Asus F3: crack in palmrest at keyboard corner

Another update on my part.

Fedex arrived today and delivered my package that Asus sent yesterday (I gotta admit they are very professional, packaged delivered earlier than estimated time, and great tracking service too).

Asus Packed very well, used a large box from Fedex, and put the notebook inside an Asus box (the one for carrying the replacement top cases, ha) with padding. Under the service summary sheets, parts replaced noted, "top case and motherboard." I like to thank Asus Service Centre Canada (service centre gets 100% service--or maybe 90-95... where are my new stickers I requested.., but phone tech support needs to be a bit better) for doing such a complete job, they examined the system components for running order issues and found out that the audio out jack had static (which I didn't even know and I used the jack too--or maybe it's an accident replacement..something happened). Perhaps that's why it took 7-8 days instead of the quick 3-5 days (maybe motherboard and top case needs to be flown in, or just took the effort to spend time testing, or etc.. I was hoping if I got a newer card too hehe 8600 or some hd2600... even a new machine if the mobo is not avaliable, haha). Top case feels all grainy now, I like that new car smell feeling.

I requested for stickers too, but they probably didn't have them or whatever, so just salvaged the originals, two are probably finished, splendid and one just just hanging/peeling.

@Kvehh--- While there is a possibility that you might get a crack later on, this nothing to worry about. Asus is quite professional and worrying doesn't prevent cracks or fix them (of course depends where you are, if some parts of Europe,,,then could get messy). I am assuming it could be how they are assembled, perhaps workers or machines can vary in forces and etc (of different lines) and cause some of them to have extra stress. Probably just design, weak plastic, whatever is beneath.. etcs and usage variability in users.

@tintin---- depends where you are, if you're in North America, then your in good hands. Professional service and courier, if lost, just get a newer machine, better than fixed. I would say the crack probably won't hurt the machine, but I heard some kind of keypad issue.. not sure. I would assume it's best it's not there, since it creaks, ugly and probably will decrease the integrity..so in the long run, will stress chassis. If your in North America, then do it in May, I am lucky as I have desktop to resort to. BTW, your not #6, more like 12.

Some photos below... (and I suggest don't attempt to buy the replacement case and repair yourself, as I learned from this experience (unless it's Europe where you might not get your machine back or whatever worse outcome ) mobo actually had an issue I didn't know about. I hope these parts last longer and top case of course... or it's another trip back)

 

I received a label to stick on my return box, no ups bag as quoted in the email.

After seeing another post on here that the crack comes back after 1 repair is very worrying.

Also -Atf1wc- what happened to the stickers.did Asus stick em back on.

All in all sounds like very bad tech service, hence inferior ASUS NOTEBOOKS.

Asus should stick to what they know best, "motherboards".

It makes me wanna get the hammer out and smash this thing up, and throw it in the bin. It will prob be better than getting it lost in the post, stolen by the ups guy, or even smashed up in transit.

Asus tech support are the worse in the world..


Does anyone want to buy a 12 week old crackbook, cracktop.

Sony have a new vaio out with vgn-fz21m, t7250, 2gig=ram, 200gig hd, with blue ray RW burner for £699.
8/10 build, 8/10 value for money.(what laptop march 2008)

Thats what i should have got in the first place.

 

Just waiting for mine to finish "Packing." Might even be here by the end of this week. Just have to see.

 

Again I see conflicting reports about ASUS service quality. Asusteve where are you located? (sorry if I asked this earlier)

For those that don't have the crack yet... don't worry until it is necessary to do so. Just handle your notebook gently (don't pick it up from one corner, for instance)

 

E.B.E.
Im in the UK.

One thing that would be best also is to not lean hard on the right hand corner where the express slot is. Ive never picked mine up and its always been on a flat surface.

Last year (6 mths ago) i sold a friend my week old F3F-ap073, because they had a cheapo "Gateway" laptop, as they had broke the screen by accident. They also claimed on their home insurance and were delivered a F3????, better than what i had sold them, and within these last 6 months they have not looked after their notebooks. They throw them, stack em on top of each other, they are scratched on top etc, put coffee on top of closed lid, yet not one of their 2 F3 laptops has a crack like ours do. Im not sure if their mbs are Rev1 due to using T5500 core2 duos, and not having a usb socket in the same place as the santa rosa motherboards (prob same), but it just doesnt make sense.
It would also be nice if Asus was to recompensate us for our inconvienience, but that is obviously out of the question. I have never had to send off anything new like a laptop before, and be messed around, thus being denied a new machine from the shop. if its new we shouldnt have to mess around sorting out the shops warranty issue.

