New 15"AlBook latch problem

Kabeyun · 09-22-2003, 09:28 AM

I strolled down to my local Apple store two days ago and brought home a 1.25/SuperDrive AlBook 15". (If anyone is near a store, I highly recommend just buying it there instead of doing the net/mail order thing. They'll even accept a 24-48 hour reservation if you can't get there that day; they're flying off the shelves.) It's wonderful, BUT...

When I closed it, the latch caught but sprung open after a second. I closed it again, more firmly, but it sprung open again. It was intermittent, but persistent, so yesterday I took it back (another benefit of buying it locally). One of the Apple store guys was skeptical because the damn thing stayed shut when we tried to demo the problem. Fortunately, I took a video clip of it happening (which I'll post soon), but I didn't need to show it when it finally popped open in front of the store manager. They happily exchanged it for a new one (and there's now a big yellow sticker stating "D.O.A." on the box with the broken-latched one).

Based on this glitch, I recommend anyone with a new AlBook putting the closing mechanism through its paces over a couple of days, as the problem with mine was both delayed and intermittent.

neo79 · 09-22-2003, 01:41 PM

Let us c the clip!

T'hain Esh Kelch · 09-22-2003, 02:37 PM

CLIP! CLIP! CLIP! CLIP!

Kabeyun · 09-22-2003, 02:40 PM

On the way! I posted from work, so I've got to get home first! Check back around 7 or 8 EST.

Kabeyun · 09-22-2003, 08:51 PM

OK, without further ado...the Popping PowerBook! (A little delayed, but hey, it's a PowerBook, right?)
P.S. Big file (4.8 MB). Sorry.

howyoudoin · 09-22-2003, 09:08 PM

I had the same problem. Bought an 15in 1.25 alu powerbook at an Apple store and it did the same thing. Except when I brought it in it did popped open right in front of the genius. He kept closing it and it did the same thing again and again. They gave me a new Alu in 2 days (really quick). The weird thing was toward the day I was getting the replacement it stopped opening on its own but I still exchanged it.
Josiah

trailmaster308 · 09-22-2003, 10:30 PM

Nothing a little duct tape won't fix! Or you could just use it to set your beer cans on top of........we could just start a tread on "Ways to keep the new powerbooks closed"

I'm not funny am I?

igman · 09-22-2003, 10:38 PM

I noticed this same thing tody at the local apple store on a demo. The manager said it was "first run" and it has been handled like crazy for the last week. Hmmm. I have a reservation on one and it should be here by the weekend. Should I buy and check it out, or wait to see if this is a real issue?

EDS66 · 09-22-2003, 11:42 PM

Got my 15" 1.25 Pbook. Does not seem to be any latch problem on mine.

howyoudoin · 09-23-2003, 12:11 AM

I would go ahead and get your powerbooks and don't worry about the latch problem because not all of them have it. My replacement worked fine. So its only a small # of new Alu powerbooks.

murbot · 09-23-2003, 12:14 AM

Jesus, what do you expect when you push it down like THAT?

OMFG, RTFM RFN, LOL.

buckeye · 09-23-2003, 12:27 AM

Mine just doesn't close all the way. I have gap when it is closed and it seems to want to open very easily. It is a poorly designed latch.

I bought it a week ago this wednesday. I don't want to take it back, but I wonder if it will get worse. How long do you think I can keep it before they will not do a trade out?

alcimedes · 09-23-2003, 12:30 AM

yeah, my dad's does the EXACT same thing. we're hoping it goes away at this point.

although if it doesn't, it's going back.

Kabeyun · 09-23-2003, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by murbot
Jesus, what do you expect when you push it down like THAT?

OMFG, RTFM RFN, LOL.

It wouldn't latch when I put a feather on it either. Happy with the replacement PB, though. 2nd full day and no latch issues. I'm comforted to hear that it wasn't just my lucky one.

ast3r3x · 09-23-2003, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kabeyun
It wouldn't latch when I put a feather on it either. Happy with the replacement PB, though. 2nd full day and no latch issues. I'm comforted to hear that it wasn't just my lucky one.

