M14x Hinge Cracks. Durp.

So as obviously as the title states, my hinges have itty bitty cracks. So itty bitty that I'd probably have to have my camera on macro settings just to catch them. But alas! I still notice them, and if you run your finger over it you can feel it. Oddly there is one on the left hinge and one on the right, matching hinge cracks..
It's only really visible when the laptop is open, and the screen is angled at at least a 90 degree angle. And it just stares right at you. Called warranty, complained how it shouldn't be happening to a month old laptop that's been coddled since arrival. They said it'd be covered.
Mostly just ranting about it. Wondering if anyone else has trouble with their m14x hinges or if my luck just sucks that much.
Also noticed some minor lifting in the frame on the right side of the keyboard. As in that little area/span of plastic or whatever material, between the actual keys and the edge of the laptop. Might just be me being overly critical after noticing the cracks.
Dunno :v

 

oh no ... here we go again!!! i think Dell its playing with us all !!! i got this problem with my M11x r1 ... and i bought my M14x thinking that the lesson was learned!

 

You gotta be kidding me...................please tell me...this is not true

Also...did you take accidental warranty...or are you on a limited warranty...makes me wonder ..if i should really go for the accidental warranty now

 

I didn't get accidental warranty. Mostly because this thing is my pride and joy. And for being a month old, it shouldn't have any physical defaults if it were made correctly. So if any problems really arise, and you've taken care of it, it's a factory fault and they cover it. And if they say they don't. Emphasize that you've taken care of it. That's what I did. Especially when they asked if I was sure if I had dropped it or not.

And no I'm not kidding. I was insanely surprised myself. The fella' I spoke with, after 3 failed attempts of phone calling, seemed surprised too. And ensured it would be covered. So I'm waiting for them to get worse before I send it in. I mean I don't HOPE it gets worse.

Maybe in a few days I'll see if my camera can catch the mini cracks and I'll post it. Also I'll try to get a pic of the right side of my laptop. I'm hoping and thinking it's me being over-analytical.. But you never know.

 

Didn't dell offer to fix everyone's M11x at no charge whether it was under warranty or not? I'm sure they won't mind fixing your hinges since you're still on at least the 1 year warranty.

 

yeah right ... im from Brasil and Dell refuses to support products that they dont have here.

 

Go figure. The cracks are too small to be really visible via a photo.
I suppose I'll wait and see what happens to them as time goes on and I use it.
I'm definitely getting it replaced at least one, before my year warranty is up. Regardless if it's epic broken or not. Might as well use up that warranty!

 

but you have to agree with me that Dell has a history of horrible hinge production... even some inspiron series was afftect by poor design!

they should disassemble some sony or asus and just copy the design !!!!

 

Yeah, every Dell I've ever owned has had hinge problems. I guess they must get one hell of a deal from their hinge supplier.

 

So now I've begun to notice that my hinges not only have small progressive cracks, but the hinges seem to be separating or kind of moving away from each other. I have no idea why they're doing it. But I'm pretty damn sure they aren't supposed to. They're far apart enough where, I can see some of the internal wiring and even the metal parts connecting the hinges.

Cheese n' crackers alienware. You sure do make some good hinges.

 

So, any pics?

 

Shoosh. That sucks. I am about sell my MBP to get a M14x and this news is not very encouraging to me.

 

there is a thread from previous posters about this same problem...maybe you should have researched before posting...

Anyways, those people found that all they had to do was apply some pressure to snap them in. Maybe you should try that.

P.S. i'm not responsible for your lappy. its your choice.

 

At this time i don't see a need to get into panic mode. Even if he has a hinge problem this may be more of a isolated case. And yes some pictures of the problem would be helpfull.

I own a M11x that had the screen replaced twice, most of the owners reported hinge problems after just three weeks from launch of the computer. The M14x has been out for about 4 months we should have heard of more of these problems for it to be a defect.

 

6 months?!?! what country do you live in? the M14x came out in May if I recall...

Anyways, I don't think the hinge problem is widespread, Maybe just be a bit more caution with opening and closing

Like lots of other people have said...

If you are having hinge problems, some pics would be nice.

 

He said they are small cracks, I would assume that it's not the small cracks like from when the hinge parts separated where you could snap them back in place. Seems more like the actual plastic is damaged, probably bumped against something.

