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It finally happened...TiBook Hinge Death

Submitted by hekc on June 20, 2006 - 4:50am. PowerPC Macs

So it finally happened. One of the hinges on my TiBook broke. I tried to epoxy it back but that didn't work. I've decided that after 5+ years(ish) that it lasted this long and I have gotten good use out of it. The LCD works sometimes. Other times the backlight cuts out. What I'm wanting to do is unplug the LCD and plug up the holes and just use it as a small foot print desk top. I'm just a bit nervous because it still works (and looks great plugged into my 21 inch CRT) but I really want to get that screen off. I've contemplated just cutting the wires but if it was at all possible I figured that I could salvage the LCD and sell it for a couple of bucks to someone who needed it.

Now I know that there is a ton of info out there about how to fix the hinge, both commercial solutions and hacks...but I'm really not going to put in the effort because I tried and after 5 years it's time for a new one (I've been thinking about one of those 10 inch sub compact ones)

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westieg3's picture

there's a few things i think

Submitted by westieg3 on June 20, 2006 - 4:55pm.

there's a few things i think you could do to it as long as the display cable isn't totally ruined (and it might be possible to get a new one). first off, i've seen a page where the owner of a tibook wiht a broken hinge simply cut a piece of soft aluminum to fit on the corner with the broken hinge, bent it to fit, and then glued it. the only issue is that in that case the hinge broke where it attached to the screen, and that's the only break that the fix will work on.

there's the other option of doing what dan did and simply take off the screen, flip it over, and glue it backwards to the palmrest. that would give you a 15" all-in-one flat panel computer. you could even remove the screen and somehow mount the computer on or near your 21" display for the same effect.

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Well

Submitted by hekc on June 20, 2006 - 8:54pm.

Like I said my intent isn't to fix the hinge. I've been wanting a new laptop for a while buy always said "hey, I've got my TiBook...that will work alright". Now I have the motivation to get a new one because I'm hauling this slab that my father in law gave my wife a couple years back.

As far as the whole "what to do now" goes I'm going with option 2. I just want to get the LCD of in the most elegant way and plug up the holes. I've had a stand and a bluetooth keyboard for it for a while now and I'm just going to use that. Now I have a feeling that the wires for the LCD aren't all that easy to get at and unplug. Anyone have any experience/advice about opening one up?

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FunnymanSE30's picture

you could probally find a gui

Submitted by FunnymanSE30 on June 20, 2006 - 10:30pm.

you could probally find a guide on how to remove the upper case here http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/

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Wholly crap!

Submitted by hekc on June 21, 2006 - 2:10am.

Man...you have to take the whole damn thing apart! I might just cut the wires and call it good. I would hate to damage the whole thing just to get the stupid display off.

Thanks for the info though.

» A thin face and a new bra are all you need to get by in this world. -- Mom

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dankephoto's picture

what's your time worth?

Submitted by dankephoto on June 21, 2006 - 7:56pm.

Removing the display properly isn't hard, just takes time, maybe 2 hours for a beginner. The LVDS cable alone is worth $30 or so, working LCD at least $100. Cut the cable and you reduce the value of the whole thing. If you figure your time at . . . say $35/hr or better, just cut the cable. Otherwise do it right and sell the still working display parts.

dan k

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Good point

Submitted by hekc on June 22, 2006 - 1:51am.

Yeah...I consider my time to be pretty much free. The only problem is that there is a bit of epoxy on it from my quick fix I tried. I think I might go for it. The only issue I have is that sometimes the display back light will cut out even when it isn't going to sleep. I just figured it was because of the odd angles that the LCD sits since it's not attached. I think I'll give it a shot...it'll give me something to do while I'm on call this weekend.

» A thin face and a new bra are all you need to get by in this world. -- Mom

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