M11x Hinge/Screen touching Keyboard Discussion (R1 & R2)

Agreed. ^^^

Wait until you have signs that the hinges are about to give out. Crunching/grinding/popping noises and/or abnormal hinge rotation on ore or both hinges. There have been cases reported where one day everything was fine and the next the hinge crapped the bed. Either way, enjoy the laptop and don't worry about it until you have to.

 

I have to agree with you in this. If you buy it from the outlet, at such a bargain price, it’s hard to complain. Yes I’d like a strong hinge, but at these prices it really doesn’t matter. I mean a standard non-gaming laptop starts around 500ish, and this thing screams compared to those plus it is smaller and more portable (and cheaper, from outlet).

 

I will definitely buy another in a year or so if I can get a refurb with as coupon for the price I paid for this. Should have a better CPU/GPU combo. As far as I am concerned the outlet with a coupon is the only way to buy a Dell.

 

After 2 months of calling Dell, they (THANK GOD) finally replaced my screen. I'm probably going to sell it, I'm fed up with Dell and its absolutely horrible support (in the Netherlands). It's still a nice machine and if I would be sure that it wouldn't not break again within a year, I'd keep it. Unfortunately I'm not sure about that.


At this moment I think nobody should buy this laptop. Dell isn't doing anything about the hinge problam (as far as I know) and that's rediculous.

 

Why did it take them 2 months? Was that 2 months with a broken hinge?

 

If you think Dell support in the US is bad, try overseas... I'm still waiting for a reply from Dell since Oct 2...

For what it's worth, that's what I experienced too when my R2 was new. The common experience is that if it breaks, it will do so before 6 months pass by, well inside your warranty.

If you want to call Dell I'm not sure what good it would do right now, except maybe to let them know that you believe the machine has a manufacturing issue.

 

For the record: the support options are less but the actual support has been good where I am (Malaysia)

 

I don't think we can draw that conclusion based on what's been reported. If a given M11x has weak plastic in the LCD assembly it is still going to be weak after any period of time and the potential for it to break down will always be there. As the model ages I'm willing to bet we'll see reports of hinges giving out after 7 months and beyond. The earliest R1's are only a little more than 7 month old.

 

Yeah I am hoping that Dell will do something within the next year, because if not I probably will give in and buy an extended warranty(In about a year). I bet if anything breaks it will happen within the next year (mine is only three weeks old) I am opening and closing the laptop a good amount in moderation of course. I really love it and would not sell it so...I guess decisions have to be made.

 

If you think any Dell support is bad then you should check out Asus, MSI, or HP support.

 

Update on my M11x failure:

Bought on 6/29, arrived around July 29, 2010.

Immediately I noticed the hinges were not exactly level, but it looked fine. I did the "paper test" and it failed, which let me know that this machine was probably going to fail.



The screen was unusually tight for a laptop, in my experience, but I thought that was a good thing.

I used it regularly, opening and closing the lid carefully from the middle, a few times a day.

On the week of Sept 25th, 2 months after it arrived, I noticed the screen was now unusually loose compared to what it was before. I took pictures when I discovered the hinge was creaking:


It was not very noticeable but I decided to call Dell on Oct 2 because I expected it to get worse. And it did:



It's now halfway open and I don't know how the hinge is still holding. I'm not moving the screen now unless I absolutely have to, because this 1,700 dollar laptop is literally falling apart after 2 months. It doesn't just "creak", it screams.

The problem is it's connected to the screen, I wonder if it can damage the screen too when it breaks more.

I called Dell on Oct 2. They said they'd send a technician before next week.

A week passed and I called again, they said they had no info about why the technician had not contacted me.

I called again today on Oct 11th and they said the technician is not dispatched because they don't have the piece necessary to fix it. It will arrive in 10-15 days, and they told me to call after October 20th if the tech doesn't contact me before.

This makes me wonder - Are they actually running out of pieces to repair these machines?

This is the worst quality I've ever seen in a laptop, nothing has broken so bad for me before, which is why it's so surprising to me that it happened on an Alienware. Even my crappy $250 Dell Mini 10s are humming along nicely.

Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes, for the time being I'm going to be a month+ without a laptop. If I didn't have backup machines I'd be really peeved off. I'm REALLY glad that I didn't spring for a second m11x, actually I think I'm done with Alienwares.

 

What country are you in? I think that outside the US there have been reports of LCD assemblies not being readily available. It would help if we knew what countries people are seeing this sort of delay.

 

Well this sucks I need to have my LCD replaced I guess because my hinge is starting to make a cracking noise everytime I close it and the screen touchs the keyboard pretty bad. The worst part is I have the green onion screen protector thats probably going to go to waste.

 

hi i thought i'd share my experiences with my m11x.

Day 1- out of the box, the hinge was crooked on 1 side, there was a noticeable gap between the right hinge to the base and the right side of the screen is sticking out and cannot be pressed flush to the base

I called dell, they sent a technician, and brought the wrong screen color.

2nd dell tech came a few days later, replaced the screen and the base, now it got worse, both side were now poking outwards from the base.

Dell tried to say this was normal, but after sending the pictures and comparing with pictures posted on their website and other sites, they admit that 'hey there is a large gap between the screen to the base'

Another week or 2 later, another tech came, and looked at the screen, took it out and placed it flush on the table, It was crooked and wasnt flat at all when placed on a table. replaced with another screen. There is still a small gap but much acceptable.

Another thing I noticed, was my 1st screen (AUC/AOC make? i can't remember) was very dim even on full brightness and a very blue tinge to everything literally. even playing games. movies. The 2nd and 3rd screen was SEC make and there were much brighter and vibrant even on max dim.

