MacOSG: Weak display hinges in new MacBook Pros (Late 2008)

Posted by Daniel East Oct 25, 2008 at 8:36pm

It appears the hinges that hold the screens up on the new aluminum MacBook Pros are weaker that previous model MacBook Pros. Below are some post at Apple DIscussions of problems people are experiencing.

thegrillboy writes, “Well sad to say I purchased a new MacBook for my wife which is beautiful. Then, i went out to purchase the new MacBook Pro 15 inch. When I got home and lay in bed the screen wouldn’t stay up. I was so mad. I returned at Best Buy and the Apple rep couldn’t believe it. We opened 2 more new MacBook Pros and same thing. The hinges are weak. So i returned it and called Apple. Apple says they are aware of this new issue on the new late 2008 MacBook Pros and need more complaints from us to fix it. The Apple rep suggests to wait a few weeks before purchasing one. Really bad!!!!!!!!!! over $2,000.00 and screen/hinges feels 5 years old.”

Be an owner writes, “I waited for 30 minutes while the Apple Store unpacked their first shipment of the new Macbook Pro and walked out a happy camper. I quickly became very unhappy over the loose hinge. Whenever I shifted so did the display! On a plane, whenever there was a slight bounce the display would flop backward. I lasted 6 days with this defect before doing my research at the Apple Store and finding all the new Macbook Pro hinges were loose. The new Macbook works properly and has tension in the hinge that stopped the offensive movement. I traded my Macbook Pro for the new Macbook and am very happy with the Macbook.”

Tu13erhead writes, “I got a new MBP yesterday and I really like it. However, last night I was laying down on my back, with my MBP on my knees, angled. I noticed that if I angled it a little more, the display couldn’t keep open and would swing down, not quite closing but to the point where I can’t see the screen, as if the display hinge is a little loose. It might be designed that way, to just not have much tension, but I’m not sure. My old MBP and various MBs I have used don’t do that. I figure that, if anything, it should be less of an issue with the lighter, thinner, display.”

Lwasalittlelark writes, “Exactly the same thing. I was lying in bed, tilted up my knees, and down it comes! Lame. My wife got one of the new 13” Macbooks on the same day, and her hinge seems way tighter. Maybe it’s the big piece of glass on the 15” display weighing it down? ... maybe Apple can send me some helium balloons?”

FrederikVisser writes, “I want to buy a new Macbook Pro, but after reading this thread went to the store (Regent Str., London) to check this out and this will definitely be a problem for me. The Macbook hinges are all fine, while with the Macbook Pro, if you pick it up too fast, the lid closes halfway. Way too loose. I cannot think that it should be this way. This is definitely a design issue that wasn’t picked up pre-production. I’ll wait until they fix this. ****, wanted one now – was ready to order it online today!”

iidavidii writes, “I did some reading about the loose hinge on the Macbook Pro (the new all aluminum design). I found something very interesting. I had also thought that the hinge was too loose. The lid tends to move on you if the laptop is picked up too fast, or picked up and tilted. The interesting thing is, if you pick it up and tilt it towards you the screen starts to close, seems dangerous…Surprisingly as the lid picks up speed and just as you think it will inevitably slam shut… it doesn’t. It just stops, about 3” from close. My guess after seeing this behavior is that this a new type of hinge mechanism that was designed to work this way”

You can view a video of the weak hinge action here.

So, how is the hinge working in your new MacBook Pro? Let us know.

If you are experiencing problems with your MacBook Pro display hinge, let Apple know about it here.

Mac Owners Support Group—aka MacOSG—was conceived by Dave Merten, the former ‘Focus on Mac Support’ guide at About.com. Since it’s humble beginning as ‘G5 Owners Support Group’ back in February 2004, MacOSG has become one of the world’s fastest-growing online Apple User Groups, dedicated to helping Mac users from all over the globe.

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