Apple isn’t going out of its way to publicize the problem, but the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that cracked Macbooks are troubling users. Underscoring that, a Flickr site carries pictures of more than 200 cracked Macs, posted by the owners, along with their commentary.
Apple spokesman Bill Evans invited users with problems to bring them to Apple.
“Any user who has an issue with their Macbook should contact AppleCare for support, even if it is out of warranty,” he said of the problem, which dates back to at least 2006 and is still angering consumers.
Apple won’t say if they have upgraded the plastic that cracks, how many Macs they have fixed or if they expect more troubles as the aging plastic splinters. Although the problem is notorious in old machines, users say it has also appeared in machines that are less than a year old. A British website, The Inquirer, reported earlier this year that Apple will repair the problem for out-of-warranty Macs at no charge. Users like this one on the Flickr site also said the machines were repaired at no charge.
At a Facebook site dedicated to the problem, a user reported getting his machine fixed only to have it crack again. Others on the Flickr site also reported recurring problems.
If Apple seems to be playing down the problem it’s understandable. People pay a hefty premium for Apple products compared to PCs, and the company prides itself on the sleekness of its design and the quality of its products.
