Hinge cracks on emachines M 68xx series notebooks.

muddocktormuddocktor
edited September 2004 in Hardware
I ran across this thread at HardOCP this morning, showing that a lot of folks seem to be getting cracks in the plastic around the hinge area on the emachines M68xx series of notebooks.

Just thought I'd pass this info and link along to the folks here that are using these latops. :)

Comments

  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited July 2004
    That's cool. I bought the 3-year warranty from Best Buy, so if the thing has 4 legit problems in 3 years, I get a free upgrade. I hope my hinge cracks! ;)
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited July 2004
    When I saw that thread, I specifically thought of your new machine, GHoosdum. :)

    BTW, have you tried any benches on your laptop like SuperPi and 3DMark 2001 and PCMark yet? I'm really curious to see how the A64 performs compared to my Dothan. :)
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited July 2004
    mudd, thanks for the heads-up on this issue, for sure.

    I haven't performed benches yet, but I plan on it. I'm writing a review of the notebook currently, so I'm definitely planning on benching it. I just have to find the time. ;)

    You got the 2.0GHz Dothan, correct? I got the A64 3200+, at 2 GHz as well.
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited July 2004
    That should make for some interesting and valid comparisons, at least on number crunching stuff like SuperPi.
  • teflemingtefleming
    edited July 2004
    G- Be careful, if BBY deems a cracked hinge as "physical damage" then it might not be covered.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited July 2004
    I'll just bring in a printout of the thread that mudd linked to as evidence that it's an emachines problem. ;)
  • ThaibeauThaibeau
    edited August 2004
    United States 1-801-401-1419

    The Emachines company DOES cover cracked hinges and corners of screens that connect to hinges on their laptops now. Because of people like you, who post problems and call in about these problems, they have now taken this part (cosmetics) off of the "we do not cover" part of their warranty. Even if you get a new computer or check online for warranty issues, you will not see a change... which should be expected since this is a huge problem and they would rather take their time in changing warranties so that they will not have to cover a lot of free repairs.

    Call the number above and select the options from the automatic operator so that you may speak to a rep. about your emachines laptop cracked hinge concerns. Tell them that you did nothing to it and that it just started to appear, like thousands of other users who have had this same problem. I have had mine for only a few days and decided to get to the bottom of it.

    The polls show that many of you have this problem, so i suggest calling that number asap and tell them that you just noticed this problem and you have done nothing to cause it to occur. They will send you a box to send your laptop in, and the shipping/labor/parts should be free.

    Hope This Helps!!

    -Tyler :respect:
    Email: tylergill20@hotmail.com
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    Well, both of my hinges cracked on my M6809. I brought it in to Best Buy today (due to my 3-year replacement plan). They said that that particular item was a return/replace only problem, mandated by eMachines. So the service tech basically said to me to go and pick out a new notebook up to the same price. Well, Best Buy doesn't carry the M6809 any longer. They do, however, carry the M6810 and M6811. The M6810 has the same CPU as the M6809, but a smaller HDD and no DVD burner. The M6811 is the same notebook as the M6809, but has an AMD 64 Mobile 3400+ CPU in it. The problem was that the price point was $1699, $50 higher than I paid for the M6809. After a little bit of wrangling, Best Buy split the difference with me - I paid $25 for a 200MHz upgrade. And my 3-year service plan still applies to the new PC.

    Not a bad deal, I think...
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited September 2004
    Sounds pretty good, GH. :D Looks like you will be able to get real cheap upgrades for 3 years or until emachines figures a way to stop the hinges from cracking. :thumbsup:
  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    saweet.
  • NorgeNorge Sidney, Ohio
    edited September 2004
    Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have the same problem with the cracked hinge. I just bought an eMachines 6810 exactly two weeks ago and yesterday I discovered that my hinge was cracked. I returned the damaged lap top to Best Buy and they gave me a new once since I was still within my 14 days of purchase. Now I get up this morning to find that my second 6810 has a crack on the hinge! This is rediculous. I never would have bought an eMachine had I known this was such a large and common problem.

    I guess my question is whether I should try and return this lap top for another one. Today is the last day of my original 14 day purchase date so I would think that they'd let me do it. I'd rather not have to do it again though since I spent all day yesterday just getting things reinstalled and setup. I am also guessing that my new lap top would just do the same thing. If I were to keep this one would the crack get worse? Does anyone have any idea how I could try and patch it myself? Any idea are welcome.

    Edit:
    I called eMachines using the number above and I think I have things worked out now. eMachines is going to send me a box with pre paid postage and I am supposed to send my lap top in to get new hinges put on. The new hinges are made by a completely new manufactuer and shouldn't crack like the current ones. It turns out that the problem was on the part of the old manufactuer producing the faulty hinges. Needless to say that manufactuer is no longer used by eMachines. The whole process of sending my notebook in, having it repaired, and then having it returned should take no more than two weeks with a max time of 20 days. All in all it isn't too bad despite the fact that it happened in the first place. Anyhow, for anyone else who has this problem it might be a good idea to give eMachines a call about getting your hinges replaced. It'll be free as long as you are under warranty.

    Norge
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