 

Same country just off on hitting right key, changed text. The point is that M11x owners were finding the computer had a hinge problem the first month of production.

 

There is another thread of this issue.
In that it was fixed by pressing the hinge cover together, apperantly the plasic snap had not been connected properly.

I've tried to search, but it did not work. And apperantly ot even this thread comes up when searching with 'hinge' as keyword... what's up with that?

 

Yeah, searching really sucks here.

 

@ Those who suggest snapping them together.

:v I've researched others and looked it up. Don't assume people haven't researched just because we talk about it. And it isn't the same issue.
I would take pics but. Hey. I'm a student. I got homework and crap.

And fyi I'm a girl B[

Andddd yeah I made the same conclusion. It isn't a widespread production problem, or more people would've noticed. I guess I just got the "special" one of the batch.

Pics will come when it gets worse, if it does. For the cracks anyways. They seem to be on the surface/outer coating of the hinges only. It's hard to give a thorough visualization of where/how they are textually. Which is probably why some people are assuming I haven't looked up similar things and "fixed it so easily."

As for the weird spacing, it might just be paranoia but I'll take some pics soon. It moreso freaks me out because I can see the internal metal rod and some wiring. Sooo either it's just some really ed up design to have it be like that, or some of the parts are pushing away from each other and creating those gaps.

 

I definitely did not have it on the m14x I just returned; it was immaculate, actually other than one "gap" on the left side of the bottom base toward the hinge. Just like 1cm gap, but with compared to the right side, you could see the difference.

And the 2820 getting up to 100C + while gaming on even medium settings (albeit in very graphically and CPU intensive games such as battlefield bad company 2).

But besides that, I adored the machine enough to return it, and place my 2000$+ back with Alienware.

Now, I will let you know how my hinges look after I receive my new system, and if there is anything wrong with that one, I guess my dollars will be going to Apple.

 

Here are the long awaited pictures. These are of my baby. I got it around June 13th 2011. I am a college student who worked well over a summer to pay for this model. (So my laptop has been treated with near holy reverence) I noticed this first as the small hidge cracks that you all dicussed. Quick little snap and all was well for a week or so. Then in the span of 2 opens and closes last night, this...

Rear Veiw, what you might see happen soon enough
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m568/jtl001/0905011916.jpg
Front veiw- open screen- To compare healthy side to unhealthy side
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m568/jtl001/0905011919.jpg
And Close up of the compounded hinge problem.
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m568/jtl001/0905011922.jpg

I have called dell-> Alienware and the rep was more than kind once he saw my $400 warrenty, supposed to ship it out tommorow or the next day and hopefully have it back in a week =\

 

I can't believe this is happening after that M11X hinge fiasco. Dell's R&D team really do suck if they continue to let this flaw get through manufacturing.

 

Seriously, i read all of the anti-hype before purchasing this system with the basic understanding of "surely as *#$% they learned by now." I was wrong, the can give a computer the best guts, but if there no ribs to hold them in....

 

So like holy. My hinges don't look like that and I'm pretty sure they won't anytime soon. Good god and I thought I got a semi-bad laptop outta the batch. Damn xD
I feel like a whiny after seeing that damage and looking at my "hinge problem"

 

My son has a Dell Alienware M14x laptop that developed the exact same issue (left hinge that froze up and then broke while opening the cover) within a few months of the purchase. Dell has been unhelpful in getting it repaired in a timely manner. The have insisted they haven't had an issue with the hinge. It took me no time at all to discover this forum and that others are having this problem also. Couple this with their deplorable track record with the M11 hinges and I definitely see a trend! Dell wanted a turn around time of 10 business days PLUS transit time each way. My son needs this computer for his university work and can't afford to do without it for two weeks or more. I have an Alienware desktop that has been nothing but trouble since I purchased it a year ago. I am fed up with the increasingly poor quality of Dell products and the dreadful customer "service". Everyone I try to speak with appears to be non-English speaking as a first language adding more challenges to the entire process. Five years ago I was a big fan of Dell products, but I doubt I will ever purchase anything from them again after this experience. After multiple phone calls and speaking with a supervisor, they have reluctantly agreed to mail a part out to a place called Qualxserv, supposedly located in my area. They stated the comlany would contact me when the part arrived but provided me with no contact information. Thus far I can't even find where it is. Time to make more phone calls... Caveat emptor!