MBA Hinge

Just curious about this. Still in the considering stage of buying an Air. I've looked at them in the Apple stores and noticed that there is a definite difference in the stiffness/rigidity of the screen hinge between the 11 and 13 inch versions. I would call the hinge on the 13s I looked at to be somewhat similar to my MB Pro 15, maybe not quite as stiff as the MBP. But on the 11s I checked there was some definite slack in the hinge. At one particular angle the screen would actually continue to fall back on its own. I saw this on a couple of the 11s on display. None of the 13's screens would move without some pressure albeit fairly minimal pressure.
What's been the experience of those who have purchased either of these?

I had a 13" and now an 11". I don't think there is any "slack" at all on the 11" but it's not as stiff. That's because the computer and screen are both lighter. If it was as stiff as the 13" you'd be unable to open it without using both hands to pry it apart.
At every angle it stays put unless you try something like tossing it around. It's a design decision versus being a flaw. They wanted you to be able to adjust the screen with a finger.

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Macbook Air first version hinge compatible with MBA last version hinge?

I got a problem.Is my MBA first version(x3100m gpu) hinge are not working.I have a broken MBA last version ( with the 9400m gpu), so what i'm thinkin is this: replace the broken hinges from first version MBA with the last version's MBA hinges. Is this possible? Do they fit, or whatever? Can it be done?

If the panic has happened only once, and there's no repetition in at least a few thousand hours of use, I suggest you ignore it.

Will an Incipio hardshell case wear down MacBook Air 11" hinge?

I absolutely love the look of the Incipio hardshell cases, but a knowledgable friend told me that MBA hinges are calibrated so specifically that one can damage the hinge by adding the weight of a hardshell case.
Is this true? Obviously the hinge is affected, and it's not quite as stiff, but will it actually do damage or cause undue wear? If so, what kind of timeframe might one be looking at? Thanks in advance.

I have inCase hardshell cases on both of my Air's (11" & 13") and do not perceive any issue at all with the insignificant weight. Apple sells both Speck and inCase hardshells on their website for this purpose. I would think that if there were any significant issue, that they wouldn't.

TS2948 Does anyone have recent experience of getting a macbook air hinge replacement foc

Does anyone have recent (2013) experience of getting a macbook air hinge repaired FOC ?

I just tried to get my original MBA hinge repaired, but the Genius guy in Amsterdam said they stopped the replacement 1 1/2 years ago :-(
Would have been appreciated if Apple could update the original note to indicate the extended warranty on the hinge is no longer in effect.

BROKE HINGE on MBA Rev.A - Anyone else have this problem?

My MacBook Air Rev. A had the exact problem already reported here - the hinge becomes loose over time, then suddenly catches and cracks from normal use, it's not from undue stress, my collegue have the exact problem, but his MacBook Air not crack yet. Anyone have this problem, I think the hinge becomes loose over time is already reported by MBA Rev.A users, but this hinge will broke sonner or later. If more users have this problem, please report them.
Thanks.
Alex

"My MacBook Air Rev. A had the exact problem already reported here - the hinge becomes loose over time, then suddenly catches and cracks from normal use..."
There is a long thread involving this situation and, if you want to read a historical perspective, I suggest that you search the forums. You described the situation exactly. The display hinge becomes loose, which is a manufacturing problem, and should be repaired under warranty IMMEDIATELY. If you don't get the problem fixed and continue to use the computer with the loose display, the hinge will break. Since you had the opportunity to get it fixed, ignored the problem and continued to use the computer until it broke, Apple considers it as "abuse" - which is not covered by the AppleCare warranty.

MBA (Mid 2009) broken hinges but don't replaced from Premium Service.

My MBA (Mid 2009) serial no W8******9A5. It broken hinges, I brought to premium service in Vietnam check warranty and replace hinges and dislay free all but its serial number don't replaced. I read in apple.com and thought my MBA has one of products affected. Please check serial number and answer me. What reason my MBA don't replaced?
Sorry, my English not good!
<Edited By Host>

You are not communicating with Apple when you post in these forums. We are all just fellow users and hence cannot to anything directly to assist you with this problem.
Hinge replacement in a MacBook Air is not guaranteed. It is left to the technician and service center to determine whether or not the MBA qualifies for replacement. See:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2948
If you believe that your service center incorrectly evaluated your MacBook Air and hence incorrectly refused service, contact Apple Support and discuss the issue with them. You can find the phone number for Apple Support in Vietnam here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
Regards.

