 17" (battery loose, tape fix) and now this one!

When I was exchanging the LCd on the 17" MBP, the genius even made a comment: "Oh, good that you put the tape there. Some people put it over there and it interferes with the proper functioning of the trackpad". He treated as though it's perfectly normal and even common to have to use electrical tape to get a good fit - Appppppppple?!


Anyway, just thought I'd share since I know a lot of macbooks have this issue.

I noticed that too when I had to take the top case off. Actually the flex problem isn't the result of the screw but the extra space. I screws are there for aesthetic reasons. While I was surprised (I actually stripped one of those screws) I understood why it was flexing there afterwards.

I don't see what the big deal is though, small gaps are normal, although the other tape incidents seem more significant.

 

[PDE]

I noticed that too when I had to take the top case off. Actually the flex problem isn't the result of the screw but the extra space. I screws are there for aesthetic reasons. While I was surprised (I actually stripped one of those screws) I understood why it was flexing there afterwards.

I don't see what the big deal is though, small gaps are normal, although the other tape incidents seem more significant.

Right, the flex is because of the gap. But there should have been something to support that area and a screw to attach to the support. The big deal is that this could so easily have been prevented when Apple designed the computer and yet, nobody saw it or cared. That amazes me, given Apple's general attention to detail. To me, it was simply annoying to hear a loud squeak each time I lifted it there and it rubbed against the upper case when it was pushed in.

Fixed.