Macbook trackpad button is...

[austincolby]

Is anyone else finding their macbook trackpad button to be, well... kinda mushy, loose, and "clinky" sounding? I just received my brand-new spanking macbook, and quite frankly, the mouse button's action, and the slight "loose paperclip" sound it makes any time I rest a finger on it or otherwise brush against it, is driving me up the wall...

It does NOT feel solid, responsive, or otherwise well-constructed...

And yes, I've seen the "origami" idea- which I've tried, to no avail... it still feels like crap. Is thi a problem with my system, or are other people experiencing this?

 

[purelithium]

Some people have had this problem, and while they were still in the 2 week return window, they were able to swap it for a new one.

 

[ajt]

I have exactly the problem you describe. I tried to think I could live with it because everything else is pretty much perfect, but it is driving me crazy too and I found now way of fixing it. I am in the 2 week window so I guess I will return it. This will be my 5th return, no kidding. The first had a completely broken/unresponsive trackpad, the second had a chip above keyboard in plastic, the 3rd I made them open (box) in store had black blemishes on the plastic (that couldn't be cleaned), the 4th - this one, has the trackpad "clicking", plust the left side is creaky if you push it in/out or carry it and happen to press that side in (but I thought I could live with that) and a very slight lifting issue - though I think every Rev A has slight lifting but some at more degrees than others. It is pretty frustrating opening a box in Apple and hoping you will get something reasonable with no dead pixels etc! On other forums people have had the issue fixed or not at all, only to have the button go loose again. Some have had it settle down a little. But I totally agree that it is the main point of interaction with the laptop. If I hit the button from the bottom, it is fine. But when I am not thinking, I hit it subconsciously in the middle and feel/hear the click.

That said I absolutely LOVE the macbook and all apple products. But one should keep returning until they get a product that they are happy with.

Please let us know if you swapped your book or what you ended up doing and how the new one is and if you see slight lifting on the left side etc.

 

[JBot]

This will be my 5th return, no kidding.

That said I absolutely LOVE the macbook and all apple products.

You are way to forgiving. After the 3rd return i would have asked for my money back, and either waited a few months, or got a different model/brand.
But thats just me.

 

[rodti]

I'm on my second machine in two weeks. First went pink around the palmrests in about five days and was a straight swap, second machine is doing the same. My local Apple store is waiting for a replacement palmrest but I'm now getting this really 'loose' and clicky sound from the left hand side of my trackpad button. I think I might just take this back and get a BlackBook.

 

[bankshot]

Mine's squishy on the right side. If you take out the battery and push the case with one finger directly underneath the trackpad, you'll find that it clicks much better with that little bit of added pressure. In fact, some people essentially created a solution doing this, by inserting a piece of folded paper between the battery and the bottom of the trackpad:

http://ibloggedthis.com/2006/06/29/...pple-macbook-trackpad-squishy-button-problem/

I've been meaning to try this for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it. Of course, you don't have to do all the fancy origami stuff -- any folded paper of the right thickness will do.

 

[66217]

My MB has the same problem. They are going to change the part. I preferred to stay with the same laptop, since it is perfect in any other aspect.

 

[TommyK]

Dodgy Button

I got my macbook and as soon as I turned it on and started registering the mac I noticed that my track button was making a horrible clanking noise when pressed anywhere at the right hand half of the button, It sounded all crunchy like two metal plates were catching on eachother before the actual click. The left hand half of the button sounded perfectly normal. The button wasn't squishy, the click was totally responsive (i.e. it didn't miss click) but it was just crunchy and sounded like a 5 year old button. My brother has the MB pro and his button sounds fine so i knew i I had a defect on my hands.

I tried to live with it for a few days but it just pissed me off as I had spent so musch money maxing the spec and stuff, so I called applecare and they directed me to an Apple service centre near my home, so I called them and they were like yeh we will replace the whole top part including keybaord and everything as it is all one sealed part and we can get the part within 2 days, so I was like thats cool.

Then time went by and the guy was having trouble soucing the part on apples spares database, there wasn't any progess, so I got pissed off and just called apple aftersales service and said I have had this problem right out of the box since day one, and im not happy with it one bit, and the guy said ok we will collect the Mac in the next couple of days and we will get you a whole new one out ASAP.

So it was ok, but they only did that new replacement because it was within 2 weeks of having it, otherwise I would have been waiting around for a part to turn up at the local service store.

So my advice is if your wanting to buy one, is to ideally wait a few months till all these ridiculous defects are cleared up by quality control at apple, then buy your macbook.

Or try spot any problems of this nature as soon as you get the mac and don't hesitate to call em up and stress your disapointment as after 2 weeks of having it they will make you go through the repare rigmarole.

Because my defect Macbook looked so nice I was in-denial to my self that this button thing was a real problem, but as the novelty began to ware off, the defect started to get to me.

So hopefully I will get a good replacement, if not I will be sure to let this thread know about it.

 

[rafifreak00]

I noticed this even at the Apple Store.

 

[brikeh]

some people essentially created a solution doing this, by inserting a piece of folded paper between the battery and the bottom of the trackpad

You really shouldnt have to come up with **** like that.

 

[Minyall]

Origami Alternative

If it was my Macbook that came from the store like that I'd probably take it back as well, however I had this problem due to my own stupidity, so I couldn't really blame anyone but me

After a rather vigerous cleaning session (I was trying to get the dark oil marks off the trackpad button) I ended up with a rather, well, squishy button.

I tried to ignore it but it annoyed me that it didn't feel solid or click properly.

I tried the origami idea but it didn't work very well so instead I used Blutack...works like a charm, I've got a nice crisp click going on and because it's blutack it stays nicely in place. The only thing I don't know is whether the battery will heat it up and cause a nasty reaction, but I doubt it, even when the Mac is scorching hot when I take the battery out it's relatively cool.

Just thought I'd add a solution to the list!

 

[p8ntballguy]

put a piece of paper beween the batt. and the metal circle behind the tracpad button and its a quick fix

 

[Transeau]

shouldn't this be in the Macbook / Powerbook section?
Seems there are a LOT of macbook topics in here lately.

 

[tobyg]

shouldn't this be in the Macbook / Powerbook section?
Seems there are a LOT of macbook topics in here lately.

Wow, I was just about to post the same thing....

Am I not seeing the forums the same as everyone else? This forum, on my screen, is titled "Mac Pro & Power Mac"... is there another way to view the forum list that doesn't make it as clear as that? There is another forum for Macbook Pro and Macbook discussions. Just curious...