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Apple Tried And Failed To Make A Black MacBook Air

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,537
30,846



Apple did indeed test out a black powder-coated MacBook Air, but the treatment absorbed body oils and didn't live up to Steve's standards, according to an anonymous Apple employee.

macbookair-500x99.jpg



This employee got in touch after we wrote about emails we'd received claiming that the next-generation MacBook Air would have a black option.

The email:
The rumors that the next iteration of the MBA's will have an optional black finish is grounded in truth.

We tried to powder coat the Air's (and Pro's for that matter) in black as a test run. There are more than a few floating around campus.

The coating looks good and holds up well, but it also soaks up body oils, making the palm rest look pretty gross. Ultimately that is the reason that the top brass (Jobs) killed the idea... it was just too easy to make the computer look like crap.

At some point we may offer a black coating, but it won't be powder coat, and it won't be anytime soon.
Click to expand...
The sender doesn't have an existing track record, but after chatting with him, we suspect his story checks out.

Article Link: Apple Tried And Failed To Make A Black MacBook Air
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/20/apple-tried-and-failed-to-make-a-black-macbook-air/
Santabean2000

Santabean2000

macrumors 68000
Nov 20, 2007
1,883
2,044
That's a shame. I'd love to get one of these black puppies if they can sort out the coat.
 
Macopotamus

Macopotamus

macrumors regular
Jun 22, 2010
186
0
I have seen black aluminum PC laptops, surely Apple can pull it off if Sony and Lenovo can.
 
wordoflife

wordoflife

macrumors 604
Jul 6, 2009
7,564
37
The title of this article seems very unMacrumors-like. Must be written by the new guy.
The title, however, did give me a good chuckle.
 
ratzzo

ratzzo

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2011
829
35
Madrid
So that's why we saw black prototypes on eBay. I look forward to seeing a black model though. It's also normal that Apple slashed that idea off if it deteriorated the looks of their computers-- they are all for image.
 
iDisk

iDisk

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2010
825
0
Menlo Park, CA
Macopotamus said:
I have seen black aluminum PC laptops, surely Apple can pull it off if Sony and Lenovo can.
Click to expand...

Sorry but, "black aluminum PC laptops" and Apple don't belong in the same sentence..... Because there is a difference

Steve made the right decision, but I'm glad he realizes that the Black Mac needs to come back.
 
jlgolson

jlgolson

Contributing Editor
Jun 2, 2011
383
8
Durango, CO
wordoflife said:
The title of this article seems very unMacrumors-like. Must be written by the new guy.
The title, however, did give me a good chuckle.
Click to expand...
You should have seen the first version!

Steve Jobs Killed Black MacBook Air Because Your Greasy Palms Made It Gross

OK, just kidding. But I appreciate y'all bearing with me while I do my best to learn the MacRumors style.
 
iDisk

iDisk

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2010
825
0
Menlo Park, CA
wordoflife said:
The title of this article seems very unMacrumors-like. Must be written by the new guy.
The title, however, did give me a good chuckle.
Click to expand...

Kinda rough on the "new" editor Jordan aren't you?? Give people a chance, I'm sure when you start something new, you come out doing it perfectly right? .... Not :rolleyes:
 
PorterRocks

PorterRocks

macrumors 6502
Jan 31, 2010
342
1
Idaho
Do people claiming to be Apple employees that are "in the know" write to MacRumors often? I'm going to guess not.

As such, I'm still hopeful for a black MBA.
 
wordoflife

wordoflife

macrumors 604
Jul 6, 2009
7,564
37
jlgolson said:
you should have seen the first version!

Steve jobs killed black macbook air because your greasy palms made it gross

ok, just kidding. But i appreciate y'all bearing with me while i do my best to learn the macrumors style.
Click to expand...


idisk said:
kinda rough on the "new" editor jordan aren't you?? Give people a chance, i'm sure when you start something new, you come out doing it perfectly right? .... Not :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Whoa ... I never said I didn't like the new style, I was just pointing out that it's a bit different.
If you must know though, I like the variety! :) Keep up the great work.
 
Last edited:
T

theman123

macrumors member
Jul 5, 2008
53
0
iDisk said:
Sorry but, "black aluminum PC laptops" and Apple don't belong in the same sentence..... Because there is a difference

Steve made the right decision, but I'm glad he realizes that the Black Mac needs to come back.
Click to expand...

If Lenovo can make a quality aluminum black laptop, why can't apple?
 
A

altecXP

macrumors 65816
Aug 3, 2009
1,115
1
iDisk said:
Sorry but, "black aluminum PC laptops" and Apple don't belong in the same sentence..... Because there is a difference

Steve made the right decision, but I'm glad he realizes that the Black Mac needs to come back.
Click to expand...

Only in your mind.
 
skitzogreg

skitzogreg

macrumors 6502
Oct 31, 2007
311
5
Arkansas
Even still, think about it:

Dual Core + Integrated Graphics + Black = $350 Black Macbook on Craigslist.

This is also a good indicator of the next iteration of MBA's (with an SSD of course).
 
iDisk

iDisk

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2010
825
0
Menlo Park, CA
jlgolson said:
You should have seen the first version!

Steve Jobs Killed Black MacBook Air Because Your Greasy Palms Made It Gross

OK, just kidding. But I appreciate y'all bearing with me while I do my best to learn the MacRumors style.
Click to expand...

Keep it up Jordan ... You only learn and get better by doing more articles, and you have a great team to reach out to that can help you smooth out the rough edges....we all gotta start somewhere
 
K

kjjnk

macrumors member
Mar 1, 2011
79
0
Sounds like the aluminum pitting that happened on the pre-unibody MacBook Pro's (which I believe were powder-coated) from your oils and sweat.

macbookpropitting.jpg
 
R

RedReplicant

macrumors 6502a
Mar 31, 2010
696
7
Hm, that's a shame. I'm kind of curious what they did with the trackpad to make it black, doing the rest of the computer isn't difficult.
 
iDisk

iDisk

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2010
825
0
Menlo Park, CA
theman123 said:
If Lenovo can make a quality aluminum black laptop, why can't apple?
Click to expand...

Lenovo doesn't make anything quality, with that said, here are the Reviews of the laptop your claiming, notice how 1 writer says exactly what made Steve axe the project...hmmmm ...and you say lenovo make quality?? how about less quality ;)

altecXP said:
Only in your mind.
Click to expand...

Really? How so? (I'm up for a tasteful debate)
 
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