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Being paranoid about scratches

windstarfy

windstarfy

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 16, 2008
65
0
Okay, after more than one year of planning, saving and researching, I finally have my 2.53Ghz Aluminum Macbook Pro next to me in it's box.

I'm a little paranoid about getting it scratched as I heard some posts about people getting the aluminium scratched.

It's currently still in it's box.

Can someone tell me, if I put it on a desk and move it around, would it damage the metal or stain it or whatever?

Because if it is, I'll probably be returning it. I've having second thoughts about buying a laptop I'll stress over about getting it damaged...
 
It won't be scratched from normal usage. (just don't move it with keys or other metal object together)

Use external keyboard and mouse if you want to minimize wear.

FACT: Nothing will look new forever. Perhaps you don't want to go outside your house because you are worry about getting germs?
 
I got a Incase sleeve along with it... Oh well, I'll have to overcome my fears and take this precious precious thing out :p
 
windstarfy said:
I got a Incase sleeve along with it... Oh well, I'll have to overcome my fears and take this precious precious thing out :p
Click to expand...

I've had my MacBook Pro for nearly 2 years now and it has no damage what so ever. I've traveled with it to Texas, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, Illinois, etc. and never had a scratch or dent (knocks on wood). Then I look on ebay and see macs that look as though they were involved in a 10 car pile up. It sounds like you are as careful as I am so you shouldn't have any problems. I have an incase sleeve and an incase bag. Sleeve for slidin' it in a backpack for travel and the bag for local use. Those things do a good job.
 
haha thats how I was when I first bought mine. But honestly, if its your everyday computer, like mine, its probably going to get one or two scratches eventually. I have a two year old macbook pro thats my only computer and it has a few scratches that were my fault and one or two scratches that seemed to appear. But after two years of carrying it around in a backpack, transporting it in my car every day, and using it for hours, its actually held up pretty well.
 
I opened it up and went through the setup. I am finally typing on my Macbook Pro!

Keys appear to be a little smaller than my previous laptop, but I love it <3
 
I was like this with my iMac, until I set my iBook (that's missing rubber feet) on the iMac's "leg", and the metal on the underside of the iBook scratched it. Now I don't freak about tiny little things happening to it.

Just think of it this way, if it gets scratched, then it's yours. Because you put your own mark on it.

Don
 
There is always the Incase Sleeves or Apple sac etc...
I bought myself a Invisible Shield skin for Alum Macbook on the way but I am not sure if I am going to put it on or not...

I am for sure getting the Incase sleeve... I think the reason I bought the IS was since I will be a freshman at college soon, I thought that carrying my Macbook between classes and so on would be scratch magnets...

Anywayz... Check out http://zagg.com for Invisible Shield ;D

I hope you make a wise decision and share it with us :D
 
I opened the packaging a few days ago. I got an Incase sleeve while I bought it and always place it in the sleeve when I'm using it.

I may get the Zagg shield and some antistatic wipes too... so far so good!

I did forget and place it on top of some telephone books... but it didn't dent so I am underestimating the strength of aluminium :p
 
windstarfy said:
I opened the packaging a few days ago. I got an Incase sleeve while I bought it and always place it in the sleeve when I'm using it.

I may get the Zagg shield and some antistatic wipes too... so far so good!

I did forget and place it on top of some telephone books... but it didn't dent so I am underestimating the strength of aluminium :p
Click to expand...

Yup, so far so good ;D I still haven't had a chance to buy the Incase Sleeve yet but still thinking of getting it. Only thing that bugs me know is that the black keys are just so dang hard to keep it clean lol. I wash my hands before use my Macbook but still... Maybe Apple will make Alum keys next :p
 
Last year, whilst still a hardcore PC advocate and Apple disparager, I was walking through the parking garage to my office. A coworker came walking out from between some cars and I said, "good morning."

He was carrying what turned out to be a new MPB. Not in a case/sleeve/bag...just carrying it all by itself. He mentioned he got his new laptop yesterday and was stoked about getting it setup at work.

Then he tripped.

He saved his face, but the laptop sort of ejected itself from his grasp and slid about 20 feet across the asphalt and gently bounced against a support column. :eek:

I think it bothered me more than it did him. Upon inspection, the top of the device was literally gouged in exactly the sort of way a soft aluminum enclosure would be gouged if dragged down an asphalt road. I checked with him later in the day and expressed my sympathies. He shrugged it off, said the laptop ran like a champ and his now custom lid just, "added character," to it.

I still cringe thinking about it. Excuse me while I hug my MBP.
 
^ Whoa, that's quite some story. Just imagining me with my Macbook in that situation would make me shudder with fear.

I got an Incase sleeve with my Macbook. I feel it's a little big (at least the MBP model) and a little thin but that's just me. I love the material on the inside, it's real furry and soft.

I was a little concerned with the paint coming off the keys (letters) as I looked closer at my Vaio I've been using over the past 5 years (yes, 5) and I noticed many of the keys had the paint starting to fade off. Since Macbooks have a higher resale value (my guess), I decided to get a keyboard protector for it.

I was choosing between a generic one off ebay, one from KBcovers and the iSkin one. Because I live internationally, the KBcovers one was a little expensive (although I would have loved the photoshop shortcuts one), and got a iSkin Protouch FX off eBay, which has some bacteria free material.
 
Absolutely no disrepect intended to the OP but I'm surprised at the number of posts regarding fear of scratching / staining Macbooks and Macbook Pros. I'm sure I'll wince when I see the first scratch on mine but that doesn't really affect how I use it. My 1st Gen iPhone was prestine for about 2 months but now it's covered in hundreds of little scratches. It just makes it mine and doesn't affect its usage at all. I'll use it until it falls apart.