MBA and wireless connection

Does anyone that already received their MBA noticed that the range of wireless reception is much shorter than with MB and MBP?
I've a new Airport Express Base Station and if I use the MBA in the same room everything works just great, but if I move the MBA to the adjacent room, some 20 feet apart, the speed of wireless drops by half or even more, causing problems when I want to use Remote Disk.
Pedro

You are probably right. The MBA's antenna is hidden away inside the hinge (from looking at the iFixit picture)
http://www.ifixit.com/Parts/stream/9/large/20-2.jpg
http://www.ifixit.com/Parts/stream/9/large/23-1.jpg
Message was edited by: dchao99

Crashing MBA w/lid closed?

I have been having some very weird intermittent problems with my MBA (description below). Sometimes, when the lid is closed, it will chime and reboot. Never happens with the lid open/not sleeping. Sometimes it's right away and other times it can be after a long sleep.
I can't actually tell whether this is a software issue or a hardware issue, and it seems difficult to reproduce reliably. It only seems to crash when VMware Fusion 5.0.2 running, although it doesn't matter whether a guest is running, suspended, or not even open. I haven't seen a crash with Fusion *not* running. Usually nothing else is running (except of course Finder).
But OTOH, it seems like it could be a hardware problem because if I touch or gently squeeze the MBA at the back near the hinge, I can sometimes get it to crash. Lid closed, touch or pinch the back hinge, and you'll hear the chime, and if you open the lid it will have restarted. It doesn't seem like it's related to the power button at the upper right because if I pinch the MBA closer to where the button would be, it doesn't crash.
I have an open issue with VMware on this, but they can't figure it out, and as I say, it may not even be a software issue, except that I can't crash it if Fusion isn't running (yet ).
I'm totally perplexed.

I've finally verified that this has nothing to do with Fusion. With the lid closed and nothing running, I can (sometimes) crash the machine just by pinching the top and bottom, near the rear hinge about 1-2" from both edges. Maybe it's a hardware bug - has anyone else seen thing? I suppose I need to call support.

Hinges+Display problem

Hi all (from Australia)
I've been using the MBA since its launch and had the classic hinges problem. I went to an Apple Store then though they quoted me AUD900 to fix...
So I used it for a little over a year until one day, I accidentally wore the broken hinge quite badly that I actually witnessed some pink/green stripes appear on parts of the screen when the display and the keyboard plate are not properly aligned.
Still I used it for one week until one day the screen turned gray.
& still I used it for some time displaying using my TV as screen with absolutely no problem.
& only 1 week ago I put it to repair at Apple's and they told me they can't make the harddrive work... (obviously someone at Apple's broke it) & it's AUD185 to replace.
& they believe it's the logic board that is faulty that makes the screen not displaying and it is AUD900 to replace...***...
(but what i believe is, it's actually the display cable that is either worn off or disconnected because this cable is linked exactly at the hinge.
yes i'm talkin' about this http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-MACBOOK-AIR-LED-DISPLAY-CABLE-/250673925622?pt=App le_Laptops)
I'm so effing frustrated with Apple on this...
Think if i'm not getting it fixed under AUD500, I'll just switch to hacintosh...
What do you guys think???
Thanks in advance!

Hi there (from Portugal)
The same think just happened to me. Hinge broke (screen off), went to an authorised apple service provider where they said it would be covered, left it there to be repaired. After a week they called me back saying that I got a brand new screen but the computer won't turn on because it needs a new logic board... How come does this happen?! First it was just the screen, now I need a new logic board. This is unbelievable... and was my first apple computer...

Cracked hinged of Macbook mid-2010

The Macbook mid-2010 has an expired warranty, both sides of the hinge has a hairline crack. I called Apple Customer Service this afternoon and said that I can have this fixed but I have to pay for it. Is it possible to just bring this to Apple then just add a little amount in exchange for say an MBA 11" 64gb? I hope Apple will consider a global recall for this product, they could at least give a free repair. Anybody with same problem?

ok, I brought the Macbook to a Genius Bar (2hours drive), they said that they won't replace the Macbook nor give a free repair since it's out of warranty, their charging me $200+ (forgot the exact amount, maybe $280+) for the repair. It's so expensive, so I decided not to push through and the guy from the Genius Bar advised me it is not worth it to pay that amount for a small crack, he also said to use it more often and let the crack get bigger Apple might replace the whole unit for free if the crack is big enough! I hope Apple will recognize the problem so there would be a global recall or replacement of the Macbook mid-2010.
By the way, this is the image of the crack on the right side. There's also a smaller crack on the left side.

Macbook Air 2014 hinges loose

Dear Everyone,
The first i want said sorry about my english is not good
I just bought a 13" MBA a 20 days ago, after 2 weeks of usage, i noticed the hinge were kind of loose whenever i lift the MBA up, the screen/display will tilt backwards easily. Thus i call to the service centre to ask about it issue , the technician mentioned that he will tighten the hinge and do not worry but But I think a new product within 20 days of purchase, but must go to a service center, it is so bad
Anybody encounter the same issue as well? Should i go to the service centre for repair it ? Actually if not better more and do not want use apple computer anymore, default i love machine and OS software and even used over 3 years from the macbook pro, Retina and now macbook air 2014. The first is battery and now hinges is loose.
Regards,
Hien Duong

It's under warranty. Take it in for service.

