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Aluminum Unibody is Easy to Dent

PeterQC said:
I don't see why the top would not be "unibody". The design is actually different from the other tops of the powerbooks/MBP, it would just cost to much to make a new one on a different manufacture process while you already got your top case and bottom case made from this.
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The top (or display bezel/display assembly) is not part of the unibody structure. It's a different process and is not chiseled out of a block of aluminum.

See:

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/overlays/unibody.html

PeterQC said:
Define major damage, because a few scratches and dents for me aren't really major, just cosmetic. A "Major" damage to me would be something that would affect the functionality of the machine, not the look.
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All it takes is a small dent to the Superdrive side of the PowerBook's or the previous MacBook Pro's to move from "cosmetic" to "major."

Mal said:
Why is that normal operation? If your computer is getting dropped, there's something very wrong with the way you're treating it. If it's getting stuff dropped on it, ditto. Seriously, you pay $1500 for something and you don't do everything possible to keep from dropping something onto it? You deserve what you get.
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This your typical answer that always gets posted in these threads. Clearly, the denting with the aluminum shell is a problem or there wouldn't be countless threads on this board and the Apple support forums about it.

Apple knows it's a problem. Jobs even mentioned at the MacBook event the unibody was a "much more rigid, strong construction" that should cut down on repairs. What did you think he meant by that statement? Ive also talked about how the old MacBook Pros were made of a "a very thin aluminum casing" (which is actually a thin aluminum outer piece welded to a magnesium alloy frame).

Apple uses aluminum because it's light weight, not because it's durable.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/specialevent1008/
 
The plastic macbooks are notorious for cracking. But whether you have an aluminum or plastic notebook, as long as you're careful with it, it won't crack under normal use conditions.
 
NewSc2 said:
I like the look of them too. They're very industrial and low-key. I hate the look of the Sonys, Dells, Toshibas, etc. They all look overdone and cheap.
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haha Thank you, I thought I was just weird. :p

They do have a nice "Business" bravado to them.

My next computer might even be a thinkpad, because even as a Mac guy...I need to get away once in a while :p
 
If you don't get the dents "sucked" out, maybe you can stick some stickers on it to cover it up. You know some stickers that you would never stick on your laptop but now that it has a couple of dents on it. Covering it up wouldn't be so bad...
 
Mal said:
Why is that normal operation? If your computer is getting dropped, there's something very wrong with the way you're treating it. If it's getting stuff dropped on it, ditto. Seriously, you pay $1500 for something and you don't do everything possible to keep from dropping something onto it? You deserve what you get.

jW
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Call me crazy, but I do beleive the same exact thing you just write.
 
Tallest Skil said:
It's aluminum...

Cracks or dents. Take your pick.
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I got the very last of the Blackbooks (early 2008 2.4 ghz)
The plastic seems qualitatively different than earlier gen. white Macbook–it neither cracks nor dents.

I know everybody is in high regard to the aluminum, but high-quality polycarbonates are quite strong–and it does not dent, it gives, and rebounds back. (Did Apple wait until the last gen Blackbook to go to very high quality polycarbonates? Who knows).

I also think the early MacBooks cracked because the CPU's on those models ran quite hot, and it was the heat, not the wear and tear that caused many of the cracks.

(Yes I know about the palm-rest cracking issue, which is more of a design flaw where the sharp pieces on the top-case bezel slammed down too hard on that one specific part over and over again, especially with the over aggressive snapping quality those top cases had.)


Only time will tell if aluminum proves to handle user wear and tear any better than the polycarbonate. (which has now been dumbed down to the word "Plastic" so as to make the Metal Aluminum cased ones sound all that better).

I sort of think Apple went to the Aluminum because in the long run the new production method might Actually save Apple money–but not necessarily make the computer all that much more durable.

Also, Apple felt obliged to replace cracked cases in the poly Macbooks (whether caused by stress or heat). Heat will not crack the aluminum, and I bet if you bring in a Aluminum MacBook/pro into an Applestore with a big dent, and try and get warranty service because your MacBook "dented," well, you know how that will go...You dropped your Macbook, owner-clumsiness not covered under Apple's hardware warranty.

The poly-vs.-aluminum strength debate extends far beyond the scope of laptop computers....
 
beth1400 said:
I pick the secret third item, not being so foolish in the future and leaving my expensive computer in an unsafe place. I can be soooo dumb sometimes! :)
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wow i read that and was like damn dude what a dick, but it was op...carry on haha
 
Pretty damn fragile and not at all forgiving. They don't have any shape memory either but will crac (go smash a hammer on one and you'll see).

i wouldn't go at his jewelery shop :p diamond suposed to be the hardest stuff on earth? or you got tricked, or your clark kent?
 
SoybeanStasher said:
No, he's right. While it is the hardest substance (i.e., resistant to scratching), diamond is also a brittle substance and easily (relatively) cleaved.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond#Toughness
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Diamond is not the hardest substance, Buckminsterfullerene is quite substantially harder (6x) and much stronger.

Diamond is however easily cleaved, thats why its good for use in jewelry

Making a laptop case out of Buckminsterfullerene would infact be cheaper than using aluminium, it would be easier to make, much stronger than aluminium (almost impossible to dent), Unscratchable unlike aluminium which scratches easily, much lighter than aluminium, and much more heat conductive allowing the laptops to be cooler,

However they would have to be black, because thats the only colour buckminsterfullerene can be, and Apple evidently doesn't like that.
 
roamy said:
yes you are very weird ! my daughter has one and it is the biggest POS i have seen. Plus the reason the notebooks are so tough is they have to absorb many throws of frustration.
I also expect Mac is looking at carbon fiber body and we could see the first one with the new 17" MBP in Jan.
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§

Which model does your daughter have?
 
beth1400 said:
I purchased my macbook less than a week ago and I wish I had been warned about how easy it is to dent the unibody. I stupidly left it by the bed and the cat dropped a glass on it. It is my fault, but now I have 2 large dents on the top. Fortunately, the damage is only cosmetic. If you are purchasing a new macbook, I highly recommend getting one of those plastic hard-shell cases as well. A macbook is a beautiful object! Best wishes on keeping it that way! (It hurts to even look at my poor computer!)
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Sorry to hear about the accident. Can you post some pictures of the damage?
 
I just got a MBP for Christmas, and it is only out of it's neoprene case when it's on and in my lap or on my desk. You shouldn't take those chances when you just purchased a 1.5-3K dollar item. Plus, like they already said, "IT'S ALUMINUM...NOT STEEL." :apple:
 
thinkspads aren't POS, they are fantastic, apple focuses on appearance, environment, then strength, ask anyone who has an aluminum apple laptop how strong they are...its kinda a joke in my opinion, they could spend a little more time on the overall strength of the computer, i don't even need to get started on the poor construction of my MBP, honestly for $2k I expect something behind the initial glass case appearance.
 
xhambonex said:
thinkspads aren't POS, they are fantastic, apple focuses on appearance, environment, then strength, ask anyone who has an aluminum apple laptop how strong they are...its kinda a joke in my opinion, they could spend a little more time on the overall strength of the computer, i don't even need to get started on the poor construction of my MBP, honestly for $2k I expect something behind the initial glass case appearance.
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well, the new aluminum macbooks are alot more structurally sound. Of course they will still dent, thats what aluminum does.
 
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