Apple is so good at cultivating an image and I think implicit in that image is the promise that you will have a good life if you buy their products. People lust after their products, drool over photographs of the unpacking process, and beam the first time they pull out their new purchase in public. But that also means that people heavily invest their egos in their products and value and protect them as they protect their own self-esteem. You can buy specialty cleaners and silicone covers and neoprene cases and at the end of the day all it will do is encourage you to obsess over the condition of your things. Of course it's up to you, but my suggestion would be to take a deep breath and to realize that the presentation of perfection has very little to do with real life.

As much as I can, I try to remember that I am much more than the things that I own. I try to remember that most people care far less about that first scratch on my new shiny toy than I do. When's the last time any of us thought, "Well, John is such a nice guy. Too bad he has a scratch on his iPod."

Don't let the things you own own you!

Best regards,

Mike
 
edever said:
He shrugged it off, said the laptop ran like a champ and his now custom lid just, "added character," to it.
Click to expand...

I love it! and was going to say the exact same about adding character. Once you get pass the first scratch hopefully you start to just enjoy the product and not worry about little things like scratches.
 
I fail to see the connection between wanting to take good care of your possessions and letting them "own you." It's one thing if you would go out of your way to not use them, like perhaps not taking it with you for fear of scratching it, but if you take precautions (like an incase case) you'll be pretty safe. I also was wondering about how the keys would hold up, but worst case scenario you can always replace the keyboard if it becomes that bad.
 
I was freaked out about getting my mbp scratched but so far there are only scratches on the underside, and the underside i do not care about as I do not see it... the rest is as new...
I guess it is just a matter of spending soo much and then wanting to keep it looking new... it was a massive purchase and i guess i just freaks some people out...
Mind you sometimes I wish I was this careful with my camera gear... oh well can't have everything in life ^^

+1 to the incase sleeves i love mine and it has done a good job so far...
:D
 
Norco said:
I fail to see the connection between wanting to take good care of your possessions and letting them "own you." It's one thing if you would go out of your way to not use them, like perhaps not taking it with you for fear of scratching it, but if you take precautions (like an incase case) you'll be pretty safe. I also was wondering about how the keys would hold up, but worst case scenario you can always replace the keyboard if it becomes that bad.
Click to expand...

You fail to see the connection between taking care of things and being obsessional about them because you're presenting a dichotmoy that I did not suggest. Most aspects of human nature exist on a continum. If you read the original post, the OP said he was 'paranoid' about using his new laptop. I think that would, in most people's reasonable judgement, distinguish between taking good care of one's things and letting them own you.

I know people who have a silicone skin on their keyboard, put their laptops in a case, and carry the case in a sleeve. Hey, to each his (or her) own but in my opinion it puts a great deal of energy into things that are relatively unimportant (the presentation of the self through commercial products) and things that might be more meaningful (creative tasks, time with friends and family, etc.). Vanity is a simple explanation but displaced anxiety is a better one.
 
windstarfy said:
Okay, after more than one year of planning, saving and researching, I finally have my 2.53Ghz Aluminum Macbook Pro next to me in it's box.

I'm a little paranoid about getting it scratched as I heard some posts about people getting the aluminium scratched.

It's currently still in it's box.

Can someone tell me, if I put it on a desk and move it around, would it damage the metal or stain it or whatever?

Because if it is, I'll probably be returning it. I've having second thoughts about buying a laptop I'll stress over about getting it damaged...
Click to expand...

You are the exact reason Invisibleshields are so popular ;) Just get one
 
edever said:
I think it bothered me more than it did him. Upon inspection, the top of the device was literally gouged in exactly the sort of way a soft aluminum enclosure would be gouged if dragged down an asphalt road. I checked with him later in the day and expressed my sympathies. He shrugged it off, said the laptop ran like a champ and his now custom lid just, "added character," to it.
Click to expand...

He realizes it's a computer and a tool, not a work of art that increases in value over time. Just use it as the tool that it is...
 
Don't be paranoid about scratches.

Now if you are looking for protection the invisibleSHIELD is a good choice.
 
I used screen protector only in mobile phone screen where it goes to abuse every day e.g. in pockets, etc. For iMac and MBP? I don't feel a need.

First, it's darn expensive all these protector. Second, it decreases the quality (for screen protector). Third, there is no use of keeping things mint when it'll be outdated (technologically) in 2-3 years time.

I have an laptop which is the first Centrino system bought in 2003. It does not have any protector, but I am careful with the usage. Now, 6 years later? It's still boots just fine, however, extremely slow since it's single core. The battery is also no longer available for purchase.

Morale of the story is... Enjoy your computer, use it to do your need. Keeping things neat and aesthetically sound is good but overdoing it, may end-up in museum one day.
 
I'm also fear of the scratch but usually it's temporary for me. When i get something new, i ally baby it up until a month or less that i start to toss it around. :p

Now, my MBP is cover with Hardshell Incase and Moshi Clear skin for keyboard. Nothing on my trackpad. I did buy the palmguard but i think it's over killed so i sold it.

Eventually, i think i'll take the hardshell case off because i feel like i missed the naked look of the MBP and will just put it in a bag when i take it out.

I do use bodyguardz and screen protection on my iPhone since i abuse it everyday in my jean's pocket. I don't like to put it in any case 'coz i love to have my phone with me at all time.

I agree that if you go through the first scratch, your fear will be far gone. As same as, how you learn to ride a bike after you fall once. :D
 
This is an interesting thread as I feel the same way about all of my purchases.

Lots of case recommendations here as well.
 
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