01-22-2022, 08:49 AM
I've had a Pinebook Pro for some months now, and in general I am extremely satisfied with its performance. But this week, I was closing the clamshell when I felt something odd.
I opened the cover to check whether I might have attempted to close it with, perhaps, a pencil in the hinge, but there was nothing. I turned the unit over to find the bottom cover had sprung open at the screw nearest the "ESC" key. Worse yet, it appeared that the head of the flathead screw had pulled THROUGH the magnesium cover. Closer inspection revealed that the hole in the cover was approximately the same diameter as the screw's head.
I have not yet disassembled the laptop, and in fact, I'm typing this on it at the moment, so I don't know whether this was a simple manufacturing error or, far worse, all the other holes are similarly finished. Bluntly, after a lifetime of engineering and design work, I can say that no responsible engineer would seat a flathead screw flush with a surface without drilling a hole which passed the screw thread only, then countersinking the hole to support the head properly.
I've tried to order a new bottom plate, but needless to say, they're out of stock, as well as the other items I'd also wanted to order. So I am leaving the laptop open, so as not to stress the hinges, board or anything else. A sincere suggestion... Considering the ever worsening stability situation in Southeast Asia, when combined with component supply issues there, perhaps it's time to consider manufacturing elsewhere?
I opened the cover to check whether I might have attempted to close it with, perhaps, a pencil in the hinge, but there was nothing. I turned the unit over to find the bottom cover had sprung open at the screw nearest the "ESC" key. Worse yet, it appeared that the head of the flathead screw had pulled THROUGH the magnesium cover. Closer inspection revealed that the hole in the cover was approximately the same diameter as the screw's head.
I have not yet disassembled the laptop, and in fact, I'm typing this on it at the moment, so I don't know whether this was a simple manufacturing error or, far worse, all the other holes are similarly finished. Bluntly, after a lifetime of engineering and design work, I can say that no responsible engineer would seat a flathead screw flush with a surface without drilling a hole which passed the screw thread only, then countersinking the hole to support the head properly.
I've tried to order a new bottom plate, but needless to say, they're out of stock, as well as the other items I'd also wanted to order. So I am leaving the laptop open, so as not to stress the hinges, board or anything else. A sincere suggestion... Considering the ever worsening stability situation in Southeast Asia, when combined with component supply issues there, perhaps it's time to consider manufacturing elsewhere?
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