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    M14x Screen hinge durability ?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by ash211, Apr 20, 2011.

  1. ash211

    ash211 Notebook Geek

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    Almost pulled the trigger on an m11x r2 until I heard about the self destroying screen hinges. Now I'm looking at getting an m14x...are the hinges a problem or have they finally fixed them?

    Thanks
     
    ash211, Apr 20, 2011
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  2. Bendak

    Bendak Notebook Evangelist

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    Third time's the charm.
     
    Bendak, Apr 20, 2011
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  3. sk3tch

    sk3tch Notebook Deity

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    They fixed the hinges in the M11x R3 (which, as we all know, launched alongside the M14x) - so I would be VERY surprised if the hinges were all f'd up in the new M14x. But no one knows yet...only time will tell. I personally did not let it affect my purchase.
     
    sk3tch, Apr 20, 2011
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  4. ash211

    ash211 Notebook Geek

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    So what did you buy?
     
    ash211, Apr 20, 2011
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  5. HEUR

    HEUR Notebook Consultant

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    it is not the same design of the m11x. So we cannot assume that m14x is not going to have this problem. I hope not....
     
    HEUR, Apr 21, 2011
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  6. sk3tch

    sk3tch Notebook Deity

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    I bought an M14x.
     
    sk3tch, Apr 21, 2011
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  7. revdiesel

    revdiesel Notebook Evangelist

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    It looks to be like the M11x R1 hinge. Like some people said in the speculation forum. The first shots of the M17x R3 had bad looking hinges also but the production model had good ones.
     
    revdiesel, Apr 21, 2011
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  8. ryujin

    ryujin 2B or not 2B

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    lmao....lets just be a negative nanny off the bat. geez.

    i have the first gen m11x, no issues with hinges. only issue was a faulty wireless card, which was taken care of with no hitches.

    i also have an m15x, which lasted longer then most before the cover on that unit started to crack. called, shipped unit to them, they fixed and returned within a week. (i was even outside warranty time by 3 weeks, and they replaced at no charge anyway) since then, zero issues with the unit. and that was the only fault i ever had with it.

    so if you want to think and project negative energy about it, i bet dollars to dimes your hinge breaks, and mine doesn't.
     
    ryujin, Apr 21, 2011
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  9. revdiesel

    revdiesel Notebook Evangelist

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    revdiesel, Apr 26, 2011
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  10. c1ro

    c1ro Notebook Consultant

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    I owned both m11x R1 and R2 and never had any hinge issue. If it does, 4 years warranty is going to take good care of it.

    I think it is under UK/EU law if it break down too many times and become unacceptable you can have you money back.
     
    c1ro, Apr 26, 2011
    #10
  11. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Gearsguy, Apr 26, 2011
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  12. Noah14

    Noah14 Notebook Evangelist

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    If the hinges to go bad on this model...
    You guys do the same thing us M11x'ers did.
    "Creak" (yes pun intended) and cry and rant until Dell responds.
    We had a massive petition going with tons of documentation form multiple people regarding the hinges. To which Dell responded, saying that they acknowledged the hinges had a fault design, and would even repair it outside of warranty.

    Though to lean on the side of caution, get a 2 year basic warranty.
     
    Noah14, Apr 26, 2011
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  13. ash211

    ash211 Notebook Geek

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    Not being negative at all, just being an informed consumer. On this website alone there was a forum that was about 140 pages long that well documented a serious design flaw with the screen hinges on the M11x R1 AND R2. Dell finally admitted they had a problem and started fixing their customers hinges. Which was good. What I didn't approve of is they continued to sell new r1's and r2's WITHOUT the screen hinge fix so, even after they admitted they had a problem, they continued to sell a defective product to unsuspecting customers.

    I'm glad you didn't have a problem...good for you. But I will not give Dell my hard earned money for a product with defective hinges...hence, the reason for this thread.
     
    ash211, Apr 26, 2011
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  14. Nivaku

    Nivaku Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah ash i like your style,

    Ima wait till more reviews before buying the m14x, im sure its a bombass laptop though
     
    Nivaku, Apr 27, 2011
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  15. Freeride600

    Freeride600 Notebook Consultant

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    after having two broken r1 hinges (before getting off board), the m14x hinges look HORRIBLE. From that screenie, they're already popping apart. :eek:
     
    Freeride600, Apr 27, 2011
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  16. hanzocloud

    hanzocloud Notebook Geek

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    my m11x R1 from last year had it's hinges crack on me after only 2 months of light use. I got it replaced and sold it straight away knowing that after another 2 months it would probably crack again!. SO here I am again on these forums interested in the m14x (willing to give Dell/AW another shot). But i will probably wait till R2 since my current laptop (macbookpro13) doesn't have any problems whatsoever.
     
    hanzocloud, Jun 6, 2011
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  17. alienlover11

    alienlover11 Notebook Consultant

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    alienlover11, Jun 8, 2011
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  18. MrKuenning

    MrKuenning Notebook Enthusiast

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    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...

    [​IMG]
     
    MrKuenning, Jun 8, 2011
    #18
  19. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Oh god, those look bad O_O

    Theyre even, but looks wayy to spaced out
     
    Gearsguy, Jun 8, 2011
    #19
  20. MrKuenning

    MrKuenning Notebook Enthusiast

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    It feels firm, and doesn't make any noises? Do I need to send it back or should I just open it up?
     
    MrKuenning, Jun 8, 2011
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  21. erephus

    erephus Notebook Geek

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    Call Dell support and declare your problem with them.

    They will work something out with you. (As far as I believe that is not broken cover thing it's just not done properly at the fabric or the manufacturer of the plastic cover made a bad serie.)
     
    erephus, Jun 9, 2011
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  22. danmer0225

    danmer0225 Newbie

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    ohh common please dont tell me the m14x has problems with the hinges, they look pretty strong on pics :s
    dude just wondering why do u have like 1000 vies in like 20 mins and mine has 1. Dont want to disturb anyone but i really need help :(
     
    danmer0225, Jun 9, 2011
    #22
  23. MrKuenning

    MrKuenning Notebook Enthusiast

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    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.
     
    MrKuenning, Jun 10, 2011
    #23
  24. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    :0
    10char.
     
    Tsukurimashou, Jun 10, 2011
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  25. jtl001

    jtl001 Newbie

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    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/...0905011916.jpg
    Front veiw- open screen- To compare healthy side to unhealthy side
    http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...0905011919.jpg
    And Close up of the compounded hinge problem.
    http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...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 =\
     
    jtl001, Sep 5, 2011
    #25