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Do you recommend using a palm guard and keyboard cover on rMBP?

D

DashSatan

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
419
17
I just bought my brand new retina Macbook Pro 15", first Macbook in years and I absolutely love it. I was wondering if people recommend using a palm guard and keyboard cover for the laptop or could it possibly affect the retina display overtime? My main concern is that I'm a writer so I'm constantly using my keyboard and I just want to make sure that over time the keys won't wear down.

Also, if you recommend any awesome accessories for the rMBP I'm all ears! Thanks!
 
I recommend against it since you can possibly damage the anti-glare coating. What I do is wipe with the keyboard with a microfiber cloth every once and awhile or after long periods of typing/gaming to pick up finger oils. Same with the trackpad. My keys/trackpad still look almost new.

If you must have a keyboard cover, go for KB Covers. By far the best you can buy. For a palm rest, go for Moshi.

EDIT: As for accessories, buy a quality bag/sleeve from someplace like Waterfield or Incase. With a quality bag, you will never have to use a hard case on your rMBP. The biggest mistake I see people around my university make is putting $2000 hardware in $20 cases or carrying it around sleeveless in a backpack with other books, notebooks, etc. then wondering why their MacBook has a bunch of dings, nicks, and dents.
 
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The keys won't wear down, trust me on that. I've had a 2011 MacBook Air until last October when I got my 2014 rMBP and the keys stayed as if the machine was brand new. One thing though: the area around the keys (the aluminium) should be given a frequent cleaning as it's very easy for it to get the oily substance your skin produces permanently damaging the aluminium. I do it once per 2 weeks with a moist towel.

As for accessories: a sleeve or other soft cover that you can store your Mac in would be plenty. I don't know what else you need but if you're taking your MacBook Pro with you a lot (which I think is a lot if you're a writer) you want to protect it when going around. And most of them look great too, so there's that.
 
I'm usually a little anal about protecting my gadgets.
My iPhone has a plastic screen and back skin, my iPad has a plastic back skin.
My 3DS has a plastic skin on the touchscreen and I put it in a pouch when I take it with me.

However I do not, and have never, used any extra protection on my Macs.

I had a 2009 13" Macbook Pro for a year, used/abused, no protection: good as new when I sold it.

I had a 2010 13" Macbool Air for four years, no protection, still beautiful upon selling.
Ate, drank, sweated near and on it, used vigorously for several hours a day.
No scratches ans no discoloring.
-it did get a big dent in the top left corner though; dropped it about 1 meter unto some stone tiles =\

As a result I am very much opposed to sticking **** on my 15" Pro once it arrives.
These aluminium Macs take a pounding.

But hey, if you like the look of plastic/vinyl Mac skins,go for it. Better safe than sorry.
 
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TechZeke said:
I recommend against it since you can possibly damage the anti-glare coating. What I do is wipe with the keyboard with a microfiber cloth every once and awhile or after long periods of typing/gaming to pick up finger oils. Same with the trackpad. My keys/trackpad still look almost new.

If you must have a keyboard cover, go for KB Covers. By far the best you can buy. For a palm rest, go for Moshi.

EDIT: As for accessories, buy a quality bag/sleeve from someplace like Waterfield or Incase. With a quality bag, you will never have to use a hard case on your rMBP. The biggest mistake I see people around my university make is putting $2000 hardware in $20 cases or carrying it around sleeveless in a backpack with other books, notebooks, etc. then wondering why their MacBook has a bunch of dings, nicks, and dents.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks! Yeah I picked up the Incase Neoprene from Apple, I LOVE it. And I have my Speck Satin Steel Blue case coming in the mail today! I'm very very big on keeping my tech safe and secure haha.
 
soupcan said:
The keys won't wear down, trust me on that. I've had a 2011 MacBook Air until last October when I got my 2014 rMBP and the keys stayed as if the machine was brand new. One thing though: the area around the keys (the aluminium) should be given a frequent cleaning as it's very easy for it to get the oily substance your skin produces permanently damaging the aluminium. I do it once per 2 weeks with a moist towel.

As for accessories: a sleeve or other soft cover that you can store your Mac in would be plenty. I don't know what else you need but if you're taking your MacBook Pro with you a lot (which I think is a lot if you're a writer) you want to protect it when going around. And most of them look great too, so there's that.
Click to expand...