 

It looks then this happens with the F3S only? Or perhaps more recent versions of the F3? Maybe the internal chassis was changed slightly, leading to too much stress in that corner on the plastic, which breaks.

 

GLORIA Q

Are you able to post a picture of the second crack on your notebook case.(with a mobile phone etc).

Ive just emailed asus Holland and asked them if the plastic has been modified hence the fact that you say that its cracked again. I told them its a waste of time customers having to send a laptop back for repair everytime the new plastics crack.

Im awaiting their reply.

 

I'm going through the motions of an RMA at the moment, I asked the same question to the guy doing my RMA so far and his email:

From what I see on that picture it is in warranty. The new part should
be of better quality to ensure it does not happen again.

Hope he's not wrong!

 

Heres some more pics, one other thing i noticed is that on the bottom of the laptop between the firewire and usb socket, there is a plastic foot which doesnt touch my desk surface, hence the stress that could make it crack, its in line with the k/b corner, and theres nothing more there to really make it crack, as theres metal underneath the plastic which also covers the usb socket etc. The top cover plastic is about 3 to 4mm thick, with slight curving towards k/b arrows. (very strange, must be cheapo plastic).

Im hopefully going to wip my top cover off later and will get some pics.

 

Yeah, absolutely sure that they are using very-very cheap plastic & you are paying a fortune for it when buying a laptop.

 

Those pictures make the crack look really nasty... Btw, Asusteve, have you sent in your machine for repair yet?
I just popped out my plastic card that rests in the express card reader, and perhaps users can just stick on padding inside above the potential crack area and the plastic card to minimize flexing, but there's not really much flexing, so must be weak plastic or more stress near keyboard area that can't be padded. Once the slightest crack starts, it won't stop cracking due to tension (it'll finishing cracking or do whatever it takes to get rid of the tension--which is to crack all the way) of the case covering the whole machine.

I am guessing in terms of material, the Asus service technicians and representatives probably can't even tell whether it'll be improved or not. My case I think was from a replacement set labelled for model A6NE (since it was labelled on the box). So it's most likely that the top cases are the same material, this is assuming they already made large amounts and have tons of spares boxed up for replacements. If they already paid for materials and have them for use instead of going to waste, they'll use them to make more to be cost effective. Unless they don't make that many spare parts and decide to change material, it's quite unlikely the quality and material will change.

 

You could also try to reinforce the place around the likely-to-crack portion somehow... For instance, drill some tiny holes, insert staples and bend them to hold the two parts together, then put a layer of adhesive on top of that. Cover with black tape/marker for aesthetics, also the symmetrical side on the other side of the keyboard. (not my idea, I've seen it mentioned by somebody else, don't remember where)

This would of course void warranty.

 

no offence man as not your idea as stated, but that sounds like a complete load of horsecrap for an idea

 

sorry for the delayed response - thanks for the info - I might have to resort to that. It is a small locally owned shop in Victoria, BC (Mother Computers). I know I probably paid much more than I needed to for the Asus but so far the people in the shop have been great and have saved me a lot of hassle. I haven't sent it in for the third time yet but I will be asking for a new computer so we'll see what happens.

 

P.S. The second crack showed up shortly after my computer was returned from fixing the first crack & then another shipment to replace the hard drive. Same place - lower right corner on an angle to the side. I'd take a pic but it is so faint at the moment I don't think it will show up - I know it will get worse though. I keep my laptop on a support surface so I now believe it is something about this computer (especially as I am the only one who has the problem out of 50 F3's recently sold at the same shop) - I purchased my early Sept. In late Jan, Asus replaced the surface piece with one identical to the cracked one but the outer rim looks different I think (grey instead of black). Obviously it made no difference because it is cracking again.

 

Just got my repaired F3Jp back today.

What is on the technology service sheet:
Problem: Mechanical Parts NG
Replaced Parts: F3JV/P-1A TOP CASE ASSY
Repair result: repair with new components/parts
Notice: Top case has been replaced.

... See how long this lasts.

 

Well, I remember the person who mentioned this fix said that the repaired case lasted for 2 years more without problems. But of course it was a different notebook, and a different crack (in the LCD top case near the hinge I think)...

 

I havent sent mine in for repair yet.

I sent this email to tech support last week and got a reply back today.


* its been noted on the notebook review forum that a customer has sent their F3 laptop back to ASUS for repair for the crack in top shell, only to get it back and a new crack has returned 1 week later on the new top casing.

Do you know if ASUS has modified the top case plastic, as it seems pointless having to send a laptop back for repair everytime the casing cracks after repair work is done.

