Comments on: MacBook Pro survives fall, sort of http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/ notes, photos, and other collectible fragments Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:57:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: nazereth http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-176068 nazereth Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:25:53 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-176068 I dropped my brand new week old Macbook pro -17inch few days ago. It slipped out of its case and fell from height of one feet, falling on its right side and then flat onto a hard tiled floor. Not scratches, but a dent on the corner (that it hit the floor)above the cd slot opening, and i feel the rubber lining around keyboard seems uneven since then . I immediately turned it on and it came on no problems. I even put in a dvd and checked it out, apart from a small whirring sound when the dvd loaded -the film played fine. I am worried whether there is anything wrong internally, but like you said the display lites are fine and so is the latch. I would like to do perform a hardware test, how would you go about that? Please help. i have even lost my appetite in the last few days since this happened. I dropped my brand new week old Macbook pro -17inch few days ago. It slipped out of its case and fell from height of one feet, falling on its right side and then flat onto a hard tiled floor. Not scratches, but a dent on the corner (that it hit the floor)above the cd slot opening, and i feel the rubber lining around keyboard seems uneven since then . I immediately turned it on and it came on no problems. I even put in a dvd and checked it out, apart from a small whirring sound when the dvd loaded -the film played fine.
I am worried whether there is anything wrong internally, but like you said the display lites are fine and so is the latch. I would like to do perform a hardware test, how would you go about that? Please help. i have even lost my appetite in the last few days since this happened.

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-174987 Richard Fri, 23 May 2008 02:44:07 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-174987 Bobby: Oh man, I know the feeling well (as you know) so if it's any comfort, you are not alone in how you feel at the moment. I can't speak to the insurance issue, that's one you'll have to take up with your insurance agent. Some policies cover accidental damage and if yours does, you're in good shape. If you have to live with it my suggestion is to back it up immediately and if you have a good backup from before the fall keep that one pristine and make the new backup on a new drive. If the fall damaged the HD you'll have a copy of your data from before (as I had). As long as all the ports work I would not be too concerned about the cosmetic damage to the case. I lived with mine in that state for over a year with no problem. I even upgraded the HD a few more times taking it apart with no problem. If the hinge is intact, it will go into sleep mode and the latch is intact and the ambient lighting on the keyboard works you're probably in good shape. I know, this is a high end and very aesthetic computer so having it all dinged up like this is not a great thing, but all I can tell you is that if the HD and the inside is working fine it's no less of a Mac for it's dents, maybe more of one. Lastly, there are iPod-like silicone covers one can buy for these machines so they can be treated a bit more roughly. Not sure how I feel about those but you might look into it if you're paranoid about another drop. I've never done it, although your story brings back memories. Do run hardware tests on it to make sure everything is working correctly before you live with it as is. And, of course, be religious about backing up on multiple hard disks. I have 4 in rotation now, one always outside the house. Bobby: Oh man, I know the feeling well (as you know) so if it’s any comfort, you are not alone in how you feel at the moment.

I can’t speak to the insurance issue, that’s one you’ll have to take up with your insurance agent. Some policies cover accidental damage and if yours does, you’re in good shape.

If you have to live with it my suggestion is to back it up immediately and if you have a good backup from before the fall keep that one pristine and make the new backup on a new drive. If the fall damaged the HD you’ll have a copy of your data from before (as I had).

As long as all the ports work I would not be too concerned about the cosmetic damage to the case. I lived with mine in that state for over a year with no problem. I even upgraded the HD a few more times taking it apart with no problem. If the hinge is intact, it will go into sleep mode and the latch is intact and the ambient lighting on the keyboard works you’re probably in good shape.

I know, this is a high end and very aesthetic computer so having it all dinged up like this is not a great thing, but all I can tell you is that if the HD and the inside is working fine it’s no less of a Mac for it’s dents, maybe more of one.

Lastly, there are iPod-like silicone covers one can buy for these machines so they can be treated a bit more roughly. Not sure how I feel about those but you might look into it if you’re paranoid about another drop. I’ve never done it, although your story brings back memories.

Do run hardware tests on it to make sure everything is working correctly before you live with it as is. And, of course, be religious about backing up on multiple hard disks. I have 4 in rotation now, one always outside the house.

]]> By: Bobby http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-174976 Bobby Thu, 22 May 2008 12:07:49 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-174976 Hi! I was stupid enough to sit in my bed, really tired, chatting in msn, last night/today. When I woke up my only a couple of months old MacBook Pro was found on the hard "tile" floor. Would any insurances been able to help me in the first place, you think? I really feel stupid:S My bed is one of those with two levels and I sleep at the upper one of them. It must be like close to a 5 feet fall. Well it still works fine, it seems. But I really think I would want to fix these cosmetic details. There are several marks on the top (the back of the display), and the fit and finish on the top edges/corners where the sides intersect with the top of the keypad are damaged plus there are a couple of dents on the sides. I come from Norway and these computers cost around 20 000 norwegian krones, which with the low dollar of today will be around 4k $! Hi! I was stupid enough to sit in my bed, really tired, chatting in msn, last night/today. When I woke up my only a couple of months old MacBook Pro was found on the hard “tile” floor. Would any insurances been able to help me in the first place, you think?
I really feel stupid:S My bed is one of those with two levels and I sleep at the upper one of them. It must be like close to a 5 feet fall. Well it still works fine, it seems. But I really think I would want to fix these cosmetic details. There are several marks on the top (the back of the display), and the fit and finish on the top edges/corners where the sides intersect with the top of the keypad are damaged plus there are a couple of dents on the sides. I come from Norway and these computers cost around 20 000 norwegian krones, which with the low dollar of today will be around 4k $!

