Hope for those who want more LCD bezel angle?

[PDE]

I was in the Apple Store on 14th street in NYC yesterday, lusting over the MBA. To my great surprise, and delight, I discovered that the display on the mBA I was playing with could be tilted back all the way! My first thought was that it was broken and that most likely the display wouldn't stay up after a certain point, but I placed it in various positions and it was perfectly firm, both in terms of balance vis-a-vis the base, and just in terms of not falling down. It reminded me just how restricted and restrictive all of Apple's laptops are in the regard - it annoys me.


The good news is that the thinness of the MBA doesn't seem to restrict a much greater movement of the display. I suspect that Apple may have artificially limited the tilt so that it wouldn't out-tilt its other laptops that have the old design. I'm wondering if this was just broken, or if the hinge could be adjusted to induce the same thing? Anybody know how the hinge is designed? Here ar a few pictures I took, for those who are interested:

 

[NC MacGuy]

I'd like mine to do that trick Really!

Did it feel tipsy at all? I would imagine with it all the way open, the display would turn it into a bit of a teeter-totter.

 

[PDE]

I was expecting it to feel tipsy, but it actually felt stable. I didn't really use it when I had completely open, but I brought it up to a comfortable position for standing (which was quite a bit more open than it usually allows) and it was completely stable while I was browsing the net, typing and just playing with the computer.

I'm thinking that maybe there is a simple way to accomplish this by modifying the hinge somehow, though of course who know how that will work in the long-run. But first we have to know how it's constructed...

 

[bcaslis]

Need to see pictures from the side and back but it must be broken. Mine and any I've seen in the local Apple stores all have the "normal" tilt angle restrictions. Looking at mine I just don't see how on earth it could back that far there just isn't any room.

 

[PDE]

Need to see pictures from the side and back but it must be broken. Mine and any I've seen in the local Apple stores all have the "normal" tilt angle restrictions. Looking at mine I just don't see how on earth it could back that far there just isn't any room.

I'm sure it probably was 'broken' , but it functioned in a completely normal way, i.e. as other notebook displays. Because the way the base is shaped, it simply folded under it. I didn't actually look carefully, but it had no issue at all being angled back like in the picture and even further. And it also stayed put wherever I put it.

I guess what I'm wondering (give that it worked perfectly with good resistance and stayed in place) is whether Apple artificially restricted the angle, as opposed to it being a function of the thin design as seems to be the case with the MBP and MB hinge.


If I go by there again soon, and it's still there, I'll try to get pics from the side. Or if anybody else goes, it's the second MBA from the left on the higher table closest to the staircase.

 

[fredrickyoon]

I don't plan on bringing the screen that far back because I use it on the desk and on my lap, and wouldn't want to force it back that much, so as to cause it to break. Afterall, this is an expensive unit you know.

 

[PDE]

Well, it's not about forcing it back like that. The unit in the store (only one of them), could be moved back with exactly the same pressure as 'regular' MBAs - i.e., with no force needed at all.

I'd really like to be able to do this on all apple notebooks - it's just needed sometimes for optimum viewing angle of the LCD when sitting in a chair with the laptop on your lap or standing up with the laptop on something high. there's no reason for us not to have this flexibility.

Of course, I'd never force it either....but if there were a simple way to adjust the hinge to allow more angle, even just a little bit more, I'd prefer that to the current limits.

 

[NC MacGuy]

When you go back, could you close it and see if there are any bends or obvious breaks in either top, hinge or base? I can't figure it out...

 

[PDE]

When you go back, could you close it and see if there are any bends or obvious breaks in either top, hinge or base? I can't figure it out...

I did close it and didn't notice anything wrong, but I didn't inspect it carefully. I'll do that if it's still there next time I go.

 

[AstroHouse]

I was in the Apple Store on 14th street in NYC yesterday, lusting over the MBA. To my great surprise, and delight, I discovered that the display on the mBA I was playing with could be tilted back all the way! My first thought was that it was broken and that most likely the display wouldn't stay up after a certain point, but I placed it in various positions and it was perfectly firm, both in terms of balance vis-a-vis the base, and just in terms of not falling down. It reminded me just how restricted and restrictive all of Apple's laptops are in the regard - it annoys me.


The good news is that the thinness of the MBA doesn't seem to restrict a much greater movement of the display. I suspect that Apple may have artificially limited the tilt so that it wouldn't out-tilt its other laptops that have the old design. I'm wondering if this was just broken, or if the hinge could be adjusted to induce the same thing? Anybody know how the hinge is designed? Here ar a few pictures I took, for those who are interested:

Hello Mac Wizards! I'm a Mac newbie with a week 5 Air. I've been lurking about for insights and tips on switching from Win XP to Mac.

I am happier than a pig in your garbage with the MBA and will never buy another Windows computer again.

Anyhow, I came across this post and was confused. My MBA has always opened this far!

After a few searches I found that the MBA was intended to open ~130 degrees (or so) and mine has opened ~160 (I'm guessing) since I purchased it from the Sac'to Apple store in late Feb. I really liked the viewing angles-it was greater than any Win laptop I've owned.

I've also never experienced the overheating, recharging or core shutdown issues that are posted so frequently.

I must have gotten my hands on an MBA from heaven! Lucky me!

I look forward to my future with Apple. After 25 years I wonder-What took me SOOO long?

 

[PDE]

Hello Mac Wizards! I'm a Mac newbie with a week 5 Air. I've been lurking about for insights and tips on switching from Win XP to Mac.

I am happier than a pig in your garbage with the MBA and will never buy another Windows computer again.

Anyhow, I came across this post and was confused. My MBA has always opened this far!

After a few searches I found that the MBA was intended to open ~130 degrees (or so) and mine has opened ~160 (I'm guessing) since I purchased it from the Sac'to Apple store in late Feb. I really liked the viewing angles-it was greater than any Win laptop I've owned.

I've also never experienced the overheating, recharging or core shutdown issues that are posted so frequently.

I must have gotten my hands on an MBA from heaven! Lucky me!

I look forward to my future with Apple. After 25 years I wonder-What took me SOOO long?

That IS so lucky and it also shows that there is no problem with the hinge working like that. Cool. Now all we need is to find out why yours can and most of them can't. Congratulations though....

 

[yayaba]

The limitation to pushing the LCD back is one of the things I dislike the most about Mac laptops. I have a Macbook (not the Air) and I wish I could push it back more but I think the design of the Macbook wouldn't allow it.

If the Air could, it'd definitely tempt me (among other things )