REPLY -----

I’m just checking on that for you and am waiting for a response from the senior engineer.


-----
So hopefully sometime in the near future i will get an answer before i send mine in for repair.

-----
Also my RMA came through, and the shipping address is to - A-NOVO UK LTD, 2 CENTRAL PARK, CENTRAL BLVRD, LARBERT, STIRLINGSHIRE, FK5 4RU., UK

IVE JUST DONE A GOOGLE and it says that this company carries out Computer maintenance & repairs.

ASUS Obviously dont fix their own repairs. This is taking the P. now.
as they are not doing the repair work themselves as we are led to believe.



12.56pm WE HAVE JUST HAD AN EARTHQUAKE.......AT LEAST AN 8 ON THE R SCALE

 

Be sure and post back if and when you receive a reply.

 

12.56pm WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE. Epicentre near Lincoln UK. Did anyone else in UK feel it.

so far registers at 5.3 on the richter scale.

Im 45miles away.

4.15am aftershock just reported, but not felt here. Im off to bed now


Wonder if it has made my plastic crack a bit more LOL.

 

Yeah I've seen some time ago that ASUS "outsources" their repairs in the UK (is that a correct term? ) For more complicated issues they sometimes send notebooks here (to ASUS Nederland).

 

Ive had the reply from tech support re different plastics used.reply as below;

They use a different casing so the same thing shouldn’t happen twice.




Those people that have had a new casing, does it look different.

I will now probably send mine off next week.

 

It seems a little more sturdier to me. Definitely doesn't seem to flex as much as it did before. But only time will really tell.

 

I've got the same crack, goes right threw the silver and black plastic to the keyboard.

I assumed it was a defect because I hadnt dropped it or mishandled it in anyway. unless picking it up with one hand is mishandling, and now I see
its not just me.

I was going to live with it, but my space bar is acting up, the plastics
so weak and flexy that it will not engage the space bar on the
right side, so I may need to send it in.

asus f3sv
Duo T7500 2.20ghz
3gb ram
GeForce 8600 gs 256mb

 

my laptop was returned today after going to Asus to repair the second crack in the lower right corner. The casing looks the same to me - feels the same -sounds the same when I tap it - plastic. I am guessing wildly here but suspect the second crack developed because when it went to Asus the first time they only replaced the grey surface plate. They did not replace the black "frame" that goes around the keyboard. It was cracked too and perhaps it then put too much pressure on the outer "chassis." We'll see. I now have a chirping bird noise when I hit Del, Backspace or Home so we'll see what happens with that too. As you can see, I didn't get the new computer I was going to insist on. That is still up my sleeve if this keeps up. Good luck to the rest of you!!!

 

I wish I hadn't read this thread!! just now I spotted the crack.. At the very same place.. I am on the verge of tears!!! I've never held the laptop at that region with the lid closed. No boxing / *** / cricket near the laptop. how did it happen???

its just a small crack now.. is it going to increase? using the mouse on the right of touchpad causes this?

 

You should contact Asus tech support right away.

 

let hope not, beause im using the usb on the right side for the mouse....

 

no.. not the USB... I actually have the mouse just right to the touchpad - over the bluetooth, nvidia stickers

 

Greetings from a newbie to this forum. I'm in Scotland, which is the good part of the UK.

I received my Asus F3SC in January, £650 from Laptops Direct, and so far I've been darned pleased with it. This thread has alarmed me! It has been suggested that the plastic has been cracked by flexing from beneath, so I want to ask if those affected have used their laptops as portables or if they have been stationary desktop replacements like mine. Any answers on that?

 

I am using mine on the desk most of the time.. not so much portable at all really, but for a while I was using at home without it being on a desk. I just picked it up and put on my lap and put it down on a small tv tray back and forth.

PS-- I am also using mouse on right usb. This will be a test of strength and proof of any source of stress that could occurr to the top case. If anything happens, it's Asus' problem.

 

Thanks, that pretty much answers my question, so it's not a case of the affected lappies leading a hard life on the road. I mostly avoid that right-hand USB port simply because anything plugged in there fouls my mouse hand. Re-reading your original post at the start of this thread, I notice your theory that the space provided for an express card could leave the plastic above unsupported, although obviously Asus should have made it strong enough. As of tomorrow I should have an express card in the slot, not ordered for that reason I hasten to add, which may reinforce the area.

 

I bought mine from laptops direct in middle of November, i actually went to Huddersfield to collect it (95 miles each way) so that it never never got lost or damaged in transit, and then mine cracked 86-8 weeks later.

