Cracked hinge!

Just wanted to let you guys know I was looking over my system today, I've had it for 2 weeks, and discovered one of my hinges is cracked. For reference as you look at the back of the system its on the left. I remember the horror stories of the m11x and hope this is an isolated incident. Either way wanted to report it.

 

That's interesting.

Could you post pictures, help us get a better idea of exactly what the weak link in the hinge assembly is?

 

Seriously, we don't want a repeat of the M11x Fiasco...

Took them over a year I believe to get them fixed. Mine still feels sturdy fortunately.

Please take some pics for us so we can get a better idea what happened.

 

dont scare me like this!.......

 

oh noes!

 

Ohhhh no.. I hope this will NEVER happen to me .

 

Been waiting for this one, I have thought of a tread asking how everyones hinges look to them.

M11x with 2 hinge replacements has intructed me the hard way never buy the first new tech toy.

 

I personnally think that this is an isolated incident.

I recall the faulty hinge on the m11x to be the right one and not the left one ( looking at the back of the laptop ).
I would find it very surprising if the exact same design flaw that has been corrected on the m11x was to appear on the M14x.

edit : Plus, the hinges on my m14x look REALLY sturdy

 

the "exact same flaw" was corrected on at least one Alienware laptop before the m11x. Dell, aparently, learns very slowly.

 

Then we're all doomed

I was not aware of that jeremyshaw. It's a little worrying.

 

Hopefully no more broken hinges turn up over the next few weeks.

 

D:







10char

 

i had a bad experience with hinges with the m11x R1, so I'm staying well away from R1 of m14x... gonna keep on using my macbookpro until at least R2 comes out, or better yet R3 of m14x to be very safe. I like the ability to set different lights on the Alienware laptops. that's the only reason why I still come back to peak at them even after a disastrous debut to the world of alienware through m11x.

 

I had to have the hinges replaced twice on my m11x r1, and since the second replacement, I've received it back from service five times, each time with a new form of damage done to it. Waiting on the go ahead for a replacement. Hope it doesn't turn out to be such a nightmare for others :/

 

Yep mine seems to be starting to crack as well. Same hinge on the left is starting to separate! link to pick below. Any suggestions anyone?
damn cracks by ~hanuman33 on deviantART

 

Right. No more aliens for me then. I am going with a np8130.

 

You just convinced me to wait on my ordering a m14x. I've already been through 2 M11x hinge replacements and one screen seperation problem.

Why is it always the problem with the screen with this company? Dim viewing lighting or hinges?

 

Sigh...

 

Over on this thread I asked this question, but I will ask here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/571881-m14x-screen-hinge-durability-2.html#post7581216

So what am I looking for? Mine arrived with a small gap on both hinges, and I assumed that this was the way it ships. By crack do you mean the plastic seperates? Or the metal hinge physically cracks. I owned an m15x and had zero issues. What is the process for taking the plastic apart to check?

Here is a photo of mine...

 

I wouldn't panic...yet..

They're have only been like 2 reports in this thread and it may be a very rare issue. I'm sure if this was a widespread issue than we would see more feedback in this thread.

 

warranty with Dell is quite good. they will replace it with no questions asked, however it's the hassle that makes us consumers not bothered. perhaps alienware isnt top quality as people think of it as. Even a cheap asus probably has better quality hinges than the alienware.

 

This is my 4th alienware. All in all I have been very happy with the products and the support. I am a little concerned as I only got 1 year warrenty, and I would hate for the hinge to crack after that. My wife's m9700 hinge broke off the plastic back of the screen after 5 years use. I was able to buy a new plastic screen back for $17 and repair it rather effortlessly. But I am not quite sure where to start taking the m14x apart. I feel kinda sad, as I miss my m15x super solid metal body. Though I dont miss the extra 4 1/2 lbs.

 

It hasn't been out that long...still worried!

 

Seems it is turning out to be a really buggy launch for the new alienwares.
The m14x with the battery and Sata 3 issues.
And now it's hinges as well.

The m17x and the m18x with the onboard speaker issues.

 

I dont actually think the problem is widespread. I think that these may just be lemons. I have googled it and this is the only that comes up.

 

I'll let you know how I get on with Dell UK and what their response is.

 

But it could mean that they will be susceptible to breaking down the road...we don't know.

 

Well that's true but from what I read, they seem VERY sturdy and the screen isn't wobbly like on the m11x. When I got the m11x and opened it up for the first time, I remember thinking how wobbly it was.

 

Sorry guys, I'm part of a military family and am on vacation for the next 6 weeks so I havent been checking in here as often. The photo that hanuman linked is exactly what has happened to mine. Upon further inspection it's hard to say if it's a crack or a matter of the hinge point slowly starting to spread apart. From what I can tell at the moment mine has not got any worse and I won't be contacting dell/alienware until either a) im off vacation or b) this issue gets worse. I'll keep you updated on whats going on with the rig!

 

I would say mine has started to separate. I have had it for just over one month and it wasnt like this when I got it, having had an M11x R1 the first thing I looked at when it arrived was the hinges. I sent an email off to a technical guy i have dealt with before at Dell to let them know it has happened in the first month of ownership. I will wait and see what his response is and also wait to see if it gets any worse before I start throwing a hissy at Dell tho. I will add some more detailed photos to my deviantart link too.

 

In my experience, no.

This is what prompted me to order the M15x and now M14x instead of the G53JW/G53SW. I'm not touching Asus with a ten foot pole.

 

is the hinge thing seriously a problem?!?!?!? GOD DA****!!!! I guess i will go with the ugly sager then....

 

Bump

10char

 

alienlover I dont know that it's an issue. Out of all the m14x's on this site only 2 of us are having this issue. I just wanted to get a thread posted in case it was a widespread issue which again, at this point it doesnt seem to be. I love my laptop and would recommend it to absolutely anyone and thats the bottom line!
and yes....
(because stone cold said so)

 

mine is quite firm and doesn't seperate with gap like the one in the pic.. and definitely feel sturdy.. will it have anything to do with how we're holding it or carrying it around or the way we open the display panel (pushing from 1 side, both side, center)?

i know it may not be an excuse to causes it to crack.. but if those action does contribute i'd like to avoid doing them.. i mean the m14x is nothing like panasonic toughbook..

 

UPDATE on my hinges. So upon closer inspection it appears that whatever little Chinese lady standing at the conveyer belt with my machine on it, never actually snapped the plastic pieces together. I noticed the pieces notch into each other, so I pressed firmly on the lower half, and after a solid "click" sound both pieces are seamlessly into place.

 

Whew!!!! Alright I can continue with my purchase without worry then. Thanks for that update

 

Yep, one of my hinges had a gap also, as soon as I noticed it I just pressed them together and it snapped into the place and now they both seem perfectly fine.

 

Hahaha. That's excellent news. Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

ok ill give it a snap and see if thats the case......

 

Really man, you just gave me this as a blessing. Was really freaked about my new m14x, but now all is well.
Thanx

 

OK so when I was bunging in my WWAN card I checked the hinge problem I was having. It turns out that when the laptop was fab'd in the factory they got one of the LCD cables stuck in the bit that clicks together. I just moved it out the way and no more probs with the split hinge - phew.