Case Cracks

I haven't developed any case cracks in my 6130 - yet!(fingers crossed). Since I purchased it(Sept 04), it has been hauled out of its case twice every week and placed in a plastic bin at airport security check points. Twice every day at work, and twice everyday at my hotel! Not to mention when I use it at home too. So, I would say it gets well used. However, I must also say that I pretty much try and treat all my electronics(especially computers) with great care. Since I travel alot, when I bought it, I also bought a larger size roll-along computer case by Samsonite that included an inner padded sleeve for use inside the roll-along compartment, but also as a simple carrying case for around the office/home. So, it's doubly protected when it's being transported.

The key to avoiding cracks around the LCD hinges, is to not open the LCD panel(top) to quickly. Since there is play in the hinge mechanism(it's easy to feel), the top will move (forward and backwards slightly) before the hinge mechanism engages. If you open the top quickly, extra pressure is put on the plastic housing(bezel), before the hinge actually engages. Therefore, it is best to open the top slowly, and wait until you 'feel' the hinge engage before applying more force to open it completely. This same technique should be used whenever adjusting the angle of the screen after it's open too. This may seem obvious, but always open the screen from the middle, or where the latching clasp is - never from either corner. Opening from the corners puts an undue amount of 'twisting' stress on the panel, subjecting it to possible cracking.

This approach seems to be working for me for the past 6 months. The only thing Averatec did replace(under warranty) was a battery that had gone bad. Works like a champ.

redjr...

P.S. Given the fact that the housing, and LCD bezel seem to be flimsy in areas, one should exercise alittle more care when transporting and using the 6130. Remember it's not an IBM, but a 'value' notebook with a lot of computing muscle, and not necessarily built to MIL SPEC. I believe Panasonic makes one of those that's about 10x the price - if not more![ ]

 

Redjr - I couldn't said it better my self! I use my 6130 daily (traveling between work, school and home) and i ditto the only issue needing Averatecs support was a poor battery...simply replaced and now perfect.

I'd like to note, especally to Liquid-Turbo, that I stikied his "suggestion/guide" on "how to open" the lappy. Geanted its facious, but I made a point that I think should be addressed by any/all Averatec owners with this issue.

DD

 

Whoops...meant to say try e-mailing customer support again. Hope you guys get the same the same result I did.

 

Guys, try the customer support e-mail...I have the same problem and here's the result I got.

Robert,

Please have an RMA issues by our technical support, and I will be happy to have this covered in warranty. Please email me with the RMA number that you are issued.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks,

Brian Inboden
Averatec
Customer Care Level III Technician
Phone : 714.429.8945
Fax: 714.429.9961
eMail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 5:30 PM
To: Customer Care
Subject: 6130HS-20 Case Cracking
Importance: High


I have had my 6130HS-20 notebook for only the past 6 months and it is
developing the crack in the case just above the hinge as other users
have mentioned in several forums relating to Avertec notebooks. This is
my fourth notebook that I've had over the past 15 years and this one has
been treated as well as the others, which I still have and all have no
physical defects in their case. As a result of the care shown this
notebook, I believe it is not a result of my use but the result of a
poorly designed case. As I still have warranty through you as the
manufacturer, I would like to know what Averatec is going to do to help
me out in this situation and try to keep a customer that is generally
satisfied.

 

Will the new case be any different than the original?

How's the RMA?

I was perhaps thinking about ordering a new case through future shop.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Syncline

 

Well, talked to tech support today to get my RMA number which I got with no problem. Have to e-mail it back to customer care along with my location (in Canada) and they'll get back to me if I have to ship to California or if they'll go through Future Shop. I asked the techie point blank if they would be replacing the lcd cover with an identical cover or if they have resolved the problems adnd will replace it with something sturdier. I was given the response that several of the bugs in the case with the 6130 had been solved in the new 6100 series model (6110) and that he ASSUMED that it will be fixed with an improved case. We'll have to see what actually transpires and I'll post back with the result.

 

Wow thats interesting. How does the case of the 6110 differ?

It'd be sweet if it was some sort of alloy. I can't seem to find any info on the 6110 on AV's site.. I only see the 6128 and the 6130 Models

 

L_T-

I would think Averatec would replace a plactic case cover with anything else but thicker plastic...but man, alloy would kick some serious rear!!

I've laso noticed that the Averatec site dosent display ALL models they sell. Why??? It's beyound me, but it IS reassuring that they have recognized that an issue DOES in face exist and are taking steps to correct it.

Better than ignoring it!!

DD

 

3220 since before fall term. Wife carries it to school in her backpack a few days a week, no cracks at all (lots of scratches, though). I use it pretty frequently (when she's not) as it's easier to lug around than my giant HP desktop replacement behemoth.

I'm tending to hang with the guy that mentioned about yarding on the corners when you're opening it. Neither of us use the corners except occasionally adjusting screen angle, and not by much. Both of us pretty much exclusively hold down the notebook with one hand and open it from the center (cos that's where the catch is!) on up. It gets knocked around a little, but never dropped. Lots of scratches.

