Fractures and chipping of the case?
 

On my 770 the raised area of the black casing that surrounds the ports on the bottom of the unit has started chipping away. On closer inspection there seem to be stress fractures(?) throughout. This looks to be a seperate piece attached to the casing. I use my 770 heavily, but take great care with it as well, always keeping it in its hard case and bag. I fear my concern for my 770 has been its downfall, as it looks like the fractures are caused by sliding the unit in and maybe out of the casing, and maybe even plugging in the power and USB cables (I don't use headphones with the unit.)

I have yet to contact Nokia about this, prefering to get some feedback from the community first. It looks like this piece could easily be replaced on existing units, maybe even by the end user.

By the way, I think it's important to take every opportunity to say thank you to all that have helped make this such an exciting thing to be part of.

Thanks!
Tom

I don't have those issues but there have been many who've reported this. Just curious, do you watch movies and read the web a lot holding the unit with two hands? Just a theory, but that'd put twisty stress on the case and might do it. I always use it one hand + stylus, so... maybe that's it.

I have send my N770 back to Nokia and got a new one in 2 weeks. The new one showed a crack at the buttons when I got it, so I'm going to send it back this week. Nokia service told me it should not happen anymore because they are using a new production line, so I hope my third N770 housing will live longer :confused:

In spite of these cracks I'm still a big N770 fan, it's a great product!

Actually, I think it's better to hold it without a case at all. In my opinion, it's easier to hold and is much thinner to carry.

I wonder if that's it, maybe the case is adding more structural support.

I read a lot and have found the 770 to be a fairly comfortable device to use. I do tend to hold the unit with both hands but I also use the device in the hard case most of the time (if I set it down I know I will lose it ;)) Maybe the case is stressing the 770.

I think I will contact Nokia,and maybe they do have this sorted out already.

Tom

yes mine has a crack on the bottom too. it appears to grow a nanometer everyday but i never rememberdropping it or doing anything that wud cause a crack. i didnt notice the crack when i first got it, but then again, i never inspected it inch by inch to check

I though I had scratched mine on the bottom first, between the USB and sound plug, but noticed it is a crack. Someone refers to it as "Especially the magic crack in the bottom that lots of units have." here http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/14/n...-in-the-works/

=(

edit: oh, here's the tread on it http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ighlight=crack

mine is made in germany too

Interesting, I noticed mine developing a crack just the other day, now I see this thread.

I use it with and without the case.

Looking at the raised plastic housing the connectors, my crack starts way on the left hand side diagonally to the top of the plastic, like a forward slash. It's nowhere near any of the connectors.

I never noticed a crack in mine, but it must have been there, since when I took it out of the silver case yesterday, a little "bit" came off with it. It's more like a "chip" and isn't really near the connectors. I'm very careful with my 770 so I am guessing it must have been a production issue.

Does it have to be sent back to Nokia or can I just return it to CompUSA where I bought it? Not that I couldn't call CompUSA to find out but I thought someone hear might already know. Besides I live in Canada and picked mine up from the states, so it would save me a LD call.

btw: my 770 was made in Estonia

I bought my 770 a month ago from CompUSA in Phoenix, Arizona. The unit is made mainly in Estonia.

I discovered a small hairline fracture going right to left from the USB to the headphone jack about a week ago.

I have not used the USB much - maybe 6-7 times so I dont think this issue is related to usage. It seems that genral operation of the device is causing these cracks.

I think this is a production line issue - the molds used to make the black casing may be faulty/worn. Nokia needs to issue a recall for these devices/this batch as the incidence of cracking seems to be statistically significantly higher than one would expect.

I fairly large chunk of the case broke off mine on the back of the unit near the power input. Nokia says it was dropped (it wasn't) and not covered. It still works fine, so I am living with it. Mine was also made in Estonia.

i had a problem too

here is a pic

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...m/P3140146.jpg

its almost coming off

i think i will leave it to fall off naturally - then glue it back on - cos its not really worth sending back is it??



made in germany :confused:

That's exactly the same as mine jlim51

Hi All

i was reading this post, so i had a quick look at my 770 :( its also broken between usb plug and sound plug ... :| just to let u know!

Peace
S199

Here's mine

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...7/P1050249.jpg

Exactly broken at the same place here, my nokia is 3 weeks old and never felt on the floor :/

maybe it happen when you pulling the usb out. just the fact that i noticed this topic on the board, i am now carefully of the way i insert and remove the usb cable and power plug. i can see how it could happen.

Also, when using the nokia 770 while the plug is inserted, i can also see that if your not carefull of holding the unit, your hand can place a strain against the plug and casing.

Dont know what could cause that. i would send it back, maybe they will give you a new or refurbish unit with the new os. then again they might come to the conclusion that it was dropped

Mine has been fine. Used every day, no cracks. But looking at your guys pictures the plastic on mine looks different. Much more uniform in colour. Yours seem to have silvery speckles in them or is that just the way the pics came out? Maybe they had a bad batch of plastic? Mine is also made in Estonia.

I have cracks just like yours as well. I'll wait if tey will actually do something once they become big enough and then, if needed, send it back. But not just because of a small crack. It will have to affect the device somehow as well.

This is hilarious. I looked at mine before, and couldn't see anything. But now, I looked at it under a light, and mine has a crack there in the EXACT same place. This is really weird....

After looking at this thread, I checked mine, guess what it's broken. both sides, between USB-Audio and USB-Power .

