Alu blemish (pics)
hi, my primary machine is a AluBook 17" 1.33 G4. i picked it up when it came out last september and used it exclusively for my design and writing. i don't use an external keyboard but a 5-button mouse. several months ago, i started noticing funny black spots on the aluminum where i rest my palms, both left and right sides of the trackpad. i know the colour is anodized so it's not the paint coming off but it's starting to bother me. has anyone noticed this as well? my palms get sweaty after a while because the palm rests get hot, but i don't sweat profusely. should i do something about this with apple? it's only a cosmetic issue but i still don't like my beautiful alu to have blemishes. i attached some photos of the spots
left side
close up
right side
left side
close up
right side
Comments
:P
now if Only my palms weren't so sweaty
Originally posted by alcimedes
the other possibility would be that you are wearing a watch that is damaging the computer, or something along those lines.
no, i don't wear any metallic objects on my hand, it's completely bare. i don't think it's dirty/dead skin either, it looks like a permanent cosmetic damage. the chemical reaction between alu and salt does make sense. it's fine as is, but i don't want it spreading any further. i'll try rubbing it with alcohol. but what if some of the alcohol touches the screen when the lid is closed? what's a good way to clean the lcd??? thanks
They keep my watch, et al, from scratching my 'book. The only problem is that after a few weeks they get kinda bubbly with the heat and use, so I have to deal with the ugly bubbles or replace them with new ones. Overall, they have done a good job, IMHO.
Originally posted by Jubelum
I use these .
They keep my watch, et al, from scratching my 'book. The only problem is that after a few weeks they get kinda bubbly with the heat and use, so I have to deal with the ugly bubbles or replace them with new ones. Overall, they have done a good job, IMHO.
So which is uglier...holy aluminum or disgusting (and ugly) plastic covering my wrists?
Originally posted by RenaissanceGirl
I would invest in an external keyboard. I hardly ever touch my powerbook. When I have to touch it or put it away, I was my hands with soap and warm watler before handling it. I wipe dust from it with a microfiber cloth a couple times a week. I also forbid anyone from touching it without my permission. If they do, they will get thoroughly lambasted by yours truly.
:P
Now, these are some drastic measures
I hardly ever touch my powerbook. When I have to touch it or put it away, I was my hands with soap and warm water before handling it.
Oh come now... you honestly finish up work, decide to pack up for the day, and go hit the sink to wash your hands with soap and water first? Wow. That's treading into therapist territory.
Damn, you guys, this is kind of freaky. I know Robot hasn't had his PowerBook for too long. What the hell are these things going to look like at 4 years old?
Maybe those Klear Advantage things are the way to go. Just drop some other stickers over the clear, so you can't see the bubbles. Think of it as a neat way to customize your PowerBook.
Originally posted by murbot
Oh come now... you honestly finish up work, decide to pack up for the day, and go hit the sink to wash your hands with soap and water first? Wow. That's treading into therapist territory.
You rang?
Damn, you guys, this is kind of freaky. I know Robot hasn't had his PowerBook for too long. What the hell are these things going to look like at 4 years old?
Maybe those Klear Advantage things are the way to go. Just drop some other stickers over the clear, so you can't see the bubbles. Think of it as a neat way to customize your PowerBook.
I'm not too worried about it, personally. My palms can get pretty sweaty, especially when they're in contact with a hot metal surface (rev. a powerbooks get pretty warm) during the summer. I've had my 'book for about 15 months now and my dots are just becoming noticeable. Nothing I can do about it now.
Originally posted by murbot
Damn, you guys, this is kind of freaky. I know Robot hasn't had his PowerBook for too long. What the hell are these things going to look like at 4 years old?
Maybe those Klear Advantage things are the way to go. Just drop some other stickers over the clear, so you can't see the bubbles. Think of it as a neat way to customize your PowerBook.
I just noticed that I have these spots developing as well and I have only had my machine for 6 months. Plus I have the overall screen brightness inconsistency problem on the new screen that I have already once had replaced!
Cosmetic problem or not, this laptop has an excessive amount of design flaws. I should not have to put stickers on the palm rests to avoid the machine looking like crap! What the hell is that?
I really hope Apple gets their act together on the next powerbook design or I won't be buying another.
-- Mark
Originally posted by mark_wilkins
It's a computer, not a work of art. Wear it proudly as the sign that you do more than just admire your computer from a distance.
-- Mark
It is not an act of vanity to be concerned about a 6 month old 15inch Powerbook, that you paid $2600 for, deterioriating before your eyes. Especially when you use an Apple laptop BECAUSE you have to rely on it for your job.
Here is a list of everything that has been wrong with it:
1. Broken lid lock - repaired, faulty design
2. Poorest battery life of all Apple powerbooks- lower capacity battery from previous model?
3. White spots on the screen - poorly designed assembly (had it replaced)
4. Uneven backlighting (on the replacement screen) - proves that it was not a fluke, still has to be replaced again.
5. Gap between screen and keyboard - Designed with good intentions, but also causes powerbook to wake from sleep and suck battery life while you don't know it.
6. Deterioration in the palm rests (pictured above) - How can you not expect sweat on the palm rest? That's why it is called a palm rest.
I sort of see your point, but I disagree. If I paid a premium for a sports car I wouldn't leave it in a garage and buff it with a diaper, I'd drive the hell out of it. But if the door wouldn't close all the way, it leaked gas, and the headlights quit working, I think I would have a right to complain.
-- Mark
Originally posted by mark_wilkins
Unlike the other problems you listed, paint problems are not functional defects except maybe over the extreme long run, by which time your computer will have lost most of its value in any case.
-- Mark
First of all, these Powerbook aren't painted, so there isn't even an inexpensive option available to remedy said problem.
Second, people buy Apple products due to their long lifespan, reliability, and high resale value. Unfortunately, a flawlessly functioning machine is often unable to draw much of its resale value with a poor appearance.
The point that you are missing is that the aluminum case flaw is just one more example added to the list of problems with Apple's flagship laptop.