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MrPrimeMinister

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 23, 2008
12
0
So my MBA Rev A has had a bum hinge for some time and it has finally gotten to the point where it no longer supports itself and I have to prop it up on a large book. The hinge in cracked in several places and I don't think self-repair is an option. So do I:

a) Pay the $800 apple quoted me for a screen replacement?
b) Buy a Rev C for $1500?
c) Wait for an uncertain amount of time for a possible new MBA release (definitely not in '09)?
d) Give up on thin and buy a MB/MBP for a comparable price?

I am really up in the air and I wanted to hear some opinions.
 
Apple have a repair program for this, just take it in to them and they will fix it for free.
 
Even if your Applecare is expired, Apple should fix this if you push hard enough. This is one of the several widespread issues with the Air, so be persistent.

If not, do not buy a REV C because it can suffer from the same problem. Either wait to see if it gets updated or buy a MBP.
 
I had the EXACT same problem with my Rev B. The hinge just essentially gave out. I thought I was in for a fight, but the Apple store acknowledged their was a hinge issue. NO problem, whatsoever.

Now that being said, subsequent things evolved, and they gave me a Rev C replacement. I gave it to my husband.

However, I did go out and BUY a MacBook Pro, simply because I am not buying another AIR, knowing that the hinge issue is a big problem. I could not stand the wobbly screen, the cracking etc... They need to re-do this.
 
as long as the hinge still only opens to about 120 degrees (not a full 180) they should fix it for free. It is stated in their instructions not to repair ones that open too far because that was caused by other damage, not the faulty hinges. good luck!
 
as long as the hinge still only opens to about 120 degrees (not a full 180) they should fix it for free. It is stated in their instructions not to repair ones that open too far because that was caused by other damage, not the faulty hinges. good luck!

They repaired mine without question. It was loose, wobbly and had a reclining 180º screen.
 
Does not have to be under warranty for Apple to fix this as others have reported. Apple has officially acknowledged that this was a failure of the hinges that shouldn't happen. I bet they will fix it free of charge. If at first you don't succeed, take back the support article to the store that Apple has posted about this issue. That is listed on many other threads about this same issue.

Good luck.
 
Wouldn't it be cheaper for Apple to just give refurbished revB as a replacement?
 
As mentioned before, Apple has noted the problem and they will fix it for free. You shouldn't have to pay the $800 to get it fixed.
 
For anyone with apple warranty experience, my Rev A Air's hinges blew out but I am hesitant to ring up apple because the case does have some visible dents. They are nothing bad, but you can see them. Probably wouldn't be covered, right?
 
Also, I hope they give you a new MBA.

Why would they give the OP a new MacBook Air?

For anyone with apple warranty experience, my Rev A Air's hinges blew out but I am hesitant to ring up apple because the case does have some visible dents. They are nothing bad, but you can see them. Probably wouldn't be covered, right?

Depends on where the dents are. Are they near the hinge?
 
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