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MacBook: What’s Up With The Black Hinge?

October 23rd, 2008

Visited an Apple Store the other day to exchange my iPhone power adapter and took a gander at the new aluminum MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Some observations:

  • The new metal case is very slick. Especially cool are the tiny holes for the battery status light that I assume were created by sharks with lasers on their heads.
  • I did notice some warmth on the top case when my hands were in typing mode. I would imagine the metal case conducts heat to a fair degree.
  • The new trackpad that works as a button felt really comfortable. It’s a little looser in the thumb area where the previous button was which makes clicking feel essentially the same as before.
  • The multitouch ability on the trackpad has some appeal as well – a four fingered “claw” motion brings up Expose.

But I did have one gripe – the black hinge. The monitor has black plastic encircing the screen. That I can deal with. But the hinge, where the monitor meets the bottom half, is black. You can see it when looking at it from above. But what really bugs me is when the MacBook is closed, the hinge creates a black stripe on the rear. So when the MacBook is closed, it’s not silver all the way around. I took a look at the MacBook Air and it has a silver hinge.

So what’s up with the black hinge? I know I’m just being picky, but I just don’t get that design decision at all.

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  • I assume it was for design cohesiveness with the black bezel and it was much more economical to keep the hinge as a singular black piece instead of two pieces (one black, one silver) and/or painting a portion of the black hinge silver. Two pieces would open a point of failure and having dual colors for the hinge would probably look tacky (as part of the back can show up when the MacBook is open).

    The black bezel is nice but I'm wondering if it would have been better to have kept it silver which would keep the hinge silver as well. Then, would the keys be silver? Tough call all around, I guess.
  • I'm cool with the black keys and the black plastic around the screen. It's
    just that hinge that's bugging me.
  • jcieplinski
    I actually like the black hinge. It took a day or so to get used to it, but now I think it's cool, especially when closed.

    The unibody construction really is a marvel of engineering. My new MacBook Pro (had to get the new one, of course) is so much more solid and clean than my previous one. Only four screws visible on the entire case, and those are on the bottom.
  • Heh, of course you upgraded as expected :)
  • Yeah, it might be an acquired taste. I'm thinking the little black breaks things up; gives character. I suppose you should get one, Jason, and let it grow on you. :)

    Unless you don't like glossy screens. hehe
  • IDK, but w.e Apple does seems to be copied right after.

    So i like the hinge either way. :)
  • looks fine.. see nothing majorly wrong with it...
  • I was in the Apple store yesterday admiring the Aluminium MacBooks and never noticed the black hinge at all but now you've mentioned it I don't like it at all! It just doesn't make sense. I'll have to go back to the store tomorrow just to make sure I don't like it!
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