Mine has so far always been placed on a desk and i lean on the right side of the notebook where the express card is situed underneath. I took mine to bits the other day and its basically got to be down to the little foot underneath the usb/firewire as theres a few mm that doesnt have support, i will be putting a little extra rubber foot there for support, (when mine comes back this week) as without extra support the laptop stresses around that area, hence the cracking.(its in direct line).

On another note, my friend has 2 F3 notebooks now for last 9 months and supports them on the arm of his sofa. (flat cussion type), hence NO CRACKS ON HIS F3`S.

Maybe the repair centres that Asus use should pick up on the fact it needs extra support instead of just replacing the top plastic. Maybe an email to tech supp will sort this.

 

for real, why would u want to lean your arm on the laptop? for me, i only put my hand on both bottom side when i was typing. i got a wood table banch thing not too high to support my arm and the mouse.

also, i connect my mouse to my fan cooler and my fan is connect to one of the usb at the back

 

I dont know why i typed the words i lean on the right side of the notebook".
What i actually do is, i rest my hand more so whilst using the mouse to scroll, as at present i dont use a usb mouse, as the desk is a small cabinet type desk.

 

u use the pad?

 

I'm from Australia and I've had a look at my F3SC also, it does have that crack. Just checked it, at first I thought of it as nothing then I saw a glaring crack, looks bigger than I remmebered. Am thinking of using poly-cement to fix the damn thing but not as adventurous. Just emailed the company I bought it from linking this very thread to it.

What has been said on the thread is true, there is very little support for it and hence not surprising there is a crack. Has anyone attempted to fix the crack by themselves?

And for those who haven't had it fixed, has it gotten worse?

 

Hi there,
accidently found out about this site but i was mentioning this problem to the asus guy in sydney,australia.
I'm purchasing the F3SG and he says hopefully they have fixed the problem by now.I'm hoping they have fixed it.
Keep you posted.

 

My ASUS F3 showed within 2 months of purchase a crack in the case, starting at the right-hgand bottom of the keyboard, expanding rapidly into the actual (plastic) case. It was sent back to ASUS Holland repair (2 weeks).
Within 2 months a similar carck appeared at exactly the same location.
It seems that other readers had similar experiences.

If this appears to be a construction error, how often does a customer have to állow'ASUS to repair a basically brand NEW laptop until they decide to give you a new one.

ASUS told me that happened often, but that 'it sometimes depends on the actual batch'.

Any suggestions? Does anyone have an email address of the Director Customer Services in Holland, or at the HQ in Taiwan?

 

This is very disturbing to hear, and does not bode well for Asus quality, customer service, and technical support.

 

I have an ASUS F3JC and I have the exact same crack in the corner of the keyboard. I bought it a long time ago and i'm pretty sure the warranty is already up so i'll probably just find a disassemble manual and replace the top case assembly. Has anybody found a way to strengthen that area so that this wont happen again?

 

Usually 3 times.

You can probably find addresses for complaints on the ASUS website?

 

Its been 3 weeks now, and im still waiting for mine to be returned.

As soon as its back its going on ebay. Its the worse laptop ive ever bought.

Tech repairs take to long, warranty sucks, etc etc. now you know why they give 2yrs instead of 1yr warranty. Id advise nobody to buy an ASUS F3 series notebook, because it WILL CRACK. Dont waste your good money on an F3.

 

Found this thread through google. I too have the same crack. Since I need the laptop while I'm at school I will probably wait until the summer to send it away. How long does it usually take to get it back (for people in the US)?

 

Can anyone explain why the crack returns AFTER replacing the case?
When it IS a construction fault, they would have to look at the CAUSE of the fault, and not just replace the case.

 

When it is a construction fault, and it must be, ntoticing so many identical cracks on the F3 models, the shop that sold it to you should get you a new one. Or at least give you a temporary machine on loan.
There are no email addresses anywhere - just the same lame orms to be completed. And they all get you to the office in Holland. Why ASUS' World HQ decided to establish its Regional Repair Station for Europe in Holland is beyond me. The Dutch are rude and incompetent as regards SERVICE. As long as they can blame somebody else, they will.

 

check the following links:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=212031

http://forum.notebookreview.com/arch.../t-212031.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...=212031&page=5

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=215052

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=220985

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=2915518

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=2916282

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=2999191

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=3087918

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=3142551

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=3144561

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...23#post3148823

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...=212031&page=5

 

Why the duplicate post?

 

System error - WiFi wobbeling. How does one remove that?

 

why are you hijacking this thread? please open a new thread with more details