Loose Display Hinge - What to do

I've got a Rev B MBA. It is under Applecare Warranty for another 2 yrs. I've read comments about loose display hinges etc. Mine has a bit of play, I can move it back & forth maybe 1/2 inch or less. Now it may have been caused when I tripped on the power cable and the open MBA dropped to the carpeted floor (less than 2 ft) landing on one side (don't remember which side); but the magnetic power cable didn't separate, maybe because the MBA is much lighter than other laptops.
I just moved so I'm too far from an Apple Store to have someone look at it. Locally there is an Authorized Apple dealer, but they said they never worked on an MBA and maybe the hinge mechanism can be tightened if I leave it with them for a few days.
1. Does anyone know if in an MBA something could be tightened/adjusted to fix the problem?
2. Would Applecare cover the MBA if it was caused by that drop (even though the magnetic power cable should have separated from the MBA)?
3. I'm always of the opinion if it isn't broke don't fix it. I've read here where others have sent their MBAs to be fixed but came back with other problems, therefore I'm hesitant to have it fixed.
4.Although I can live with this loose hinge problem, I've read somewhere if you don't have something fixed soon and it gets worse, the Applecare Warranty won't apply.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks to those who responded. I did send in my MacBook Air, and as others describe it was simple, fast (3 days), and free (with Applecare Coverage).
Here are a few lessons I learned about the process, others can correct me if my assumptions are off:
1. Always backup your hard drive regardless of your repair issue. I had a backup that was 1 month old (because of my recent move), I should have backed it up before I mailed it.
2. Remove your firmware password from your OS (used to prevent a clean install)
3. Setup a Guest Account that does NOT require a password for access to the Mac OS (otherwise they will ask for your Master Password).
Number 2 is what I did NOT do. Although it was a loose hinge problem they REPLACED my 128 GB SSD (plus other things). I suspect they did this not because something was wrong with the drive but because they could NOT access it. My assumptions are that they go through a set of quality checks as part of the standard repair process; so that if something shows up as defective etc. they go ahead and repair it. Don't expect Apple to call you if they encounter a problem with your Mac; it would slow their quick turn around process.

New macbook air (2008) hinge installed; is this new hinge the same or a revision to address the problem? What should I afford to prevent a repeat of this?

I recently had my first macbook air (2008)'s hinge replaced by Apple after I found out about the quality program apple had for the supposedly weak hinges (had no idea until a genius happened to tell me about it while discussing my newest purchase (the new MBA); I use my old air as a backup anyhow).
My concern is whether or not this replacement Apple installed has been revised to address durability issues (i.e. a redesigned hinge) or simply the exact replacement hinge that originally shipped with the air in 2008?
Also, while we're on the topic of macbook air hinges; how should I make sure this does not happen again to either of my macbook airs (I recently got the i5 revision)? More specifically how far should I open the lid.
Thanks!

My understanding of the hinge issue is that the primary reason for the issue was the barrel assembly enclosure couldn't handle the constant repetition of opening and closing past the acceptable usage angle for the lid. Over time and with enough force applied it would just give out and then the tension coils inside would break out through the relatively thin plastic enclosure.
I do not believe anything was changed with the design or materials when the machines are serviced. The newer models with the "2nd generation" body styling fix this issue more than anything. Not to mention Apple shifted the exhaust vents for the fan to a more suitable place than the bottom of it.

TS2948 cracked lid hinge

What is Apple doing about the cracked lid hinges on the macbook air

Any luck having apple replace the macbook air hinge under the replacement program? http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2948 (It looks like the page was last modified on September 4th 2012). Is it worth having the apple store geniuses look at it or will it be a waste of time?
If not were you able to find replacement parts & fix the MBA yourself?
Thanks in advance

Why do hinges of Macbook Air break?

I own a MBA 13 inches which I bought sometime in 2008. After tthree years of using, one hinge broke after the other. I had both replaced for almost 200 bucks. This year, the left hinge again broke. I guess, very soon, the right hinge will break. I will definitely replace the hinges. I am thinking of selling this MBA and getting the newer MBA. But I am afraid that I will encounter the same problem with the Hinges. Is it a problem of simple lubrication that apple cannot solve?

The current version of the Air doesn't have hinges like yours so it probably won't break unless you really handle it poorly. As for why it breaks, I guess it's a design flaw because they changed it for the next installment.

MBA Hinge

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