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171467 Richard Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:57:58 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171467 Rob: I think I heard about this happening to a few early magsafe plug setups but they fixed it (hopefully). Mine (knock wood) hasn't caught fire yet. Good move to get SuperDuper!, it's a stellar program and frankly, I'm so comfortable backing up with it every day that I'm not pushing for 10.5 and TimeMachine as I don't really need it and would probably not use it, for a while anyway. Have fun and happy Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it). Rob: I think I heard about this happening to a few early magsafe plug setups but they fixed it (hopefully). Mine (knock wood) hasn’t caught fire yet.

Good move to get SuperDuper!, it’s a stellar program and frankly, I’m so comfortable backing up with it every day that I’m not pushing for 10.5 and TimeMachine as I don’t really need it and would probably not use it, for a while anyway.

Have fun and happy Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it).

]]> By: Rob http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171465 Rob Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:00:13 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171465 Thanks for sharing, Richard. I bought 4 x MacBook pros a year or so back and one of the PSU cables popped and burst just short of the magnetic plug with an internal short. It really had had VERY little use and no stressful episodes. Fortunately I have apple care (only 20 mins to get through and an hour on a pay call to get it sorted - oh joy!) so unit being replaced and my credit card won't be billed as long as I send the blown PSU back with their (free) post bag. This hardware failure did surprise me as I'd thought what a good idea the stress-avoiding mag connector was. ho-hum. Thanks for the heads up on SD. I'm taking delivery of 10.5 tomorrow but won't delay with SD. Good thinking, Batman ;-) Peace, Rob. Thanks for sharing, Richard. I bought 4 x MacBook pros a year or so back and one of the PSU cables popped and burst just short of the magnetic plug with an internal short. It really had had VERY little use and no stressful episodes. Fortunately I have apple care (only 20 mins to get through and an hour on a pay call to get it sorted - oh joy!) so unit being replaced and my credit card won’t be billed as long as I send the blown PSU back with their (free) post bag. This hardware failure did surprise me as I’d thought what a good idea the stress-avoiding mag connector was. ho-hum.
Thanks for the heads up on SD. I’m taking delivery of 10.5 tomorrow but won’t delay with SD. Good thinking, Batman ;-)
Peace,

Rob.

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171216 Richard Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:21:27 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171216 Pamela, I'm sorry this happened to you and it's rough to learn about backing up from data loss. Why not use SuperDuper! and an external hard disk? The great thing about this method is that if somehow things really go bad you can take that hard disk and boot a new computer and be right back where you were. The problem with online backup is that if you lose your computer, how can you login to it to get your stuff back, let alone boot from it. I highly recommend an external drive and SuperDuper. Then, once set up, use it every day. Pamela, I’m sorry this happened to you and it’s rough to learn about backing up from data loss.

Why not use SuperDuper! and an external hard disk? The great thing about this method is that if somehow things really go bad you can take that hard disk and boot a new computer and be right back where you were. The problem with online backup is that if you lose your computer, how can you login to it to get your stuff back, let alone boot from it.

I highly recommend an external drive and SuperDuper. Then, once set up, use it every day.

]]> By: Pamela http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171208 Pamela Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:55:14 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-171208 Thank you for documenting this. The same thing just happened to my Macbook yesterday, and unfortunately I hadn't been backing up my folders. (This is the first lesson I've learned in this. I'm now using Mozy.) I'm currently in a frantic attempt to save everything before it completely falls apart/ Thank you for documenting this. The same thing just happened to my Macbook yesterday, and unfortunately I hadn’t been backing up my folders. (This is the first lesson I’ve learned in this. I’m now using Mozy.) I’m currently in a frantic attempt to save everything before it completely falls apart/

]]> By: take it from a man with a beard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-168254 take it from a man with a beard Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:06:55 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-168254 [...] it is always, ALWAYS a bad idea to drop your laptop, apple has considered the possibility of this event and has come up with some [...] [...] it is always, ALWAYS a bad idea to drop your laptop, apple has considered the possibility of this event and has come up with some [...]

]]> By: Richard http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-164597 Richard Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:54:27 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-164597 Interesting Jason. Not sure I want a case like that on my MacBook pro, I'd rather just be more careful. Thanks. Interesting Jason. Not sure I want a case like that on my MacBook pro, I’d rather just be more careful. Thanks.

]]> By: Jason http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-164554 Jason Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:39:15 +0000 http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2006/12/17/macbook-pro-survives-fall-sort-of/#comment-164554 Why don't you protect your Mac? www.macbook-case.com Why don’t you protect your Mac?
http://www.macbook-case.com

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