In all honesty (because you know Nokia won't foot a replacement anyway), how rough are you guys with the USB connector? I rarely if ever plug mine into the USB cable and it's fine (dec 19th 2005 purchase date). I've used it for flashing the OS, and once for copying packages over from my PC.

I m experencing the same problem, the bottom plastic part betw usb and supply socket is just cracked. The device works fine and the solidity is not affected nor the functionality of the ports but really I still deciding if sending it back to nokia is the good decision and stay without as long as the dhl deliver a new one (or refurbished, as it was with Palm...). They could just send us the small piece of plastic... :mad:

Personally, I'm not.

I really think that the problem is with the material they are using. When I first got it, I noticed bump on the bottm, didn't think much of it, because everything fit. I figured it was just a spot where it was over ground or whatever when they took it out of the mold.

When I was looking yesterday after reading this thread, that bump spot is actually breaking away.

I also had the SAME EXACT crack. NOKIA has a problem and they know it. I sent mine in for a "No Power Up" issue and included a note that my case was cracked at that exact location and if you were to look at my unit, it was indeed Pristine. Never dropped, handled rough etc. When it came back, new case had been installed. This is one of those things were I doubt they recall for obvious reasons. But if you have the crack and opt to send it in, they'll fix it. Also, if I may recommend, do not just live with it. At 1 yr 1 month and it cracks 7 inches down the line, warranty is off and now you have an issue. Also, once they have fixed it, it is now documented you had the problem, and you have some ammo should it happen again once warranty is over. I will also add, NOKIA 770 service was very good, I had a total of 10 day turnaround, and that includes the fact that I sent to NOKIA Main Depot in Melbourne Fla, and they had to ship 2 day FEDEX to TEXAS. Remember, NOKIA 770s DO NOT go to FLORIDA, gotta go to TEXAS!. And if you go to NOKIA Online Warranty support, it tells you to send to Melbourne, Fla, so be warned.

The bigger, more important question is have the found the problem and has it been fixed on booth new distributed units, as well as the repairs that are being sent back out.

Strange, I though I alread replied to this thread.

Hedgecore:

I'm careful with the plugs and cords since they tend to be the most sensitive part that gets the most abuse.

Looks like the usb plug isn't even touching the plastic of the 770, there's half a millimeter of air in between....

and is urs still like that or did it come off??


yeah - it does look like a dropped crack - but i never remember dropping it - certainly never hit it in a way that wud cause a crack like that. i remember that it started smaller - and then it just grew to the point where it was ready to fall off

so i really doubt that Nokia wud replace it - when it looks like a dropped enduced crack - but an upgraded verion does sound nice :D

I tried to speak with the customer service in Europe; they are not aware of any problem related to the case crack. Has Nokia any official position on this issue? My 770 is brocken too as like as hundreds of yours. I think they do.

I've found mine with a hairline crack through the power connector on both sides - not quite touching the USB connector and going the other direction a few mm.

So the USB connector isn't even involved with my crack - and I've been pretty careful with it too.

I'm going to wait and see, but I'm afraid the crack is growing slowly...

Brad.

What about usage? Given that it's the center of the case, d'you guys use it without the cover? Twisting (even slightly) might do it.

Wireless makes a very good point. It wouldn't be very nice if something happens to the device, and they say:

"Oh, we can't help you, your warranty is void because you've seem to have dropped your unit *points at crack*"...

Maybe I'll show them this thread then.

(Dear Nokia, I'm quite certain, 99% that my unit came with the fracture)

I have also noticed a lot of people try opening the case by grabbing it in the middle at the bottom and pulling the 770 out of the top. That actually makes it harder to open as it squeezes the little spring catch closed. These days I open the cover for them and slide it on the back before I let people play with it.

I just noticed two cracks on my German-made unit; I got it during the main developer rush. One of them touches the headphone socket and goes away from the screen to nothing. It looks like it will eventually start to crack off.

The other crack is at the opposite end of the "protrusion" out the bottom, on the side of the screen. It looks like there's a hairline fracture that touches the mold line and curves towards the main body of the unit. I'll try to get a picture.

My unit has been looked after fairly well, I believe. It gets used, but not abused.

Mine has yet to develop a crack, but every time I read this thread I examine mine with a magnifying glass, with dread. I've had mine about six months, so far so good.

trying to get it fixed
 

while waiting for the 2006 OS I took my chance and sent my 770 to be fixed yesterday. 770 had cracks on both sides of USB. At first only btw USb and power. There's no guarantee that the crack has stopped or is the only one to be found.
This talk about handling the device like with silk cloves sounds strange to me. This kind of every day- where ever- equipment should tolerate normal handling. I just wonder what would happen, if the 770 was accidentally dropped on the floor (which has not happened to mine)! I'm now eagerly waiting for Nokia's response and action.

This morning I noticed that the fracture on my device had grown and is now on the other side of the USB port too.

Unbelivable, how can the fracture behave like that. I'm beginning to see a pattern so I mailed nokia and will have to take it in for service when I go into the city...

New photo:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...7/P1050468.jpg

pPrevious pic from not many days ago:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...7/P1050249.jpg

like in my 770
 

pattern is exactly like in my 770 which I sent to Nokia for repair

Got 'em on mine too. Only mine has affected my stereo out and it will only play in the left channel unless I hold the plug towards the back of the unit. Contacted Nokia about it and they're telling me I'll have to pay $100.