My MBA '12 iCarbons Skin: Almost perfect

I think it looks great - wouldn't worry about it not fitting exactly or whatever, can barely even see what you are talking about. Good work on the installation.

They are offering a Labor Day Sale - 25% off with code "LABOR25".

I have the brushed aluminum on a couple of Airs and love it.

That's outstanding. I don't really want the black look on my rMBP, but it appears you can purchase skins for just the bottom, which is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the pics/review. Makes my decision easy!

Is this mainly for aesthetics or for protection from marks and scrapes? Looks nice, but I'd hesitate to get one for the fact that it doesn't really offer any real protection from drops and dents much.

Mostly scratches and scrapes.

they also sell the bottom and top in the exact same alum color so you get protection without any change in look:

glen e said:

they also sell the bottom and top in the exact same alum color so you get protection without any change in look

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That's what I just bought...for the bottom of my rMBP. Don't want to worry about what's on the tables and all that stuff. Don't need the rest of the protection, so it's all good.

You really should try it with the red carbon-fiber "apple/leaf" over the Apple logo on the cover. It is slightly smaller (1/16") than the apple shaped hole in the black skin such that not only does it glow red, there is a bright white outline around the apple and the leaf. There is also a white carbon-fiber apple/leaf which does the same thing. Looks pretty neat...



-howard

Good job !

hfg said:

You really should try it with the red carbon-fiber "apple/leaf" over the Apple logo on the cover. It is slightly smaller (1/16") than the apple shaped hole in the black skin such that not only does it glow red, there is a bright white outline around the apple and the leaf. There is also a white carbon-fiber apple/leaf which does the same thing. Looks pretty neat...

-howard

Click to expand...

Here is what it looks like:

(btw: they are 25% off this Labor Day weekend at iCarbons)

Never see the sense in why people chose to whack stickers over Jony Ive's beautiful designs.

Ah well, each to their own.

daveishere said:

Never see the sense in why people chose to whack stickers over Jony Ive's beautiful designs.

Ah well, each to their own.

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because "Jony" did not make it indestructible.....it's not a statue, it's a business/personal tool made of bare metal that gets scratched in some environments...

never understand why people who cant understand that, cant understand that....

Ah well, each to their own....LOL

Apple products are fashionable products, and with it comes many accessories that compliment it, whether it be fashionable and practical, or otherwise. I could care less what other people do to accessorize their Air that they paid for.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. I see value in the skin, just not at that price point. I am personally more happy spending double that amount for a Sena folio case that offers much better protection and peace of mind.

Meh, to each their own As long as everyone is happy with their purchases that's all it matters.

daveishere said:

Never see the sense in why people chose to whack stickers over Jony Ive's beautiful designs.

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I'm with you on this one... To be honest, I find all the above "mods" horrific ( except the aluminium skin... although I lack to see the point of it. Protection against scratches? Nah, it can still get scratched fairly easily... ) ... but yeah, that's me. Would not stick stuff like that on my machine even if God himself would ask me to do so.

Q1. Does this kind of skin helps to blunt the sharp front edge?

Q2. Are you not afraid the notebook will run warmer now?

daveishere said:

Never see the sense in why people chose to whack stickers over Jony Ive's beautiful designs.

Ah well, each to their own.

Click to expand...

Jony Ive's beautiful designs apply to the shape, layout, and functionality of the MacBook Air ... not to the color of aluminum.

The skins do nothing to detract from this shape ... they only add about a half mm to the thickness, unlike the kludgy hard plastic snap on covers which totally distort the shape, trap dirt underneath, and cause higher operating temperatures.

Plus ... aluminum is hard to hold on to ... the skins are "grippy" and less likely to slip out of your hand when carrying it around.

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Mrbobb said:

Q1. Does this kind of skin helps to blunt the sharp front edge?

Q2. Are you not afraid the notebook will run warmer now?

Click to expand...

Doesn't really cover the front edge of the machine, but if it is on a table, the Air is so thin that the palm rest starts pretty close to the table surface anyway. Of course, proper typing posture dictates that your wrists are held high, not touching the palm rests (or so I was taught).

The iCarbon skins are very thin and attached with a light adhesive so there is no insulating trapped air, so the skin will heat and radiate similar to the case of the computer.

Cases which are made of hard plastic and snap on leave a static air gap between them and the chassis,which acts as a thermal insulator. They could cause somewhat higher operating temperatures.

Has anyone tried using this under a case? I'm thinking of using this under my Speck case which is clear.

daveishere said:

Never see the sense in why people chose to whack stickers over Jony Ive's beautiful designs.

Ah well, each to their own.

Click to expand...

The MBA is not indestructible. You can get the brushed aluminum skin that matches the stock look.

Many who see the black carbon fiber pattern iCarbon on my 11 inch admire it. It's been wonderful in use. I sometimes visit a production shop where I open the laptop on imperfect table surfaces near where wood or plastic cutting has taken place. This kind of devil-may-care usage predominates and the MBA still looks new. For general carrying, I will put it into a padded sleeve that will help stem problems from outright drops.

stchman said:

The MBA is not indestructible. You can get the brushed aluminum skin that matches the stock look.

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And a sticker off ebay will make it bomb proof?

I'd much rather spend some money on a nice case (i have knomo leather sleeve for my air) and take good care of my laptop when its out of the case.

daveishere said:

And a sticker off ebay will make it bomb proof?

I'd much rather spend some money on a nice case (i have knomo leather sleeve for my air) and take good care of my laptop when its out of the case.

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Silly post. The aluminum scratches very, very easily. The sticker (it's really much more than than) keeps the surface pristine.