I leaned on my laptop.

May 26, 2008 8:11 AM

I did a bad thing. I leaned too hard on my Mac and actually created a depression in the top of my laptop.

The computer works fine, but the CD slot is crimped a bit, so I'm afraid to put a CD into it, and the keyboard touch is a little off. I've never damaged a computer before. It is under warranty, but I realize they won't cover this repair. Do I take it to an authorized Mac repair place to protect my warranty? Any idea what the repair will cost? Has anyone done this before?

posted by clarkstonian to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Yeah, take it to a repair place or Apple Store. They'll probably just replace the top case. If you didn't hear anything crunch, I imagine the DVD drive is OK and won't need to be replaced. If they replace the top case, I'd guess they'd charge around $120 for the top case and $70 for labor. That was the estimate they gave me when I had to have my top case replaced. (I spilled water on it.) It'd be cooler if they just straighted the top case out, but they tend to replace parts rather than repair.

You might want to consider DIY. Go to the Apple Store for diagnosis (I think they charge around $20 for that), and if the replacement of the top case is all that's necessary, you might be able to handle it yourself. I'm not all that handy, but using this video, I was able to install my top case without much trouble. (The mouse button is a little less sensitive than I'd like due to my not-perfect installation, so I use trackpad tapping to click. Everything else works very well.) I was also able to get the top case for $60 online.
posted by ignignokt at 8:49 AM on May 26 [1 favorite]

Dunno what the mac warranties are like these days, but yeah, you probably didn't buy (if they offer it) a "i'm a dumb-ass and have no regard for my personal things" warranty like they now have at Dell.

But you might as well check to make sure, stuff covered under warranty (fixed for free) is always good, although not always very quick if you have to send it in.
posted by bitterkitten at 9:17 AM on May 26

They might replace it. You never know.

I personally bought the warranty bitterkitten described as the "idiot" warranty: it was awesome. Considering I had to get my laptop's motherboard replaced twice... (1st time I dropped it while headphones were in it and broke the audio ports, 2nd time power connection got weirdly loose) AND have had to get a new power supply, I'm pretty sure I've "made back" the money. And I sent it in a third time for something else--oh, right, I cracked the case.

Anyway, point being made that they want to keep your business so that you'll buy more products, you have nothing to lose by asking. And your DVD drive is probably fine--these things are a little sturdier than they look.
posted by saveyoursanity at 11:02 AM on May 26

Someone (Mrs Artdrectr, there I said it) put a dent in our powerbook just above the drive slot. There happened to be a CD inside, and although played fine, it now would not eject.
I researched getting parts and service quotes. Then, in a moment of insanity, I stuck a flat dinner knife in the slot and twisted the dent open slightly.
It worked. Looks and works good as new! YMMV, a lot. Good luck!
posted by artdrectr at 2:16 PM on May 26

I thought of the dinner knife, or something equivalent to - it's not that badly dented. But there's that warranty hanging over me. I don't want to void it. Plus, I just as often as not make things worse rather than better. I guess I'll take it in & see what they say. A CD will go in - I'm just afraid it won't come out again. $200 is manageable. Thanks, MeFi!
posted by clarkstonian at 4:44 PM on May 26

Definitely run to the apple store. As a man with about 19 Apple products, who also happens to be the clumsiest person alive -- well, I'm consistently pleasantly surprised by what Apple will gladly fix for you.

Which is why I keep coming back to them.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 5:52 AM on May 27