Weird mark on new 17" Macbook Pro

So I got a macbook pro about a week ago... and about a day later I noticed this mark on it. I have been very careful with my MBP and not dropped it or bumped it or anything. I was just wondering if any of you guys have a thought on what could make this kind of mark? I've had a macbook pro before and have unfortunately dented it before, but it looked nothing like this.

 

that's a nasty dent you got there. It is a bit hard to see but to make a dent like that you need to knock on something sharp and hard. I have seen similar marks with a friend who said he got them during an unfortunate ironning accident. So something hot and metal?

 

Thanks for your reply. Upon close inspection it does look as though the aluminium is slightly melted more than dented, as though some one had cut it slowly with a really hot knife. I've seen dented MBP's before, and they look nothing like this.

I can only imagine how your friend managed to iron his macbook pro! I might take it to the apple store and see if they would believe me that it came like this.

This is going to hurt some people who read this forum... But I have an old 13" macbook pro with a dead screen and its totally stuffed. So I took a knife to its edges and did some cuts, and I hit it with a blunt object. Oh my yes, for science.

When a knife is used to cut the edge, you see some quite reflective metal. I'd post a photo but my camera resolution is not good enough to show the detail. As there is no reflective metal in my earlier photo, that means it is likely this dent has been here since before it was brushed. Therefore, it could be a manufacturing error.

 

The monologue continues...So I brought the laptop to my local apple store. They were really helpful and believed my story, and decided to replace it for free. Generally they wouldn't, but they made an exception for me due to the laptop being so new and my having AppleCare. Isnt Apple great? Imagine trying to do this with dell...

 

Well generally bare aluminium forms aluminium oxide quickly when exposed to air, and that oxide appears as a dull layer which functions to protect the bare shiny layer underneathe, which would explain why there is no reflective metal seen.

But I'm sure there is a clear distinction between apple's brushed aluminium (grainy) finish as oppoesd to the dull smooth surface of aluminium oxide so I have no doubt it should be a manufacturing defect if it is what it is.