Apple solves the magnetic MacBook lid problem

One simply has to love some features of the aluminum unibody MacBooks. Like the magnetic lid "lock". Not only it keeps the lid closed, the magnet has no moving parts, so there is nothing that could break. The design is clean. The magnet is also radiating magnetic energy, bending properly the cosmic waves and preventing the carpal tunnel syndrome. And if you keep the MacBook on your lap, as a laptop, the magnet is well positioned to heel your body.

But many users are reporting problems with the magnetic lid lock. Mac simply would not stay shut. If I put it vertically in my trusty Tumi bag, for example, it springs opens for about 5 millimeters. Like on the picture below:



This is quite annoying, because you don't know what will happen in the bag. If it opens some more it would wake Mac up from sleep mode. It happened to me a few times, even if it was bumped closed again it stayed on, drained the battery, got hot, very hot ... Not very pleasant at all, because in the bag the cooling is a problem.

I asked some Apple using friends for advice. The answers were something like:
  • "mine shuts just fine",
  • "why would you want to carry it in a bag; people would not know you have a Mac then",
  • "why would you want to have its lid closed? If MacBook opens itself, it has a reason to do so. Why do you always want to be smarter that Apple?",
  • "it is because you are running Windows 7 on your Macbook",
  • "You radiate negative energy towards the Mac",
  • ...
I was contemplating many solutions, such as a big elastic band, a suitcase locker band, duct tape, Velcro, neoprene sleeve, elastic bandage ... Duct tape is perhaps the best, however, even with a silver one I don't think it would be aesthetically a match for the design of a Mac. I could take it to a service, but then I would have to work on my 230€ Lenovo Ideapad Netbook (that does keep the lid close, without a magnet and without a latch). For who knows for how long!

Apple proved, however, that it is superior to all competitors, and fixed the problem! The lid stays closed! I can take my MacBook places again!

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