Cracked Glass Display/Dented Aluminum Unibody

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Hi all! About a month ago, I upgraded from my 13" White MacBook to one of the new 15" Pro 1's (with upgraded RAM). Yesterday, I dropped it. I bent over while holding the Pro in its Belkin Neoprene case. The case wasn't zipped quite all the way (about a 3 inch gap at the bottom) and the pressure of my computer against the zipper caused it to unzip and the Pro fell out. It dropped about 1.5 feet and it hit on my tile kitchen floor on the left top corner while closed.

The display housing corner is dented and the the impact caused the glass display to spiderweb crack from the top all the way to the bottom of the screen along the left half. It still works (I'm using it now) but the glass is cracked badly. Also, the aluminum is dented in the bottom left corner of the body, which causes the battery backing cover to slightly bubble out. All in all, not a pretty picture. The LCD screen is in perfect condition, though.

Today, I took it to a AASP and they told me that because of the unibody design (which is supposed to be SO great), the entire display housing will need to be replaced. There is no glass display cover replacement. Fixing the display housing is going to cost about $1400 through Apple.

The AASP told me that I can possibly plead with Apple for some help repairing (maybe they would pick up the cost of the parts??) since it seems that the computer should not have been damaged this severely by such a small impact. He told me that since its such a new computer, he hasn't seen enough to know is this type of damage is typical from an impact. However, I have literally dropped by iPod from a moving car, had multiple drops on my white Mac, and dropped my iPhone, all with minimal (cosmetic scratches and the like) or no damage. Since the Pro is such a new unibody design, apparently there are no 3rd parties that have developed parts yet. Apple is the only fix.

He also said to try Belkin and tell them that the faulty case design (the zipper literally unzips without touching the pull when pressure is applied to either side). Since the bad zipper "caused" the computer to drop, maybe they would pay for some of the repairs.

Does anyone have any advice? I just paid over $2000.00 for this computer and really don't want to have to shell out another $1400.00 for repairs. I had expected a little bit more durability from my Mac. One drop and its toast? C'mon, Apple, where is your design function-ability?! I just graduated from college , so any money I can save is going to be a big help to my future self ;D

If anyone has suggestions, advice, or magic fixes, please let me know!! Is this a common problem with impact damage concerning the new MBPs? I just can't believe I am that unlucky that I am the only one who has had this horrible problem. Thanks!
 
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I feel you bro.

You have to replace the cracked screen no matter what, unless you don't mind using it will a 'spider-web' on e screen! :)

hmm, my advice to you is to pay the repair cost ( with or without Apple's reduction of the repair cost) and learn from this painful experience.

Choose a different sleeve, probably one that holds on to yr Macbook pro like a skin. Also a sleeves that does not have zips that unzips easily. I'm using one from ilappy (http://sg.ilappy.com/).

If you are using the same sleeve, always check that you have zipped it to the fullest.

Lastly, hold your Pro properly and don't be careless anymore.

Take care bro,
chris oh
 
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if you are going through apple, I have one suggestion! Buy a brand new computer, and sell your old one on ebay as parts. You will easily make enough money to make the new MBP cost less than 1400 repair after selling yours for parts.

as for magic fixes, pray to god that he will magically fix it over night and see how things go when you wake up:)
 
OP
D
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If you are somewhat experianced at taking computers apart, you could fix this yourself for less than....oh wait...look what I found

APPLE MACBOOK PRO OEM *15.4 INCH* LCD SCREEN COVER LENS - eBay (item 350203000483 end time Jun-16-09 02:18:11 PDT)

i wonder if it will work?

Awesome! One question: I can't figure out if this "lens" includes the glass display as well. Do you know? If so, that is a MUCH cheaper fix than what Apple is offering.

Yeah, I've definitely learned from my "mistake." Ah, well, accidents happen. What else can I say? I think everyone has dropped their laptop and instantly had that sick feeling in the pit of their stomach; mine just turned out to be worse than most.

I will look into the lens cover on eBay, as well as continuing to call Apple/Belkin/insurance company. Thanks!
 
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good luck man, i have 7 dents on my powerbook and i cant afford to fix it :(
 
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If I were you I would ask the seller the question because as I know it there is no lens covering the glass from either front or back it's just the lens of the glass. But I might be wrong since I am only human and drunk! thank god for spell check:))))
 
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Various Mac's
When I see damage like this at work, in most cases it's covered by a household insurance policy covering accidental damage and theft, my Mac's and iPhone are. Are you insured?

It is not just the unibody Macbook Pro that uses an all in one clamshell. So does the Macbook Air, unibody Macbook and most of the earlier Macbook Pro's.

Hope you get it resolved, but from my experience here in the UK, Apple would consider the damage abuse, and wouldn't cover the repair under warranty or contribute to it.
 

cwa107


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As I understand it, the glass panel is actually glued to the display, and this is why replacements are sold as one part. I would avoid the eBay part unless you really feel comfortable with pulling these things apart. Either way, you warranty is invalid unless you have Apple or an AASP repair the machine.

I would shop around for repair vendors. Check out MacService.com, TechRestore.com and Powerbookmedic.com. These are all vendors that have a good track record of reasonably priced repairs (at least in my experience here).
 
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I have a macbook pro my screen cracked and for a while I couldn't use my computer. I just hooked it up to a samsung tv screen that I bought at bestbuy for like 100 dollars which is a lot less expensive than sending your computer in repair which can end up costing as much as the price you originally bought your computer. It works perfectly except it no longer is a laptop but was converted into a desktop. I dont know if you need a laptop though but hope this helps!
 

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