PowerBook G4 case warping: more "fixes"; long-term concerns

We've been covering "warping" issues with Aluminum PowerBook G4 models (mainly 12" and 15" versions) where the heat of operating the PowerBook causes the case to "warp" slightly. In most instances, the PowerBook is flat when cool but warps slightly when hot, leading to a case that doesn't sit flat on a desk/table, instead wobbling or shaking when typing. (Although for some unlucky users, the opposite is true -- their PowerBooks are normally curved, and only when they get hot do they flatten out.)

Since yesterday's coverage, we've again received many, many confirmations of this problem; our email inbox has been dominated by stories of PowerBook case warping due to heat. (Although to be fair, we've also received a good many reports of PowerBooks that are perfectly flat and stay that way.)

This second round of confirmations and comments brought with it both new "fixes" and new concerns, as well as consequences more serious than a slight wobble.

Other "fixes" Although yesterday we covered a number of reports of "bending back" cases that have warped slightly, we've also received a good number of suggestions for ways to "fix" warped cases by using different pads/feed to minimize the wobbliness that occurs when one or two feet aren't level with the others. For example, Danny Han writes:

"A friend of mine has a simple solution that does not require bending, and is similar to what you folks posted. However, instead of removing the rubber feet, he took a small hole puncher to some felt furniture pads (Home Depot, etc.), and made a nice donut shape to sit snugly around each of the four rubber feet. Seems to work pretty well, and has the added benefit of not having to remove any parts."

Kaliko Trapp takes a similar approach:

"I simply put four 1/4" clear hard rubber feet just diagonally inside of each Apple foot; the rubbery nature of those feet effectively eliminates the problem, and the added height helps airflow, as others have mentioned. They cost 3.79 or so at Ace Hardware in a pack of 6. Self-adhesive, nice looking."

A number of readers wrote in with similar kludges involving different sizes of feet or pads, or stands that aren't as sensitive as a flat desk to slightly curved PowerBook cases.

Long-term concerns While some users are focused on avoiding the Weeble-Wobble effect while typing, others are more concerned with the long-term implications of having a computer that appears to change its curvature based on the temperature. Andrew Ledbrooke writes:

"I am concerned about the long term effects that the warping may be having on the internals (mainboard, connectors, etc). A machine like this isn't a small investment and it is a very real concern to me that it may be reducing the life expectancy of my PB. It's a great machine and I'll be gutted if it breaks before I've had 5yrs of use out of it."

More severe consequences Tom Carruthers notes that temperature changes can have more severe consequences than mild case "warping":

"As my 1-GHz 12" PowerBook heats up, the display hinges also become stickier. A couple of weeks ago the hinges emitted a familiar 'snap' when I repositioned the screen. Simultaneously several horizontal dead-pixel lines appeared across the screen! These lines are sensitive to gentle pressure along the left side of the screen, but they won't go away. The 'snap' must have been the final shock for an initially weak wiring harness for the LCD screen; more lines have appeared recently."

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