Possibly people are seeing this more frequently on larger notebooks because the 3200 series is so lightweight that ya durn near lift it off the table if you try to grab both corners with your hands. Not a problem if you add a kilo on it (and most of that weight will be in the base).

Depending on where they decide to put the release(s) on your model probably dictates to a large extent how you're going to be opening it.

Maybe averatec could have saved themselves some long-term money by not adding moreplastic to the lid but relocating the catch to the middle. Even if your laptop is havier, it should be fairly reflexive to grab the base of the notebook if you are grabbing a single catch in the center.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Liquid_Turbo

 

"For situations such as this, please call us toll-free at 877-462-3462 to be assisted in person by a technical support technician. They will best be able to help you. Our helpful staff will be able to walk you through settings and troubleshooting steps. In addition, if an RMA needs to be set up, they will be able to assist you directly.

I'd like to have the unit at our repair facility. Please provide me with the RMA number so that I may track the repair. I'll have the top cover replaced in warranty.

Brian Inboden
Averatec
Customer Care Level III Technician
Support: 877-462-3462
Fax: 714-429-9961"

Yes! Finally somebody is listening to us. So all I gotta do is ship it in. I talked to Future Shop today and they said they would be willing to help me ship it in. Its awesome!

 

I started to read this forum two weeks ago when I got my 3250. Maybe I should have read it BEFORE I bought. It's been an eye opener, let me tell ya.

But does anyone know if any "important" Averatec personnel checks in here?

 

I'd like to think they would...but I won't hold my breath.

 

OMG! whatever you do, do not do business with notebookparts.com or any other company owned by Abbassi Rahim (a.k.a. "John")!

This company is questionable at best in my opinion. I ordered a new 8x CD-RW drive for an older Gateway laptop from notebookparts.com. I received a used, defective drive. I called notebookparts.com and Abbassi Rahim agreed to send me a replacement. The replacement was supposedly *new* but is also defective.

This whole mess took more than 4 weeks to play out after shipping, and my customer finally got tired of messing with it and cancelled his order. So I emailed "John" (I suspect Abbassi Rahim) and asked for an RMA number from notebookparts.com to return the second defective drive for a refund.

But guess what.... All notebookparts.com CD drive sales are now final. You are taking your life into your hands if you deal with Abbassi Rahim or notebookparts.com.

If you want all or the gory details about my experience with Abbassi Rahim or notebookparts.com, you can read them on my blog at:

http://www.thorschrock.com

 

I had a 32xx series laptop - after 6-months I had cracks in both monitor hinges.. .

Can we class action Averatec?? This seems to be a design flaw with Averatec laptops - my sisters Toshiba and my mothers Compaq never had these issues...

 

My 6130 had the same problem. They repaired it under warranty. Then if failed again 3 months later, out of warranty. I discovered that the hinges were not alligned with the case. This caused flexing everytime the lid was opened and closed. SuperGlue repaired the cracks.

 

The computer has thermosetting plastic. Has to be heat welded with soldering iron on the back side. Delicate job with light wattage soldering iron.
Can try epoxy but reverse side must be grossly roughend and thin metal (shim stock) used as reenforcement for the epoxy.
I have tried both methods and suggest the hot weld tack at the beginning and end of the crack and the epoxy between. Be careful with weld so as not to penetrate to face side. The hot weld tack should stop the crack from continuing.

Afterburner

 

Hi, Lappy People!

I just joined, having come upon a post in this thread by Jedisolo....after Googling re a little---OK not so little--- challenge.

I am compulisive puter reapir person. I find them in the garbage of my pretentious building here in Manhattan. U have no idea.

My best find to date: Alienware Sentia 223, P-M, 2.0, 1Gb DDR; 60 GB HDD, XP Home...morongirl upstairs had little accident, smashed the KB....threw it out with all original disks. It was basically NEW. given who makes it....had major issues finding but did....new KB costing little fortune....but who cares? This is no my main lappy. It is now...PERFECT.

Now....a recent find...I shoould have left in the garbage, forget not kept going on tring to put perfect....VPR Matrix 120. I know. Don say it. But I have taken puppy down to mobo....spent obscene money on parts....too late 2 stop now, guys....one more hurdle.

THIS THING had a huge Achilles' Hell re the large palm rest/bezel since it was designed to hold the main pins of the LCD. This bezel/pam rest has little hairlne fracture at upper edge...this part can't be found, and I need to repair this little fracture.---U bet, on the "business end" of this vital part.

I Googled into oblivion and found the post above post here from back in the day:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=10608&page=2

My Googlings reveal this may be poly plastic and the usual glues/expoxys will not work, i.e. K B Products, or even plastic resin kits I see in the UK.

I am unclear about the specifics of the post I found, given the KB site says it will not work on poly plastics...but this post, if nothing else....offers me HOPE for this tiny but crucial repair being possible. And we allknow that (hope) springs eternal, right?

Any further data will be intensely, hysterically, passionately appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Jill