Comforted?! I'm worried about mine!

taliesin · 09-23-2003, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kabeyun
OK, without further ado...the Popping PowerBook! (A little delayed, but hey, it's a PowerBook, right?)
P.S. Big file (4.8 MB). Sorry.

LOL Reminds me of the cartoons when someone tries to pull down a window shade and it pops up up everytime they turn their back.

SonOfSylvanus · 09-23-2003, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buckeye
Mine just doesn't close all the way. I have gap when it is closed...

I noticed that. In the pictures on the Apple UK website you can see the outline of the keyboard keys on the profile of the PB even when its closed.

ast3r3x · 09-23-2003, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SonOfSylvanus
I noticed that. In the pictures on the Apple UK website you can see the outline of the keyboard keys on the profile of the PB even when its closed.

To allow airflow silly

Mac Man 020581 · 09-23-2003, 05:42 PM

Wow, that thing really has some spring action going on. Glad the exchange worked out well.

Gambit · 09-23-2003, 06:28 PM

Maybe it's an undocumented feature? Spring-loaded lid action anyone?

buckeye · 09-23-2003, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SonOfSylvanus
I noticed that. In the pictures on the Apple UK website you can see the outline of the keyboard keys on the profile of the PB even when its closed.

After a few days, i have gotten used to it. Unfortunately, it is a poor latch design. Just glad I do not have the screen problems that some others are having. Burn spots and such.

admactanium · 09-24-2003, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kabeyun
OK, without further ado...the Popping PowerBook! (A little delayed, but hey, it's a PowerBook, right?)
P.S. Big file (4.8 MB). Sorry.

how can you resist making the "boi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-ng" noise when that happens?

cubs23 · 09-24-2003, 01:23 AM

Hopefully Apple has recognized this problem, and have fixed all shipping PB's. I ordered mine on Last Saturday. I wouldn't mind a little more of a wait for it to be fixed, otherwise I would have to ship it back, and that would be a mess! I hope mine works... someone assure me it will.

Scott · 09-24-2003, 01:43 AM

Looks like a trick to me. I mean one corner of the powerbook is outside the FOV.

murbot · 09-24-2003, 11:24 AM

Funny, this is the exact reason I returned my 900MHz iBook a while back. I was just "dealing with it", until it opened while in my pack and reached about 400 freaking degrees by the time I got where I was going.

hyperbolic monkey consolidated · 09-25-2003, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by admactanium
how can you resist making the "boi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-ng" noise when that happens?

http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/macosx/powerbook_latch.wav

ast3r3x · 09-25-2003, 08:26 AM

America's Funniest Home Videos version of it...

Boing

By the way my FIRST movie! Haha never used iMovie before.

PBG4 Dude · 09-25-2003, 08:33 AM

Great movie, ast3r3x!

(Where's Obelix?)

I'm not having this issue with my PB so I'm psyched about that. So far, perfect screen, no latch issues, nothing.

ast3r3x · 09-25-2003, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PBG4 Dude
Great movie, ast3r3x! (Where's Obelix?)

I'm not having this issue with my PB so I'm psyched about that. So far, perfect screen, no latch issues, nothing.

That is awesome to hear I'm still praying mine gets here today or tomorrow so I don't have to wait another LONG weekend

Cosmo · 09-25-2003, 11:37 AM

My 1ghz model doesn't seem to have the problem, although i do make sure i give it a good push to close it. It seems like it is always ready to srping open at a moment's notice.

ast3r3x · 09-25-2003, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cosmo
My 1ghz model doesn't seem to have the problem, although i do make sure i give it a good push to close it. It seems like it is always ready to srping open at a moment's notice.

If you wiggle it or anything does it open? I mean is it securely closed and just have a good amount of tension on it or what do you mean?

666 · 09-25-2003, 12:53 PM

the gap could be there to eliminate the markings on the screen like with the older ti books. my friends screenhad keymarks all over it.

ast3r3x · 09-25-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 666
the gap could be there to eliminate the markings on the screen like with the older ti books. my friends screenhad keymarks all over it.

I am hoping that is why it's there...and not just Apple's excuse. I will be keeping the padding that goes between the screen and the keyboard until people report that it doesn't scratch their keys.

