Laptop hinges - are they always so poor?
Discussion
We've owned quite a few laptops over the years; several Dell, a couple of HP and now I have a Lenovo Z50. Why is it that the hinges always seem to be poorly designed and constructed that after a relatively short while they become weak and can't support the screen adequately? It's not as if I move the laptop often and when I do, I always close the screen.
Am I simply unlucky in my choice of laptops or is this a widespread problem? I've been quoted around £65 to have it fixed which isn't an issue but it's the inconvenience of being without it when it's in use every day that is really annoying.
Am I simply unlucky in my choice of laptops or is this a widespread problem? I've been quoted around £65 to have it fixed which isn't an issue but it's the inconvenience of being without it when it's in use every day that is really annoying.
Nope, sorry. I can't say I've ever shared this frustration. I've owned and used countless laptops (Acer, Dell, HP, Sahara, Lenovo - to mention a few currently in my use) and their hinges are fine, despite being long past their warranty period.
Some colleagues carry their laptops by the screen, which can't be ideal. Are you perhaps guilty of this?
Some colleagues carry their laptops by the screen, which can't be ideal. Are you perhaps guilty of this?
I'm with Riley Blue on this one. I've replaced hinges in my old Dell Inspiron 4100, Dell D600 and need to replace the hinge on my Samsung NP350. I certainly don't give my laptops a hard time and do look after them generally. It also always seems to be the right hand hinge but then as I'm right handed, maybe that has something to do with it. In general, I'd say I normally open the laptop via the center of the screen/lid.
Laptop makers can't afford to manufacture one with a badly designed hinge. Their reputation could be at stake.
They will have test rigs to open and close them thousands of times until they fail. They will have learnt from warranty repairs and statistics on previous models.
That's not to say that hinges won't fail, but it's unlikely to be because of a major problem in the design. My anecdotal contribution - I oversaw a team of up to 100 laptop users for 4-5 years (admittedly only 3 or 4 HP models) and can't remember a single hinge problem.
They will have test rigs to open and close them thousands of times until they fail. They will have learnt from warranty repairs and statistics on previous models.
That's not to say that hinges won't fail, but it's unlikely to be because of a major problem in the design. My anecdotal contribution - I oversaw a team of up to 100 laptop users for 4-5 years (admittedly only 3 or 4 HP models) and can't remember a single hinge problem.
I think a lot of people inadvertently lift a laptop by the screen and thus put extra strain on the hinges.
I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the years and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the years and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 19th February 10:39
I've never lifted a laptop by its screen and wouldn't dream of doing so. Probably the worst I've done is partly close the screen and with a hand under each side and carry it up or downstairs. Judging by what I've read on line today, weak hinges are quite widespread so I'll stump up for a repair before it gets worse.
daemon said:
I think a lot of people inadvertently lift a laptop by the screen and thus put extra strain on the hinges.
I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the year and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
30! I've had 3 in 18 years. What the hell do you do with them? I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the year and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
megaphone said:
daemon said:
I think a lot of people inadvertently lift a laptop by the screen and thus put extra strain on the hinges.
I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the year and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
30! I've had 3 in 18 years. What the hell do you do with them? I've probably had maybe 30 laptops over the year and i've never had to replace any hinges - mostly Dells, Lenovos, HPs, etc. Hard disks, RAM, keyboards, power supplies, batteries screen covers and screen bezels, but never hinges.
I usually have 2 or 3 at a time and also have a company laptop at any given time.
Last year alone i'd :-
Alienware 13 laptop (got rid of it to buy the HP Envy 13)
HP Envy 13
2x Dell D620 laptops
Lenovo Laptop on my last contract
HP Laptop on my current contract
Pints said:
Nope, sorry. I can't say I've ever shared this frustration. I've owned and used countless laptops (Acer, Dell, HP, Sahara, Lenovo - to mention a few currently in my use) and their hinges are fine, despite being long past their warranty period.
Some colleagues carry their laptops by the screen, which can't be ideal. Are you perhaps guilty of this?
Only ever had two lap tops myself, an Acer and a Macbook, but the idea you can open and close them with one finger like you see on tv is annoying. Unless it is sat on a rubber anti skid mat, trying to lose them with one finger results in the whole thing sliding across the table. Likewise with opening, try to raise the screen from closed, with one finger, and the whole device moves usually....Some colleagues carry their laptops by the screen, which can't be ideal. Are you perhaps guilty of this?
So, er, no, no experience with loose floppy hinges.
I've noticed this seems to be an issue with Lenovo laptops. I have a Y570 which is on it's 3rd lower case and I've had to bodge the hinges with an upgraded heath robinson affair involving nuts and bolts!
I never abuse it either. Obviously some laptops are just poorly built, the lenovo in question has the weakest hinge arrangement imaginable. Still 6 years in and 3 $20 cases isn't too bad for a laptop that still performs as well as most at the $500 price point.
I never abuse it either. Obviously some laptops are just poorly built, the lenovo in question has the weakest hinge arrangement imaginable. Still 6 years in and 3 $20 cases isn't too bad for a laptop that still performs as well as most at the $500 price point.
I think this is an issue with some cheaper ranges. I had a Dell Inspiron something that had both hinges totally fail and collapse.
Then again, I've had IBM, Apple, Sony, HP, Compaq and Lenovo laptops too and none of those have ever had hinges fail.
In the loft are an IBM from 1998, Apple iBook from 1999 and Apple PowerBook G4 from 2004 and all of them have perfect hinges. The same with the Lenovo ThinkPad T530 I'm typing on now (a few years old now) and the Compaq that's about to go in the skip at work (tried to repair the fan myself, fried something on the motherboard)
Then again, I've had IBM, Apple, Sony, HP, Compaq and Lenovo laptops too and none of those have ever had hinges fail.
In the loft are an IBM from 1998, Apple iBook from 1999 and Apple PowerBook G4 from 2004 and all of them have perfect hinges. The same with the Lenovo ThinkPad T530 I'm typing on now (a few years old now) and the Compaq that's about to go in the skip at work (tried to repair the fan myself, fried something on the motherboard)
ben5575 said:
The hinges on both my Dell and Sony Vaio's failed. Drove me mad and became the main reason for buying a MBP (which has been fine for three years).
A lot depends on whether they are just hinged at either end or (like the MBP) hinged the length of the body of the laptop.
I guess this is what you're paying for with Apple products. Sounds like a good design unlike every lenovo, acer, HP etc I've ever repaired.A lot depends on whether they are just hinged at either end or (like the MBP) hinged the length of the body of the laptop.
Can't say it would entice me to make the upfront investment however.
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