You use a moist towel on the keyboard? Just gently wipe it down when the computers off I'm guessing?
 
Ovedius said:
I'm usually a little anal about protecting my gadgets.
My iPhone has a plastic screen and back skin, my iPad has a plastic back skin.
My 3DS has a plastic skin on the touchscreen and I put it in a pouch when I take it with me.

However I do not, and have never, used any extra protection on my Macs.

I had a 2009 13" Macbook Pro for a year, used/abused, no protection: good as new when I sold it.

I had a 2010 13" Macbool Air for four years, no protection, still beautiful upon selling.
Ate, drank, sweated near and on it, used vigorously for several hours a day.
No scratches ans no discoloring.
-it did get a big dent in the top left corner though; dropped it about 1 meter unto some stone tiles =\

As a result I am very much opposed to sticking **** on my 15" Pro once it arrives.
These aluminium Macs take a pounding.

But hey, if you like the look of plastic/vinyl Mac skins,go for it. Better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm doing a case just because nothing bothers me more than scratches haha.
 
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DashSatan said:
I just bought my brand new retina Macbook Pro 15", ... Also, if you recommend any awesome accessories for the rMBP I'm all ears! Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of the Thule cases that you can find on the Apple Store online.

I have both the Thule 15" Gauntlet Sleeve and the Thule 15" Gauntlet Attaché Case - both offering excellent hard-sided protection - though obviously at different times. :)
 
I don't use anything, on my second Pro in the last 5 years and not a mark on either of them.

I don't understand this I can't stand scratches on my tech blah blah blah nonsense, when they never see that tech because it is covered in horrible scratched up plastic hideousness, seems bloody silly to me you might as well have bought some horrible pastic windows box in the first place if thats what you make your mac look like..
 
Ovedius said:
I'm usually a little anal about protecting my gadgets.
My iPhone has a plastic screen and back skin, my iPad has a plastic back skin.
My 3DS has a plastic skin on the touchscreen and I put it in a pouch when I take it with me.

However I do not, and have never, used any extra protection on my Macs.

I had a 2009 13" Macbook Pro for a year, used/abused, no protection: good as new when I sold it.

I had a 2010 13" Macbool Air for four years, no protection, still beautiful upon selling.
Ate, drank, sweated near and on it, used vigorously for several hours a day.
No scratches ans no discoloring.
-it did get a big dent in the top left corner though; dropped it about 1 meter unto some stone tiles =\

As a result I am very much opposed to sticking **** on my 15" Pro once it arrives.
These aluminium Macs take a pounding.

But hey, if you like the look of plastic/vinyl Mac skins,go for it. Better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

Agreed. On my first cMBP I literally had every protection you could imagine. Hard case, keyboard cover, Palm cover, trackpad cover, and even a screen protector. These quickly proved more a nuisance than anything; the hard case made my cMBP noticeable more heavier plus I still had to periodically clean underneath it, the keyboard covers left marks on the screen(except for KB covers), the screen protector made the display look grainy, and the trackpad cover ruined the feeling of the trackpad.

With my rMBB, I just use a nice skin with a design on the top lid from DecalGirl.(don't judge the place by the name - their skins are top notch).

In all, I've found that money spent on these protectors and covers is better spent to a higher quality backpack/brief.

With that said, like I mentioned I was also worried when I got my first MBP, so I understand those that want the protection.
 
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I bought one of those keyboard protecters, than after noticing it does transfer the outline of the protector to my screen, I had to wipe the screen over and over again, I tossed it into the trash. What a waste. I now have a screen protector by Moshi and it works well. No issues to report. Good luck with your keyboard protector, you will understand soon..
 
DashSatan said:
You use a moist towel on the keyboard? Just gently wipe it down when the computers off I'm guessing?
Click to expand...
Yup. And by moist I mean barely wet. Not soaking. I usually do the whole computer, including the palmrest, back of the display, underside of the computer, etc. The whole deal. Then dry it off with a dry towel. Then a micro fiber cleaning cloth over the display and boom, brand spanking new Mac. Also, once a month I open up the computer and go trough the heatsinks and fans with an air compressor to get rid of the dust that's accumulated (I mainly use my Mac on my couch/bed/lap). Make about a 10 degree Celsius difference in idle temps.
 
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