Cosmo · 09-26-2003, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ast3r3x
If you wiggle it or anything does it open? I mean is it securely closed and just have a good amount of tension on it or what do you mean?

Nope no problems w/ wiggling and such. I'll try and take a video clip later. It seems secure, but there is a gap. As mentioned earlier i think the gap is to prevent the screen from getting dirty. A friend's screen is already showing signs of marking from the keyboard and he has had his TiBook for less than a month.

Kabeyun · 09-26-2003, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buckeye
Mine just doesn't close all the way. I have gap when it is closed and it seems to want to open very easily. It is a poorly designed latch.

I bought it a week ago this wednesday. I don't want to take it back, but I wonder if it will get worse. How long do you think I can keep it before they will not do a trade out?

Ten days, I believe. After that, it's yours.

Kabeyun · 09-26-2003, 02:39 PM

5 days (and 34 posts) later, the new PB's working fine, latch and all. Closes securely. It can be pressed home another millimeter or so, but this does not appear to affect the latch catch. I suppose the springiness is the price to pay for a nice solid hinge. Now that that's resolved, I can say that I really dig this computer! I'll be really ticked off when the latch fails on day+1 of the ACP.

Scott: No trick, as these others will attest. (As will the Apple store staff!)

ast3r3x: A masterpiece! And so similar to the actual sound it made.

666 & ast3r3x: I also noticed the small gap when it's closed. I mentioned it to the Apple genius, and he did say that it was designed that way to avoid the screen key print problem in earlier models. Translation: BS. Personally I have no problem with it, but I do like the bigger bumpers on the 'old' 12"PB's lid.

09-22-2003, 09:28 AM	#1
Kabeyun Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 79	New 15"AlBook latch problem I strolled down to my local Apple store two days ago and brought home a 1.25/SuperDrive AlBook 15". (If anyone is near a store, I highly recommend just buying it there instead of doing the net/mail order thing. They'll even accept a 24-48 hour reservation if you can't get there that day; they're flying off the shelves.) It's wonderful, BUT... When I closed it, the latch caught but sprung open after a second. I closed it again, more firmly, but it sprung open again. It was intermittent, but persistent, so yesterday I took it back (another benefit of buying it locally). One of the Apple store guys was skeptical because the damn thing stayed shut when we tried to demo the problem. Fortunately, I took a video clip of it happening (which I'll post soon), but I didn't need to show it when it finally popped open in front of the store manager. They happily exchanged it for a new one (and there's now a big yellow sticker stating "D.O.A." on the box with the broken-latched one). Based on this glitch, I recommend anyone with a new AlBook putting the closing mechanism through its paces over a couple of days, as the problem with mine was both delayed and intermittent.

09-22-2003, 02:37 PM	#3
T'hain Esh Kelch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,238	CLIP! CLIP! CLIP! CLIP! "There's no bigot like a religious bigot and there's no religion more fanatical than that espoused by Macintosh zealots." ~Martin Veitch, IT Week [31-01-2003]

09-25-2003, 08:26 AM	#27
ast3r3x Hated Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: PA Posts: 4,984	America's Funniest Home Videos version of it... Boing By the way my FIRST movie! Haha never used iMovie before. 0 People Found This Reply Helpful

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09-22-2003, 01:41 PM	#2
neo79 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5	Let us c the clip!

09-22-2003, 02:40 PM	#4
Kabeyun Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 79	On the way! I posted from work, so I've got to get home first! Check back around 7 or 8 EST.

09-22-2003, 08:51 PM	#5
Kabeyun Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 79	OK, without further ado...the Popping PowerBook! (A little delayed, but hey, it's a PowerBook, right?) P.S. Big file (4.8 MB). Sorry.

09-22-2003, 09:08 PM	#6
howyoudoin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: St. Louis Posts: 101	I had the same problem. Bought an 15in 1.25 alu powerbook at an Apple store and it did the same thing. Except when I brought it in it did popped open right in front of the genius. He kept closing it and it did the same thing again and again. They gave me a new Alu in 2 days (really quick). The weird thing was toward the day I was getting the replacement it stopped opening on its own but I still exchanged it. Josiah

09-22-2003, 10:30 PM	#7
trailmaster308 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 696	Nothing a little duct tape won't fix! Or you could just use it to set your beer cans on top of........we could just start a tread on "Ways to keep the new powerbooks closed" I'm not funny am I?

