Apple has quietly told its hardware servicing partners to fix MacBooks with hairline cracks in the machines' plastic covering, it has been claimed.

The Mac maker has previously refused to accept that this is an inherent problem with older MacBooks' plastic casing, according to an AppleInsider report. However, last month Apple issued new guidance to repair firms, telling them to replace cracked cases if it's clear the damage wasn't caused by the user, the report continues.

Cracks have been spotted at the front of the wristrest area, in front of the trackpad, around the old Macbook's various ports, and around the rear-facing speaker grilles.

What causes the cracks isn't clear: manufacturing faults? the effect of temperature? What we can say is that they're hard to spot, but tend to become more obvious as the plastic ages and (inevitably) discolours. ®

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