Anyway thought i would share my experiences, in case it may help anyone.

 

Just got new Alienware newsletter:



I already know which one destroys - itself.

 

Few pics and videos of my current state of m11x hinge:
YouTube - Alienware m11x r1 hinge ****ed up again
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/Permanent/hingefail.jpg
And two "whole" pics, before i press on it
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/Permanent/IMG_6427.JPG
and after
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/Permanent/IMG_6428.JPG

 

Omg, before i press i see hole in hinge, crap need to call dell asap

 

You're blocking the light in that video, vorob.

Btw, is that the new screen+hinge? I realized it's no good as soon as the hinge cylinders start moving up-down with respect to the long middle cylinder. (No idea how that is called but hopefully you know what I mean.)

 

This is retarded I am going on have my 2nd LCD replaced because of this hinge crap has anyone complained enough to get a full refund for the computer or a credit towards a M15x or something?

 

So most problems come from the R1 right?

 

Damn, vorob.

We're starting to see quite a few people who have had two or more hinge failures.

 

If only because the R1s have been around a few months longer. The R2s are just as likely to have this happen based on the reports we've been seeing here.

 

Just a horrible design flaw I don't know how this snuck through engineering

 

You can't get a better CPU/GPU combo. You can't find a laptop that is either under 4.5lbs, or smaller than 14" that has a better CPU/GPU combo. The Alienware M11x happens to be both <4.5lbs, AND is smaller than 14".

The only laptop that even comes close is the Sony Vaio Z... a 13.3" laptop with a slightly weaker GPU (nVidia 330M) that costs $1899 base price.

 

Given the fact that they had this same exact issue on the m15x in 2008 I don't look at this as something that "snuck through".

Alienware Ignoring m15x Issues?

 

Yeah, the first "how to fix" the busted hinge youtube video I saw was for one of the older 15" AW systems.


I guess they believed a smaller screen = get away with it?


I cannot believe they drilled two holes per hinge, through the metal framing, to access the plastic backing - not plastic frame - plastic backing and "secure" the hinges to that.

Pure stupidity, IMO.

 

I could'nt help but notice that most of the M15 hinges lasted months longer than the ones on the m!!X

 

Older m15...


I swore it didn't have the "x" in the video I saw.

 

You are correct sir! for that video. But I went back and read some of the hinge problem links and found that it was for the M15X

 

ah.


I'm still horribly dissappointed with the hinges

 

While the tech was installing the new screen on my computer I spent some of my time practicing on how to remove the plastic from the old screen. After the warrenty runs out I'll be fixing the problem myself.

 

My plan is to have 3 screens replaced then call and talk to a supervisor for a replacement. So far two down on their own this next one I am going to just open and close the screen until the hinges start cracking/creaking.

 

You would think the lab contracted to build these would have made a "rig" to mechanically open/close lids on laptops to test failure. Why? Its quite common to have hinges loosen or fail over time.

Had there been such a test, the 3-6months of use could be simulated in a very short time.

 

My second display only had to open/close appox. 60-90 times so yeah you could do that in 5-10 minutes just opening it yourself.

 

Ye, i had 3 lcd's

first one was replaced because of dust and dots on the screen,
second one was replaced because of ed up hinges (same "free" movement)
and now i'm on third one and you can see same "free" movement here

 

Have you requested a replacement yet? I am on my 3rd LCD now and I am about sick of it I would rather just have a refund or credit towards my M17x I just ordered. Anyone have any success with this on a M11x?

 

No, the R2 is affected also. Mine is an R2 with only 2 months of use, and it's broken already.

 

Nope, will wait for a while. Isn't m17x have the same crap?

 

Not that I know of I guess some people have more problems then others with the M17x but never heard of a hinge issue with the M17x.

 

Neither of the M11x's bigger brothers has this issue. The older m15x, not to be confused with the current M15x, did have this same issue back a couple of years ago. Also, the hinges on that model weren't breaking quite as quickly as we're seeing the M11x. I'm not clear how widespread an issue it was back then, but it was enough for it to earn that model a shady reputation to some degree.

 

No, m17x and m15x have no hinge issues, and they both have far larger screens

EDIT: it was the m15 that had the issue, not the old m15x.

 

Ummm...

Alienware Ignoring m15x Issues?

I can feed you lots more links to m15x hinge related info.

 

Hey guys,

I've been using my M11x for a month now and the hinges are uneven. There's no gap between the keyboard of the laptop and the left hinge. There is a huge gap between the keyboard and the right hinge. Anyway, my screen tilts to the left.

Is there any quick fix to this without sending it back to Alienware? Can't afford to send it back and wait a month for them to fix what looks to be a simple problem.

Also, why is it the left side that everyone has problems with?

 

If it comforts you both of mine broke at the same time.

Btw, shouldn't you have on-site warranty-covered repair?

 

It's not always the left side that people have problems with. There isn't really any way to adjust the hinges in order to correct LCD assembly alignment. It requires that you have it replaced and that should be done on-site in most cases.

 

hey guys I just joined the Club, hinge problem LOLz, does anybody knows how to fix it ? (an effective method)

 

If you're under warranty, might as well just use it. Call them and they will send a tech (or someone that they call tech) with a new screen. Why risk breaking it (or not fixing it properly) and loosing the warranty?

 

just opened LCD's front panel and want to glue the broken parts with industrial glue, simply could not afford to wait for tech guys.

both hinges were completely broken, all plastics! if my experiment with glue was successful I'll report back.

 

Well my tech came in 2 days. He should've come the next business day but he errr... forgot FedEx closed @ 5:30pm so we scheduled the repair right the next day.

GL w/ glueing

 

Good luck with getting it fixed if the glue/epoxy fails in the future...