09-22-2003, 10:38 PM	#8
igman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 9	I noticed this same thing tody at the local apple store on a demo. The manager said it was "first run" and it has been handled like crazy for the last week. Hmmm. I have a reservation on one and it should be here by the weekend. Should I buy and check it out, or wait to see if this is a real issue?

09-22-2003, 11:42 PM	#9
EDS66 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 119	Got my 15" 1.25 Pbook. Does not seem to be any latch problem on mine.

09-23-2003, 12:11 AM	#10
howyoudoin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: St. Louis Posts: 101	I would go ahead and get your powerbooks and don't worry about the latch problem because not all of them have it. My replacement worked fine. So its only a small # of new Alu powerbooks.

09-23-2003, 12:14 AM	#11
murbot Hulking Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 5,257	Jesus, what do you expect when you push it down like THAT? OMFG, RTFM RFN, LOL.

09-23-2003, 12:27 AM	#12
buckeye Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 357	Mine just doesn't close all the way. I have gap when it is closed and it seems to want to open very easily. It is a poorly designed latch. I bought it a week ago this wednesday. I don't want to take it back, but I wonder if it will get worse. How long do you think I can keep it before they will not do a trade out?

09-23-2003, 12:30 AM	#13
alcimedes Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Midwest Posts: 5,481	yeah, my dad's does the EXACT same thing. we're hoping it goes away at this point. although if it doesn't, it's going back.

09-23-2003, 05:42 PM	#19
Mac Man 020581 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 632	Wow, that thing really has some spring action going on. Glad the exchange worked out well.

09-23-2003, 06:28 PM	#20
Gambit Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: www.yourmactek.com Posts: 473	Maybe it's an undocumented feature? Spring-loaded lid action anyone?

09-24-2003, 01:23 AM	#23
cubs23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 317	Hopefully Apple has recognized this problem, and have fixed all shipping PB's. I ordered mine on Last Saturday. I wouldn't mind a little more of a wait for it to be fixed, otherwise I would have to ship it back, and that would be a mess! I hope mine works... someone assure me it will.

09-24-2003, 01:43 AM	#24
Scott Banned Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 7,417	Looks like a trick to me. I mean one corner of the powerbook is outside the FOV.

09-24-2003, 11:24 AM	#25
murbot Hulking Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 5,257	Funny, this is the exact reason I returned my 900MHz iBook a while back. I was just "dealing with it", until it opened while in my pack and reached about 400 freaking degrees by the time I got where I was going.

09-25-2003, 08:33 AM	#28
PBG4 Dude Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: CT Posts: 1,542	Great movie, ast3r3x! (Where's Obelix?) I'm not having this issue with my PB so I'm psyched about that. So far, perfect screen, no latch issues, nothing.

09-25-2003, 11:37 AM	#30
Cosmo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 649	My 1ghz model doesn't seem to have the problem, although i do make sure i give it a good push to close it. It seems like it is always ready to srping open at a moment's notice.

09-25-2003, 12:53 PM	#32
666 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: hell Posts: 131	the gap could be there to eliminate the markings on the screen like with the older ti books. my friends screenhad keymarks all over it.

09-26-2003, 02:39 PM	#36
Kabeyun Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 79	5 days (and 34 posts) later, the new PB's working fine, latch and all. Closes securely. It can be pressed home another millimeter or so, but this does not appear to affect the latch catch. I suppose the springiness is the price to pay for a nice solid hinge. Now that that's resolved, I can say that I really dig this computer! I'll be really ticked off when the latch fails on day+1 of the ACP. Scott: No trick, as these others will attest. (As will the Apple store staff!) ast3r3x: A masterpiece! And so similar to the actual sound it made. 666 & ast3r3x: I also noticed the small gap when it's closed. I mentioned it to the Apple genius, and he did say that it was designed that way to avoid the screen key print problem in earlier models. Translation: BS. Personally I have no problem with it, but I do like the bigger bumpers on the 'old' 12"PB's lid.

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