Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

zechmann

macrumors member
Original poster
May 8, 2007
92
0
when i close my MBP it fully closes on the right but not on the left...? what can i do... will MAC fix this... i got my MBP about 2 weeks ago (i just noticed it)
 
OMG, ME TOO!!!! you know what i do about it? i live with it. you should, too. and the corporation that makes your computer is apple; they're not called MAC.
 
wow, settle... i called the company MAC, holy **** go cry about it... and i didn't know other macs had this problem
 
i don't know how widespread of a "problem" this is, but it doesn't affect my computing at all, and the macbook pro does exactly what i want it to do. it still looks great, but the lid it doesn't close completely flush; it isn't a big deal. it just means apple really needs to move to magnetic latches. if you return it to apple, they're going to mess with a computer that doesn't need to be messed with, possibly giving you back a computer in worse shape than it was. like i said before, suck it up. and i mean that in the nicest way possible.
 
i know, i just love my baby so much... good to know it doesn't affect anything... that's what i was worried about
 
I just purchased 15.4 MBP last monday and had same problem out-of-box. Upper-left corner of lid/display was slightly warped to the point that noticeable gap was visible when lid was closed. In addition, the left-side latch would not engage without a firm press to the lid (unlike the right-side whose magnetic latch engaged smoothly with no pressure required). I returned the unit to the Apple Store (Chandler, AZ) later in the week at which point a full replacement was granted. BTW - this return required a genius bar appointment, which seemed annoying considing this was out-of-box defect (although I do understand that they need a process to manage support requests).

In any case, I've read many other posts, here and at other venues, mentioning this same issue. In several instances there were responses claiming the "cosmetic" nature of this problem and that you "should just live with it". While perhaps some incidents of this issue are in fact trivial, I would have to disagree with such opinion. If I'm buying some $400 walmart piece-o-crap notebook then I might expect some minor issues: you generally get what you pay for. In the case of a MBP, I had purchased a premium priced notebook: high-end components and heavy on industrial design. When I open the box the lid should close properly.

Beyond aesthetics though, the combination of warped lid and faulty latch on my unit presented risk (IMHO) for further issues down the road. I'm rather mobile with my equipment and don't need the worry of lid latching properly and/or gap getting caught on my bag, etc...

If you're unhappy with a brand new unit and you purchased from a brick-and-mortar Apple Store, you should make an appointment and have them take a look. There was no hesitation as they offerred to replace my notebook.
 
what will i need to bring to the store... just the MBP or everything else that it came with too?
 
when i close my MBP it fully closes on the right but not on the left...? what can i do... will MAC fix this... i got my MBP about 2 weeks ago (i just noticed it)

i had that problem on my older 17" powerbook g4. i never did anything about it and it silently drove me crazy for 2 years. my newer 15.4" macbook pro does not do that and it kind of makes me happier every time i shut it and the lid sits flush with the rest of the computer.

if it bothers you, bring it in the an apple retail store and notify them of the problem. hopefully they can do a quick repair on site and your problem will be solved. just be sure to make an appointment first either via phone or online so you have a specific time set up!

-keith
 
what will i need to bring to the store... just the MBP or everything else that it came with too?

Bring the whole box and receipt, just in case of a full exchange. Post a pic of your mbp. Honestly, they all have a slight gap on one side because heat causes the case to bend slightly. If it's not too bad, then don't bother.
 
In addition, the left-side latch would not engage without a firm press to the lid (unlike the right-side whose magnetic latch engaged smoothly with no pressure required).

MBPs do not have a magnetic latch. I don't know what you're refering to here.


In any case, I've read many other posts, here and at other venues, mentioning this same issue. In several instances there were responses claiming the "cosmetic" nature of this problem and that you "should just live with it". While perhaps some incidents of this issue are in fact trivial, I would have to disagree with such opinion. If I'm buying some $400 walmart piece-o-crap notebook then I might expect some minor issues: you generally get what you pay for. In the case of a MBP, I had purchased a premium priced notebook: high-end components and heavy on industrial design. When I open the box the lid should close properly.

The mbp case bends slightly because the laws of physics still have to be observed, even when the laptop costs $2000. As for moniter quality, that I can concede should not happen in a high-end notebook.

Beyond aesthetics though, the combination of warped lid and faulty latch on my unit presented risk (IMHO) for further issues down the road. I'm rather mobile with my equipment and don't need the worry of lid latching properly and/or gap getting caught on my bag, etc...

Agreed. This should not be a concern when you've spent good money on a laptop. However, OP does not have a faulty latch like you did.

If you're unhappy with a brand new unit and you purchased from a brick-and-mortar Apple Store, you should make an appointment and have them take a look. There was no hesitation as they offerred to replace my notebook.

Agreed. No point in worrying about it, that's what they're there for.
 
The lid being slightly raised on the front left hand corner is very common, which is a disappointment in such an expensive piece of kit.

When I mentioned it at my local Apple Store, the guy said it was normal and within specification!

Someone on this forum suggested that it could be rectified by placing a small rubber eraser in the area to the front of the track pad (with the computer switched off), closing the lid, and resting a couple of heavy books on each side of the lid overnight. I tried this for a couple of nights and I think it has improved the situation a little but there is still a slight gap on the left side.

I'm learning to live with it but it is a minor irritation.
 
It is normal and has been around since the powerook days. I was as alarmed as you when I first noticed it.
 
Even my 15'' Siemens high specs laptop have this gap on the left side...
so i would say thats its common in laptops with big screen..
 
its possibly caused by the way you may open your lid(generalising here), i.e with your left hand on the the left corner. I try to open mine with both hands on each side 1/3 way down.
I have a very slight lift in my lid, not really worth moaning about, or starting a thread about at that
 
its possibly caused by the way you may open your lid(generalising here), i.e with your left hand on the the left corner. I try to open mine with both hands on each side 1/3 way down.
I have a very slight lift in my lid, not really worth moaning about, or starting a thread about at that

or easier than that....is simply open the lid from the centre...so when its closed it would look balanced..
 
MBPs do not have a magnetic latch. I don't know what you're refering to here.

Yes they do. How else can you explain the latching system? Do you think it is motorised? Or that your MBP has a brain and moves tiny wee arms out and grabs onto the holds beside the trackpad?

Get a piece of metal and move it along the slits for the latch at the bottom of the trackpad and tell me it isn't magnetic.

:rolleyes:
 
or easier than that....is simply open the lid from the centre...so when its closed it would look balanced..

nope, isight

Yes they do. How else can you explain the latching system? Do you think it is motorised? Or that your MBP has a brain and moves tiny wee arms out and grabs onto the holds beside the trackpad?

Get a piece of metal and move it along the slits for the latch at the bottom of the trackpad and tell me it isn't magnetic.

:rolleyes:

I think he/she was refering to the way the Macbooks are held down magnetically not by latch rather than the way the arms are brought down by magnetism in the MBP's
 
Close the lid and put two decently-weighted books on top of it, let it sit for a few hours, even overnight, and the issue should go away. Worked for me.
 
Mine WAS like that

Took it to an apple authorized repair, and 2 days after it was perfectly aligned.

Simplest solution isnt it?
 
i just got my MBP and its perfect aside from the left having about a 1-2mm gap. ill admit it does bug me a bit, but ill get over it.
and i think i will try the resting books on it over night to see if that fixes it,
it wont damage the screen or anything will it??
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.